Specialist Nurse

Charity Society; Tees Valley; On-site; GBP 40,000 - 50,000; Full time

Job summary

A charitable healthcare organization in the UK is seeking a leader in clinical nursing to provide support and guidance within the team. Your role involves coordinating patient care and leading initiatives aimed at improving service quality. You will act as a mentor to junior staff and be an advocate for patients, ensuring their needs are met with dignity and confidentiality. Ideal candidates will have a valid nursing qualification and strong leadership skills.

Qualifications

• Act as a clinical and professional role model for the nursing team.
• Provide specialist support to patients diagnosed with skin cancer.
• Participate in quality improvement initiatives.

Responsibilities

• Coordinate patients' care and ensure appropriate planned treatment.
• Supervise junior colleagues and lead nurse‑led clinics.
• Establish effective communication systems across departments.

Skills

Advanced communication skills

Leadership

Clinical nursing expertise

Education

Registered Nurse qualification

Job description

Leadership/Management

Act as a clinical and professional role model for the nursing and wider multi‑professional team; actively lead and support the development of audit within the nursing team; deputise for the Lead Nurse and carry out delegated responsibilities as agreed; coordinate patients' care, investigations and treatments to ensure appropriate planned care through the network pathways based on patient need while achieving cancer targets; act as a source of specialist nursing advice and support to patients and their families following a diagnosis of skin cancer; assess patients presenting with symptoms suggestive of disease progression as an independent practitioner and develop specialist programmes of care, providing advice and information in accordance with guidelines and protocols; provide knowledge and advice on physiological and psychological symptoms to minimise patient anxiety.

Provide extensive support and advice utilising advanced communication skills, particularly at times of exposure to distressing or emotional circumstances; act as a patient advocate when appropriate, ensuring respect for patient confidentiality, privacy and cultural/ethnic background; ensure that these standards are met and maintained within the nursing team; contribute to the health education of patients ensuring they receive appropriate advice and support to maintain health.

Facilitate high‑quality, cost‑effective care through the use of audit, benchmarking and other quality initiatives as determined by the Trust; initiate changes identified by audit; supervise junior colleagues when required; when trained and in accordance with national, Trust and locally agreed policies and protocols, provide nurse‑led skin surgery clinics; provide nurse‑led clinics for patients having systemic treatments for skin disease; actively participate in the clinical governance and clinical risk agenda within the directorate; attend wider departmental meetings; provide cover for colleagues during periods of sick leave and planned leave.

Maintain accurate, contemporaneous records of all interventions, care and advice given, updating clinical records in line with the Trust’s policies and procedures; plan and prioritise own workload and manage time effectively when working alone or in collaboration with others; delegate work effectively where appropriate, setting clear parameters of responsibility; identify and utilise a network of support services and contacts to enable a high standard of care to be given to patients.

Education, Training and Communication

Establish and maintain effective communication systems across Dermatology, Plastic Surgery and Primary Care; participate in Quality Surveillance Indicators, clinical meetings and educational events; develop appropriate training and educational initiatives across acute and primary care staff as necessary; through clinical supervision and performance review develop learning outcomes and career pathways; ensure that one's own professional development is kept up to date in accordance with role and re‑validation requirements; disseminate research and audit findings through presentation to professional groups and publication.

Advise on protocol and policy development within the department, identify areas for improvement and initiate change; attend Professional Nurse Forums to reflect on clinical issues with other senior/specialist nurses; provide the opportunity to reflect on clinical issues with other senior/specialist nurses and primary Care clinicians.