Acute Oncology ACP Trainee

Cddft; Tees Valley; Remote; GBP 42,000 - 54,000; Full time

Job summary

County Durham & Darlington NHS Foundation Trust is seeking an Acute Oncology ACP Trainee to join the Acute Oncology Team and complete training at Band 7 level. The role involves delivering advanced clinical practice, supporting oncology services, and coordinating patient care from diagnosis to treatment under supervision.

Key requirements include chemotherapy management experience, advanced communication, and the ability to work across disciplines.

Qualifications

• Chemotherapy management experience.
• Excellent clinical and communication skills.
• Evidence of developing and implementing protocols and guidelines.
• Registered Nurse with NMC PIN; willingness to pursue non-medical prescribing and CPD.

Responsibilities

• Assist with delivery of a comprehensive acute oncology service linking Oncology General Medicine with wider Chemotherapy and haematology services.
• Provide clinical advice for patients receiving oncology treatments (Chemotherapy, Radiotherapy, monoclonal antibodies, immunotherapies).
• Care for patients with newly diagnosed primaries of unknown origin and those with newly diagnosed metastases requiring Oncology intervention.
• Act as Oncology Specialist Nurse coordinating the patient journey through diagnostics and treatment; refer to Primary or Palliative care as needed.
• Assess, diagnose and provide treatment to a defined group of patients including emergency oncology medicine.
• Work with medical and nursing colleagues to provide the highest standard of holistic care and participate in nurse-led review clinics.

Skills

Chemotherapy management

Advanced communication skills

Clinical decision making

Non-medical prescribing

Education

Level 1 Registration

Non-medical prescriber

Teaching & Assessing Certificate

Chemotherapy theory & practice

Level 4 assessor for chemotherapy

Counselling Certificate

Teaching qualification

Advanced communication skills course

CPD evidence

Job description

Acute Oncology ACP Trainee

The closing date is 20 October 2026

The Advanced Clinical Practitioner (ACP) is a cutting-edge role in the field of advanced clinical practice which crosses professional boundaries, undertaking traditional medical roles and leading inter-professional practice. It is a role model of excellence in the delivery of holistic care to patients. On qualification the ACP will be able to assess and treat the many varied clinical cases; both acute and chronic. The postholder will demonstrate critical thinking in the safe clinical decision-making process and is required to deliver an advanced level of clinical practice within the field of speciality care. Working within local and nationally agreed protocols and guidelines, the ACP demonstrates the knowledge and skills across the Four Pillars of Advanced Practice. With support and supervision, the ACP exercises independent judgement to assess, investigate, diagnose, plan, implement and evaluate the clinical care and management of patients. During their training, the post holder will develop and demonstrate advanced skills and competencies and ensure that evidence-based practice is inherent in all aspects of care and treatment. The ACP will support service delivery and leadership working alongside colleagues in support of the education and development of both nursing, midwifery, allied health professional (AHP) and medical colleagues.

This post will be band 7 for the training Annexe21 does apply.

Main duties of the job

The key function of the Acute Oncology ACP is to assist with the delivery of a comprehensive acute oncology service that will link together Oncology General Medicine and the wider Chemotherapy and haematology services.

You will work as part of the Acute Oncology Team whilst completing your training providing clinical advice for patients receiving oncology treatments e.g. Chemotherapy, Radiotherapy, Monoclonal antibodies, immunotherapies.

You will be responsible for patients with newly diagnosed primaries of unknown origin along with those with newly diagnosed metastases requiring Oncology intervention (in liaison with tumour-specific CNS).

You will care for and support patients who are experiencing an oncological emergency and ensure they have the correct investigations and procedures.

You will act as the Oncology Specialist Nurse for patients with primary cancers, providing holistic assessment and coordinating the patients journey through the diagnostic and treatment phase of the patients journey, referring where appropriate the key worker role to Primary care and / or Palliative care.

You will assess, diagnose and provide treatment to a defined group of patients including emergency oncology medicine patients.

Work with medical and nursing colleagues to provide the highest possible standard of holistic care for patients.

Assist with nurse-led review clinic / telephone review clinics.

About us

County Durham & Darlington NHS Foundation Trust

If you are being interviewed you must accept an interview slot in the system to continue, even if you have arranged with the manager.

You must be able to produce ALL certificates stated essential in the person specification or you will not be able to complete pre-employment checks.

We provide hospital services from two acute sites - Darlington Memorial Hospital and University Hospital of North Durham. We have a centre for planned care in Bishop Auckland and provide care from community hospitals in Chester-le-Street, Shotley Bridge, Barnard Castle, Sedgefield and Weardale as well as over 80 other community based settings and providing care in patients' homes.

We particularly welcome applications from disabled and Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic (BAME) candidates as BAME and disabled people are currently under-represented.

Full Job Descriptions can be found in the adverts supporting documents.

Over reliance on AI-generated content is discouraged and may diminish the applicant's chances of success.

For the most up-to-date information on visa requirements and eligibility, please check online to determine whether you can apply.

Please note that we may close any vacancy early once a sufficient number of applications have been received.

Job responsibilities

Ensure that all in-patients with complications of Oncology Chemotherapy are reviewed by the Oncology team within 24 hours of admission (or next working day)

Ensure that all in-patients with complications of Oncology Chemotherapy are reviewed by the Oncology team within 24 hours of admission (or next working day).

Promote the role of the acute Oncology service and ensure referral processes and trigger alerts are in place to ensure appropriate timely referrals.

To improve the quality of the patient experience by identifying and meeting the individual clinical needs of patients, including issues pertaining to child protection and vulnerable adults.

• o Onceyou have successfully completed your NMP you will be able to prescribe /de-prescribe medicines for patients as per the legal requirements for their professional regulatory body, National Prescribing Centre and national guidelines and in accordance with the Trusts non-medical prescribing policy and Trust formulary.
• o Developthe skills to adapt specialist clinical knowledge and skills to different clinical settings and influence service delivery and patient care.
• o Toprovide specialist advice on patient care to the healthcare team, taking into account all aspects of clinical governance and act as a specialist resource within the Trust.
• o Initiatesprescribed treatment and medication (where appropriate).
• o Screeningof patients for the early signs of disease and risk factors where appropriate for role and department.
• o Responsiblefor rapidly evaluating the patients condition and response to therapeutic interventions and treatment modalities, and modifies the plan of care for optimal patient centred outcomes
• o Responsiblefor both initiating and then terminating an episode of care by either referring on to another agency or by discharging the patient under supervision of consultant/senior colleague.
• o Contributeto the review and development of clinical patient pathways to ensure a standardised approach to care.
• o Activelyimplement effective systems and processes for infection prevention and control management and relevant audit within their clinical area.
• o Educatespatients, relatives and staff as necessary.
• o Participatesin meeting and promoting the health education needs of patients and carers.

Appropriately assess, examine, investigate, diagnose and treat patients, resulting in the safe and appropriate management of patients with undifferentiated, differentiated and complex presentations.

Experience

• Chemotherapy management experience
• Excellent clinical skills including knowledge and management of central lines and chemotherapy administration
• Evidence of developing and implementing protocols and guidelines
• Sound knowledge of existing national guidelines and standards in chemotherapy
• Understanding of the need for strong commitment to high standards of patient care and the active involvement of users in the development of the service
• Ability to work at an advanced level of practice
• Advanced and effective communication skills
• Proven ability to influence and negotiate with all grades of staff
• Receptive to change process
• High degree of manual dexterity
• Ability to work strategically across the Trust and other organisations with a wide range of professionals

Statutory Registration

• Registered Nurse on part 1 of the NMC register
• Valid UK NMC PIN

Qualifications

• Level 1 Registration
• Teaching & Assessing Certificate
• Recognised Chemotherapy Theory and Practice competence
• Level 4 assessor for chemotherapy or equivalent
• Evidence of continuing professional development
• Previous experience as band 6.
• Counselling Certificate
• Advanced communication skills course
• Clinical skills course
• Non-medical prescriber
• Teaching qualification.

Special Skills & Knowledge

• Highly self-motivated
• Confident
• Skills in identifying, designing and providing education, training and facilitate groups/workshops
• Professional credibility
• Self-motivated, proactive and innovative
• Critical appraisal of research and the application of research to practice

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.

County Durham & Darlington NHS Foundation Trust