Associate Clinical Nurse Specialist - Breast Cancer

East Lancashire Hospitals NHS Trust; Burnley; On-site; GBP 34,000 - 44,000; Full time

Job summary

East Lancashire Hospitals NHS Trust invites applications for an Associate Clinical Nurse Specialist in Breast Cancer to cover maternity leave. The post is 37.5 hours per week across five days, fixed-term for 9 months with potential extension to 12 months.

The CNS will deliver emotional and physical support to breast cancer patients, work closely with surgical colleagues and NHSBSP, and contribute to education, care coordination, and pathway development within a multidisciplinary team.

Qualifications

• Registered General Nurse with current registration.
• Degree in Health related subject or equivalent.
• Advanced communication skills required.
• Teaching and assessing qualification desirable.

Responsibilities

• Provide emotional and physical support to breast cancer patients.
• Manage an allocated patient caseload and coordinate care.
• Educate patients and signpost to specialist services.
• Work with Band 7 Lead Nurse and multidisciplinary team.
• Develop cancer care pathways and contribute to service improvement.

Skills

Advanced communication skills

Education

Registered General Nurse

Degree in Health related subject or equivalent

Teaching and assessing qualification

Job description

Associate Clinical Nurse Specialist - Breast Cancer

An exciting opportunity has arisen for a 9-month fixed-term position to provide maternity leave cover within the Breast Care Nursing Team, with a potential opportunity for this to be extended up to 12 months. This role is offered at 37.5 hours per week, worked across five days.

The successful candidate will play a pivotal role in delivering both emotional and physical support to patients across East Lancashire who have been diagnosed with breast cancer.

The post holder will be required to demonstrate excellent communication skills and the ability to work effectively as part of a multidisciplinary team.

Working closely with surgical colleagues and the National Health Service Breast Screening Programme (NHSBSP), supporting patients through the diagnostic process, facilitate sensitive discussions regarding treatment options, and provide ongoing care throughout the patient pathway.

Strong organisational and coordination skills are essential to ensure seamless patient care, including liaising confidently with internal departments and external Trusts.

Key responsibilities will include supporting the Band 7 Lead Nurse, managing an allocated patient caseload, providing education and emotional support to patients, signposting to specialist services, and developing expertise in cancer care pathways. The role also requires the ability to work autonomously while maintaining high standards of care delivery.

Previous experience in cancer care or oncology is desirable.

Main duties of the job

To be responsible for providing high standards of holistic nursing to all breast cancer patients/carers across East Lancashire NHS Trust. Work autonomously, and be accountable for own professional practice. Give support, education and guidance to patients and carers. Work as a member of the breast cancer clinical nurse specialist team supporting the band 7 cancer CNS's and liaising effectively with all members of the multidisciplinary team.

About us

Established in 2003, East Lancashire Hospitals NHS Trust (ELHT) is a large, integrated healthcare organisation providing high-quality acute and community services for the population of East Lancashire and Blackburn with Darwen. The Trust places safety and quality at the centre of everything it does, investing in and developing its workforce, building strong partnerships with key stakeholders, and encouraging innovation and pathway redesign to deliver best practice across all services.

ELHT employs more than 8,000 staff, many of whom are internationally recognised and have received awards for their contributions and achievements. The District Nursing Service is proud to be part of this forward-thinking organisation, offering a supportive environment where staff are encouraged to grow, develop, and access a wide range of professional development opportunities.

Job responsibilities

For full details about this role, including the main duties and responsibilities, please refer to the Job Description and Person Specification located under the Supporting Documents section.

Further details about the Breast Service can be found on the trust website: https://elht.nhs.uk/services/breast-services

Person Specification

Qualifications

• Registered General Nurse
• Degree in Health related subject or equivalent
• Advanced communication skills
• Teaching and assessing qualification

Experience

• Clinical experience in speciality or cancer related area
• Experience of teaching and assessing in clinical area
• Experience of undertaking audit
• Specialist palliative care experience and/ or knowledge of end of life referral and care pathways
• Management experience in speciality or related area
• Participation in service development and implementation of change

Knowledge and skills

• Leadership and motivational skills
• Ability to communicate unpleasant/ sensitive information to patients in a variety of settings
• Able to influence and overcome resistance through application of advanced communication skills
• Intermediate IT skills in word processing and spreadsheets
• Able to work autonomously
• Able to perform advanced clinical skills
• Able to analyse data and provide written reports

Personal attributes

• Ability to develop effective interpersonal relationships with colleagues across health and social care settings
• Personal and professional maturity
• Diplomatic
• Effective time manager

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.