Specialist Screening Practitioner - Bowel Cancer Screening

Job responsibilities

Job Purpose

To play a pivotal role in supporting the Bowel Cancer Screening Programme by

• Co-ordinating and providing the highest standard of care from the screening centre in order to meet the needs of individuals arising as a consequence of the National Bowel Cancer Screening and Bowel Scope Screening Programmes
• Acting as the patients advocate, supporting them throughout all stages of the screening process.

• Working closely with the Health Promotion Coordinator to ensure equal access to health promotion activities and information for all ethnic groups.
• Working collaboratively with multidisciplinary colorectal teams across our catchment areas.
• Working collaboratively with the programme hub.

• Ensuring Trust compliance with waiting list targets.

Key Duties

• To work within a team providing Bowel Cancer Screening in Herefordshire and Worcestershire.
• To manage a case load of patients, run regular clinics, attend colonoscopy sessions.
• To work across various sites including Hereford County Hospital, Kidderminster treatment Centre, Alexandra Hospital Redditch, Malvern Community Hospital and Ross Community Hospital.

General Duties

Clinical

• Support the provision of helpline services run from the hub by resolving queries referred to the screening centre, by the programme hub.
• Provide advice, information and support for those participants making direct contact with the screening centre.
• Be responsible for care of delivery to patients identified by the screening programme and meet the needs of patients arising as a result of:

- having been called to participate in Bowel Screening,

- having been identified as FIT positive,

- needing to be assessed as fit to undergo screening colonoscopy or alternative diagnostic investigations,

- needing to be able to make informed decisions prior to undergoing screening colonoscopy or alternative diagnostic investigations,

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

• To use specialist knowledge and advanced communication skills with patientsand carers when breaking bad news and provide psychological support on diagnosis, treatment and symptom management.
• Ensure timely access to screening colonoscopy or alternative diagnosticintervention, and seamless transition to agreed pathways in primary, secondary, tertiary or outpatient care settings during all stages of the screening pathway.
• To establish effective links with local colorectal cancer multi-disciplinaryTeams, in order to ensure that when cancer is detected there is timely presentation and transfer of patients to the multi-disciplinary team.
• To provide health promotion for the screening programme in liaison withboth Worcestershire & Herefordshire to ensure equal access to health promotion activities and information for all ethnic groups.
• Populate and maintain the BCSP database, including all interim systems.
• Participate in ongoing data collection and quality assurance, service feedbackand audit.
• Perform comprehensive assessment of patient needs and plan, implementand evaluate care according to BCSP and local protocols.
• Collect, collate, evaluate and report information, maintaining accurate patientRecords including data on treatment, staging and outcomes provided by the MDT.
• Work collaboratively with other professionals and organisations to ensurePatient needs are met especially in relation to referrals to local MDTs.
• Obtain informed consent from patients undergoing colonoscopy.
• Request diagnostic tests as appropriate.

Leadership

• Maintain professional competence and support that of other staff withinthe BCSP.
• Support the BCSP Programme Manager and Lead Nurse in the development of performance reports to the National Screening Office, strategic groups and the wider health community.
• Contribute to the business and strategic planning for Bowel cancer screening services.
• Provide specialist, expert knowledge to clinical colleagues, patients and cares/relatives.
• Evaluate service delivery, identify areas for improvement and initiate change.
• Manage own workload to ensure timely maintenance of databases andproduction of data reports as required.
• Contribute to team meetings and other appropriate meetings within and external to, both Trusts to influence and improve service delivery.

Education and Development

• Participate in education and awareness sessions as identified by the BCSP.
• Identify new technology/approaches which should be considered in relationto the service and implement as directed.
• Identify, in conjunction with managers and nursing colleagues, educational and development needs and plan action to meet these needs, contributing to courses/training as required.
• Collaborate with and participate in both Trusts wide and external further development and education programmes.
• Maintain own knowledge of current theory and implement into clinical practice to promote and develop patient focused care.
• Create and maintain opportunities for research activities, facilitating collaborative multidisciplinary research.
• Participate in, or facilitate patient involvement in, clinical studies and trials and assist in data collection as required.
• Develop, improve and maintain own competence and support that of the nursing team through continuing professional development, including clinical supervision, and formulate personal development plans (PDPs).
• Previously completed the Specialist Bowel Cancer Screening Practitioner Course at Liverpool John Moore University/University of Plymouth or a willingness to start this mandatory training within the first year of employment.

Clinical Governance

• Ensure clinical risks are identified, reported and managed within the department and adhere to the Trust Clinical Governance policy.
• Identify need for an undertake research, clinical audit and benchmarking in order to improve effectiveness of patient care.
• Disseminate research and audit findings through presentation to professional groups and publications.
• Develop and implement policies, procedures and guidelines relevant to own area of work.
• Promote patient and public involvement activities in the BCSP, leading to service improvement.
• Promote equality and support diversity.
• Comply with Quality Assurance frameworks.

Professional:

• To be accountable for own practice and to act at all times in accordance with the NMC Code of Practice and Scope of Professional Practice.
• Undertake and be actively involved in quality monitoring, clinical benchmarking and audit programmes.
• Adhere to all Trust policies and procedures and ensure safe practice in health and safety, including manual handling, COSHH and control of infection.
• Carry out other duties as required by Clinical, Managerial or Professional leads.

Personal Qualities

Essential

• Well-developed communication and Interpersonal skills
• High professional standards
• Resourceful
• Flexible approach to work
• Ability to prioritise own workload effectively to meet tight deadlines whilst managing priorities.
• Able to work on own initiative and guide others
• Able to demonstrate initiative and ability to motivate others.

Desirable

• Motivational skills to encourage collaborative working and promote change.
• Good working knowledge of Microsoft Office including Word, Outlook and Excel.

Experience

Essential

• Relevant, current experience caring for patients with bowel disease.
• Patient examination and history taking.
• Ability to communicate sensitive information in an appropriate manner.

Desirable

• Recent experience in gastroenterology/ colorectal setting.
• Involvement in service development and implementation of change.

Qualifications

Essential

• RGN
• Evidence of Continuous Professional Development
• Teaching & Assessing qualification

Desirable

• First level degree
• Post-registration qualification in gastroenterology/Colorectal care at Diploma level and ability to undertake level 3 education.

Knowledge and skills

Essential

• Up to date professional portfolio meeting the NMC Revalidation criteria
• Understanding of Clinical Risk / Clinical Governance / Health and Safety Regulations / COSHH
• Leadership skills
• Control of Infection
• Knowledge of colonoscopy procedures
• IT skills

Desirable

• Demonstrate knowledge and understanding of requirements of GRS, BSG, JAG and how these influence practice.

Other job requirements

Essential

• The post holder will be required to work from community-based locations within Worcestershire & Hereford
• Willingness to undertake Bowel Cancer Screening training.
• Attend MDT meetings
• Participate in Health Promotion activities with local health promotion service providers.
• Participate in audit.

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).