Job summary
We are being supported by the East of England Cancer Alliance to introduce the role of Advanced Nurse Practitioner to support our 28-day Faster Diagnosis Standard for Prostate cancer. . We have 2 posts one to be based on each hospital site .
This is a new role and will focus on new suspected prostate cancer referrals through to diagnosis, including performing prostate biopsies (LATP).
We have a wide range of clinical and non-clinical professionals including Surgeons, Clinical Nurse Specialists, ward and outpatient nurses, administrative and operational colleagues supporting redesigning of Prostate Pathways to ensure faster effective supportive diagnosis and the management of prostate cancer.
The successful post holder will be expected to hold a patient caseload from urgent referral through to diagnosis, or exclusion of a cancer diagnosis. The post holder must be an established Leader and able to demonstrate innovative thinking, up to date knowledge and research, service redesign and quality improvements, and autonomous clinical experience at a senior level. Key aspects of the role include:
- Patient case load of new urgent suspected prostate cancer
- Undertaking Local Anaesthetic Template Prostate Biopsies
- Participate in MDT discussions and presentation.
- Lead on Service Improvements and pathway redesign
- Line management of Prostate Cancer Clinical Nurse Specialists
Main duties of the job
The Advanced Clinical Practitioner (ACP) role has been developed in response to changing healthcare provision, with the emphasis on developing expert clinical skills including advanced assessment and diagnostic skills.
The Prostate Cancer ACP will provide expert evidence based advice and clinical expertise within Prostate, working collaboratively and co-operatively with others to meet the needs of patients and their families. The post holder will be the nurse lead for implementation of the RAPID prostate cancer pathway, including nurse clinics for clinical assessment, targeted prostate biopsies and `breaking bad news` (training will be provided develop competency in performing targeted prostate biopsies).
The post holder will be the Trust lead practitioner with decision-making autonomy, responsibility, and accountability for providing nurse-led Prostate cancer services, in addition to contributing to the leadership, education, development and supervision within the Cancer Services and Urology nursing teams and for clinical teams across the Trust. The post holder will develop nurse led services for prostate cancer within the Trust, and in partnership with cancer centre and primary care colleagues, including stratified follow up pathways.
About us
Bedfordshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust provides hospital services to a growing population of around 700,000 people living across Bedfordshire and the surrounding areas across two busy hospital sites in Bedford and Luton. Both hospital sites offer key services such as A&E, Obstetrics-led Maternity and Paediatrics.
You will be joining a friendly, high performing Trust committed to ensuring the health and wellbeing of staff. As one of the largest NHS Trusts in our region you will have access to a programme of high quality training and development to help you grow your career.
We have state-of-the art facilities placing us at the heart of cutting edge health care. The Trust continues to be committed to delivering the best patient care using the best clinical knowledge and technology available.
Please note that vacancies may close prior to the advertised closing date when sufficient number of applications have been received. Please ensure that you make your application as soon as possible.
All new staff will be subject to a probationary period covering their first six months in post. Travel between hospital sites may be required.
Please review all documents attached to this advert to ensure you familiarise yourself with all requirements of the job.
Job description
Job responsibilities
- To be professionally and legally accountable for all work undertaken and to practice at an advanced level of professional autonomy and accountability that is within national Prostate cancer guidelines, BHFT policies and NMC Codes of Conduct
- To deliver evidence based expert nursing care exercising a high degree of professional autonomy, demonstrating ability to make sound decisions based on knowledge and experience.
- To assess individuals holistically using a range of different assessment methods and reach valid, reliable and comprehensive patient and client centred conclusions which manage risk and are appropriate to need context and culture.
- To independently receive patient referrals utilising highly developed expert knowledge, diagnostic and clinical skills to carry out assessment and initiate diagnostic and treatment pathways.
- To perform health assessments including obtaining a clinical history, conducting the physical examination and assessment of psychological wellbeing.
- To provide nurse led clinics including diagnostic investigations and targeted prostate biopsies, breaking bad news and informing patients of treatment plans.
- To order diagnostic tests (e.g. blood tests, CXR, echocardiography, MRI, CT, bone scan, DEXA scan) as appropriate and in keeping with the unit policies and national guidelines.
- To direct and use the results of specialist investigations (e.g. blood tests, radio-nucleotide scans and radiology) to assist formulation of diagnosis and plan patient management.
Job description
Job responsibilities
- To be professionally and legally accountable for all work undertaken and to practice at an advanced level of professional autonomy and accountability that is within national Prostate cancer guidelines, BHFT policies and NMC Codes of Conduct
- To deliver evidence based expert nursing care exercising a high degree of professional autonomy, demonstrating ability to make sound decisions based on knowledge and experience.
- To assess individuals holistically using a range of different assessment methods and reach valid, reliable and comprehensive patient and client centred conclusions which manage risk and are appropriate to need context and culture.
- To independently receive patient referrals utilising highly developed expert knowledge, diagnostic and clinical skills to carry out assessment and initiate diagnostic and treatment pathways.
- To perform health assessments including obtaining a clinical history, conducting the physical examination and assessment of psychological wellbeing.
- To provide nurse led clinics including diagnostic investigations and targeted prostate biopsies, breaking bad news and informing patients of treatment plans.
- To order diagnostic tests (e.g. blood tests, CXR, echocardiography, MRI, CT, bone scan, DEXA scan) as appropriate and in keeping with the unit policies and national guidelines.
- To direct and use the results of specialist investigations (e.g. blood tests, radio-nucleotide scans and radiology) to assist formulation of diagnosis and plan patient management.
Person Specification
Qualifications
Essential
- First level registered Nurse (or relevant professional registration)
- Bachelor's Degree in nursing, health or management related studies.
- A Masters level qualification in progress or equivalent experience
Desirable
- Certificated Speciality courses
- Advanced assessment skills course.
- Independent Prescribing course
Experience
Essential
- Proven ability to work under pressure both professionally and managerially.
- Proven ability to concentrate and maintain high degree of accuracy.
- Proven ability to emotionally support other staff.
- High level of work organisation, self motivation, drive for performance and improvement, and flexibility in approach and attitude.
- Able to carry out concurrent activities (multi-tasking) and work in an unpredictable working pattern (will be required to carry a bleep). Excellent time management and organisational skills.
Desirable
- Able to carry out concurrent activities (multi-tasking) and work in an unpredictable working pattern (will be required to carry a bleep). oExcellent time management and organisational skills.
Knowledge
Essential
- Advanced theoretical and practical knowledge of speciality with a wide range of approaches to the management of patients, demonstrated by advanced clinical reasoning and to be able to comprehensively assess patients for risk factors and early signs of illness.
- Ability to draw on a diverse range of knowledge in their decision making to determine evidence based therapeutic interventions (which will usually include prescribing medication and actively monitoring the effectiveness of therapeutic interventions).
- Ability to critically appraise and synthesise the outcomes of relevant research evaluations and audits.
- Awareness of changing trends in prostate cancer management.
- Advanced theoretical and practical knowledge of the urological system.
- Robust understanding of all aspects of Clinical Governance including previous experience of quality issues, audit and risk management.
- Basic knowledge of recent NHS legislation and infection control.
- Formal teaching skills (both medical and nursing students
Desirable
- Basic knowledge of recent NHS legislation and infection control.
Personal Skills
Essential
- Ability to lead within the nursing profession and multi-professional working; within an organisation and across organisation boundaries, being able to identify and implement systems to promote their contribution and demonstrate the impact of advanced level nursing to the healthcare team and the wider health and social care sector.
- Ability to develop working relationships locally, regionally and nationally.
- Excellent communication and interpersonal skills, proven listening/counselling skills.
- Excellent written and verbal communication skills demonstrating the use of a variety of media/IT skills.
Desirable
- Able to chair, co-ordinate and facilitate meetings.
Person Specification
Qualifications
Essential
- First level registered Nurse (or relevant professional registration)
- Bachelor's Degree in nursing, health or management related studies.
- A Masters level qualification in progress or equivalent experience
Desirable
- Certificated Speciality courses
- Advanced assessment skills course.
- Independent Prescribing course
Experience
Essential
- Proven ability to work under pressure both professionally and managerially.
- Proven ability to concentrate and maintain high degree of accuracy.
- Proven ability to emotionally support other staff.
- High level of work organisation, self motivation, drive for performance and improvement, and flexibility in approach and attitude.
- Able to carry out concurrent activities (multi-tasking) and work in an unpredictable working pattern (will be required to carry a bleep). Excellent time management and organisational skills.
Desirable
- Able to carry out concurrent activities (multi-tasking) and work in an unpredictable working pattern (will be required to carry a bleep). oExcellent time management and organisational skills.
Knowledge
Essential
- Advanced theoretical and practical knowledge of speciality with a wide range of approaches to the management of patients, demonstrated by advanced clinical reasoning and to be able to comprehensively assess patients for risk factors and early signs of illness.
- Ability to draw on a diverse range of knowledge in their decision making to determine evidence based therapeutic interventions (which will usually include prescribing medication and actively monitoring the effectiveness of therapeutic interventions).
- Ability to critically appraise and synthesise the outcomes of relevant research evaluations and audits.
- Awareness of changing trends in prostate cancer management.
- Advanced theoretical and practical knowledge of the urological system.
- Robust understanding of all aspects of Clinical Governance including previous experience of quality issues, audit and risk management.
- Basic knowledge of recent NHS legislation and infection control.
- Formal teaching skills (both medical and nursing students
Desirable
- Basic knowledge of recent NHS legislation and infection control.
Personal Skills
Essential
- Ability to lead within the nursing profession and multi-professional working; within an organisation and across organisation boundaries, being able to identify and implement systems to promote their contribution and demonstrate the impact of advanced level nursing to the healthcare team and the wider health and social care sector.
- Ability to develop working relationships locally, regionally and nationally.
- Excellent communication and interpersonal skills, proven listening/counselling skills.
- Excellent written and verbal communication skills demonstrating the use of a variety of media/IT skills.
Desirable
- Able to chair, co-ordinate and facilitate meetings.
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.
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).
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.
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).
