Clinical Nurse Specialist - Rapid Diagnostic Centre

Transformation Unit; Basildon; Hybrid; GBP 36,000 - 44,000; Full time

Job summary

Mid and South Essex NHS Foundation Trust is seeking a Clinical Nurse Specialist (Band 6) to support Rapid Diagnostic Centre services from Basildon. The role focuses on rapid pathways for upper GI, lower GI and cancer suspicion, leading CNS clinics and junior staff development.

The post involves working across sites from Basildon hub with some remote management and occasional site visits, aiming to meet the 28-day diagnostic target and involve MDT working.

Qualifications

• Experience in nursing management within cancer/endoscopy/diagnostics/procedures.
• Endoscopy nursing experience or in depth knowledge.
• NHS experience and managing a unit or a team.

Responsibilities

• Provide a streamlined and efficient Rapid Diagnostic Service to reduce wait times from referral to diagnosis for suspected cancer patients.
• Ensure timely onward referral to other site-specific teams when required.
• Collaborate with CNS colleagues to ensure smooth handover of patients with cancer diagnoses.
• Improve referrals with GP representatives to support pathway resilience from primary care.
• Assess and triage referrals ensuring diagnostic tests are requested promptly per national standards.

Skills

Nursing management

Endoscopy nursing

Cancer care

Clinical assessment

Team leadership

Education

NMC Registered

Job description

Main area Rapid Diagnostic CNS, UGI, LGI, endoscopy triage, Urology straight to test STT Grade Band 6 Contract Fixed term: 12 months (Maternity Leave cover) Hours

• Full time
• Part time
• Job share

37.5 hours per week (There is also the opportunity for 28.5 hours per week) Job ref 390-NM-DOM-SO-9730

Employer Mid and South Essex NHS Foundation Trust Employer type NHS Site Basildon Town Basildon Salary £39,959 Per Annum (Pro Rata for Part Time) Salary period Yearly Closing 19/11/2026 23:59

Clinical Nurse Specialist - Rapid Diagnostic Centre

Band 6

Regarding your application please be aware :-

We need your application to be in your FULL NAME as per your ID and any Professional Registration to be able to check these.

As per the new Immigration guidelines we cannot sponsor candidates with a salary (full time or pro Rata) under the current minimum threshold. for the role.

Please note, the selection processes at Mid and South Essex NHS Foundation Trust are in place to ensure we recruit candidates with the right skills and values, please be advised that the use of AI in applications are monitored. We remain vigilant against candidates who misuse these tools to generate an application that doesn’t accurately reflect their skills, and you will be required to declare on your application if AI has been used before submitting your application.

Job overview

Mid and South Essex Foundation Trust are looking to employ a band 6 associate Clinical Nurse Specialist to support the management of the Faster diagnostic standard across all 3 sites of the MSEFT Rapid Diagnostic Centre service from the Basildon site physically.

This CNS role is pivotal to the implementation of the rapid diagnostic pathway for patients with suspected Upper gastro-intestinal cancer. Supporting the strategic development of the Rapid Diagnostic Centre service, working in collaboration with other Health Care Professionals, service users and other agencies

Aiming to achieve early identification and timely diagnosis by creating an integrated pathway for Upper GI, Lower GI and non-specific symptoms. This role is a new nurse led initiative and training and support will be given to develop CNS led clinics and discharge. The main focus for the position will be Upper GI cancer.

The CNS for RDS role is an exciting opportunity to be a vital member of a new team pivotal to the implementation of the Rapid Diagnostic Service (RDS) pathway for patients with suspected cancer. This part of the strategic development of the RDS and the successful transition to meet the faster diagnostic target of 28 days. The successful post holder will be involved in the management and development of the junior staff.

THIS POST WILL BE MANAGED MAINLY FROM THE BASILDON HUB BUT WILL INVOLVE MANAGING PATIENTS ACROSS ALL SITES REMOTELY FROM THE HUB WITH OCCASIONAL VISITS TO THE SITES

Main duties of the job

Provide a streamlined and efficient Rapid Diagnostic Service to improve patient wait times from referral to diagnosis for suspected cancer patients

Ensure a timely onward referral to other site specific teams if required

Work closely with the CNS (diagnosed cancers) to ensure smooth and timely handover of patients with a cancer diagnosis

With the support from the senior RDS CNS team, work with GP representatives to improve referrals for continued support to ensure pathway resilience from primary care

Competently assess and triage initial referrals ensuring that all diagnostic tests are requested using knowledge and training . Ensure these are undertaken in a timely manner against national standards for cancer diagnosis

Work closely with the wider teams across the tumour site pathways and RDS Navigators to input, record and provide analysis of the relevant service data

Deliver a patient-centred, clinically effective, proactive and dynamic service from the patient’s referral to discharge

Work along the Senior management team to promote interagency multidisciplinary working, by developing MSE wide protocols and pathways to ensure continuous quality improvement of the Straight to Test (STT) service delivery model

Facilitate junior staff to reach their maximum potential through continuous professional/personal development and manage appraisals, sickness and performance improvement.

Working for our organisation

Mid and South Essex NHS Foundation Trust is now one of the largest in the country, with a workforce of approximately 15,000 who serve a population of 1.2 million people. We work together, and in conjunction with MSE Health and Care Partnership, to deliver excellent local and specialist services, to improve the health and wellbeing of our patients in a compassionate way, and provide a respectful, but vibrant place for staff to develop, innovate and build careers. From facilities through to consultant specialists we want to be the best, to achieve this we need to recruit not just those who are the finest in their field but also those who have the potential to be. Yes, experience is important but so is outlook – if you are dynamic, forward-thinking and enthusiastic we want you to join us.

We not only offer you a good working environment with flexible working opportunities, but also the opportunity to develop your career with access to appropriate training for your job and the support to succeed and progress.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

We look forward to your application.

Person specification

• Able to discuss current national guidance and the faster diagnostic target.
• Experience in both primary and secondary care managing urgent suspected cancer pathways
• Extensive nursing experience in general medicine and assessment of comorbidities for safe investigateion management
• Good knowledge of frailty and management of patients clinical frailty score

Qualifications

• Experience in nursing management within one or all of- Cancer/endoscopy/diagnostics/procedures
• NMC Registered
• Endoscopy nursing experience or in depth knowledge
• 2 years experience

NHS experience

• Currently working as a band 5 for 3 years or band 6
• Managing a unit or a team
• NHS experience

Management of staff experience

• Appraisal training and management certificate
• Proven track record in performance improvement management
• Sickness management experience

Mid and South Essex NHS Foundation Trust is the only acute hospital provider in the Mid and South Essex Integrated Care System (ICS), which is a system of health and care partners working together for our local population.

Within Mid and South Essex there are 149 GP practices, operating from over 200 sites, forming 27 Primary Care Networks and one Ambulance Trust. There are also three main community and mental health service providers who work together through a community collaborative.

We collaborate with other valuable partners, including three Healthwatch organisations, nine voluntary and community sector organisations and three top tier local authorities, with seven district, borough and city councils, as well as our local universities.

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.