Specialist Screening Practitioner

NHS; Truro; On-site; GBP 30,000 - 40,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading healthcare provider in Truro is searching for a dedicated Specialist Screening Practitioner to join their Bowel Cancer Screening Programme. This crucial role supports early cancer detection and enhances patient outcomes through specialized nursing care. The successful candidate will coordinate patient journeys, manage care plans, and ensure compliance with national standards, all while working in a multidisciplinary team. Opportunities for flexible working may be available, and the position requires NMC registration.

Qualifications

• Completion of relevant extended role scope competencies or commitment to undertake such.
• University qualification in specialty or willingness to commence within 12 months.

Responsibilities

• Conduct comprehensive pre-assessments of patients in the screening programme.
• Develop individualised care plans for complex patients.
• Maintain clinical competence through ongoing professional development.

Skills

Advanced Communication skills

Holistic needs assessment

Patient-centred care

Ability to manage workload

Education

Degree level education

NMC Registered Nurse

Job description

Due to the expansion of the Bowel Cancer Screening Programme in Cornwall, we are seeking a dedicated nurse to join our NHS Bowel Cancer Screening Programme as a Specialist Screening Practitioner. This pivotal role involves facilitating early detection of bowel cancer and improving patient outcomes through the delivery of specialist nursing support throughout the screening pathway.

Working autonomously within NMC professional boundaries, you’ll be part of a multidisciplinary team providing high‑quality, patient‑centred care. Based within Gastroenterology in Specialist Services and Surgery, you’ll coordinate patient journeys from referral through to follow‑up, ensuring safe and effective delivery of care that meets national screening programme standards and key performance indicators.

You’ll act as a role model to others, supporting staff development and contributing to departmental development and change. The position requires you to support the Lead SSP in management and mentorship of newly appointed staff, whilst actively participating in public awareness campaigns and community engagement activities.

You’ll be responsible for maintaining accurate clinical records, ensuring compliance with trust policies, QA, JAG standards and NMC Code of Conduct, and promoting excellence in clinical practice through quality assurance activities.

Main duties of the job

You’ll conduct comprehensive pre‑assessments of patients referred through the bowel screening programme, assessing fitness for procedures through holistic needs assessment and identifying potential risks. Using specialist knowledge and advanced communication skills, you’ll provide detailed information about colonoscopy procedures and obtain informed consent.

As a key point of contact for patients throughout the screening pathway, you’ll develop individualised care plans for complex patients, coordinating with relevant healthcare professionals. You’ll demonstrate proficient pathway management to ensure cancer waiting time targets and Faster Diagnosis Standards are met, whilst using creative reasoning and compassion to support patients through what can be an anxious time.

The role involves clinical support during endoscopic procedures, participation in health promotion, multidisciplinary meetings, contribution to audit, research and quality improvement activities. You’ll maintain clinical competence through ongoing professional development and provide clinical training for new staff members.

Working under the supervision of the CNS Lead Specialist Screening Practitioner, you’ll collaborate closely with the Clinical Matron for Gastroenterology, the Clinical Director BCSP, and Programme Manager. Your role involves working in partnership with endoscopy teams, colorectal specialists, pathology, radiology, anaesthetics and cancer services across the trust.

About us

The Royal Cornwall Hospitals NHS Trust (RCHT) is the main provider of acute and specialist care services in Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly. We serve a population of around 500,000 people – a figure that can increase significantly with visitors during the busiest times of the year.

We employ approximately 6,700 staff and have a budget of approximately £580 million. We are a teaching hospital in partnership with the University of Exeter Medical School, University of Plymouth School of Nursing and Midwifery, and Peninsula Dental School.

The Knowledge Spa on the Royal Cornwall Hospital site is the base for medical and nursing as well as ongoing education for health professions in clinical and non‑clinical roles.

Keeping at the forefront of medical advances, we are continually developing our clinical services as well as our facilities and are committed to maximising the range of specialist care that can be offered locally. Allied to this is a growing reputation for research and innovation.

Royal Cornwall Hospitals NHS Trust is a research active organisation.

It is established South West Clinical School in Cornwall exists to promote clinical academic career opportunities for nurses, midwives and allied health professionals interested in research and evidence‑based activities. Read their research paper to find out more.

Website: https://www.plymouth.ac.uk/research/clinical-schools/royal-cornwall-hospitals-nhs-trust-clinical-school

https://doi.org/10.1177/17449871231209037

Job responsibilities

PLEASE NOTE: To view the full Job Description and Person Specification, please click the supporting document on the right-hand side.

To be an employee of the NHS you need to successfully complete the following:

• Identity Checks
• Professional registration and qualification checks
• Employment history and reference checks
• Occupational Health clearance
• Satisfactory Disclosure and Barring Service check
• Right to work in the UK

For further information please visit:

https://www.nhsemployers.org/topics-networks/employment-standards-and-regulation

We reserve the right to close this advert early.

We may be able to offer flexible working. Please discuss at interview.

We may be able to offer sponsorship but this is not guaranteed.

Person Specification

NMC Registration

• NMC Registered Nurse
• Educated to degree level
• Completion of relevant extended role scope competencies, or commitment to undertake such as Advanced Communication/cou nselling qualification
• University qualification in speciality or willingness to commence within 12 months

Experience

• Relevant nursing/practitioner experience within speciality
• Audit or research experience
• Teaching and education experience

Practical and intellectual skills

• Ability to prioritise and manage own workload
• Able to identify learning opportunities
• Able to organise own learning and development
• Able to present information to professional groups.

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.