Details of Service
Kerry Specialist Palliative Care Service (KSPCS) is a HSE funded service managed by the Head of Service of UHK, who reports to the IHA lead for Kerry. Kerry Hospice Foundation is the fundraising partner essential for the development of KSPCS in partnership with the HSE.
Service Settings
Specialist Palliative Inpatient Unit
Specialist Palliative Ambulatory Day Unit
Specialist Palliative Community Care Service
Specialist Palliative Acute Care Service
The Inpatient Unit currently has 15 beds, opened December 2017, and is co‑located to UHK. KSPCS is in Phase 3 of development, adding five extra bedrooms, expected to complete in 2027. Patients admitted receive complex symptom management, rehabilitation, and end‑of‑life care beyond what other settings can provide. Staffing includes CNM II, CNM I, RGNs, healthcare assistants, porters, administration staff, allied health professionals (pharmacist, occupational therapist, physiotherapist, pastoral care, speech & language therapy, medical social workers, dietician) and a CNM III responsible for the IPU and Day Service.
The Community Specialist Palliative Care Service operates from two bases: North Kerry (UHK) and South Kerry (Killarney). The team comprises a CNM III, clinical nurse specialists, and two registered advanced nurse practitioners for residential care facilities. This team delivers a seven‑day service to patients in their homes, community hospitals, or private nursing homes, working closely with GPs, public health nursing teams, and staff of residential care facilities.
The Acute Specialist Palliative Care Service at UHK provides 24/7 care and includes consultants in palliative medicine, SPRs/registrars, senior house officers, an advanced nurse practitioner, a clinical nurse specialist, a social worker, and administrative support.
Health Regions Context
Six health regions were established in 2019, becoming operational from 2024. Each region will plan, resource and deliver services tailored to its population, with local accountability and governance while the HSE maintains a lean central organisation. HSE South West manages all public health and social care services in Cork and Kerry and includes South/South West Hospital Group and Cork Kerry Community Healthcare.
Purpose of the Post
The post provides safe, timely, evidence‑based nurse‑led care to service users at an advanced nursing level, documenting complete episodes of care (assessment, diagnosis, planning, treatment, discharge) according to agreed protocols and scope of practice.
Develop the job description and scope of advanced practice, including referrals and documentation under the Advanced Practice Stakeholder Governance Group, to enable registration as an Advanced Nurse Practitioner (RANP) with NMBI.
Undertake academic preparation and develop clinical and leadership competencies required for RANP registration; the role of the cANP cannot deliver care autonomously.
Submit all necessary documentation for registration as an RANP with NMBI.
Safeguard and articulate the nursing profession’s contribution to new services led by advanced nurse practitioners, complementing but not replacing doctor‑led services.
Demonstrate high knowledge, skill and experience to achieve optimal outcomes through critical analysis, problem solving and accurate decision‑making.
Provide quality care in a safe environment, using evidence‑based guidelines to meet service user expectations, promote wellness and evaluate care delivered.
Provide clinical leadership and professional scholarship to advance nursing practice and health policy locally, regionally and nationally.
Contribute to nursing research to shape and advance nursing practice, education and health‑care policy at local, national and international levels.
Informal Enquiries
For further information about the role, contact Mari O’Connell, Project Lead, Kerry Specialist Palliative Care Service, mari.oconnell@hse.ie or 087 2116158.
For recruitment‑process enquiries, contact Meagan McGlynn – People Resourcing, meagan.mcglynn@hse.ie.
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