Lead GI Clinical Nurse Specialist

NHS; London; On-site; GBP 59,000 - 67,000; Full time

Job summary

The Royal Marsden NHS Foundation Trust seeks a Lead Gastrointestinal Clinical Nurse Specialist to oversee its GI nursing team across several sites. The role requires advanced clinical skills, strong leadership qualities, and a commitment to innovation in patient care. This full-time position emphasizes excellence in cancer nursing, patient experience, and team development.

Benefits

Learning and development opportunities

Flexible working requests available

Qualifications

• First level registration required.
• Significant experience in GI oncology, with clinical management experience.
• Experience managing multi-site teams and complex caseloads.

Responsibilities

• Lead a team across multiple sites in GI cancer care.
• Manage complex caseloads and drive service improvements.
• Maintain clinical presence while guiding nursing excellence.

Skills

Leadership

Advanced Clinical Skills

Communication

Team Management

Innovative Thinking

Education

Degree in Nursing (Adult)

MSc or working towards in relevant subject

Post Registration qualification in cancer nursing

Job description

Job summary

Location: Sutton (with cross-site responsibilities: Chelsea & Cavendish Square) Hours: Full time (37.5 hours/week)

The Royal Marsden NHS Foundation Trust is looking for an experienced and dynamic Lead Gastrointestinal Clinical Nurse Specialist to lead our dedicated GI nursing team. Based in Sutton, this is a pivotal cross-site role covering GI medical oncology, clinical oncology, and surgery. You will provide advanced clinical care as a clinical nurse specialist while line-managing a team of Clinical Nurse Specialists and support staff across our Sutton, Chelsea, and Cavendish Square sites.

Working closely with the Lead GI Nurse and divisional leadership, you will shape patient pathways, promote excellence in specialist nursing practice, and lead initiatives to enhance patient experience, service delivery, and team development. You'll be central to driving clinical innovation, quality improvement, governance, and workforce development while maintaining a visible clinical presence.

Main duties of the job

Key highlights:

• Lead and support a highly skilled team across three sites
• Manage complex caseloads across the GI cancer pathway
• Drive strategic service improvements and champion patient experience
• Influence divisional and Trust-wide nursing development and leadership

We are looking for a committed nurse leader with:

• Experience in GI cancer care, with a strong understanding of the patient pathway across medical, surgical, and/or clinical oncology settings.
• Leadership and management experience, including the ability to line-manage and support a multi-site team, promote professional development and lead on recruitment and workforce planning.
• Advanced clinical skills, to manage a complex caseload and deliver expert care throughout the cancer pathway - from diagnosis through treatment and survivorship or end-of-life care.
• Strong communication and interpersonal skills, with the confidence to represent GI nursing at divisional and Trust-level meetings, influence service delivery, and work collaboratively with multidisciplinary teams.
• A passion for innovation and quality improvement, with ability to lead service development projects, contribute to audits and research, and deliver exceptional patient experience.
• Experience in governance, education, and staff development, and a commitment to promoting a learning environment and evidence-based practice.
• A flexible and proactive approach to cross-site working and service needs.

About us

The Royal Marsden NHS Foundation Trust is a world-leading cancer centre. Our role is to offer our patients the best cancer care available anywhere in the world, and to continue to make a global contribution to finding better ways of diagnosing and treating cancer. We employ over 4,500 staff in a diverse range of careers including nursing, medical, science, radiography, pharmacy, occupational therapy, finance and administrative services. We have two hospitals - one in Chelsea, London, and one in Sutton, Surrey - as well as a Medical Daycare Unit in Kingston Hospital.

At The Royal Marsden, we deal with cancer every day, so we understand how valuable life is. When people entrust their lives to us, they have the right to demand the very best. That's why the pursuit of excellence lies at the heart of everything we do.

At the heart of the hospital is our dedicated team. We offer a stimulating and dynamic working environment, a wide range of staff benefits, learning and development opportunities and clear career pathways. There are opportunities to work flexibly across a range of areas and specialities and we welcome flexible working requests from point of hire to support employees work life balance. We are looking for employees who aspire to excellence, share our values and can play a crucial role in our on-going achievements.

Details Date posted

10 July 2025

Pay scheme

Agenda for change

Band

Band 8a

Salary

£59,490 to £66,239 a year Per Annum

Contract

Permanent

Working pattern

Full-time

Reference number

282-C637

Job locations

Royal Marsden Hospital Sutton

Sutton

SM2 5PT

Job description Job responsibilities

For further information on this role, please see the attached detailed Job Description and Person Specification:

• Provide a clear focus for nursing, maintaining a highly visible and authoritative presence within the units. Ensure the delivery of high-quality care where patients needs are central, regardless of the care setting.
• Offer strategic direction to ensure the nursing service remains responsive, forward-thinking, and adaptable to external changes and pressures.
• Continue to undertake clinical duties and manage a personal caseload.
• Ensure the CNS team operates at an advanced practice level, delivering timely, well-documented specialist care within their areas of expertise.
• Ensure compliance with Trust policies and procedures within all nursing teams.

Job description Job responsibilities

For further information on this role, please see the attached detailed Job Description and Person Specification:

• Provide a clear focus for nursing, maintaining a highly visible and authoritative presence within the units. Ensure the delivery of high-quality care where patients needs are central, regardless of the care setting.
• Offer strategic direction to ensure the nursing service remains responsive, forward-thinking, and adaptable to external changes and pressures.
• Continue to undertake clinical duties and manage a personal caseload.
• Ensure the CNS team operates at an advanced practice level, delivering timely, well-documented specialist care within their areas of expertise.
• Ensure compliance with Trust policies and procedures within all nursing teams.

Person Specification Education/Qualifications Essential

• First level registration
• Degree in Nursing (Adult)
• MSc or working towards in relevant subject
• Relevant formal teaching / mentoring experience
• Evidence of continued professional development
• Post Registration qualification in cancer nursing

Experience Essential

• Significant post-registration experience in GI oncology (medical, clinical and/or surgical), including experience as a Clinical Nurse Specialist to be confident and competent in using the required skills to do the job
• Clinical management experience
• Experience of managing staff

Desirable

• Demonstrable experience in a range of cancer care settings
• Budget Management / management of resources
• Experience in chemotherapy administration

Skills/Abilities/Knowledge Essential

• Experience in a specialist GI nursing role
• Evidence of good leadership qualities, including delegation, motivation, influencing skills and co-ordination of teams
• The ability to communicate effectively in both written and spoken English to a wide range of people both internally and externally, often involving highly complex or sensitive information
• Presentation skills
• Ability to innovate and respond to change
• Ability to interpret and implement new policies into workplace procedures
• Evidence of commitment to patient & carer involvement in care
• Knowledge of clinical governance issues and risk management strategies
• Ability to make decisions, organise & prioritise
• Excellent interpersonal skills with particular ability to liaise effectively with multidisciplinary team members
• Evidence of working well in a team
• Ability to demonstrate self-motivation
• Experience and ability to manage conflict situations
• Computer Literacy

Desirable

• Experience of disseminating work through presentation/publication

Person Specification Education/Qualifications Essential

• First level registration
• Degree in Nursing (Adult)
• MSc or working towards in relevant subject
• Relevant formal teaching / mentoring experience
• Evidence of continued professional development
• Post Registration qualification in cancer nursing

Experience Essential

• Significant post-registration experience in GI oncology (medical, clinical and/or surgical), including experience as a Clinical Nurse Specialist to be confident and competent in using the required skills to do the job
• Clinical management experience
• Experience of managing staff

Desirable

• Demonstrable experience in a range of cancer care settings
• Budget Management / management of resources
• Experience in chemotherapy administration

Skills/Abilities/Knowledge Essential

• Experience in a specialist GI nursing role
• Evidence of good leadership qualities, including delegation, motivation, influencing skills and co-ordination of teams
• The ability to communicate effectively in both written and spoken English to a wide range of people both internally and externally, often involving highly complex or sensitive information
• Presentation skills
• Ability to innovate and respond to change
• Ability to interpret and implement new policies into workplace procedures
• Evidence of commitment to patient & carer involvement in care
• Knowledge of clinical governance issues and risk management strategies
• Ability to make decisions, organise & prioritise
• Excellent interpersonal skills with particular ability to liaise effectively with multidisciplinary team members
• Evidence of working well in a team
• Ability to demonstrate self-motivation
• Experience and ability to manage conflict situations
• Computer Literacy

Desirable

• Experience of disseminating work through presentation/publication

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.

Certificate of Sponsorship

Applications from job seekers who require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website (Opens in a new tab).

From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants, applying for entry clearance into the UK, have had to present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Adult dependants (over 18 years old) are also subject to this requirement. Guidance can be found here Criminal records checks for overseas applicants (Opens in a new tab).

UK Registration

Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see NHS Careers website (opens in a new window).

Additional information 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.

Certificate of Sponsorship

Applications from job seekers who require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website (Opens in a new tab).

From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants, applying for entry clearance into the UK, have had to present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Adult dependants (over 18 years old) are also subject to this requirement. Guidance can be found here Criminal records checks for overseas applicants (Opens in a new tab).

UK Registration

Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see NHS Careers website (opens in a new window).

Employer details Employer name

The Royal Marsden NHS Foundation Trust

Address

Royal Marsden Hospital Sutton

Sutton

SM2 5PT

Employer's website

https://www.royalmarsden.nhs.uk/working-royal-marsden (Opens in a new tab)

Employer details Employer name

The Royal Marsden NHS Foundation Trust

Address

Royal Marsden Hospital Sutton

Sutton

SM2 5PT

Employer's website

https://www.royalmarsden.nhs.uk/working-royal-marsden (Opens in a new tab)