11 Oct
University Hospitals Sussex NHS Foundation Trust
Brighton
Job description
Job overview
We are passionate about developing and improving cancer services at UHSussex Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust.
The Macmillan Clinical Nurse Specialist (CNS) team for Acute Oncology is looking for a motivated, flexible and resilient band 7 CNS to join our team.
The post holder will provide individualised patient-centred care for those who have a cancer diagnosis and have presented acutely unwell as a consequence of their cancer or treatment.
The post holder will be supporting patients presenting with a suspected new diagnosis of cancer, as well as managing toxicities both in the inpatient and outpatient setting.
The post holder will also be leading service development and improvement at the Brighton and Hayward's Heath sites and working collaboratively across the Trust to ensure parity of care across all sites.
The post holder will also be supporting with educational requirements both within the team and in the wider MDT.
The post holder will be instrumental in reviewing and improving communication and pathways between the multidisciplinary teams involved in patient care and management.
We are a dynamic, motivated, and supportive team, who work flexibly to meet the needs of the whole service and improve it while supporting each other.
Based at Brighton and Hayward's Heath in a structured rotation.
The cancer division is currently developing consistent standards of care and collaborative working across the Trust.
Main duties of the job
- Assessment of cancer patients admitted as an emergency within 24 hours of presentation.
- Perform comprehensive assessment of patients’ nursing and medical needs.
- Assess complex situations and make clinical decisions regarding care.
- Support patients and colleagues at breaking bad news for new diagnoses or progression of disease.
- Contribute to the personalised care of the patient group.
- Provide appropriate information and advice to patients and others affected by cancer.
- Provide a responsive service to queries and concerns - being able to triage and make appropriate clinical decisions, working within your limitations referring to senior colleagues as necessary.
- Signpost and refer to services appropriately, such as physiotherapy, counselling, and palliative care.
- Provide support and line management to junior members of the team.
- Liaise effectively with members of the multi-disciplinary teams.
- Work effectively and collaboratively with the CNS teams across UHSx and with our partner organisations.
- Be a support and mentor to junior staff members.
- To actively lead on and contribute to service development - including developing appropriate KPIs that are measurable which demonstrate service improvement.
Working for our organisation
At UHSussex, diversity is our strength, and we want you to feel included to help us always put the Patient First, as shown in our
Outstanding for Caring CQC rating. 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 - 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.
We look forward to receiving your application and the start of your journey with UHSussex.
Detailed job description and main responsibilities
To include but not limited to :
- Triage, assessment and management of acutely unwell cancer patients.
- Management and co-ordination of treatment for cancer emergency presentations including neutropenic sepsis, metastatic spinal cord compression.
- Support and advise on the diagnosis of suspected cancer.
- Attendance at the multidisciplinary meetings and clinics
- Management of patients presenting with immunotherapy toxicity and on-going assessment of response to treatment.
- Collaborative working with all members of the MDT, including acute medical teams, site-specific CNS teams.
- Signposting and making appropriate referrals
- Lead on the service development of cancer CNS teams
- Present at breaking bad news as required
- Delivering and supporting patients when receiving life-altering / limiting news
- Demonstrate effective and compassionate enhanced communication skills
- Ensuring pathways for investigations and treatments are timely - managing and escalating as required any concerns that may impact the diagnostic and treatment target dates
- Working clinically autonomously to provide advice in response to unscheduled contacts from patients and professionals
- Reviewing current practice and working collaboratively to improve,
- Be an influential leader to all grades and disciplines of staff
- Promote effective teamwork
- Conduct audit - including design and data analysis
- Working in line with trust values and the NMC code of conduct
Please see JD and person spec for full details
Person specification
Qualifications
Essential criteria
- NMC registration
- Mentorship
- Experience in SACT / RT
- Experience in Acute Oncology
Desirable criteria
Post Graduate Qualifications, Adv Phys Assessment, Prescribing etc
knowledge and skills
Essential criteria
- Relevant experience at senior nurse level band 6 / 7
- Demonstrable enhanced communication skills
- MDT / cross-boundary working - at senior level
- Service development / improvement / change management experience inc audit and data analysis
- Demonstrates commitment to personal and professional development
- Leadership and mentorship experience
Desirable criteria
Professional Nurse Advocate qualifications
Equality, Diversity and Inclusion
Essential criteria
- Evidence of having undertaken own development to improve understanding of equalities issues
- Evidence of having championed diversity in previous roles (as appropriate to role).
Important information for applicants
Flexible Working : If you would like to explore potential options regarding flexible working please speak with the appropriate recruiting / line manager.
DBS Checks : As part of our commitment to a safe working environment, we undertake a Disclosure and Barring Service check on all new employees where the role is eligible for a criminal record check .
We make offers in line with the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1975.
Skilled Worker Visa : Applications for Skilled Worker sponsorship are welcome for those that meet the Visa and Immigrations eligibility criteria.
For further information please visit the gov.uk website searching for Skilled Worker.
Closing adverts early : Please apply as early as you're able for this role. In the event of exceptional interest we may close adverts earlier than specified.
UHSussex reserves the right to close the role early if we receive a high volume of applications
▶️ Acute Oncology Clinical Nurse Specialist
🖊️ University Hospitals Sussex NHS Foundation Trust
📍 Brighton