Neuro – Oncology Cancer Nurse Specialist

Job responsibilities

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

- To act as Key Worker for Neurological cancer patients, carers and other professionals during the patient pathway at the Christie for non-surgical treatments, from first referral through to end of life or discharge from follow-up

- To work independently and collaboratively providing assessment, advice, support and symptom/side-effect management for patients, carers and other professionals.

- To work as a member of the Neuro-oncology Disease Group with responsibility for the development and review of protocols / guidelines which promote innovative clinical nursing practice and integration of patient care.

- To be aware of change at national and local level and how it affects the service provided

- To undertake clinical and organisational audit, promoting the importance and value of undertaking such initiatives through multi professional collaboration.

Clinical duties

- To accept referrals, undertake a Holistic Needs Assessment and formulate the ongoing personalised care plan. Referring appropriately to services in the acute and community setting.

- To attend appropriate Neuro-oncology clinics and liaise closely with the patients, nurses and doctors attending these. To provide continuity of care across the group, particularly with regard to integrating radiotherapy and chemotherapy. To provide information about side effects of treatment and ensure clear and concise documentation is completed.

- To be fully conversant with treatment protocols.

- To communicate effectively and support / counsel patients and carers prior to, during and after treatment.

- Work in a collaborative manner with the rest of the team to work towards all patients having End of Treatment Summaries and Long-Term Care Plans.

- When appropriate have conversations with patients about their Preferred Priorities of Care and Advanced Care Planning, document and communicate with the other professionals involved.

- Assess out-patients, both face-to-face and via phone, in multi-disciplinary and nurse led clinics, formulating appropriate clinical decisions and management plans through history taking, physical examination and requesting clinical investigations (depending on competency).

- Provide specialist assessment, support and information around psycho-sexual, fertility and menopause issues.

- Ensure accurate documentation of patient care in accordance with hospital policies and standards.

- Non-medical prescribing (within the limits of your competence) to manage treatment toxicity and symptoms for patients with neurological cancer.

- To attend MDT meetings as appropriate and contribute to the discussion about individual patients. To attend other professional and clinical meetings as appropriate.

- To be aware of current research protocols and liaise with the Research Nurses from the Neuro-oncology Research Team and Observational & Supportive Team as appropriate.

- To act always in accordance with the NMC Code guiding documents.

- To be aware of all non-surgical Renal cancer patients admitted as inpatients and liaise with nursing and junior medical staff involved in their care.

- In collaboration with the Neuro-oncology Nurse Clinicians to act as a point of contact for patients and their carers in the community.

- To implement/follow Trust Policies and Procedures to ensure safe and effective delivery of care.

Managerial/Clinical Leadership.

- To provide specialist, expert clinical knowledge to clinical colleagues, patients and carers/relatives both within and outside the Trust.

- To provide written evidence of service development and performance.

- Initiate and support clinical developments / projects to promote excellence in patient care.

- Promote patient and public involvement activities in the specialist area, leading to service improvement.

- Attend and participate in the CNS Forum

- Act as a role model presenting a professional image at all times

- Evaluate service delivery; identify areas for improvement to promote excellence in patient care and initiate change. Involve patients and the public in service development as appropriate.

- To build effective professional relationships with the GM Cancer Alliance and across Acute and Community settings.

- Provide and receive clinical supervision and mentorship to facilitate reflective practice.

- Line manage other nurses or support staff on the team as appropriate

Education and Development

- To participate in annual appraisal and accept personal responsibility for professional growth and development. Maintain a professional portfolio.

- Ensure compliance with Trust essential training.

- To identify training and educational needs of colleagues and develop educational programmes in collaboration with colleagues

- To provide specialist input on relevant post registration/graduate courses.

- Use relevant educational opportunities, including attending local, national and international conferences, to ensure provision of the highest standards of patient care that is evidence based. Provide written and verbal feedback to colleagues.

- Together with other professional colleagues develop information and resource packs for patients and their carers.

Research and Audit

- To ensure that clinical practice is based on evidence and current best practice and to disseminate information to staff.

- To identify opportunities for nursing research and to participate where appropriate in nursing and multi disciplinary research, clinical audit, and benchmarking, in order to improve effectiveness and quality of patient care.

- Evaluate service delivery; identify areas for improvement and initiate change.

- Establish improvements in practice through audit and research and disseminate through presentation at local, regional, national and international conferences and written publication.

- Contribute to the writing of protocols relevant to own specialty.

Other Duties

Providing support with administrative services including referrals to Macmillan and District Nurses and liaising with local cancer nurse specialists to optimise the pathway for patients with neurological cancers. Attend relevant clinics and review patients in a clinic setting as required. Willing to undertake training days within the disease group and cancer pathway. Willing to attend relevant MDT sessions if needed.

Signposting patients to relevant services.

Qualifications

Essential

• RGN/RN
• Evidence of Level 6 (degree level) study in Nursing/Health related subject
• Post registration qualification in oncology
• Teaching and assessing

Desirable

• Evidence of Level 7 study
• Counselling Certificate
• Palliative Care Certificate
• Renal nursing qualification
• Non-Medical Prescribing or willingness to undertake

Experience

Essential

• Experience post registration including at senior level (Band 6 or above)
• Experience in Oncology
• Participation in service development and implementation of change

Desirable

• Nursing leadership
• Project management
• Experience of influencing change
• Renal cancer experience

Skills

Essential

• Advanced communication skills or willingness to undertake.
• Able to analyse data and provide written reports.
• Able to work autonomously
• Able to present information to professional groups.
• Ability to develop effective interpersonal relationships with colleagues across health and social care setting.
• Strong organisational/prioritising skills

Desirable

• Evidence of writing protocols/standards.
• Evidence of effective team working across professional and organisational boundaries.
• Evidence of undertaking clinical audit.

Knowledge

Essential

• Evidence of continuing professional development.
• Knowledge of professional and NHS issues, and policies relating to Renal/Oncology speciality

Values

Essential

• Ability to demonstrate the organisational values and behaviours
• Respect and dignity
• Commitment to quality of care Improving lives
• Working together for patients

Other

Essential

• Demonstrates flexibility in working hours.
• Demonstrates flexibility in working across the Christie 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.

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).