Acute Oncology Clinical Nurse Specialist

NHS; Whitehaven; On-site; GBP 38,000 - 47,000; Part time

Job summary

A regional healthcare trust in the Lake District is looking for an Acute Oncology Clinical Nurse Specialist. This role involves autonomously managing acute cancer patients, enhancing communication for better patient care, and supporting service planning. Ideal candidates will have a degree, a postgraduate qualification in cancer care, and excellent leadership and communication skills. This part-time position offers a salary between £38,682 and £46,580 per annum, with potential benefits and a 12-month fixed contract.

Benefits

27-day holiday scheme

NHS Discounts

Salary Sacrifice schemes

Confidential counselling service

Qualifications

• Must possess a 1st degree and postgraduate qualification in cancer care.
• Evidence of ongoing professional development in specialist area.
• Experience of managing people and resources effectively.

Responsibilities

• Work autonomously managing acute cancer patients.
• Provide essential communication for improving patient care.
• Support planning and development of acute oncology services.

Skills

Excellent clinical skills

Excellent communication and interpersonal skills

Compassionate values and behaviours

Leadership capabilities

Ability to work under pressure

Good clinical reasoning skills

Education

1st Degree

Postgraduate Qualification in cancer care

Teaching qualification

Leadership course

Job description

North Cumbria Integrated Care NHS Foundation Trust

Acute Oncology Clinical Nurse Specialist

The closing date is 30 January 2026

An exciting opportunity to join the Acute Oncology Service at North Cumbria Integrated Care Trust in the heart of the Lake District.

The Acute Oncology Service is an essential interface between acute local services and oncology supporting person centred care through improved communication, timely access to expert advice, improved patient experience, early discharge and admission avoidance.

The team works collaboratively across the Trust and with the Northern Centre For Cancer Care to develop and enhance the service to patients with complications of cancer, side effects of treatment and a malignancy of unknown origin.

Main duties of the job

The post holder will be required to work autonomously as well part of the immediate and larger teams participating in the assessment, diagnostic testing and management of acute cancer patients while promoting the acute oncology service. You will give advice, instigate investigations and implement patient care as appropriate to manage the acutely unwell oncology patient.

You will provide essential communication to improve patient experience and quality of care, reducing lengths of stay and where possible averting hospital admissions.

To support the Band 7 in the planning and development of the future service in accordance with the Trust's policies and procedures utilising the most effective resources.

The Acute Oncology Service will provide specialist advice to health professionals across North Cumbria for patients who present with acute symptoms, related to their treatment or cancer and patients who present as an emergency with a suspected but undiagnosed cancer.

About us

At NCIC, we have an ambition to deliver outstanding healthcare services to the population of North Cumbria. The Trust is committed to creating a centre of excellence in providing rural and remote healthcare and provides a wide range of community and acute services throughout our county.

Our 5 key principles demonstrate our belief in the delivery of 'safe, high quality care every time':

• Being a clinically led organisation
• Quality and safety at the heart of our Trust
• A positive patient experience every time
• A great place to work
• Managing our money well

As an organisation we are serious about supporting a diverse workforce that reflects our local community and are very much focused on being an inclusive and compassionate place to work.

Across the North East and North Cumbria we are working together to deliver our ambition to be the greenest region in England by 2030. All staff are expected to support sustainability.

Job responsibilities

Please see attached job description and person specification for further information regarding the role and the essential and desirable criteria required to be met by applicants.

Certificate of Sponsorship

Please note, due to changes implemented by the Government to the UK immigration policy, individuals who require a Health and Care Visa or a Skilled Worker Visa may no longer be eligible for sponsorship where the UKVI salary threshold is not met or if the occupation is not included in the updated Immigration Salary List (ISL). Applicants must check their eligibility to be employed in any role they are interested in applying for, prior to completing an application for employment. Any applicants who do not meet the eligibility criteria will not be progressed. For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website.

If you are applying under the Disability Confident Scheme or Armed Forces Covenant and you meet all the essential criteria for a post, you will be guaranteed an interview.

Relocation assistance may be available for successful applicants moving to the region for certain posts. Please see our Policy for eligible vacancies.

Registered Nurses, Midwives and Allied Health Professionals returning to practice, moving into new roles or changing clinical environments, may access an agreed preceptorship period.

Disclosure and Barring Service

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.

The cost of the DBS must be met by the successful candidate(s) through salary deduction. DBS charges are as follows if applicable to the post:

• Standard Check: £21.50 + Administration cost of £5.90 = £27.40. Deducted from salary over a 4 month period or a one-off payment.
• Enhanced Check: £49.50 + administration cost of £5.90 = £55.40. Deducted from salary over a 4 month period or a one-off payment.

NCIC can offer successful future employees the following benefits:

• 27-day holiday scheme rising to 33 after 10 years
• NHS Discounts*
• Salary Sacrifice schemes including lease cars and Cycle to Work*
• Vivup is a free, confidential counselling and information service to assist with personal or work-related problems
• *Subject to eligibility

Please ensure that you document evidence of meeting all the essential criteria in the supporting information.

If sufficient response is received this post could be closed earlier than the specified closing date, please apply as soon as possible to ensure that your application is considered.

Candidates who have been successfully shortlisted for interview will be asked via an email notification to log on to their Trac account to select an interview time. This will usually be within 2 weeks of the closing date.

Person Specification

Qualifications

• 1st Degree
• Post graduate Qualification in cancer care
• Evidence of ongoing CPD in specialist area of practice
• A teaching qualification and the ability to facilitate the learning of others.
• Leadership course

Skills

• Excellent clinical skills
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills
• Ability to demonstrate the compassionate values and behaviours needed for dignified care
• Ability to demonstrate leadership of others
• Ability to work under pressure and meet tight deadlines
• Self‑motivated
• Good clinical reasoning skills
• Ability to develop reports

Personal circumstance

• Flexible approach to working patterns

Other Requirements

• Ability to attend appropriate training/educational courses
• Able to travel independently as required
• Commitment to Continuing Professional Development of self & others

Experience

• Experience of effectively managing people and resources
• Clinical care, assessment, diagnosis and care planning
• Substantial experience of care delivery
• Experience in leading audits and/or research
• Chemotherapy administration

Knowledge

• Specialist knowledge of cancer care delivery

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.

Address

North Cumbria Integrated Care NHS Foundation Trust

West Cumberland Hospital, Homewood Road,

£38,682 to £46,580 a year Per Annum, Pro Rata

Contract

Fixed term

Duration

12 months

Working pattern

Part‑time

Reference number

262-A-25-7692565

Job locations

West Cumberland Hospital, Homewood Road