FDS Cancer Clinical Nurse Specialist

NHS; Warrington; On-site; GBP 30,000 - 50,000; Full time

Job description

Warrington and Halton Teaching Hospitals NHSFT

An exciting opportunity has arisen for a highly motivated, enthusiastic and clinically skilled nurse to join a new Faster Diagnosis team of Cancer Clinical Nurse Specialists. This team will be instrumental in streamlining the process and improving the patient experience for patients referred into the organisation on an urgent suspected Lower GI cancer pathway.

We are looking for an experienced nurse with knowledge of colorectal cancer pathways who can work with our clinical team and support services across the Trust to develop and implement an improved service for patients with suspected cancer.

The post holder will need to thrive in a team environment and use their own initiative to respond to changing service priorities with this patient group. It is expected that the individual will have the ability to establish close working relationships with senior colleagues, influence policy and practice, and provide expert clinical and supportive care for patients. This role will provide an opportunity to lead and implement change within a new service.

Main duties of the job

This specialist nursing post will provide clinical support, expert care, and clinical leadership to support patients with suspected cancer. This is a new and pivotal role within the Lower GI cancer team with a focus on the front end of the patient pathway to support faster diagnosis and improved outcomes for patients with suspected colorectal cancer.

The FDS Cancer Clinical Nurse Specialist will possess expertise in clinical risk evaluation, change management, and the provision of educational support to patients, carers, and colleagues across organisational and professional boundaries.

The successful candidate will be expected to demonstrate a higher level of practice in their direct care of patients and in their ability to plan and develop services. Utilising the skills of leadership and clinical expertise, the post holder will deliver care which is patient-centred, safe, and effective and in line with Trust values.

You will be expected to triage urgent suspected cancer GP referrals, conduct telephone assessments to determine further investigations required in collaboration with the consultant team. The role will require close working with key stakeholders to ensure patients are monitored and seen as quickly as possible, ensuring that delays are minimised and patients receive a definitive diagnosis or exclusion of cancer in line with the 28-day Faster Diagnosis Standard.

About us

Warrington and Halton Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust is a caring and compassionate organisation that is both ambitious and innovative. We are committed to delivering the best outcomes for our patients and providing a positive experience for our staff. We aspire to be outstanding for our patients, our communities, and our staff and are committed to being a great place to receive healthcare, work, and learn.

Straddling the neighbouring boroughs of Warrington and Halton, we are part of the Cheshire and Merseyside Integrated Care system. Our hospitals are ideally situated to meet the growing healthcare needs of the 330,000 population of these boroughs.

Warrington Hospital is home to our emergency, critical care, and maternity services, while Halton Hospital is focused on elective procedures and the Runcorn Urgent Treatment Centre, although many services are offered at both sites and in community hubs.

A CQC-rated 'good' organisation with 'outstanding' features, we are working towards university hospital status, having achieved teaching hospital status in 2019.

We employ nearly 5,000 people from over 80 nationalities, striving to be a diverse, inclusive employer and recognised leader in equality. We support flexible working, welcoming flexible applications. Proud of our many accreditations, we are embedding an anti-racist approach in all we do.

Job responsibilities

This leadership role will encompass:

Clinical Management - management of all urgent suspected cancer referrals into the service; delivery of the nurse-led triage service; determining and ordering all necessary tests at the point of triage and follow-up delays; developing and running nurse-led clinics; ensuring that 28-day patient pathways are closed as quickly as possible.

Patient Assessment & Care - providing support and guidance to patients, their relatives, and carers participating in decision-making concerning their care; ensuring a patient-oriented approach within the department; planning and developing services to support patient care.

Multidisciplinary Collaboration - Working with consultants and healthcare teams within the Trust to develop a new and effective service; ensuring delivery of all tests and investigations fall within Trust Guidelines.

GP Education - Building relationships with GP practices and providing guidance on referral procedures to ensure all necessary information is provided to improve the quality of referrals.

Leadership - development of the role in line with changing service needs; providing specialist expert clinical knowledge and advice to clinical colleagues; evaluation of service delivery to identify areas of improvement and initiate change.

Please refer to the attached document for a full Job Description and Person Specification

Person Specification

Qualifications

• RGN, Educated to degree level, evidence of ongoing professional development
• Evidence of clinical leadership and decision-making; development of individuals; advanced communications skills

Experience

• Clinical leadership/decision-making; Influence with clinical workforce; development of individuals and teams

Skills

• Ability to clinically lead and influence staff
• Able to manage work autonomously, and coordinate that of others
• Able to perform assessment, planning, implementation, and evaluation of specialised care pathways for patients
• Ability to communicate complex and sensitive information to patients and relatives in a variety of settings
• Ability to develop effective interpersonal relationships with colleagues at all levels of the organisation
• Excellent verbal, written, interpersonal, and communication skills
• Able to analyse data and provide written reports
• IT skills and knowledge of Trust systems
• Knowledge of professional and NHS issues, and policy relating to specialist area
• Able to present information to professional groups
• Able to perform advanced clinical skills within the Trust Policy framework
• Ability to communicate sensitive information
• Understanding of research and evaluation principles

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.

Warrington and Halton Teaching Hospitals NHSFT