Clinical Nurse Specialist - Macmillan Unit

West Suffolk NHS Foundation Trust; Bury St Edmunds; On-site; GBP 40,000 - 48,000; Full time

Job summary

West Suffolk NHS Foundation Trust, in the Macmillan Unit, is seeking a Clinical Nurse Specialist to support the Breast Oncology CNS and patients across the breast cancer pathway. You will provide holistic care, education, advocacy, and MDT collaboration to improve patient outcomes.

You will work closely with oncology consultants in a busy hospital setting in Bury St Edmunds, offering face-to-face and telephone support to patients and their families, and helping to coordinate their care

Qualifications

• Registered nurse with current NMC registration.
• Experience in cancer care or with cancer patients.
• ENB 998/equivalent qualification.
• ENB 237/A27 or degree level education, or working towards.
• Evidence of educational development in cancer care preferred.

Responsibilities

• Act as a supportive key worker guiding patients through the breast cancer pathway from diagnosis through treatment milestones.
• Support nurse-led clinics, assist with patient triage and coordinate diagnostics, surgery, or SACT, while maintaining accurate records.
• Provide clear information and signpost patients to charitable, psychological or community support services.

Skills

Key worker support

Clinical practice

Communication

Education&training in oncology

Problem solving

Team collaboration

Cytotoxic drug handling

Documentation/records management

Education

1st level NMC Registered Nurse

Experience in cancer care

ENB 998/equivalent

ENB 237/A27 or degree level or working towards

Job description

Clinical Nurse Specialist - Macmillan Unit

We have an exciting opportunity in the Macmillan Unit at the West Suffolk Hospital within the Oncology Clinical Nurse Specialist (CNS) Team.

We are seeking a Registered Nurse with experience and knowledge of working with, and treating, oncology patients. The postholder will have the passion to ensure patients receive the best care and support possible.

The advertised role would primarily be supporting the Breast Oncology CNS and breast cancer patients but you would also be expected to offer support for other tumour sites as required.

Main duties of the job

You would be expected to support patients through the entire oncology process, including curative and palliative pathways, You will see patients face to face and will be supporting them through their clinic experiences, working closely with the Oncology Consultants and being available to offer advise and support over the telephone.

You would be an essential point of contact for the patients and their family/carers, offering support and advise, acting as a patient advocate, signposting to appropriate services and offering education to patients, their families/carers and staff.

About us

#BeKnown at West Suffolk NHS Foundation Trust. By us. By our patients. By our community

We are a busy, friendly, rural NHS Trust providing high-quality care and compassion to more than a quarter of a million people across west Suffolk. We care for, treat and support people in hospital, at home and in various community settings.

The West Suffolk Hospital in Bury St Edmunds provides acute and secondary care services (emergency department, maternity and neonatal services, day surgery unit, eye treatment centre, Macmillan unit and children's ward). It has 500+ beds and is a partner teaching hospital of the University of Cambridge.

Adult and paediatric community services, provided in collaboration with West Suffolk Alliance partners, include a range of nursing, therapy, specialist, and ongoing temporary care and rehabilitation, some at our Newmarket Community Hospital.

We do our utmost to achieve outstanding clinical outcomes for patients and our values of fairness, inclusivity, respect, safety and team work guide how we work and behave as a team.

With nearly 5,000 staff, from all over the world, we strive to make our organisation a great place to work. Whatever your role or ambition, we want to help you be the best you can be.

We promote a diverse and inclusive community where everyones voice counts and you can #BeKnown for whoever you are.

Join us. What will you #BeKnown for?

Job responsibilities

To act as a supportive key worker and clinical team member, guiding patients through their breast cancer pathway under the supervision of senior nurses and the Multidisciplinary Team (MDT).

Key Tasks & Responsibilities:

Key Worker Support: Act as a point of contact and supportive guide for patients and their families from diagnosis through treatment milestones.

Holistic Assessments: Assist in carrying out physical, psychological, social, and spiritual needs assessments (HNA) using evidence-based practice.

Clinic & Care Coordination: Support nurse-led clinics, assist with patient triage, help coordinate appointments for diagnostics, surgery, or SACT (Systemic Anti-Cancer Therapy), and maintain accurate electronic/written records.

Information & Signposting: Provide clear, empathetic information regarding treatment options and side effects, and signpost patients to charitable, psychological, or community support services.

MDT Collaboration: Attend and participate in local team meetings when lead Breast CNS is not able to attend, relaying patient concerns to senior CNS staff, consultants, and palliative care teams.

Person Specification

Education and qualifications

• 1st level NMC Registered Nurse
• Experience of working within a cancer setting or with cancer patients
• Evidence of educational development ideal within a cancer setting or site.
• ENB 998/equivalent
• ENB 237/A27 or Educated to degree level, or working towards

Experience and knowledge

• Experience within acute Oncology/Haematology
• Knowledge of change management process
• Ability to develop nursing excellence and clinical practice
• Initiation & evaluation of research-based practice
• Awareness of cancer policy and politics
• Managerial responsibility
• Clinical audit

Skills and abilities

• Ability to record & deal with accurate facts, figures and information.
• Evidence of professional development & its relevant application
• Ability to problem solve
• Ability to plan, organise, prioritise & coordinate work under pressure & using own initiative.
• Ability to establish effective working partnerships with members of the multi-professional team
• Ability to communicate effectively with key stakeholders within & outside the Trust
• Experience of developing, training & education in clinical practice
• Cytotoxic drug administration skills
• Ability to use complex medical/clinical equipment
• Ability to remain calm & work effectively in stressful situations
• Ability to act independently and delegate appropriately
• Willingness to learn new skills
• Demonstrate commitment to quality service provision

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.

£39,959 to £48,117 a yearPer Annum, Pro Rata