AIM: The aim of this study was to describe team leaders' experiences of facilitators and barriers of leadership in specialist palliative home care teams.

BACKGROUND: For effective teamwork in specialist palliative care, leadership is crucial; however, defining and agreeing on what leadership comprises may be challenging. In palliative care, teamwork is recognized as imperative for multiprofessional perspectives to meet dying patients' and families' needs.

METHODS: Qualitative interviews with 13 team leaders in specialist palliative home care were performed, using the Pettigrew and Whipp framework, and analysed with directed content analysis.

RESULTS: Team leaders' experiences of conditions influencing the organisation and delivery of specialist palliative home care is multifaceted and leaders seem conflicted in their approach to the multiple levels of leadership, vision and responsibilities.

CONCLUSION: Team leaders in specialist palliative home care described goals of care on differing levels and, for some, fiscal restraints and external pressures influenced their vision and leadership. Team leaders experienced challenges of leadership in relation to organisational issues, feeling burdened by responsibilities, budget restraints and team size.

IMPLICATIONS FOR NURSING MANAGEMENT: Team leadership is demanding and complex. In specialist palliative home care, affirming values and enabling vision during times of fiscal strain and external pressures, is challenging. For successful leadership that develops both individuals and the health care team, leaders are recommended to adapt the leadership style to the present situation surrounding the team.