Specialist Screening Practitioner

Mcht; Crewe; Hybrid; GBP 40,000 - 48,000; Part time

Job summary

Mid Cheshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust in Crewe invites applications for the Specialist Screening Practitioner (Band 6) within the Cheshire Bowel Cancer Screening Centre at Leighton Hospital. The role suits registered staff, with HCPC/NMC registration, aiming to develop in a colorectal specialty.

Flexible working with potential evenings/weekends as the service expands; travel between Cheshire sites is expected; induction and further screening training are provided.

Qualifications

• Registered Nurse (level 1) or Allied Healthcare Professional with patient-facing qualification.
• Current NMC/HCPC registration.
• Ability to communicate sensitive information and work flexibly within a team.

Responsibilities

• Provide high standard of care for patients in the Bowel Cancer Screening Programme.
• Attend endoscopy units across Cheshire for colonoscopy lists and provide results, including cancer diagnosis.
• Manage own patient caseload and audit practice.
• Travel independently between hospital and clinic sites as part of the role.

Skills

Face-to-face care

Communication of sensitive information

Teamworking

Travel between sites

Education

NMC/HCPC registration

Health-related degree

Job description

Main area Specialist Screening Practitioner - All registered patient facing healthcare staff (Nurses and AHP's) Grade NHS AfC: Band 6 Contract Permanent Hours

• Full time
• Part time

34 hours per week (Currently Monday - Friday. Weekend and evening working may be required as service expands.) Job ref 412-S&C-8180985

Site Leighton Hospital Town Crewe Salary £39,959 - £48,117 pro rata Salary period Yearly Closing 01/10/2026 23:59

Job overview

An exciting opportunity has arisen for the recruitment to the role of Specialist Screening Practitioner (SSP) within the Cheshire Bowel Cancer Screening Centre based at Leighton Hospital. This post would suit a qualified patient facing staff member with current NMC/HCPC registration, who is keen to develop their knowledge and skills in a specialist Colorectal role.

Although the programme offices are based at Leighton hospital the clinical team cover the whole of Cheshire and as such we would welcome applications from registered healthcare professionals located in West and East of Cheshire as well as those local to Leighton.

We are a busy service and we have recently expanded the screening age to include all 50-60 year olds. As such the post holder will be expected to work on his/her own initiative and as a part of a team. They will also be required to be able to work flexibly with potential for evening and weekend shifts as the service expands.

Main duties of the job

The post holder will provide the highest standard of care and support for patients participating in the English National Bowel Cancer Screening Programme. Applicants must be a Registered Nurse (level 1) or Allied Healthcare Professional with a qualification in a patient facing profession (EG; Radiographer, Operating Department Practitioner, Paramedic or similar), with or working towards a health related degree or with an equivalent level of experience. They must have the ability to communicate sensitive and complex information, and have good IT and team working skills.

The post is varied and includes providing both face to face and telephone clinics led by the SSP for individuals who have tested positive for Faecal Occult Blood, attending endoscopy at units across Cheshire for colonoscopy lists and providing results including cancer diagnosis.

The post holder will have responsibility for assessing, informing and supporting individuals throughout the screening pathway, manging their own patient case load and auditing practice.

Travelling independently between hospital and clinic settings forms an integral part of the role.

Working for our organisation

Mid Cheshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust (MCHFT) provides good quality, safe and effective healthcare to the people of Cheshire and beyond. The Trust, which managesLeighton Hospital in Crewe, Victoria Infirmary in Northwich, and Elmhurst IntermediateCare Centre in Winsford, was established as an NHS Trust in April 1991 and became aFoundation Trust in April 2008.

We employ almost 5,000 members of staff, provide around 540 hospital beds, with arange of services including accident and emergency, maternity, outpatients, therapies,and children's health.

The Trust is also part of Central Cheshire Integrated Care Partnership (CCICP), a uniquelocal health partnership that provides a range of community services for people acrossSouth Cheshire and Vale Royal.

During the Coronavirus pandemic, the Trust was recognised nationally for its Be Safe Be EquiPPEd campaign, which aimed to make the Trust as safe as possible for staff and patients, through supporting the correct use of PPE. The results in the 2020 national NHS Staff Survey showed improvements in all elements of the safety culture theme, with 92% of respondents feeling their role made a difference to our patients. We were also recognised nationally for our workforce health and wellbeing initiatives. At Mid Cheshire, we value our staff and appreciate that in order to give our patients the best quality, compassionate care, we also need to look after our colleagues.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

The successful applicant should be able to demonstrate significant post qualification experience and professional development. Previous experience of working in assessment clinics, colorectal, gastroenterology, cancer or endoscopy is an advantage and experience in screening or health promotion is desirable but not essential. Induction, training and ongoing development will be supported by the Lead/Deputy Lead Specialist Screening Practitioner's and Clinical Nurse Manager.

The successful applicant will be required to attend and successfully complete the Bowel Cancer Screening IT module and SSP professional practice module at level 6 or 7. Both courses may require a residential stay and can be held at locations around the country. In the current climate however they may be delivered virtually. Successful completion of the SSP professional practice module is a mandatory requirement of the post and if the applicant was unsuccessful they would be unable to remain in the role. The trust will ask applicants to commit to remain working for them for 12 months after successful completion or training monies may be reclaimed.

We encourage interested applicants to contact the screening team to discuss the role in more detail and enquiries should be directed to Claire Chesters, Lead Specialist Screening Practitioner or Michelle Neild, Deputy Lead Specialist Screening Practitioner.

In the event of exceptionally high levels of response, we reserve the right to close the post before the date stated above in order to prevent the number of applications received being unmanageable. You are advised to submit your completed application form as soon as possible to have the best chance of being considered.

Full details of role and responsibilities can be seen in the Job Description.

Person specification

Skills, knowledge, values and behaviours

• Display trust values and behaviours as per job description
• Ability to work evening shift
• Ability to work across sites
• Evidence of participation in conducting audits
• Aware of national Bowel Cancer Screening Programme and Current events relating to cancer services

Experience

• Examples of effective team working
• Articulate with advanced written and oral communication skills and the ability to respond to different communication needs of patients in a variety of settings
• Ability to present factual information and deal with questions
• Importance of quality of care and changes in practice
• Evidence of management and leadership skills
• Research and audit skills
• Ability to contribute to policy development
• Evidence of ability to prioritize own workload and work independently
• Patient examination and history taking
• Basic counselling skills
• Experience in patient examination
• Experience in patient history taking

Qualifications

• Clinical expertise across a range of specialties
• Detailed knowledge of professional accountability and NHS issues
• Importance of equality, diversity and rights in patient care
• Evidence of continued learning
• Commitment to undertake and achieve mandatory certificate of Professional Development, Specialist Bowel Cancer Screening, which is essential to continued employment in role
• Commitment to undertake additional mandatory courses
• Experience in Endoscopy or Pre- operative assessment
• Certificate of Professional Development, Specialist Bowel Cancer Screening
• Additional qualifications in a relevant area (EG; advanced communication, BCSS training)

Key Messages

We are a forces-friendly employers.

Candidates should ensure that all submissions and interactions reflect the candidate’s own skills, experience, and understanding. Any use of AI that compromises the integrity, fairness, or authenticity of the recruitment process may result in disqualification from consideration, withdrawal of offer, or dismissal if this these circumstances come to light post hire.

Candidates that require sponsorship to work in the UK are strongly advised to check the Government website for up-to-date information about whether the role they are applying for (incl. offered salary) is eligible.

Please let us know if you require an adjustment to our recruitment process and we'll be happy to discuss this with you.

We actively promote flexible working so please discuss any requirements you may have with us.

Secondments will be considered for fixed term positions when both parties agree. Candidates should seek approval from their current line manager before application.

• All correspondence will be sent via the email address you have registered as your TRAC account. Selection is based on the Trust's values, and the criteria outlined in the Job Description for the role.
• Appointments are subject to a 6-month probationary period. LED Doctors are subject to a 3-month probationary period.
• You are required to pay for a DBS disclosure where the post requires one, and we encourage applicants to join and remain registered with the DBS update service.
• We do not reimburse travel to interview expenses.

Employer certification / accreditation badges

You must have appropriate UK professional registration.

This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975 (Amendment) (England and Wales) Order 2020 and it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service.

Name Claire Chesters Job title Lead Specialist Screening Practitioner Email address [e-mail] Telephone number 01270 277952

Additional information: Michelle Neild Deputy Lead Specialist Screening Practitioner - 01270 277952