Job summary
Please Note:
This role is not eligible for visa sponsorship. Applicants must already hold the right to work in the UK independently, with a visa or immigration status that allows them to fulfil the full duration and type of contract offered. The Trust is unable to provide visa sponsorship for this position.
An exciting opportunity has arisen within Dartford and Gravesham NHS Trust to lead the establishment and delivery of the Lung Cancer Screening Service as Lead Nurse Assessor. The Lung Cancer Screening Programme is designed to enable early detection of lung cancer, improving patient outcomes and saving lives
This programme targets individuals aged 55-74 with a history of smoking who are registered with participating GP practices. Patients are assessed for lung cancer risk through telephone screening using an accredited risk assessment tool. Advanced systems are employed to identify high-risk individuals, who are then scheduled for low-dose CT scans, enabling early detection and better treatment options.
The Lung Cancer Screening Responsible Assessor (LCS RA) will be the main clinical contact for the day to day running of the Lung Cancer Screening Programme
Main duties of the job
The Post holder will oversee the effective management of the LCS nursing team and the screening review meetings (SRM), ensuring patients are placed on the correct pathway and that results are processed in accordance with local and national LCS protocols, quality standards, and the incidental findings policy. You will have direct line management responsibility for our LCS nursing team and will oversee the quality of lung health checks conducted by nursing staff
Each Lung Cancer Screening Programme has a robust clinical governance structure. As the programme's joint Responsible Assessor (RA), you will collaborate closely with the responsible clinicians and radiologists from the Trust. The RA is clinically responsible for assessing individual cases for eligibility, facilitating accurate monitoring of recruitment, supporting governance, training, and quality improvement, providing leadership during clinics, and ensuring data entry related to assessments. The RA also acts on clinical findings identified during the eligibility assessment.
As LCS RA, you will work closely with stakeholders, including Radiology, PACS, KMCA, ICB, NHSE, Smoking Cessation Services and private providers.
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.
Job description
Job responsibilities
Initially, working with lead clinicians, programme manager and other key stakeholders to establish standard operating procedures, policies and processes to support the effective delivery of the new lung cancer screening service.
Providing day to day leadership of the LCSP, leading a team of lung cancer screening nurses and providing direct line management, as well as task management of the administrative team.
Provide nurse led clinics. Undertake comprehensive lung cancer screening health risk assessments. Assess patients suitability to proceed to a diagnostic test, explain and take consent for the diagnostic test, and submit the diagnostic test referral form.
Oversee contact of all patients within LCSP, including patients referred where further assessment or investigation is planned following the CT scan. Ensure timely management of any referrals with serious incidental findings onto appropriate pathways.
As Responsible Assessor (RA) you are responsible for the leadership of the process to select and assess the individual cases for entry into the programme, the Lung Health Check (LHC) and any prior risk assessment for lung cancer.
Management of the LCSP processes, including ensuring relevant patient information are available to the clinical team during the screening review meetings (SRM) around CT scan findings. Prioritising and escalating patient care according to information from clinical team, being aware of each patients situation/pathway and ensuring these comply with current Trust policies/pathways and National Waiting time Standards.
Uses specialist knowledge and skills to provide practical help and emotional and psychological support to both patients and their families, and practical help through effective communication around CT scan findings.
Continually develop, implement, and evaluate the programme to improve and maintain standards of patient care. This includes leading the mandatory national clinical audit compilation, any local quality assurance and/or improvement audits required, patient experience; and support the delivery of any national and local research projects
Highly developed communication skills enabling maintenance of high-quality service and ensuring timely management and resolution of unexpected events and situations.
Responsible for identifying and assessing complex clinical and non-clinical issues, implementing resolutions and monitoring/auditing outcomes.
Ensuring recall patients are offered an appointment within the Quality standard guidelines, ensuring any incidental findings are dealt with through the correct and agreed process.
Regularly manage expected and unexpected clinical events.
Regularly support patients, carers and staff during difficult situations arising in the clinical area, e.g. breaking bad news or following an unexpected event.
You will lead and chair meetings including the nursing & team meeting and quality assurance meetings, sharing key learnings and implementing necessary improvements.
You will conduct clinical audits in accordance with LCS quality standards and focus on areas identified for improvement. For example, you will audit by listening to nursing staff conducting LHC assessments and provide feedback for improvement.
Job description
Job responsibilities
Initially, working with lead clinicians, programme manager and other key stakeholders to establish standard operating procedures, policies and processes to support the effective delivery of the new lung cancer screening service.
Providing day to day leadership of the LCSP, leading a team of lung cancer screening nurses and providing direct line management, as well as task management of the administrative team.
Provide nurse led clinics. Undertake comprehensive lung cancer screening health risk assessments. Assess patients suitability to proceed to a diagnostic test, explain and take consent for the diagnostic test, and submit the diagnostic test referral form.
Oversee contact of all patients within LCSP, including patients referred where further assessment or investigation is planned following the CT scan. Ensure timely management of any referrals with serious incidental findings onto appropriate pathways.
As Responsible Assessor (RA) you are responsible for the leadership of the process to select and assess the individual cases for entry into the programme, the Lung Health Check (LHC) and any prior risk assessment for lung cancer.
Management of the LCSP processes, including ensuring relevant patient information are available to the clinical team during the screening review meetings (SRM) around CT scan findings. Prioritising and escalating patient care according to information from clinical team, being aware of each patients situation/pathway and ensuring these comply with current Trust policies/pathways and National Waiting time Standards.
Uses specialist knowledge and skills to provide practical help and emotional and psychological support to both patients and their families, and practical help through effective communication around CT scan findings.
Continually develop, implement, and evaluate the programme to improve and maintain standards of patient care. This includes leading the mandatory national clinical audit compilation, any local quality assurance and/or improvement audits required, patient experience; and support the delivery of any national and local research projects
Highly developed communication skills enabling maintenance of high-quality service and ensuring timely management and resolution of unexpected events and situations.
Responsible for identifying and assessing complex clinical and non-clinical issues, implementing resolutions and monitoring/auditing outcomes.
Ensuring recall patients are offered an appointment within the Quality standard guidelines, ensuring any incidental findings are dealt with through the correct and agreed process.
Regularly manage expected and unexpected clinical events.
Regularly support patients, carers and staff during difficult situations arising in the clinical area, e.g. breaking bad news or following an unexpected event.
You will lead and chair meetings including the nursing & team meeting and quality assurance meetings, sharing key learnings and implementing necessary improvements.
You will conduct clinical audits in accordance with LCS quality standards and focus on areas identified for improvement. For example, you will audit by listening to nursing staff conducting LHC assessments and provide feedback for improvement.
Person Specification
Education and Training
Essential
- Registered Nurse (NMC)
- Evidence of CPD
- Leadership qualification or relevant post graduate qualification
Desirable
- Respiratory qualification e-IRMER training
Experience
Essential
- Professional clinical experience in acute Respiratory /Critical Care/screening or primary care
- Can demonstrate evidence of leading service development, implementing change, audit and research
Knowledge and Skills
Essential
- A knowledgeable clinician with the ability to apply evidence-based practice
- Strong leadership skills and ability to demonstrate this
Desirable
- A good understanding of lung cancer screening protocol and quality standards
Person Specification
Education and Training
Essential
- Registered Nurse (NMC)
- Evidence of CPD
- Leadership qualification or relevant post graduate qualification
Desirable
- Respiratory qualification e-IRMER training
Experience
Essential
- Professional clinical experience in acute Respiratory /Critical Care/screening or primary care
- Can demonstrate evidence of leading service development, implementing change, audit and research
Knowledge and Skills
Essential
- A knowledgeable clinician with the ability to apply evidence-based practice
- Strong leadership skills and ability to demonstrate this
Desirable
- A good understanding of lung cancer screening protocol and quality standards
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.
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.
UK Registration
Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see
NHS Careers website (opens in a new window).
