Community Care Nurse Specialist Service

The Community Care Nurse Specialist Service (CCNSS) is an innovative, double award-winning project in Lincolnshire which works with patients in the final 12 months of life, and their families and loved ones. The Nurses (the staff delivering the service) act as a coordination point between patients, their families, the Council Adult Care Teams, the healthcare teams, and any other service engaged with the individual. The service provides information and support to patients and their families regarding their condition. They discuss the illness, treatments, effects, outlooks and impacts. Palliative care is now recognised as an enabler to facilitate high quality person-centred care for people with complex needs. Early access to palliative/supportive care promotes resilience, self-management and reduces unnecessary admissions to hospital.

The nurses, based at Lincoln and Boston, receive referrals relating to patients entering the final 12 months of life. They will discuss the illness, treatments and options with the patients, including:

• How the illness will progress, what timescales are involved, what treatments are available, what impact the illness and treatment will have on the individual
• Options where the individual can and would like to receive their treatment, what support they need, how their families are involved
• What future developments in the illness and treatment can be expected and how these can be managed in the location of the individuals’ choice
• What further support or plans does the individual require or may be required in the future. This could be a plan to look after a pet which avoids suffering and costly vet and alternative provision.

The CCNSS is expected to:

• Reduce inappropriate hospital admissions as the individual, families and care providers are aware of what to expect as death approaches.
• Ensure the individual achieves care and death in their preferred location, where possible
• Treatment is provided in the way the individual requests
• Correct funding streams are used to provide care for the individual. In particular, if the individual is eligible for Health funding, then Social Care funding is not utilised.

Suitably qualified providers who may be interested in the potential future delivery of this project in Lincolnshire are invited to complete a brief questionnaire relating to the future delivery of this service. Please email mark.fowell@lincolnshire.gov.uk for a copy of the questionnaire. Closing date for the receipt of completed questionnaires is Friday 9th June 2023.