2697 - Acute Oncology Nurse Specialist

Barnsley Hospital; Barnsley; On-site; GBP 38,000 - 48,000; Full time

Job summary

Barnsley Hospital is seeking an experienced Band 7 Acute Oncology Nurse to join the Cancer Services team on a full-time, permanent basis. The post involves leading specialist assessments, coordinating AO, MUO and CUP pathways and working closely with MDTs to deliver high-quality cancer care.

The role requires oncology experience, advanced assessment skills, and the ability to communicate effectively with patients and healthcare professionals.

Qualifications

• Educated to degree level or equivalent experience.
• Significant post registration experience with demonstrable evidence at Band 6 or above.
• Post registration experience in the care of oncology patients.
• Possession of a post graduate Acute Oncology qualification or willingness to work towards.
• Assessing and mentoring qualification.
• Evidence of on-going CPD.
• Effective communicator able to communicate difficult and sensitive information.
• Ability to prioritise own workload and effective time management.
• Non Medical Prescriber qualification or willingness to work towards.

Responsibilities

• Provide specialist assessment, advice and support to patients with acute oncology needs, ensuring timely, coordinated and high-quality care.
• Triage AO, MUO and CUP referrals from primary care and internal hospital teams; enable timely assessment and onward referral.
• Undertake specialist assessment of acute oncology patients and develop appropriate care plans.
• Manage and coordinate a patient caseload with autonomous clinical decision-making.
• Collaborate with MDT Lead and wider teams to coordinate AO, MUO and CUP pathways.

Skills

Advanced physical assessment

Venipuncture

Cannulation

Education

Degree level or equivalent experience

Post-registration oncology experience (Band 6+)

Postgraduate Acute Oncology qualification

Assessing & mentoring qualification

Non Medical Prescriber qualification or willingness

Job description

We anticipate interviews to take place week commencing 23rd November 2026.

An exciting opportunity has arisen for an experienced Band 7 Acute Oncology Nurse to join the Cancer Services team at Barnsley on a full-time, permanent basis, working Monday to Friday, 9:00am5:00pm.

We are looking for an enthusiastic and motivated nurse with relevant oncology experience, alongside excellent organisational, time management and communication skills.

This is a specialist role providing high-quality nursing support and expertise to patients presenting with acute oncology needs. The post holder will work closely with the MDT Lead, Acute Oncology team and wider multidisciplinary teams to support timely assessment, effective communication and the coordination of individualised patient care.

The current Acute Oncology Service also supports patients with Malignancy of Unknown Origin (MUO) and Cancer of Unknown Primary (CUP). The job description is currently under review to ensure it reflects the evolving scope and requirements of the service, including the management and coordination of patients across these pathways.

The successful applicant will have the opportunity to play an important role in the ongoing development of the Acute Oncology Service, working collaboratively across the Trust to support the delivery of safe, timely and high-quality patient-centred cancer care.

Main duties of the job

As an Acute Oncology Nurse Specialist, you will provide specialist assessment, advice and support to patients with acute oncology needs, helping to ensure timely, coordinated and high-quality care.

The role also includes supporting patients referred with Malignancy of Unknown Origin (MUO) and Cancer of Unknown Primary (CUP). You will:

Triage AO, MUO and CUP referrals from primary care and internal hospital teams, supporting timely assessment, investigation and onward referral.

Undertake specialist assessment of acute oncology patients, identifying their clinical and holistic needs and developing appropriate care plans.

Manage and coordinate a patient caseload, using autonomous clinical decision-making and referral to other services as required.

Work closely with the MDT Lead and wider multidisciplinary team to coordinate AO, MUO and CUP pathways and ensure continuity of care.

Work collaboratively with chemotherapy, haemato-oncology, specialist palliative care and site-specific cancer teams.

Provide specialist advice and support to patients, families and healthcare professionals.

Provide education and support to clinical teams to improve knowledge and confidence in managing acute oncology patients.

Contribute to audit, quality improvement and service development across Acute Oncology, MUO and CUP pathways.

The job description is currently under review to reflect the evolving Acute Oncology Service, including its responsibilities for MUO and CUP pathways.

About us

Barnsley is a place of real warmth and communityspirit. With a proud industrial past, the town offers affordable living, greattransport links, rich culture and many green spaces. Barnsley punches above itsweight and has recently seen economic growth, substantial regeneration anddigital ambition, whilst leading the way in healthcare innovation andemployability.

At Barnsley Hospital, we are a close-knit,ambitious team delivering outstanding care in the heart of South Yorkshire. Ouraim is to be the best place to work and we have been consistently rated by ourpeople as being amongst the very best Trusts in the country in areas such ascompassionate leadership, teamwork and supporting colleague wellbeing.

We offer a friendly working environment where youwill be recognised and valued for what you do, led with compassion andintegrity and have your career and wellbeing supported.

BarnsleyHospital NHS FT is committed to promoting equality of opportunity and fairtreatment to all applicants.

Visa sponsorship is onlyavailable to applicants who meet UK Skilled Worker eligibility requirements,including salary thresholds.

Please notewe reserve the right to close positions early

Job responsibilities

Job Description forAcute Oncology Nurse Specialist

Please refer to the attachedJob Description and Person Specification for full details of the role andresponsibilities.

SupportingDocuments

Please refer to thevalues-based recruitment guidance and associated documentation.

Trust Values

• Please describe in around 100 words: What Equality & Diversity means to you and why they are important.
• Please describe in around 100 words: What does compassion mean to you?
• Please describe in around 100 words: Please describe a situation where you have demonstrated respect for your colleagues/patients in a difficult or sensitive situation.
• Please describe in around 100 words: Describe an example of where you have helped to improve the service of a department.
• Please describe in around 100 words: How do you ensure you build and sustain positive working relationships within a team?

Qualifications

• Educated to degree level or equivalent experience.
• Significant post registration experience with demonstrable evidence at Band 6 or above.
• Post registration experience in the care of oncology patients.
• Possession of a post graduate Acute Oncology qualification or willingness to work towards.
• Assessing and mentoring qualification.
• Evidence of on-going CPD.
• Effective communicator able to communicate difficult and sensitive information.
• Ability to prioritise own workload and effective time management.
• Non Medical Prescriber qualification or willingness to work towards.

Skills and Abilities

• Advanced physical assessment and consultation skills.
• Venipuncture and cannulation skills.

Knowledge and Awareness

• Knowledge related to chemotherapy and other oncological treatments.
• Understanding of the need for confidentiality.
• Expert knowledge relevant to the speciality/department/field of practice.
• Understanding of professional and current issues in nursing and healthcare.
• Understanding of resource management, health and safety, clinical risk and quality issues.
• Awareness of equality and diversity.
• Clinical Governance.
• Demonstrates understanding of the role and its relationship to strategic plans both locally and nationally.
• Familiar with and competent in the use of hospital information and clinical systems and Microsoft Office including Outlook, Excel and PowerPoint.

Experience

• Experience of leading and managing a team of nurses.
• Previous experience of research and quality audit including its application.
• Previous experience of service improvement/change management and problem solving.
• Experience of handling clinical incidents and complaints.
• Experience in the education, training and supervision of junior colleagues.
• Experience of working in a critical care environment e.g. Emergency Department.
• Evidence of publications and presenting at local and regional level.

Disclosure and Barring Service Check

This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.

Deputy Director of Nursing, Midwifery & AHPs