Breast Cancer Clinical Nurse Specialist

CDDFT Charity; Darlington; On-site; GBP 35,000 - 55,000; Full time

Job summary

An exciting opportunity awaits an experienced nurse to join a dedicated Breast Cancer specialist team in Darlington. This role offers the chance to provide vital clinical support and nursing care to patients, ensuring they receive the highest standard of treatment. You will work closely with consultants and a multidisciplinary team, promoting evidence-based practice and patient-centered care. The position promises excellent training and development opportunities within a supportive environment, making it ideal for those passionate about making a difference in oncology. Join a forward-thinking organization committed to compassionate care and professional growth.

Qualifications

• Registered nurse with significant post-registration experience in oncology.
• Evidence of continuing professional development and mentorship qualifications.

Responsibilities

• Deliver expert nursing care to breast cancer patients.
• Collaborate with multidisciplinary teams to ensure high standards of care.
• Manage patient caseload and support service improvement activities.

Skills

Oncology experience

Communication skills

Clinical decision-making

Interpersonal skills

Mentorship skills

Time management

Education

Qualified Nurse

Degree qualification in nursing

Continuous professional development at Level 6/7

Mentorship and/or Teaching qualification

Tools

IT systems and programs

Job description

County Durham & Darlington NHS Foundation Trust

Breast Cancer Clinical Nurse Specialist

The closing date is 03 June 2025

An exciting opportunity has arisen for an experienced and enthusiastic nurse to join the Breast Cancer specialist nursing team. You will be based predominantly at Darlington Memorial Hospital, but the role will involve some trust-wide working.

You will receive excellent training, development, and support, and will provide specialist nursing and clinical support for the specialty.

You will ideally have a background in oncology or breast surgery, and you will require excellent interpersonal and communication skills. You will be involved in the delivery of specialist breast cancer nursing care while working in collaboration with the Breast Surgery Consultants, Oncologists, and other members of the multi-professional team.

Please contact Heather Thexton, Macmillan Cancer Educator, on 07385 397419 or at [e-mail] for further information.

Main duties of the job

The post holder will work as a clinical nurse specialist (CNS) delivering an expert, specialist service to patients diagnosed with breast cancer. The role includes developing, implementing, and evaluating a seamless specialist service, ensuring that patients with cancer receive the highest standard of clinical care and have access to the full resources of the multidisciplinary team whilst receiving all aspects of treatment. This will be achieved through clinical practice, management of patient caseload, education, research, audit, and professional activities related to breast cancer care.

The post-holder will be expected to attend and actively participate in the breast MDT and will have a close working relationship with the wider multidisciplinary team. This role will involve supporting the existing Breast Cancer CNS team.

They will promote safe, competent, and evidence-based practice, in line with national objectives and within the clinical governance framework.

About us

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 as 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 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.

From April 9th, 2025 - Healthcare assistants: You must have a minimum of two years of experience working within the NHS as a HCA for the Trust to consider sponsorship (we will only consider sponsorship if you meet this criteria and have a current visa expiring within 3 months).

Job responsibilities

In CDDFT, the role of a Cancer Clinical Nurse Specialist (CNS) is defined as a qualified nurse whose primary purpose is to provide guidance, support, and treatment based on an advanced level of knowledge to patients, carers, and health professionals concerning a specific disease/condition.

The Macmillan Band 6 Breast Cancer Clinical Nurse Specialist (CNS) will:

Support the existing Breast CNS team to deliver excellent patient care.

Work autonomously with minimal supervision within the team.

Be responsible for the care delivered, demonstrating critical thinking and skills in clinical decision-making in the management of patients within the specialist area.

Provide a continuing supportive service inclusive of information and advice within acute, primary, and community settings to patients, their carers, and the staff who support them on all aspects of the cancer disease and treatments.

Work collaboratively within the multidisciplinary team to meet the needs of patients, support the delivery of policy and procedures, and provide nurse leadership as required.

Ensure that each person receives a high standard of personalized care.

Act as a key worker for your caseload.

Support and implement service improvement activities.

You will have the following skills:

Registered nurse educated to first degree level.

Significant post-registration experience, preferably within the specialty.

Able to work autonomously with minimal supervision.

Evidence of continuing professional development.

Enhanced interpersonal and communication skills, including self-awareness and emotional intelligence.

Evidence of a mentorship and/or teaching qualification.

Comply with the regulations governing your specialty, particularly the NMC Code of Professional Standards of Practice and Behaviour.

Effective organization and time management skills, including the ability to work to deadlines, make clinical decisions, and manage multiple projects.

You will work as part of the wider Breast Cancer team to support the delivery of safe, compassionate, and joined-up care.

Person Specification

Qualifications

• Qualified Nurse
• Degree qualification in nursing
• Continuous professional development at Level 6/7
• Mentorship and/or Teaching qualification
• Physical Assessment skills
• Advanced communication skills training
• Cancer training/education

Special Skills & Knowledge

• Ability to communicate complex and sensitive information with empathy
• Assess, plan, implement, and evaluate care of patients/clients
• Enhanced interpersonal/communication skills demonstrating self-awareness and emotional intelligence
• Ability to work effectively and collaboratively with a multidisciplinary team to improve and coordinate services
• Competently utilize a wide range of IT systems and programs
• Personal resilience to manage an emotionally challenging and demanding workload
• Willingness to undertake further training and development
• Positive attitude towards change and its implementation
• Highly motivated
• Works within codes of practice and professional guidelines
• Participation in Research & Development activity
• Knowledge of cancer waiting time targets
• Knowledge of the Personalised Care Agenda
• Knowledge of support services for people dealing with cancer

Special Requirements

• Flexible approach to working hours to meet the needs of the service
• Ability to travel independently across sites to fulfill the requirements of the post

Statutory Registration

• Active NMC registration
• N/A

Experience

• Experience in Oncology or specialty
• Experience of working in a leadership/supervisory role
• Experience working as a specialist nurse

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.