Straight to Test Colorectal Nurse

Oxleas NHS Foundation Trust; Luton; On-site; GBP 25,000 - 35,000; Full time

Job summary

A prominent NHS Trust in Luton is seeking a passionate Band 6 Nurse to join their Colorectal Straight to Test team. This role involves assessing and triaging patients on suspected cancer pathways, ensuring they receive timely diagnoses. Candidates should possess extensive experience in endoscopy/colorectal settings and advanced communication skills. This position offers the opportunity to impact colorectal services significantly. Training will be provided to deepen clinical skills in patient assessment and care delivery.

Benefits

High-quality training and development

Supportive work environment

Promoting equality and diversity

Qualifications

• Extensive experience of working within an endoscopy / colorectal setting.
• Evidence of professional development and understanding of governance issues.
• Experience in managing a caseload.

Responsibilities

• Assess and triage patients referred on the 2ww pathway.
• Conduct telephone and face-to-face triage assessments.
• Book appropriate tests and appointments based on patients' symptoms.

Skills

Advanced communication skills

Knowledge of colorectal cancer referral pathway

Time management

Education

RGN level 1 Relevant endoscopy / colorectal training

Degree

Job description

Job overview

An exciting opportunity awaits! We’re looking for a passionate Band 6 Nurse to join our well-established Colorectal Straight to Test (STT) team. In this pivotal role, you’ll be at the heart of patient care—assessing and triaging individuals on both the suspected cancer and urgent pathways, ensuring they receive timely diagnoses and streamlined support.

You’ll play a key part in driving innovation by helping expand the STT model to include a routine referral pathway, shaping the future of colorectal services and supporting national cancer targets. If you thrive in a fast‑paced, patient‑focused environment and want to make a real impact, this is your chance to join a team that values expertise, collaboration, and progress.

Main duties of the job

The post holder will work alongside the established colorectal STT team to continue to assess patients referred on the 2ww pathway and the STT FIT negative / urgent referrals for symptomatic patients. The post holder will also be responsible for assisting in expanding the STT model to include a pathway for routine referrals.

The role will include conducting telephone and face‑to‑face triage assessments, booking appropriate tests based on the patients’ symptoms and fitness, providing appropriate patient information, and booking an outpatient appointment for those unsuitable for STT.

We are looking for someone who is very enthusiastic with experience / knowledge of the colorectal cancer referral pathway; with excellent time keeping, advanced communication and patient assessment skills. Training will be given to develop skills in assessing co‑morbidities, requesting investigations and making clinical decisions within set protocols.

Working for our organisation

Bedfordshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust provides hospital services to a growing population of around 700,000 people living across Bedfordshire and the surrounding areas across two busy hospital sites in Bedford and Luton. Both hospital sites offer key services such as A&E, Obstetrics‑led Maternity and Paediatrics. You will be joining a friendly, high performing Trust committed to ensuring the health and wellbeing of staff. As one of the largest NHS Trusts in our region you will have access to a programme of high quality training and development to help you grow your career. The Trust continues to be committed to delivering the best patient care using the best clinical knowledge and technology available.

Our values

We not only recruit based on qualifications and experience - we recruit individuals who demonstrate the behaviours which underpin our Trusts core values. We achieve this by using values based recruitment. We are dedicated to making our recruitment practices as inclusive as possible for everyone, we are committed to promoting equality and diversity, and creating a culture that values differences.

Please note that vacancies may close prior to the advertised closing date when sufficient number of applications have been received. All new staff will be subject to a probationary period covering first 6 months in post. Travel between hospital sites may be required. Please review all documents attached to ensure you familiarise yourself with all requirements of the job.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

MAIN DUTIES / RESPONSIBILITIES

Responsible for the effective management of patients referred urgently by the GP for suspected colorectal cancer and for symptomatic FIT negative / urgent referrals.

Act as a change agent and innovator, planning, instigating and evaluating change in line with local and national guidance.

Conduct telephone and face‑to‑face assessment clinics to triage the patients referred to the STT service and book the appropriate investigations.

Complete training to use a Patient Group Direction (PGD) for bowel prep and enemas.

Following a protocol, decide on the appropriate next step for the patient based on symptoms and book the test / appointment directly using the electronic booking system.

Complete all relevant documentation, ensuring this is uploaded onto the electronic patient record system.

Communicate with patients in order to properly prepare and pre‑assess them for their procedures.

Audit of patient outcomes and experience with the service.

Communicate effectively with all members of the Multidisciplinary team and colleagues in primary care including the referring GP.

As necessary respond to clinical incidents and where appropriate compile an incident report.

Ensure compliance with best practice and NICE guidance in relation to patient pathways.

Promote patient participation in decision making and enable their informed choice of appointment in line with the Trust booking policy.

Undertake the necessary administration tasks associated with booking and scheduling appointments on Trust systems.

Ensure that clinic summary letters are sent to GPs for those patients assessed by the post holder.

Maintain a physical and psychological environment conducive to the provision of high quality care.

Recognise and respect the cultural and spiritual needs of others.

Adhere to the NMC Code of Professional Conduct (2015) at all times.

Person specification

Qualifications

Essential criteria

• RGN level 1 Relevant endoscopy / colorectal training Evidence of professional development

Desirable criteria

• Degree

Experience

Essential criteria

• Extensive experience of working within an endoscopy / colorectal setting.

Desirable criteria

• Experience of managing a caseload.

Knowledge

Essential criteria

• Up to date knowledge of current clinical, professional and governance issues.

Desirable criteria

• Knowledge of participation in audit.

Skills

Essential criteria

• Advanced communication skills.

Desirable criteria

• Demonstrate leadership qualities.

Applicant requirements

You must have appropriate UK professional registration.

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.