Project Lead Nurse/AHP Onco-Frailty

University Hospitals Sussex NHS Foundation Trust; Kemp Town Estate; On-site; GBP 50,000 - 70,000; Full time

Job summary

A prominent healthcare provider in the UK is seeking an experienced healthcare leader to spearhead a 24-month innovation project aimed at improving care for oncological frailty patients. This position involves developing new pathways and providing clinical guidance while enhancing the skills of the multidisciplinary team. The role emphasizes leadership, collaboration, and a commitment to improving patient outcomes.

Benefits

Ongoing mentorship

Access to specialist training

Wellbeing Programme

Qualifications

• Experience in a senior healthcare leadership role.
• Proven ability to improve patient outcomes in oncology.
• Strong understanding of oncology and frailty care.

Responsibilities

• Lead the Onco-frailty Project with clinical expertise.
• Deliver high-quality clinical reviews for frail patients.
• Develop new ambulatory pathways to enhance patient care.

Skills

Leadership skills

Clinical expertise

Communication

Teaching skills

Education

Relevant healthcare degree

Job description

Overview

We are seeking an experienced, forward-thinking healthcare professional to lead an innovative 24-month project focused on improving care for patients living with oncological frailty. Building on the 2022 Royal College of Radiologists' findings, this role will pioneer a stratified approach to frailty in oncology—using a multi-functional toolkit early in the patient pathway, and ensuring timely access to specialist review and targeted services.

This is a unique opportunity to enhance your leadership skills, shape future oncology pathways, and make a tangible difference in patient outcomes. You will receive a detailed induction, ongoing mentorship, and access to specialist oncology and frailty training—while drawing on your existing healthcare expertise to innovate, influence, and inspire.

Working hours will fall between 08:30 and 18:00 Mon - Friday with no unsociable hours. The post will be based at the Royal Sussex County Hospital, Brighton, with an expectation of support across UHSx.

Please note that if you currently work for another NHS Trust or UHSussex and you are applying to accept this position as a secondment opportunity, before applying you must seek agreement and authorisation from your current Trust/Manager. Secondments can't be agreed without this approval. If you are unable to gain approval you should refrain from applying unless you wish to take this role as a fixed term position.

The postholder will demonstrate compassionate, inclusive, visible and authoritative senior professional and specialist clinical leadership within the Onco-frailty Project Team and across the Cancer Division.

The post holder will provide an accessible expert resource in onco-frailty to all disciplines of health care staff within the Cancer Division. In addition they will act as an identified resource for information and advice to staff from other health and social care settings including the community nursing service. They will provide educational materials and face to face teaching for all levels of health worker within UHSx surrounding aspects of the management of frail cancer patients.

Uphold and display the Trust values of Commitment, Care & Quality.

As part of the Oncological Frailty Project Leadership Team, you will combine advanced clinical expertise with strategic project leadership. You will:

• Deliver high-quality clinical reviews for frail patients planning to and/or undergoing systemic anti-cancer therapies (SACT) and radiotherapy—both in the Cancer Centre and ambulatory assessment units.
• Develop and implement new ambulatory pathways to prevent unnecessary admissions and reduce emergency department attendances for onco-frail patients, linked to the new supportive oncology pathways.
• Drive service innovation by improving patient selection for oncological interventions, optimising physical condition before and during treatment, and enhancing personalised care.
• Provide expert guidance to the multidisciplinary team members (MDT) acting as a resource on oncological frailty.
• Lead and deliver education programmes to build the MDT's skills in managing oncological frailty and complex treatment toxicities.
• Collaborate closely with colleagues within the Cancer division across UHSx sites to ensure consistent, high-quality care.

About UHSussex

At UHSussex we're proud to be at the heart of the NHS. As one of the UK's largest acute Trusts, we're a leading example of the excellence, the ambition and the values that have embodied the NHS for over 70 years.

Our hard-working, talented and dedicated people work together towards a common goal - to always put our Patient First. In fact our mission is summed up by our 'where better never stops' motto and you will play a part in driving us forwards and in improving the lives of patients across Sussex.

At UHSussex, diversity is our strength, and we want you to feel included to help us always put the Patient First. Your uniqueness and experiences will be part of our creative and innovative community where everyone is encouraged to succeed. We have a range of Staff Networks to help break down barriers, and can offer a buddy to help new members settle in. We're proud to be a Disability Confident Employer (Level 2) and a Veteran Aware Trust.

We treat our patients and staff with the same compassion and empathy we expect for ourselves. We're here for them when they need us, and we go above and beyond to meet their needs. This can be seen in our Wellbeing Programme for staff which is extensive and designed to support you when you need it, including where possible, flexible working to support work life balance - because we know that to look after others we must first look after ourselves.

As a university trust and a leader in healthcare research, we value learning, teaching and training so that we can be the best that we can be. From the moment you start with us and throughout your career we will help you to grow and develop. We hope that in choosing UHSussex you are choosing a long and happy career where you will be able to see the difference you make and feel valued for all that you do.

Candidate Information Pack: https://www.uhsussex.nhs.uk/resources/candidate-information-pack