Clinical Nurse Specialist Non-Specific Symptom Pathway

Bristol NHS Foundation Trust; Bristol; Hybrid; GBP 40,000 - 48,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Flexible working

WFH days may be considered

Job summary

Bristol NHS Foundation Trust is seeking a Band 6 Clinical Nurse Specialist for the Non-Specific Symptom Pathway. The role involves autonomous nursing care, triage by telephone, and coordination with primary and secondary care to streamline diagnostic pathways.

Hybrid working with possible WFH days for the right candidate. Key duties include supporting a diagnostic pathway, liaising with colleagues, and delivering high-quality nursing care for patients and carers within the NSSP framework.

Qualifications

• Current NMC Registration
• First degree in nursing or health related subject
• Qualification in Teaching and Assessing

Responsibilities

• Provide autonomous, telephone triage and record keeping per NSSP.
• Liaise with NSSP team and GP referrers to manage referrals and care.
• Support patients with cancer diagnostic pathways and explain next steps.
• Work with Pathway Navigator and GPs to triage referrals and coordinate investigations.

Skills

Organisation & management

Teaching

Under pressure

Problem solving

Interpersonal skills

IT skills

Mentor/assessor

Education

NMC Registration (Current)

Bachelor's degree in nursing/health related subject

Teaching & Assessing qualification

Tools

Training/education tools

Job description

Main area 2ww Cancer Pathway Non Specific Symptom Pathway Grade Band 6 Contract Fixed term: 6 months (FTC/Secondment - 6 months from start date) Hours

• Full time
• Flexible working

37.5 hours per week (Successful candidate will need to work Tuesday's due to weekly team case review) Job ref 387-SPS4525-NG

Employer Bristol NHS Foundation Trust Employer type NHS Site Bristol Haematology and Oncology Centre Town Bristol Salary £39,959 - £48,117 pa pro rata Salary period Yearly Closing 07/10/2026 23:59

Clinical Nurse Specialist Non-Specific Symptom Pathway

Band 6

North Bristol NHS Trust (NBT) and University Hospitals Bristol and Weston NHS Foundation Trust (UHBW) have merged as of 1 st July 2026 to become Bristol NHS Foundation Trust. This will create an exciting future that brings together the best of both organisations. As a single, strong and sustainable organisation, we will not only be able to deliver better outcomes for our patients and fairer care for our population, but it will also provide greater opportunities for our people.

Bristol NHS Foundation Trust recognise the value of a healthy work-life balance. When applying, speak to us about how we might be able to accommodate flexible working, so your work life fits around your home life.

We particularly welcome applications from Black, Asian and minority ethnic candidates as they are under-represented within the Trust.

Our job adverts may close as soon as sufficient applications have been received.

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Job overview

The Non-Specific Symptom Pathway (NSSP) offers a single point of access to a diagnostic pathway for patients with non‑specific symptoms. The post holder will need to work in close collaboration with care of the elderly Consultant at North Bristol NHST Trust and, Primary and secondary care to support a tailored pathway of clinically relevant diagnostic tests towards a timely diagnosis. The post holder will utilise skills of clinical expertise, education and management to ensure a high quality service for patients, carers and staff.

The NSSP CNS will undertake a pivotal role alongside the Pathway Navigator, liaising with patients who are referred, acting as the main point of contact, offering support and keeping patients informed at each stage. Once diagnosis is known, to refer to the appropriate team or back to the GP’s for ongoing management ensuring a seamless transition of care. The post holder will work closely with the NSSP GP to support triage of referrals, liaising with colleagues within diagnostic services across Trusts to ensure that investigations and tests are timely and co‑ordinated.

This post would be open to nurses with primary or secondary care experience as much of the role focuses on timely telephone triage and detailed record keeping. Whilst office based initially, WFH days could be considered for the right candidate and this role is a great step‑up into a career within Oncology.

Main duties of the job

The NSSP Clinical Nurse Specialist role is varied and constantly developing to meet the speciality needs and evolving site specific referral pathways within Bristol, North Somerset and South Gloucestershire. You will be required to work autonomously at times and will need to utilise exceptional organisational and communication skills to guide patients, their families and carers through the pathway.

The role involves working with a small proportion of patients who will be diagnosed with cancer or other urgent diagnoses requiring quick and decisive treatment plans including possible urgent hospital admission. The nature of communication required is sensitive and therefore a high degree of empathy and understanding is required. Advance communication skills need to be used to deliver potentially distressing information to patients and carers, and provide them with advice and emotional support within in the community, utilising appropriate primary and secondary care services when required.

As a NSSP Clinical Nurse Specialist you will be using your expertise on cancer diagnostic pathways along with general medical knowledge to support patients, their carers and other health care professionals within an outpatient setting.

Working for our organisation

Bristol NHS Foundation Trust brings together more than 28,000 staff to deliver over 160 clinical services across thirteen hospital locations,operatingfrom three main sites at Southmead, Bristol citycentreand Weston.

With an annual turnover of £2.3 billion, we are now one of the largest NHS trusts in the United Kingdom. Our hospitals are spread across Bristol and Weston, join us and you can enjoy the very best of both worlds; city living within a stone’s throw of the countryside or beside the seaside, both with easy access to all that theSouth Westhas to offer.Bristol NHS Foundation Trust values all people as individuals. As an equal opportunities employer actively working towards a diverse workforce we aim to recruit and retaina workforce whichrepresentsthe rich diversity of the local population at all levels and are committed to designing our services around the needs of individual patients and those around them. Anonymous information will be used from your applicationin order toensurewe’remeeting our pledge.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

The post holder will collect and present data to evaluate and demonstrate effectiveness and value of this new service. They will also assist with the collation and review of the pre-existing patient feedback survey for NSSP. There are opportunities to assist with service development including the setting up of weekly clinics. The NS SP service intends to align the NSSP pathway alongside other cancer pathways such as the Neuro Endocrine Tumour diagnostic pathway.

The NSSP CNS will work alongside the NSSP team working closely with the NSSP Patient Navigator and two part time GPs.

For a more detailed job description, main responsibilities, and person specification, please refer to the job description document attached to this vacancy.

Person specification

Qualifications and Training

• Current NMC Registration
• 1st Degree In nursing or health related subject, willing to undertake/ working towards
• Qualification in Teaching and Assessing

Skills and Abilities

• Organisation and management skills
• Teaching
• Ability to work effectively under pressure
• Ability to problem solve
• Flexibility, adaptability to meet needs of a changing service
• Ability to work alone or as part of a team
• Ability to cope with emotional issues presented in the course of work, and to support others
• Knowledge of national and local specialty specific issues
• IT skills including use of email and Microsoft office packages
• Act as a role model and as a mentor/assessor
• Innovative and participates with practice and policy change
• Awareness of professional responsibilities to self and others
• Commitment to the development and provision of high quality nursing care
• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills
• Awareness of current national changes in nursing / NHS

Knowledge and Experience

• Appropriate proven leadership and management experience
• Relevant post registration experience in triaging and assessing patients either face to face or over the telephone
• Experience as preceptor / mentor
• Experience of undertaking research or audit projects
• Evidence of commitment to research based practice or evidence of project work undertaken
• Experience of supporting patients when diagnosed with cancer either in diagnostic workup or supporting when cancer diagnosed

We hope that you will decide to join us and become part of this exciting journey, helping us to shape our future together.

• As an equal opportunities employer actively working towards a diverse workforce we aim to recruit and retain a workforce which represents the rich diversity of the local population at all levels and are committed to designing our services around the needs of individual patients and those around them. Anonymous information will be used from your application to ensure we’re meeting our pledge.
• The Trust is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people, and vulnerable adults.
• To comply with Part 7 of the Immigration Act 2016 all applicants must be able to speak fluent English to an appropriate standard which will be assessed at Interview.
• If you require sponsorship for a visa to work in the UK, to avoid disappointment, please check to ensure you’re eligible under the UKVI points based system.
• The Trust uses electronic new starter forms on Trac to collect personal details. Information collected is securely stored and used to set up the employee record on the ESR HR system.
• By applying for this post, you are agreeing to Bristol NHS Foundation Trust transferring the information contained in this application to its preferred applicant management system. If you are offered a job, information will also be transferred into the national NHS Electronic Staff Records system.

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.