Clinical Nurse Specialist

The Christie International; Manchester; On-site; GBP 33,000 - 42,000; Part time

Job summary

The Christie NHS Foundation Trust in Manchester is seeking a motivated Associate Clinical Nurse Specialist (CNS) to join the HPB & NET team on a part-time basis (32.5 hours/week). You will provide specialist nursing input to HPB cancer and NET patients, act as keyworker, and coordinate care with the MDT to improve patient experience.

Applicants should have nursing degree/diploma, HPB/NET experience, and licensure to practice; strong communication and leadership skills are essential to deliver

Qualifications

• Degree or Diploma in nursing studies.
• Palliative Care Certificate desirable.
• Counselling and advanced communication skills certificates beneficial.
• Non-Medical Prescriber status advantageous.

Responsibilities

• Provide specialist support and advice to HPB cancer and NET patients.
• Act as keyworker and coordinate care across MDT.
• Deliver symptom management and information to patients and carers.

Skills

Communication

Interpersonal skills

Leadership

Autonomy

Education

Nursing degree or diploma

Palliative Care Certificate

Counselling certificate

Advanced communication skills certificate

Non-Medical Prescriber

Job description

A new and exciting opportunity has arisen for a motivated nurse to join the HPB & NET team. The position is part time 32.5 hours per week. Work pattern to be negotiated. The post will involve offering specialist nursing input to patients with HPB cancer & NETs. Together with the established HPB & NET team and multi-disciplinary team, the Associate CNS will aim to deliver an enhanced patient experience. The Associate CNS will work within the busy and dynamic HPB & NET team. Most patients will be receiving treatment to control their cancer and often have supportive and palliative needs. Sign posting patients to appropriate services, providing advice, support and symptom management is a fundamental aspect of the CNS role. They will be line-managed and work in conjunction with the Band 7 HPB & NET Clinical Nurse Specialist providing cover for all medical oncology patients with a HPB cancer & NETs. The successful candidate will be highly motivated and driven to improve patient care. The candidate must have exceptional communication and interpersonal skills. They will also have well-developed clinical and professional leadership skills to encourage and promote best outcomes for patients, their relatives, and carers. The ability to work autonomously is paramount for this post together with confidence to engage and work with a range of colleagues at all levels and from all professional groups.

Main duties of the job

You will provide specialist support and advice to patients with HPB cancers and NETs and act as their keyworker. You will oversee and co-ordinate care, to deliver a supportive nursing service for patients and their families receiving treatment at The Christie. You will be responsible for delivering specialist CNS cancer care across organisational, professional, and geographical boundaries both autonomously and as part of a dedicated team.

Working for our organisation

The Christie is one of Europe’s leading cancer centres, looking after more than 64,000 patients a year. We are based in Manchester and serve a population of 3.2 million across Greater Manchester & Cheshire, but as a national specialist around 25% patients are referred to us from other parts of the country.

We are the largest radiotherapy provider in the NHS with one in 20 treatments delivered at The Christie. We have up to 15 linear accelerators operating across our network of sites. We operate the largest chemotherapy unit in the UK on our main site and treatments are also provided at 13 other networked sites, and in patients homes. And as a specialist tertiary surgical centre, we focus on rare cancers, complex procedures, and multidisciplinary approaches to cancer surgery, specialising in colorectal, peritoneal, gynaecological, urological and plastic surgery.

We are also an international leader in research, with world first breakthroughs for over 100 years. We have been named by the UK’s National Institute for Health Research (NIHR), as one of the best hospitals providing opportunities for patients to participate in clinical research studies, with more than 800 studies open at any time, caring for over 3,000 patients.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

Outline of Functions

• To act as a key contact for patients with HPB & NETs, carers and other healthcare professionals.
• To provide advice, support and symptom management for patients, carers and other professionals.
• To be aware of current best practice in relation to the treatment and management of patients with HPB and NETs.
• To undertake clinical and organisational audit in order to improve practice.

Clinical duties

1. To accept referrals and undertake a holistic assessment of patient needs.
2. In collaboration with HPB & NET associate CNS colleague, act as a point of contact for patients and their carers.
3. Attend HPB & NET clinics at The Christie and to meet patients and their families in order to provide information about treatment, offer psychological support and assist with the general running of clinics.
4. To be fully conversant with treatment protocols and to be aware of current research protocols and to liaise with the HPB & NET Research Nurses as appropriate.
5. Ensure accurate documentation of patient care in accordance with hospital policies and standards.
6. When appropriate to be aware of HPB and NET patients admitted as inpatients and liaise, when necessary, with the multidisciplinary team (MDT) involved in their care.
7. To attend and contribute to MDT meetings and other meetings as appropriate.
8. To always act in accordance with the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) Code guiding documents.
9. To carry out duties as directed in order to ensure that clinics run effectively and timely with an aim to improve the patient experience.

Professional/Clinical Leadership.

1. To act as a role model and expert resource to patients, carers and colleagues.
2. Act as a specialist resource for the ward team who provide care for patients with HPB cancers & NETs.
3. Evaluate service delivery; identify areas for improvement and initiate change. Involve patients and the public in service development, as appropriate.
4. Provide written evidence of service development and performance.
5. Initiate and support clinical developments and projects to promote excellence in patient care.
6. Receive clinical supervision and mentorship to facilitate reflective practice.
7. Attend and participate in the CNS Forum.

Education and Development.

1. To participate in annual appraisal and accept personal responsibility for professional growth and development. Maintain a professional portfolio.
2. Ensure compliance with Trust essential training.
3. Contribute to educational programmes in collaboration with CNS colleagues e.g. ward teaching, dissemination of best practice through presentation at conferences, Trust HPB and NET and NET patient education days.
4. Attend educational meetings and conferences in order to keep up-dated with current best practice with an aim to maintain Continuing Professional Development (CPD).
5. Together with other professional colleagues, develop information and resources for patients and their carers.

Research and Audit

1. To ensure that clinical practice is based on evidence, ensuring this is disseminated to colleagues and the greater network.
2. To identify opportunities for nursing research, and when appropriate to participate in research, clinical audit and benchmarking, in order to improve patient care.
3. Evaluate service delivery; identify areas for improvement and initiate change.

RISK MANAGEMENT

It is a standard element of the role and responsibility of all staff of the Trust that they fulfil a proactive role towards the management of risk in all of their actions. This entails the risk assessment of all situations, the taking of appropriate actions and reporting of all incidents, near misses and hazards.

RECORDS MANAGEMENT/DATA PROTECTION ACT

As an employee of the Trust, you have a legal responsibility for all records (including patient health, financial, personal and administrative) that you gather or use as part of your work within the trust. The records may be paper, electronic, microfiche, audio or videotapes, x-ray images. You must consult your manager if you have any doubt as to the correct management of the records with which you work.

HEALTH AND SAFETY REQUIREMENTS

All employees of the Trust have a statutory duty of care for their own personal safety and that of others who may be affected by their acts or omissions. Employees are required to co-operate with management to enable the Trust to meet its own legal duties and to report any circumstances that may compromise the health, safety and welfare of those affected by the Trust undertakings.

CONFIDENTIALITY AND INFORMATION SECURITY

As a Trust employee you are required to uphold the confidentiality of all records held by the trust, whether patient records or trust information. This duty lasts indefinitely and will continue after you leave the trust employment.

All Information which identifies individuals in whatever form (paper/pictures, electronic data/images or voice) is covered by the 1998 Data Protection Act and should be managed in accordance with this legislation.

TRUST POLICIES

The Trust operates a range of policies, e.g. Human Resources, Clinical Practice (available on the Trust intranet). All Trust employees must observe and adhere to the provisions outlined in these policies.

Person specification

Qualifications

• Degree or Diploma in nursing studies.
• Palliative Care Certificate.
• Counselling certificate.
• Advanced communication skills certificate.
• Non-Medical Prescriber.

Experience

• Experience post registration, including oncology experience.
• HPB and NET experience.
• CNS experience.
• Experience in caring for patients with palliative needs.

Skills

• Able to work autonomously and within a team.
• Aware of limitations.
• Ability to develop effective interpersonal relationships with colleagues across health and social care setting.
• Good organisational/prioritising skills
• Evidence of effective team working across professional and organisational boundaries.

Knowledge

• Knowledge of professional and NHS issues, and policies relating to HPB & NET specialty.
• Evidence of continuing professional development.

Values

• Make a difference
• Act with kindness
• Connect with people

Other

• Demonstrates flexibility in working hours.

The closing date for this post may be extended if there are insufficient applicants or brought forward if there is a high volume of applicants.

Sponsorship Information - We are an approved sponsoring organisation. Applications will be considered from applicants requiring sponsorship alongside all other applications. Please be aware, not all roles are eligible for sponsorship. You can review the list of eligible role and requirements on the government website.

Pre-Employment Checks - To confirm your suitability for the role, we will carry out pre-employment checks in line with NHS Employment Check Standards . These include:

• Identity verification
• Right to work check
• Disclosure and barring service (DBS)/Criminal record check (dependent on role, payment of this will be the applicants responsibility)
• Professional registration and/or qualification check
• Occupational health assessment
• Employment history and reference validation

All applicants external to The Christie NHS Foundation Trust will be required to provide their HMRC employment history to cover the most recent three years employment. This information will used to validate employment history andreferences.

If you require sponsorship, we will assess your eligibility based on current government guidance. If the role is not eligible and you cannot demonstrate your right to work, your conditional offer may be withdrawn.

The Inter-Authority Transfer (IAT) process is a critical and beneficial component of ESR and will form part of the recruitment process. In the event that you are successful following interview your previous NHS employment data, if applicable will be transferred from your current / most recent employer.

Sponsorship Information - We are an approved sponsoring organisation. Applications will be considered from applicants requiring sponsorship alongside all other applications. Please be aware, not all roles are eligible for sponsorship. You can review the list of eligible role and requirements on the government website.

No Smoking Policy - You should be aware the Trust operates a No Smoking Policy and therefore employees are not permitted to smoke at work.

We want to ensure that everyone who works at the Christie or uses our services is welcomed, valued and treated with dignity and respect. The Christie values diversity and is committed to ensuring equal opportunities for all and fair representation across the organisation at all levels. In support of these commitments, we particularly welcome applications from Black, Asian and other ethnic minority people and people with disabilities for this post. Appointment will be only on merit.

We are committed to creating a balanced and diverse workforce. As such we welcome and encourage applications from people of all backgrounds. Together we will foster inclusion and tackle inequity and health inequalities in cancer care.

As users of the disability confident scheme, we guarantee to interview all disabled applicants who meet the minimum criteria for the vacancy.

The Christie NHS Foundation Trust is committed to the highest standards of ethical conduct and integrity in all our activities. We have a zero-tolerance approach to modern slavery in any of its forms, including slavery, servitude, forced or compulsory labour, and human trafficking. We are fully committed to acting ethically and with transparency in all our business dealings and relationships, and to implementing and enforcing effective systems and controls to ensure modern slavery is not taking place anywhere in our organisation or supply chains.

Employer certification / accreditation badges

You must have appropriate UK professional registration.

This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975 (Amendment) (England and Wales) Order 2020 and it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service.