Breast Clinical Nurse Specialist

University Hospitals Sussex NHS Foundation Trust; Worthing; On-site; GBP 100,000 - 125,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading healthcare provider in Worthing is seeking an experienced Breast Care Nurse to deliver high-quality care for patients in the breast screening and cancer pathways. The role requires excellent communication skills to support patients and families, collaborating with multidisciplinary teams. Candidates should possess a relevant nursing degree and experience in breast care. This position offers sponsorship under the Skilled Worker visa, with an emphasis on diversity and inclusion.

Benefits

Diversity and inclusion initiatives

Professional development opportunities

Qualifications

• UK registered Nurse.
• Advanced communication skills required.
• Experience at band 6/7 in breast screening/breast care preferred.

Responsibilities

• Provide sensitive communication to patients and their families.
• Work collaboratively with the MDT for patient care.
• Support and develop skills of nurses and HCAs.

Skills

Advanced communication skills

Nursing teamwork

Patient care delivery

Education

Undergraduate degree or equivalent experience

Post‑registration experience in Breast screening/breast cancer

Job description

Job Overview

The Integrated Breast Service is looking for an experienced Breast Care Nurse who is passionate about providing excellent care to all patients in both the breast screening and breast cancer pathways. The CNS will demonstrate clinical excellence and excellent communication within the nursing teams, MDT, and wider Trust staff. The post holder will work across sites in the delivery of high‑quality care for patients recalled from the National Breast Screening Programme and those diagnosed with breast cancer, providing support and information throughout the cancer pathway and beyond. Advanced communication skills are essential for this post holder. The CNS will also take part in Health Promotion activities relating to Breast Screening and Breast Awareness and support in the training and development of Band 6 nurses and Health Care Assistants, as well as assisting with clinical audits and working to make service changes and improvements.

This role is eligible for visa sponsorship under the UK Visas & Immigration (UKVI) Skilled Worker route; however, sponsorship can only be provided where applicants meet the specific requirements set by UKVI, including the relevant skill and salary thresholds (£25,000), and any role‑specific criteria.

Main Duties of the Job

• Work collaboratively with the MDT ensuring effective teamwork for both breast screening and breast care services at all sites.
• Provide sensitive and advanced communication to all patients and their significant others with all interactions.
• Work with the nursing teams across sites and Allied Health Professionals within the Breast Screening and Imaging Service and Breast Care Services, supporting patients recalled for further assessment and patients with breast cancer.

Working for Our Organisation

At UHSussex, diversity is our strength, and we want you to feel included to help us always deliver Excellent Care Everywhere, as shown in our Outstanding for Caring CQC rating. Your uniqueness and experiences will be part of our creative and innovative community where everyone is encouraged to succeed. We have a range of staff networks to help break down barriers, and can offer a buddy to help new members settle in. We’re proud to be a Disability Confident Employer (Level 3) and a Veteran Aware Trust.

Detailed Job Description and Main Responsibilities

Communication

• Always work collaboratively with the MDT ensuring effective teamwork for both breast screening and breast care services at all sites.
• Provide sensitive and advanced communication to all patients and their significant others with all interactions.
• Work with nurses and Allied Health Professionals within the Breast Screening and Imaging Service, Breast Care Services, supporting and developing their skills in caring for patients recalled for further assessment and patients with breast cancer, particularly when communication is complex and sensitive.
• Ensure the delivery of appropriate communication for patients who may have barriers to communication and specific needs such as learning disabilities/difficulties.
• Consult effectively with internal and external Trust staff to ensure optimal care delivery for patients.
• Attend daily staff huddles and team meetings and raise operational, clinical and staffing concerns.
• Provide clear, concise, and accurate written and digital nursing documentation.
• Deliver benign results to patients as locally agreed.
• Provide expert advice to patients and staff on breast cancer and benign breast conditions.
• Partake in formal and informal teaching activities on breast cancer and treatments to Trust staff and patients.

Service Delivery and Improvement

• Contribute to risk management and health and safety in the workplace, raising concerns appropriately.
• Demonstrate team cohesion and collaborative working, adapting practice to the needs of the service.
• Take a flexible approach to working across sites to ensure service delivery optimisation.
• Attend team meetings and play an active role in supporting any service changes and improvements within breast screening and breast care.
• Support the Trust and divisional cancer strategies.
• Work with the Matrons and Quality Improvement Manager to actively partak in health promotion activities relating to Breast Screening and Breast Awareness.
• Initiate clinical audits and patient experience surveys relating to Trust standards and breast services.
• Support the development of nurse‑led services for service demands.
• Work within the West Sussex, East Sussex, Brighton and Hove Breast Screening services under the NHS England Quality Assurance guidelines for the CNS in breast screening.
• Contribute to the development of Standard Operating Procedures and Policies relating to the breast services.
• Ensure concerns are raised within the Trust policy using DATIX, governance and risk frameworks.

People Management and Development

• Perform duties in line with the Trust’s e‑rostering processes, including managing rosters, supporting staff allocation, and contributing to effective budget reconciliation and workforce planning.
• Provide support and development training for the Band 6 nurses and HCAs.
• Conduct staff annual appraisals in line with Trust guidance and line management.
• Deputise the Matrons when required to support the management of staff sickness and absences in line with Trust policy.
• Provide professional and clinical leadership to enable effective and safe team working.
• Actively involve in the recruitment process and retention of staff.
• Act as a role model for junior staff and partake in staff clinical supervision.

Patient Care Delivery

• Adhere to the NMC Code – Professional standards of practice and behaviour for nurses, midwives and nursing associates at all times.
• Take responsibility for Nurse‑in‑Charge duties to manage the clinical demands of the service and team to ensure patient care is always delivered to a high standard.
• Provide specialist support for patients recalled from breast screening to assessment and specialist nursing advice.
• Undertake an assessment of all patients’ information needs and provide appropriate support and information during the diagnostic process.
• Use specialist knowledge to deliver evidence‑based care to all patients during a cancer and non‑cancer diagnosis and treatment.
• Ensure effective and timely management and response to patients who call the helpline in conjunction with the cancer support workers.
• Use effective time management to prioritise and manage patient demands.
• Contribute to the review and updating of patient information resources used within the services.

Learning and Development

• Attend mandatory training updates as required.
• Undertake training as necessary in line with the development of the post and as agreed with the line manager as part of the personal development process.
• Achieve and demonstrate agreed standards of personal and professional development within agreed timescales.
• Identify own learning needs and jointly plan training requirements with your line manager.
• Participate in the Trust’s appraisal process to discuss how your role will help deliver the best possible care to our patients and help to deliver any changes in service.
• Demonstrate a commitment to the four pillars of advanced practice.

This job description is an outline of the role and responsibilities. From time to time due to the needs of the service, we may ask you to flexibly undertake other duties that are consistent with your role and banding, including project work, internal job rotation and absence cover.

Person Specification

Experience / Qualifications

Essential Criteria

• UK registered Nurse
• Undergraduate degree or equivalent experience
• Post‑registration or equivalent experience in Breast screening / breast cancer
• Advanced communication skills
• Experience at band 6 / 7 required in breast screening / breast care, preferably as a CNS

Desirable Criteria

• Experience of staff recruitment
• Experience of managing teams
• Experience of staff development and training

Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion

Essential Criteria

• Evidence of having championed diversity in previous roles (as appropriate to role).
• Evidence of having undertaken own development to improve understanding of equalities issues.

Important Information for Applicants

A Note on AI Use in Applications

We value the individuality and authenticity that each candidate brings to the application process. While AI tools are increasingly accessible, we strongly discourage their use in completing your application. Your responses should reflect your own voice, experiences, and motivations – elements that are essential to a fair and accurate evaluation.

Applications that rely heavily on AI‑generated content may misrepresent your abilities and could result in your application being rejected. We encourage you to take the time to present your genuine self, as this helps us better understand your potential and ensures a transparent selection process.

Closing Adverts Early

In the event of exceptional interest, we may close adverts earlier than specified.

Some of our adverts are capped for a limited number of applications; therefore, the advert will close once the cap has been reached. We therefore encourage you to submit your application as soon as possible if you are interested in the position to prevent you from missing out on applying for the opportunity.

Flexible Working: If you would like to explore potential options regarding flexible working please speak with the appropriate recruiting / line manager.

DBS Checks: As part of our commitment to a safe working environment, we undertake a Disclosure and Barring Service check on all new employees where the role is eligible for a criminal record check. We make offers in line with the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1975.

Skilled Worker Visa: Applications for Skilled Worker sponsorship are welcome for the roles that meet the Visa and Immigrations eligibility criteria. For further information please visit the gov.uk website searching for Skilled Worker. It is your responsibility as the applicant to ensure that you meet this criteria.

UHSussex reserves the right to close the role early if we receive a high volume of applications.