Worcestershire Acute Hospitals NHS Trust

Breast Care Nurse

The closing date is 24 November 2025

Job summary

*** This role is currently only open to Internal Applicants ***

We are seeking a highly dedicated and compassionate Breast Care Specialist Nurse to join our dynamic Breast Care Nursing Service.

This county-wide service provides holistic support to patients and their families affected by both malignant and benign breast conditions. As a key member of the Multi-Disciplinary Team (MDT), the Breast Care Nurse will work in close collaboration with Consultant Oncoplastic Breast Surgeons and other healthcare professionals to ensure the delivery of high-quality, patient-centred care

The ideal candidate will have demonstrable experience in breast care nursing in addition to some experience in a surgical setting. The post holder will have the ability to work autonomously as well as part of a collaborative team.This is an exciting opportunity for a motivated nurse to make a meaningful impact in a specialist field, providing compassionate care and clinical excellence.

Main duties of the job

The post holder will be an integral member of the Breast Cancer Team, working under the guidance of the Breast Care Nurses. The post holder will be responsible for managing a defined caseload of breast cancer patients, acting as the designated keyworker to ensure patients and their carers receive timely access to specialist information, advice, and support. The role involves close collaboration with healthcare professionals across both primary and secondary care settings to deliver a seamless, patient-centred service

The Breast Care Nurse Service incorporates working at both WRH and The Alexandra Hospital in Redditch.

The post holder will work alongside clinicians in both symptomatic and NHS Breast Screening Programme (NHSBSP) clinics.Working under the supervision of members of the Breast Care Team there will be opportunities to develop clinical competencies, including complex wound care, seroma aspiration, and lymphoedema assessment.

There will be opportunities to enhance communication and interpersonal skills through direct patient interaction and participate in relevant study days. In addition there will be opportunities to shadow experienced colleagues, including Secondary Breast Care Nurses, to broaden clinical insight and understanding and to attend the Breast MultiDisciplinary Team meetings.

This role offers an excellent opportunity for professional growth within a supportive and specialised team environment, with structured opportunities for professional.

About us

Worcestershire Acute Hospitals NHS Trust is a large acute and specialised hospital trust that provides a range of local acute services to the residents of Worcestershire and more specialised services to a larger population in Herefordshire and beyond.

The Trust operates hospital-based services from three sites in Kidderminster, Redditch and Worcester

Our workforce is more than 7,000 strong, and our caring staff are recognised as providing good and outstanding patient-centred care. You could be one of them.

We are committed to recruiting the best people to work with us. Our values, which we ask all staff to demonstrate, underpin our everyday work and remain firmly at the heart of all we do.

Being open and honest

Ensuring people feel cared for

Showing respect to everyone

We are proud to have achieved Timewise accreditation - this means we are committed to embedding flexible working within our organisation as a flex positive employer.

DBS Checks and Costs

Any applicants who are offered posts requiring a DBS check as part of their employment check will have the cost of this check (at the current rate) deducted from their salary. Please see link in Supporting Information section for more details on DBS checks and costs.

Details

Date posted

10 November 2025

Pay scheme

Agenda for change

Band

Band 6

Salary

£38,682 to £46,580 a year

Contract

Secondment

Duration

12 months

Working pattern

Full-time

Reference number

C9365-25-0995

Job locations

Charles Hastings Way

Worcester

Worcestershire

WR5 1DD


Job description

Job responsibilities

Key Duties:

To support the Lead BCN in the development of policies and clinical guidelines, which are necessary to support the developing specialist nursing service.

To maintain competency and produce evidence demonstrating continued professional development in the role of the Breast Care Specialist Nurse.

To be conversant and comply with trust policies and regulations ensuring attendance at trust mandatory training sessions and Essential to Role training. To identify with Lead Nurse when further competency / development is required.

To participate in personal / career development plan to maintain and develop attitudes, skills and knowledge facilitating personal and professional development in order to maximise contribution to and quality of service delivery.

To assist in the provision of a comprehensive nurse led service, incorporating an early discharge, seroma assessment and aspiration, post-operative review and prosthetic service to enhance the patient pathway.

To provide a lymphoedema assessment and support service liaising with lymphoedema Clinical Nurse Specialist as per service policy.

General Duties

To support the personal and professional development of new, registered and non-registered staff, in order to maximise their contribution to and quality of service delivery.

To participate fully in the implementation of staff personal development plans to facilitate on-going development.

To fulfil the keyworker role, by providing breast cancer patients with a seamless, high-quality pathway of care.

To undertake a comprehensive holistic assessment of patients needs at key stages during the illness experience in line with national directives, referring on to other health care professionals / agencies where necessary, and participating in the Health and Well-being events.

To demonstrate specialist practice in planning, implementing and evaluating nursing care, documenting the outcomes of consultations in the hospital notes.

To provide specialist support necessary for the patients and their families to make informed decisions about treatment options.

To promote the breast specialist nursing service through conferences and written papers.

To attend local and network meetings as necessary.

To become acquainted with the local assessment against national standards related to breast cancer and take part in the Peer Review Process.

To become acquainted with the NHS Breast Screening Programmes Quality Assurance review process.

To maintain competency and produce evidence demonstrating continued professional development in the role of the Breast Care Specialist Nurse.

To be conversant and comply with trust policies and regulations ensuring attendance at trust mandatory training sessions and Essential to Role training. To identify with Lead Nurse when further competency / development is required.

To provide Level 2 psychological support for patients and their carers, referring patients with complex needs to the Macmillan Clinical Psychologist.

To ensure patients receive verbal and written information at the appropriate point in their illness experience in line with the national information pathway for breast cancer.

To provide support necessary for those patients having treatment for benign breast disease.

To act as a specialist resource to other healthcare professionals relating to breast cancer providing specialist nursing advice and support.

To become acquainted with the local and network wide care pathways for patients with breast cancer including knowledge of contact points for referral and advice.

To act as a role model demonstrating high standards of holistic care.

To promote collaborative working relationships and effective communication between all members of the cancer multidisciplinary team, working across organisational and professional boundaries as necessary.

Provide a high-quality support service to well women, attending the Breast Screening Service assessment clinics and symptomatic service.

To support the implementation of the Breast Cancer stratified pathway.

Job description

Job responsibilities

Key Duties:

To support the Lead BCN in the development of policies and clinical guidelines, which are necessary to support the developing specialist nursing service.

To maintain competency and produce evidence demonstrating continued professional development in the role of the Breast Care Specialist Nurse.

To be conversant and comply with trust policies and regulations ensuring attendance at trust mandatory training sessions and Essential to Role training. To identify with Lead Nurse when further competency / development is required.

To participate in personal / career development plan to maintain and develop attitudes, skills and knowledge facilitating personal and professional development in order to maximise contribution to and quality of service delivery.

To assist in the provision of a comprehensive nurse led service, incorporating an early discharge, seroma assessment and aspiration, post-operative review and prosthetic service to enhance the patient pathway.

To provide a lymphoedema assessment and support service liaising with lymphoedema Clinical Nurse Specialist as per service policy.

General Duties

To support the personal and professional development of new, registered and non-registered staff, in order to maximise their contribution to and quality of service delivery.

To participate fully in the implementation of staff personal development plans to facilitate on-going development.

To fulfil the keyworker role, by providing breast cancer patients with a seamless, high-quality pathway of care.

To undertake a comprehensive holistic assessment of patients needs at key stages during the illness experience in line with national directives, referring on to other health care professionals / agencies where necessary, and participating in the Health and Well-being events.

To demonstrate specialist practice in planning, implementing and evaluating nursing care, documenting the outcomes of consultations in the hospital notes.

To provide specialist support necessary for the patients and their families to make informed decisions about treatment options.

To promote the breast specialist nursing service through conferences and written papers.

To attend local and network meetings as necessary.

To become acquainted with the local assessment against national standards related to breast cancer and take part in the Peer Review Process.

To become acquainted with the NHS Breast Screening Programmes Quality Assurance review process.

To maintain competency and produce evidence demonstrating continued professional development in the role of the Breast Care Specialist Nurse.

To be conversant and comply with trust policies and regulations ensuring attendance at trust mandatory training sessions and Essential to Role training. To identify with Lead Nurse when further competency / development is required.

To provide Level 2 psychological support for patients and their carers, referring patients with complex needs to the Macmillan Clinical Psychologist.

To ensure patients receive verbal and written information at the appropriate point in their illness experience in line with the national information pathway for breast cancer.

To provide support necessary for those patients having treatment for benign breast disease.

To act as a specialist resource to other healthcare professionals relating to breast cancer providing specialist nursing advice and support.

To become acquainted with the local and network wide care pathways for patients with breast cancer including knowledge of contact points for referral and advice.

To act as a role model demonstrating high standards of holistic care.

To promote collaborative working relationships and effective communication between all members of the cancer multidisciplinary team, working across organisational and professional boundaries as necessary.

Provide a high-quality support service to well women, attending the Breast Screening Service assessment clinics and symptomatic service.

To support the implementation of the Breast Cancer stratified pathway.

Person Specification

Knowledge and understanding

Essential

  • NMC Code, its application to practice and requirements of it for own practice and behaviour
  • Knowledge of person centred care
  • Understands actions necessary to promote peoples equality, diversity & rights
  • To ensure actions contribute to quality
  • Good organisational / time management skills
  • Ability to record and deal with accurate facts, figures and information
  • Able to interpret and adhere to Trust and departmental policies protocols, procedures and guidelines
  • Effective communicator both written and verbal
  • Ability to problem solve
  • Ability to prioritise work
  • Flexible to change in demands of service
  • Understanding of clinical risk and Clinical Governance
  • Understanding of Health and Safety guidelines
  • Computer literate
  • Ability to support junior/unregistered staff/students
  • Ability to identify and manage risk

Other job requirements

Desirable

  • Completion of full KSF outline within agreed timescales for all other nurses
  • The post holder will be required to work on any of the sites
  • Constant standing / walking
  • Ability to undertake manual handling and movement tasks
  • Awareness of self-presentation to patients and relatives

Qualifications

Essential

  • Registered Nurse on sub part 1 or 2 of the professional register
  • Evidence of continuing education
  • NMC recognised Mentorship qualification
  • Degree or working towards
  • Teaching and Assessing qualification

Experience

Essential

  • Can demonstrate experience in speciality at Band 5
  • Can demonstrate experience of staff management Evidence of excellent interpersonal skills Demonstrates skills in leadership and management
  • Experience of complaints management
  • Post registration experience in a related cancer area

Personal qualities

Essential

  • Excellent communication skills
  • High Professional standards
  • Able to work in a team
  • Able to work under own initiative and guide others
  • Ability to think clearly under pressure
  • Able to deal with the emotional aspects of the job
  • Able to deal with exposure to bereavement and challenging behaviour
  • Enthusiastic & assertive
  • Demonstrates attention to detail
  • Motivated
  • Flexibility in shift /working patterns to meet the needs of the service
  • Good organisational / time management skills
Person Specification

Knowledge and understanding

Essential

  • NMC Code, its application to practice and requirements of it for own practice and behaviour
  • Knowledge of person centred care
  • Understands actions necessary to promote peoples equality, diversity & rights
  • To ensure actions contribute to quality
  • Good organisational / time management skills
  • Ability to record and deal with accurate facts, figures and information
  • Able to interpret and adhere to Trust and departmental policies protocols, procedures and guidelines
  • Effective communicator both written and verbal
  • Ability to problem solve
  • Ability to prioritise work
  • Flexible to change in demands of service
  • Understanding of clinical risk and Clinical Governance
  • Understanding of Health and Safety guidelines
  • Computer literate
  • Ability to support junior/unregistered staff/students
  • Ability to identify and manage risk

Other job requirements

Desirable

  • Completion of full KSF outline within agreed timescales for all other nurses
  • The post holder will be required to work on any of the sites
  • Constant standing / walking
  • Ability to undertake manual handling and movement tasks
  • Awareness of self-presentation to patients and relatives

Qualifications

Essential

  • Registered Nurse on sub part 1 or 2 of the professional register
  • Evidence of continuing education
  • NMC recognised Mentorship qualification
  • Degree or working towards
  • Teaching and Assessing qualification

Experience

Essential

  • Can demonstrate experience in speciality at Band 5
  • Can demonstrate experience of staff management Evidence of excellent interpersonal skills Demonstrates skills in leadership and management
  • Experience of complaints management
  • Post registration experience in a related cancer area

Personal qualities

Essential

  • Excellent communication skills
  • High Professional standards
  • Able to work in a team
  • Able to work under own initiative and guide others
  • Ability to think clearly under pressure
  • Able to deal with the emotional aspects of the job
  • Able to deal with exposure to bereavement and challenging behaviour
  • Enthusiastic & assertive
  • Demonstrates attention to detail
  • Motivated
  • Flexibility in shift /working patterns to meet the needs of the service
  • Good organisational / time management skills

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).

Employer details

Employer name

Worcestershire Acute Hospitals NHS Trust

Address

Charles Hastings Way

Worcester

Worcestershire

WR5 1DD


Employer's website

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


Employer details

Employer name

Worcestershire Acute Hospitals NHS Trust

Address

Charles Hastings Way

Worcester

Worcestershire

WR5 1DD


Employer's website

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


Employer contact details

For questions about the job, contact:

Lead Breast Care Nurse

Nicola Jayne O'Hara

n.o'hara@nhs.net

07707350842

Details

Date posted

10 November 2025

Pay scheme

Agenda for change

Band

Band 6

Salary

£38,682 to £46,580 a year

Contract

Secondment

Duration

12 months

Working pattern

Full-time

Reference number

C9365-25-0995

Job locations

Charles Hastings Way

Worcester

Worcestershire

WR5 1DD


Supporting documents

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