Lung Health Check Specialist Nurse

Royal Berkshire Nhs Foundation Trust; Reading; On-site; GBP 30,000 - 40,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading healthcare organization in Reading is seeking a Specialist Nurse for the Lung Health Check program. This role focuses on promoting early lung cancer detection through patient engagement and collaboration with various health authorities. Candidates should have a Registered Nurse qualification and be capable of providing personalized care paths. The position involves managing patient assessments, conducting clinics, and ensuring high standards of care in a multidisciplinary team setting. A commitment to ongoing professional development is essential in this dynamic role.

Benefits

Flexible working opportunities

NHS pension scheme

Generous leave entitlements

Cycle to work scheme

Qualifications

• Registered Nurse qualification required.
• Evidence of relevant postgraduate study is essential.

Responsibilities

• Provide expert nursing guidance to patients.
• Conduct nurse-led clinics for lung health.
• Assist in managing patient care and education.

Skills

Specialist Nursing Advice

Communication skills

Collaboration

Autonomous Work

Health Promotion

Education

Registered Nurse

Postgraduate study or equivalent knowledge

Job description

Overview

At the Royal Berkshire NHS Foundation Trust we put our patients at the heart of every element of health and care that we provide. The Trust works together as a community to deliver its vision is "Working together to provide outstanding care for community." Royal Berkshire Hospital are pleased to announce that following our CQC inspection we have been rated 'Good' with inspectors reporting that we have made significant improvements. The Trust's overall rating has also improved to 'good'. We are Compassionate in our thoughts, words and actions. We are Aspirational and have a true desire to be dynamic and to innovate. We are Resourceful and responsible in the way we work and live. We are Excellent in our development, fairness and sharing best practice. At the Royal Berkshire NHS Foundation Trust, we value candidates who bring their unique personalities, skills, and experiences to the Trust. When completing your application, we encourage you to highlight your individual achievements and strengths, showing us how they align with the requirements outlined in the job description and person specification.

This is an engaging and dynamic role that demands outstanding assessment, collaboration and coordination skills to facilitate the implementation of the Lung Health Check (LHC) programme for patients in Berkshire and the surrounding areas. The primary aim of the Lung Health Check (LHC) Programme is to promote the early detection of lung cancer to save lives. Royal Berkshire Hospital and the Thames Valley Cancer Alliance have pinpointed areas within Berkshire with high disease and smoking rates, where significant progress can be made by identifying early‑stage lung cancer. The objective is to implement various interventions aimed at reducing lung cancer rates, enhancing the stage of diagnosis, and improving one‑year survival rates. The LHC Specialist Nurse will assist the programme/project manager and clinical team in establishing and executing the programme, following the framework set by the LHC National Programme and National Protocol. The role will be part of the National Lung Health Check Programme, which plays a crucial role in the early diagnosis of cancer and is in alignment with the NHS Long Term Plan.

This role will entail ongoing collaboration with CCG Clinical Leads across different localities, the Thames Valley Cancer Alliance, Public Health Leads, NHS Trusts, with internal colleagues as an MDT and other relevant providers within the specified areas. The goal is to design and plan the various phases of delivery while fostering and maintaining strong relationships among these organisations. The individual in this role will be expected to deliver specialised knowledge and care to patients and their caregivers. They will assist colleagues in managing patients who require a high level of judgement, discretion, and decision‑making in both inpatient and outpatient environments. Additionally, the post‑holder will be responsible for providing education and training to patients, caregivers, and healthcare professionals. This position requires a highly skilled individual capable of working independently in a stimulating and challenging environment to achieve efficient outcomes.

The following outlines the key competencies required for the position, which may be subject to review based on the individual's experience and any developments within the service. Any such review will be conducted in collaboration with the post holder.

1. Specialist Nursing Advice: Provide expert nursing guidance to patients and their families.
2. Autonomous and Collaborative Work: Function independently while also being an effective member of a multi‑disciplinary team.
3. Nurse‑Led Clinics: Conduct clinics that are led by and alongside nursing and other key professionals.
4. Health Promotion and Smoking Cessation: Offer advice on health promotion strategies and smoking cessation.
5. Individualised Care Pathways: Develop tailored care plans in partnership with patients and their caregivers.
6. Knowledge of Respiratory Equipment: Maintain a working knowledge of respiratory devices, such as inhalers, spirometers, and compressors.
7. Awareness of Policies and Procedures: Be familiar with the relevant policies and procedures of the Royal Berkshire Hospital and community services related to operational practices.
8. Patient‑Centred Information: Ensure that up‑to‑date, patient‑centred information is accessible to patients and their families.
9. Engagement in Audit and Information Collection: Participate in audits and collect relevant data to support service improvement.
10. General duties: Conduct thorough health care needs assessments for patients, with ongoing reassessments as necessary.
11. Evaluate, plan, prioritise, implement, and assess nursing interventions to address patients' needs effectively.
12. Participate in the organisation of multi‑disciplinary, patient‑centred care.
13. Empower patients and their caregivers to engage actively in their care.
14. Assess and identify emergencies within their specialty, interpreting information accurately and taking appropriate actions while guiding others to do the same.
15. Promote practices that are sensitive to the diverse needs of patients and families from multicultural backgrounds.
16. Provide guidance and support to patients in managing their symptoms.
17. Attend outpatient clinics led by consultants, managing and reporting on cases as relevant to the role.
18. Communicate effectively with clinicians as needed.
19. Collaborate with colleagues in the Multi‑Disciplinary Team to support their work.
20. Develop nursing activity systems that meet established standards at the local, Trust, or national levels.
21. Coordinate the multi‑disciplinary team in discharge planning as appropriate.
22. Ensure that all medications are administered in accordance with the Trust's Medicine Management policy.
23. Demonstrate the mandatory competencies required by the Trust, attending all necessary mandatory training sessions.
24. Managerial: Exhibit strong leadership consistently.
25. Demonstrate supervisory capabilities for junior and support staff.
26. Actively engage with Trust Policies, Procedures, and Guidelines, contributing to their ongoing development.
27. Support the efficient use and management of resources.
28. Participate in the recruitment and retention of staff relevant to the area and role.
29. Contribute actively to multi‑disciplinary teamwork.
30. Address complaints from patients, relatives, or visitors personally, in accordance with Trust policy.
31. Manage emotional and psychological issues as they arise.
32. Education, Research, Audit and Clinical Governance: Facilitate the education of the multi‑disciplinary team to foster a supportive learning environment.
33. Take responsibility for professional growth by utilising a Personal Development Plan Portfolio.
34. Integrate health education into daily practices to promote health awareness.
35. Apply specialist knowledge in practical settings.
36. Identify, gather, and engage in the evaluation of information to aid multi‑disciplinary clinical decision‑making.
37. Contribute to the development and implementation of evidence‑based care by writing shared guidelines and protocols.
38. Lead or participate, as appropriate, in multi‑disciplinary clinical audits.
39. These responsibilities highlight the importance of education, professional development, and collaboration in enhancing healthcare practices within a multi‑disciplinary team.
40. Professional: Comply with the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) Code of Conduct and related guidelines.
41. Actively participate in the clinical supervision of nursing and midwifery staff.
42. Ensure that relevant professional registration is maintained.
43. Serve as a role model at all times.
44. Keep accurate records in accordance with the Nursing and Midwifery Council and Trust guidelines on record‑keeping.
45. Health and Safety: Prioritise Safety – All staff members are responsible for their own safety and the safety of others who may be impacted by their actions or inactions.
46. Follow Health and Safety Policies – Adhere to the Trust and Departmental Health and Safety policies, utilising any provided equipment or personal protective equipment (PPE) to ensure safety.
47. Collaborate with Management – Work together with managers to maintain safe systems and environments in the workplace.
48. Report Issues – Promptly report any accidents, incidents, health concerns, or deficiencies in equipment or PPE.
49. Do Not Tamper with Safety Equipment – Avoid interfering with any equipment that is intended to ensure health and safety.
50. Stay Within Competence – Refrain from attempting tasks or repairs that exceed your level of competence.

Qualifications

• Registered Nurse.
• Evidence of relevant post qualification study at postgraduate level or equivalent knowledge.

Desirable Criteria

• Teaching / mentor qualification, Nurse – Minimum 3 years at Band 5 in the relevant setting.
• Evidence of working independently.
• Evidence of managing within a clinical area.
• Ability to work as part of a multi‑disciplinary / interdisciplinary team.
• Awareness of relevant national and local targets.
• Participating in audit / patient surveys.
• Analytical and judgemental skills.
• Excellent written and oral communication skills.
• Ability to undertake and document assessments.
• Familiarity with the cancer services and national cancer strategy.
• Understanding of local and national lung cancer pathway and challenges.

Sponsorship and Registration

We are an approved sponsoring organisation. Applications will be considered from applicants requiring sponsorship alongside all other applications. Please be aware, not all roles are eligible for sponsorship. You can review the list of eligible role and requirements on the government website. You must have appropriate UK professional registration.

Location

The Department of Respiratory Medicine is located at the Royal Berkshire Hospital in Reading. We provide specialist respiratory care for patients who live in Berkshire West and the surrounding local areas. Our out‑patient clinic provides consultant, specialist nurse, physiotherapy and physiology services both at the RBH and Spoke sites. Reading sits on the River Thames and is served by great road and rail links to London, Oxford and Southampton. With excellent leisure and shopping facilities, and a thriving cultural scene. Reading is a wonderful place to live, work and provides excellent facilities for families.

Application Conditions

By applying for this post you are agreeing to Royal Berkshire NHS Foundation Trust transferring the information contained in this application to its preferred applicant management system. If you are appointed to a post, information will also be transferred into the national NHS Electronic Staff Records system. Appointment to any position is conditional on the satisfactory completion of the core NHS Employment Checks Standards. Information disclosed in your application will be checked and any offer of appointment may be withdrawn if you knowingly withhold information or provide false or misleading information. All new appointments to the Trust, with the exception of executive positions, are subject to a 6‑month probationary period. The Trust may close any vacancy prior to the advertised closing date due to the high level of responses we receive for some of our vacancies. Royal Berkshire NHS Foundation Trust is committed to improving the health of its staff, patients and the wider community by providing a smoke‑free environment. A smoke‑free policy is in operation and smoking is not permitted on any of the Trust's sites.

The postholder will have access to vulnerable people in the course of their normal duties and as such this post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975 (Amendment) (England and Wales) Order 2020 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service to check for any previous criminal convictions.

Staff Benefits

• Flexible working opportunities and a strong emphasis on your work, life balance.
• Annual leave – 27 days for new starters, plus bank holidays. Increasing to 29 days after 5 years and 33 days after 10 years NHS service. Pro rata for part time staff.
• NHS pension scheme.
• Employee Assistance Programme.
• Money Advice Service.
• Generous maternity, paternity and adoption leave for eligible staff.
• On‑site nursery (based at RBH).
• Full educational library services.
• Cycle to work scheme, lockable storage for cycles.
• Bus to work scheme.
• Excellent rail and bus links.
• A huge range of Health Service Discounts at hundreds of big brands from holidays to gadgets and restaurants to retail.