Acute Oncology Nurse

NHS; Luton; On-site; GBP 30,000 - 40,000; Full time

Job summary

A regional healthcare provider in Luton seeks an Acute Oncology Nurse to manage patient caseloads and provide expert advice in oncology. The role requires a Registered Nurse with a strong background in cancer nursing, leadership experience, and the ability to work within a multidisciplinary team. This position offers a comprehensive development framework and aims to deliver high standards of palliative care to patients. Opportunities for continued professional development are available.

Benefits

Comprehensive development framework

High quality training and development

Qualifications

• Significant demonstrable experience of working within oncology in an acute setting.
• Experience of leading a team and multi-disciplinary team working.
• Evidence of recent, relevant, and appropriate continuing professional development.

Responsibilities

• Manage a caseload of patients presenting with cancer diagnosis.
• Act as a central point for acute oncology service patient referrals.
• Provide expert advice on cancer diagnosis and treatment.

Skills

Expert nursing advice in specialty

Assessment skills

Communication skills

Teaching or mentoring

Patient advocacy

Education

Registered Nurse

First Level degree in a relevant specialty

Post graduate qualification in cancer nursing

Job description

Acute Oncology Nurse

The closing date is 24 November 2025

An exciting opportunity exists to join the highly performing Acute Oncology Nurse (AOS) Service.

The Band 6 post will be supported by a comprehensive development framework.

As an integral part of the Hospital CNS Team, you will work closely with Emergency Care Physicians SPC Consultants; as well as Acute Oncology and other CNS teams across the Trust. You will also regularly liaise with Hospice and Community lead teams to deliver the highest standards of specialist palliative care. Requirements of this position include being an autonomous practitioner, able to assess, plan and implement comprehensive care plans, which reflect the holistic needs of individual patients. You will also act as an expert in your field providing advice and support to patients and clinical teams. This involves triaging acute oncology alerts and providing direct input and advice to appropriate cases.

As an AOS/CUP team member you will be involved with clinical work, audit, district wide education, delivery of new end of live and palliative care initiatives, research; and contributing to local policies, guidelines and service changes.

Main duties of the job

• To work autonomously whilst working as part of a multi-disciplinary team to manage caseload of patients who present to the acute oncology service with an existing cancer diagnosis or with symptoms of a suspected cancer diagnosis. To maintain effective communication with patients, carers, and professionals.
• To act as the central point for acute oncology service patient referrals and to co-ordinate the Malignant Spinal Cord Compression (MSCC) pathways and ongoing referrals.
• To undertake the role and associated responsibilities of the core nurse member for the acute oncology service.
• To liaise with the cancer and palliative care CNS team to ensure that the most appropriate Keyworker is identified at all stages of the cancer journey.
• To act as a clinical expert in advising patients, their carers, and the multi-professional team about cancer diagnosis, treatment, and survivorship.
• To work closely with the appropriate multi-professional team caring for patients who have complex discharge needs to facilitate a safe discharge from hospital.
• To work in close liaison with the palliative care team at the Luton and Dunstable Hospital and in the community, handing over patient care as appropriate.
• To work to support service improvement of the acute oncology as a speciality at the Luton and Dunstable Hospital.

About us

Bedfordshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust provides hospital services to a growing population of around 700,000 people living across Bedfordshire and the surrounding areas across two busy hospital sites in Bedford and Luton. Both hospital sites offer key services such as A&E, Obstetrics-led Maternity and Paediatrics.

You will be joining a friendly, high performing Trust committed to ensuring the health and wellbeing of staff. As one of the largest NHS Trusts in our region you will have access to a programme of high quality training and development to help you grow your career.

We have state‑of‑the‑art facilities placing us at the heart of cutting edge health care. The Trust continues to be committed to delivering the best patient care using the best clinical knowledge and technology available.

Please note that vacancies may close prior to the advertised closing date when sufficient number of applications have been received. Please ensure that you make your application as soon as possible.

All new staff will be subject to a probationary period covering their first six months in post. Travel between hospital sites may be required.

Please review all documents attached to this advert to ensure you familiarize yourself with all requirements of the job.

Job responsibilities

• To provide expert nursing advice in the specialty in history taking and assessment skills.
• To demonstrate specialist skills and knowledge through expert nursing practice.
• To maintain a high profile in the clinical area, acting as a role model for other health care professionals.
• To work with the nursing staff to facilitate individualised patient care based upon the principles of evidence based practice.
• To assist in establishing, implementing and monitoring Trust Guidelines, Policies, and Protocols relating to the delivery of the acute oncology service.
• To act as a change agent utilising the principles of evidence based practice.
• To implement and disseminate change through policy and guideline development based on evidence.
• To use communication skills to empathetically impart information at all levels.
• To provide timely assessment of both the physical and emotional needs of patients upon presentation as an emergency ensuring early initiation of investigation or management.
• To ensure close liaison with other members of the acute oncology team and key personnel at other treating hospitals.

Person Specification

Qualifications

• Registered Nurse.
• First Level degree in a relevant specialty.
• Post graduate qualification in cancer nursing or other appropriate specialty.
• Significant demonstrable experience of working within oncology in an acute setting.
• Teaching or mentoring qualifications.
• Evidence of recent, relevant, and appropriate continuing professional development.

Experience

• Extensive experience working within oncology at a senior level.
• Experience of leading a team.
• Experience of multi-disciplinary team working.
• Experience of leading the development of protocols and standards.
• Experience of nurse‑led clinics.
• Experience in patient advocacy.
• Experience of obtaining and using patient feedback.

Knowledge

• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Ability to prioritise and organise own workload.
• Computer literate.
• Knowledge of current NHS issues including those directly related to the cancer agenda.
• Ability to critically analyse and apply research to the clinical setting.
• Understanding of the need of confidentiality awareness at all times.
• Project management knowledge / skills.
• Knowledge and understanding of the Cancer Reform Strategy, and cancer service provision.
• Registered.

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.

Bedfordshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust