Bowel Cancer Screening Practitioner-Base Maidstone & Tunbridge Wells

Dartford and Gravesham NHS Trust

The closing date is 12 May 2025

Job summary

An exciting opportunity has arisen for a Bowel Cancer Screening Specialist Practitioner to join the West Kent & Medway Bowel Cancer Screening Service. Please note the role will be based at Maidstone & Tunbridge Wells NHS Trust.

The Bowel Cancer Screening Programme invites those aged 50-74 years to complete a home test kit which if positive requires them to attend for further suitability assessment for colonoscopy, as well as incorporating surveillance of Lynch syndrome patients. The service is hosted by Darent Valley Hospital but covers Maidstone & Tunbridge Wells and Medway.

The successful candidate will be a registered nurse with significant post registration experience with the capacity to work as an independent practitioner as part of a broader team. It is desirable that you are able to demonstrate evidence of having worked with patients with lower GI disease or cancer.

Main duties of the job

The post holder will be expected to either already have the participated in the National Bowel Cancer Screening Specialist Screening Practitioner Training Course or willing to undertake this within one year of being in post (please note this is a residential course), and training on the Bowel Cancer Screening Computer System will also be provided. The ability to travel freely between all four sites is necessary.

Full time Screening Practitioners working days / shift patterns will be agreed by the line manager to meet the needs of the service. This includes working evenings and weekends.

The post will be based at Maidstone and Tunbridge NHS Trust, however it is expected that the screening practitioner will work with a team of screening practitioners and will provide cross cover (travelling to other sites including Dartford & Gravesham NHS Trust and Medway NHS Foundation Trust and potential other providers) and support to other members of the team / lead SSP's across the sites as required.

About us

We are committed to being an inclusive and diverse employer. We strive to employ people who reflect the communities we serve, and aim to create an inclusive culture where everyone can reach their full potential. Whatever your race, ethnicity, belief, generation, sexual orientation, gender or gender identity, disability or experience, you'll appreciate the opportunities we give you to work in an inclusive atmosphere. We welcome applications from people of diverse backgrounds, perspectives and experiences to build on the progress we've achieved to make our Trust diverse and the best place to work. We celebrate the diversity of thought, viewpoints and ideas that help us overcome challenges and embrace new possibilities. We have signed the Armed Forces Covenant Pledge and have a commitment to the Armed Forces Community.

We are dedicated to using our Continuous Quality Improvement (CQI) approach as our shared organisation model of change to enhance our services and ensure excellence in patient care.

If you are considering applying for a role, please be aware that as an NHS Employee you may have contact with vulnerable service users. We strongly encourage that all our staff are vaccinated against COVID-19 and are vaccinated annually against Flu, in order to protect the health and safety of our staff and patients. Your commitment will help us to put the safety and care of our patients first, as well as helping us to protect you and your colleagues.

Date posted

23 April 2025

Pay scheme

Agenda for change

Band

Band 6

Salary

£37,338 to £44,962 a year per annum

Contract

Permanent

Working pattern

Full-time

Reference number

252-7161667

Job locations

Maidstone & Tunbridge Wells

Hermitage Lane

Maidstone

ME16 9QQ

Job description

Job responsibilities

Specific Responsibilities

Clinical Responsibilities

Be responsible for care delivery to patients identified by the screening programme and will meet the needs of patients arising as a result of;

Having been called to participate in screening

Having been identified as positive on screening

Needing to be assessed as fit to undertake screening colonoscopy or alternative diagnostic investigations

Needing to be able to make informed decisions prior undergoing screening colonoscopy or alternative diagnostic interventions

Having been identified as requiring further intervention, treatment, surveillance follow-up or discharge.

Run clinics for patients with abnormal FOB test results to prepare them for colonoscopy.

Appoint patients to screening colonoscopy sessions.

Attend colonoscopy sessions and record patients pathway ( including data collection such as histology)

Provide clinics for patients who wish to discuss the outcomes of colonoscopy.

Attend flexible sigmoidoscopy screening lists

Consent patients and feedback findings to patients from flexi-screening post procedure

To establish effective links with local colorectal cancer multi-disciplinary teams in order to ensure that when cancer is detected, there is timely presentation and transfer of patients to the multi-disciplinary team. This may include MDT attendance.

Provide advice, information and support for those making direct contact with the screening centre.

To apply an in-depth knowledge and enhanced communication skills with patients and carers when breaking bad news and providing psychological support on diagnosis, treatment and symptom management.

Ensure timely access to screening colonoscopy or alternative diagnostic intervention and seamless transition through agreed pathways in primary, secondary and tertiary care settings, during all stages of the screening pathway.

Populate and maintain the Bowel Cancer Screening Programmes database.

Participate in ongoing data collection and quality assurance, service feedback and audit with particular responsibility for the follow-up of patients at 30 days post screening.

Collate, evaluate and report patient information by maintaining accurate patient records (such as data on treatment, staging and outcomes provided by the multi-disciplinary team) and participating in audits.

Please see attached job description for more information.

Job description

Job responsibilities

Specific Responsibilities

Clinical Responsibilities

Be responsible for care delivery to patients identified by the screening programme and will meet the needs of patients arising as a result of;

Having been called to participate in screening

Having been identified as positive on screening

Needing to be assessed as fit to undertake screening colonoscopy or alternative diagnostic investigations

Needing to be able to make informed decisions prior undergoing screening colonoscopy or alternative diagnostic interventions

Having been identified as requiring further intervention, treatment, surveillance follow-up or discharge.

Run clinics for patients with abnormal FOB test results to prepare them for colonoscopy.

Appoint patients to screening colonoscopy sessions.

Attend colonoscopy sessions and record patients pathway ( including data collection such as histology)

Provide clinics for patients who wish to discuss the outcomes of colonoscopy.

Attend flexible sigmoidoscopy screening lists

Consent patients and feedback findings to patients from flexi-screening post procedure

Provide advice, information and support for those making direct contact with the screening centre.

To apply an in-depth knowledge and enhanced communication skills with patients and carers when breaking bad news and providing psychological support on diagnosis, treatment and symptom management.

Populate and maintain the Bowel Cancer Screening Programmes database.

Participate in ongoing data collection and quality assurance, service feedback and audit with particular responsibility for the follow-up of patients at 30 days post screening.

Please see attached job description for more information.

Person Specification

Education and Training

Essential

Registered Nurse care professional
Educated to diploma level

Experience

Essential

Evidence of managing a caseload or care group in a clinical setting with multidisciplinary working
Evidence of participation in quality assurance, audit, or research
Able to work autonomously

Desirable

Evidence of having worked with/or showing an interest in patients with lower GI disease or cancer

Knowledge and Skills

Essential

Aware of national screening and cancer agenda and changes to improve cancer services
Knowledge of clinical governance, risk management, valid consent, and withdrawal of consent

Desirable

Knowledge of Endoscopy services and/or colorectal cancer nursing would be an advantage

Personal Attributes

Essential

Comprehensive and subject specific history taking skills
Presentation skills
IT Skills (standard keyboard user)
Customer care skills
Ability to organise and prioritise own workload.
Ability to communicate sensitive information and address barriers to understanding.
Ability to communicate sensitive information and address barriers to understanding
Ability to maintain accurate records
Interest in the promotion of screening through mixed forums
Demonstrates the ability to organise self and team members
Demonstrates a history of continuing professional development
Demonstrates positive attitudes towards cancer screening
Ability to travel between the screening centres (multiple sites).

Person Specification

Education and Training

Essential

Registered Nurse care professional
Educated to diploma level

Experience

Essential

Evidence of managing a caseload or care group in a clinical setting with multidisciplinary working
Evidence of participation in quality assurance, audit, or research
Able to work autonomously

Desirable

Evidence of having worked with/or showing an interest in patients with lower GI disease or cancer

Knowledge and Skills

Essential

Aware of national screening and cancer agenda and changes to improve cancer services
Knowledge of clinical governance, risk management, valid consent, and withdrawal of consent

Desirable

Knowledge of Endoscopy services and/or colorectal cancer nursing would be an advantage

Personal Attributes

Essential

Comprehensive and subject specific history taking skills
Presentation skills
IT Skills (standard keyboard user)
Customer care skills
Ability to organise and prioritise own workload.
Ability to communicate sensitive information and address barriers to understanding.
Ability to communicate sensitive information and address barriers to understanding
Ability to maintain accurate records
Interest in the promotion of screening through mixed forums
Demonstrates the ability to organise self and team members
Demonstrates a history of continuing professional development
Demonstrates positive attitudes towards cancer screening
Ability to travel between the screening centres (multiple sites).

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.