Lewisham and Greenwich NHS Trust

Colorectal Nurse Specialist - Priority Lower GI Telephone Clinic

The closing date is 02 November 2025

Job summary

In line with the Trust's Annual Business Plan you will provide a high quality advanced expert nursing/midwifery practice and cost-effective service to patients referred on the Priority Lower GI Suspected Cancer Pathway undertaking telephone assessments, referring them for investigations and supporting them throughout the process whilst ensuring that cancer waiting time targets are met. The Division aims to provide an environment conducive to the on-going development of all staff and advancements in the quality of the service by ensuring provision of a high standard of training, teaching and clinical care within the acute/community setting. The Clinical Nurse Specialist will be an advanced and experienced practitioner within their speciality. The role of Clinical Nurse Specialist requires a high degree of personal professional autonomy and making clinical judgements. Taking sole and joint responsibility for the patient and clinical decisions relating to their care based on assessment, planning and implementation of care to ensure a successful patient based outcome within the acute/community setting.

Main duties of the job

To possess a background in colorectal or endoscopy nursing with knowledge of colorectal conditionsTo possess excellent communication skills both verbal and writtenTo have good knowledge of the Faster Diagnosis Standards Pathway, how this works and the benefits for patients referredTriage referrals to the Priority Lower GI Pathway to ensure they are appropriate for booking into a telephone assessment clinicIndependently undertake telephone assessment clinics reviewing patient's referrals, taking a detailed clinical historyMake a clinical decision regarding investigations based on the patient's presenting symptoms and a holistic assessmentDiscuss appropriate investigations with the patient, giving the rationale for recommending these whilst taking into account the patients holistic needsProvide support to patients, their families and carers addressing any concerns and queries with empathy and compassionLiaise with the wider multi-disciplinary team / primary care regarding the care of the patient on the pathwayReview results of investigations and escalate findings accordinglyAction indications for further investigations as directed by Lead TAC CNS, Colorectal Nurse Consultant and Colorectal consultantsWork closely with the Priority Lower GI Lead Nurse and TAC CNS team to improve delivery of the service

About us

Our people are our greatest asset. When we feel supported and happy at work, this positivity reaches those very people we are here for, the patients. Engaged employees perform at their best and our Equality, Diversity & Inclusion (EDI) initiatives contribute to cultivate a culture of engagement. We have four staff networks, a corporate EDI Team and a suite of programmes and events which aim to insert the 5 aspirations:

  1. Improving representation at senior levels of staff with disabilities, from black, Asian, and ethnic minorities background, identify as LGBTQ+ and women, through improved recruitment and leadership development
  2. Widening access (anchor institution) and employability
  3. Improving the experience of staff with disability
  4. Improving the EDI literacy and confidence of trust staff through training and development
  5. Making equalities mainstream

Details

Date posted

21 October 2025

Pay scheme

Agenda for change

Band

Band 7

Salary

£47,810 to £54,710 a year per annum

Contract

Permanent

Working pattern

Full-time

Reference number

197-R-LC7453

Job locations

Queen Elizabeth Hospital

Stadium Road

Woolwich

SE18 4QH


Job description

Job responsibilities

All the following are to be carried out while working in close collaboration with members of the multi-disciplinary team led by a Consultant. To demonstrate clinical expertise within the speciality and work autonomously, managing own allocated clinics independently and seeking guidance/support when necessary. To co-ordinate the specialty care within the Trust. To become an essential member, and point of contact and resource for the multi-disciplinary team and patients and carers. To demonstrate the ability to develop new skills, to provide an expert high quality, nurse-led service/midwifery-led service. To provide ongoing care and support for patients and their carers within the Colorectal TAC CNS team To develop the service in a structured interdisciplinary way, initiating on-going change and progression in the expanding role of a Clinical Nurse Specialist. To develop interdisciplinary clinical management protocols and work within them. Autonomously or in collaboration with the multidisciplinary team, manage the care of patients undergoing relevant interventions, within agreed clinical protocols and in line with current practice/trends. To offer a supportive service to patients and their carers, disseminating specialist knowledge enabling individuals to try and adapt to any changes to their body image and life experiences. Liaising with other healthcare professionals when necessary. To provide, promote and maintain a support and advice service to patients and their carers, to include provision of information given from their point of referral to the Priority Lower GI Suspected Cancer Pathway through to investigation and follow-up working in conjunction with relevant healthcare professionals. To maintain accurate and legible records of all clinical and legal documentation with regard to Statutory and Trust policies. To control patient admission via direct referral and with consultant guidance and supervision. Be aware of, understand, and act upon the Divisional Business Plan, with particular reference to nursing/midwifery care, in order to participate in the re-formulation of nursing/midwifery aspects of the plan. When required, investigate the nursing/midwifery aspects of incidents/complaints and initiate corrective action.

Job description

Job responsibilities

All the following are to be carried out while working in close collaboration with members of the multi-disciplinary team led by a Consultant. To demonstrate clinical expertise within the speciality and work autonomously, managing own allocated clinics independently and seeking guidance/support when necessary. To co-ordinate the specialty care within the Trust. To become an essential member, and point of contact and resource for the multi-disciplinary team and patients and carers. To demonstrate the ability to develop new skills, to provide an expert high quality, nurse-led service/midwifery-led service. To provide ongoing care and support for patients and their carers within the Colorectal TAC CNS team To develop the service in a structured interdisciplinary way, initiating on-going change and progression in the expanding role of a Clinical Nurse Specialist. To develop interdisciplinary clinical management protocols and work within them. Autonomously or in collaboration with the multidisciplinary team, manage the care of patients undergoing relevant interventions, within agreed clinical protocols and in line with current practice/trends. To offer a supportive service to patients and their carers, disseminating specialist knowledge enabling individuals to try and adapt to any changes to their body image and life experiences. Liaising with other healthcare professionals when necessary. To provide, promote and maintain a support and advice service to patients and their carers, to include provision of information given from their point of referral to the Priority Lower GI Suspected Cancer Pathway through to investigation and follow-up working in conjunction with relevant healthcare professionals. To maintain accurate and legible records of all clinical and legal documentation with regard to Statutory and Trust policies. To control patient admission via direct referral and with consultant guidance and supervision. Be aware of, understand, and act upon the Divisional Business Plan, with particular reference to nursing/midwifery care, in order to participate in the re-formulation of nursing/midwifery aspects of the plan. When required, investigate the nursing/midwifery aspects of incidents/complaints and initiate corrective action.

Person Specification

Qualifications and Training

Essential

  • RN / RM - Part 1
  • Relevant specialist course or similar
  • Knowledge of conditions, management and treatment.
  • Ability to manage a case load effectively ensuring investigations are requested and undertaken within the cancer pathway.

Desirable

  • Counselling course
  • Advanced communication skills course
  • Advanced assessment skills course

Experience

Essential

  • Clinical experience within colorectal cancer and benign disease
  • Evidence of clinical leadership qualities
  • Ability to prioritise and organise workload
  • Ability to work autonomously and as a member of a multi-professional team

Desirable

  • The ability to undertake telephone assessment of patients with colorectal symptoms and triage them appropriately for investigations

Knowledge

Essential

  • Excellent verbal, written and interpersonal communication skills
  • Computer Skills

Desirable

  • Change management
  • Statistics and report writing

Personal Qualities

Essential

  • Maturity and self-awareness
  • Sensitivity based on knowledge
  • Flexible and positive approach to work
  • Enthusiasm and motivation
Person Specification

Qualifications and Training

Essential

  • RN / RM - Part 1
  • Relevant specialist course or similar
  • Knowledge of conditions, management and treatment.
  • Ability to manage a case load effectively ensuring investigations are requested and undertaken within the cancer pathway.

Desirable

  • Counselling course
  • Advanced communication skills course
  • Advanced assessment skills course

Experience

Essential

  • Clinical experience within colorectal cancer and benign disease
  • Evidence of clinical leadership qualities
  • Ability to prioritise and organise workload
  • Ability to work autonomously and as a member of a multi-professional team

Desirable

  • The ability to undertake telephone assessment of patients with colorectal symptoms and triage them appropriately for investigations

Knowledge

Essential

  • Excellent verbal, written and interpersonal communication skills
  • Computer Skills

Desirable

  • Change management
  • Statistics and report writing

Personal Qualities

Essential

  • Maturity and self-awareness
  • Sensitivity based on knowledge
  • Flexible and positive approach to work
  • Enthusiasm and motivation

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.

Certificate of Sponsorship

Applications from job seekers who require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website (Opens in a new tab).

From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants, applying for entry clearance into the UK, have had to present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Adult dependants (over 18 years old) are also subject to this requirement. Guidance can be found here Criminal records checks for overseas applicants (Opens in a new tab).

UK Registration

Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see NHS Careers website (opens in a new window).

Additional information

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.

Certificate of Sponsorship

Applications from job seekers who require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website (Opens in a new tab).

From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants, applying for entry clearance into the UK, have had to present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Adult dependants (over 18 years old) are also subject to this requirement. Guidance can be found here Criminal records checks for overseas applicants (Opens in a new tab).

UK Registration

Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see NHS Careers website (opens in a new window).

Employer details

Employer name

Lewisham and Greenwich NHS Trust

Address

Queen Elizabeth Hospital

Stadium Road

Woolwich

SE18 4QH


Employer's website

https://www.lewishamandgreenwich.nhs.uk/ (Opens in a new tab)


Employer details

Employer name

Lewisham and Greenwich NHS Trust

Address

Queen Elizabeth Hospital

Stadium Road

Woolwich

SE18 4QH


Employer's website

https://www.lewishamandgreenwich.nhs.uk/ (Opens in a new tab)


Employer contact details

For questions about the job, contact:

Colorectal CNS - Lead Nurse - 2WW LGI Pathway

Cat King

cking9@nhs.net

07469104230

Details

Date posted

21 October 2025

Pay scheme

Agenda for change

Band

Band 7

Salary

£47,810 to £54,710 a year per annum

Contract

Permanent

Working pattern

Full-time

Reference number

197-R-LC7453

Job locations

Queen Elizabeth Hospital

Stadium Road

Woolwich

SE18 4QH


Supporting documents

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