About this role
Job summary
This is an exciting opportunity to join our expanding Non-Specific Symptoms (NSS) / Rapid Diagnostic Service as a Clinical Nurse Specialist, working alongside our existing CNS to support the continued development and delivery of this important cancer pathway.The service provides a timely diagnostic pathway for patients presenting with concerning non-specific symptoms where cancer may be suspected but there is no clear tumour-specific referral route. As the service continues to grow, the successful candidate will play a key role in coordinating patients through investigation and diagnosis, providing expert clinical assessment, information and support and ensuring appropriate onward referral.Working collaboratively with medical colleagues, diagnostic services, cancer teams and primary care, you will support effective pathway management and provide continuity for patients during what can be a period of significant uncertainty.This is an opportunity to join an established but developing service, with scope to influence how the pathway evolves as activity increases. We are looking for an experienced nurse with strong clinical assessment, communication and coordination skills, a commitment to high-quality cancer care and an interest in service development and earlier cancer diagnosis.
Main duties of the job
We are looking for an experienced and motivated nurse with strong clinical assessment and decision-making skills, excellent communication and the ability to work autonomously while contributing effectively to a multidisciplinary team.
The successful candidate will need to be highly organised and able to coordinate complex diagnostic pathways, prioritise competing demands and maintain oversight of patients throughout investigation and diagnosis. Advanced communication skills are essential, including the ability to support patients experiencing uncertainty and anxiety and to communicate sensitively when discussing potentially difficult outcomes.
You will be confident working across professional and organisational boundaries, developing effective relationships with primary care, diagnostic services, medical teams and tumour-specific cancer services.
We are particularly looking for someone who is proactive, adaptable and committed to improving patient experience and earlier cancer diagnosis. An interest in service development, quality improvement and helping to shape an expanding service will be important.
Experience within cancer care is desirable, but we would particularly welcome applicants with strong transferable skills in clinical assessment, complex care coordination and autonomous practice.
About us
We hold a unique position in the Stockport community as the provider of healthcare and we are one of its largest employers.
We believe that the best organisations are those that reflect the communities they serve. We are therefore seeking to improve the diversity of our workforce to make it truly representative of our local population.
We actively encourage applications irrespective of race, age, disability, sex, gender reassignment, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, religion or belief, marriage & civil partnership, or pregnancy or maternity. Recognising those communities that are underrepresented within our workforce, we would particularly welcome applications from you.
If you require support with your application please contact a member of the recruitment team, who can discuss alternative application methods.
We recognise that flexible working is important. We take requests for flexible working seriously, consider any request we receive and try to work with you, so we can explore if your request may fit with the needs of the service.
Benefits we offer to you:
Between 27-33 days of annual leave plus bank holidays NHS pension scheme membership Salary sacrifice schemes for lease cars, home electronics and more, to make your salary go further NHS Staff discounts Cycle to work scheme Salary finance - for loans, savings, budget planning and tips on managing debt Stockport Credit Union- for local financial advice
Job description Job responsibilities
The job description gives an overview of the main tasks and responsibilities of the role, and the person specifications focuses on the qualifications, skills, experience and knowledge required. These documents are attached on the page and can be downloaded.
The person specification below is not the full person specification, but outlines the criteria against which your application form will be assessed.
Person Specification
Qualifications Essential
Registered Nurse with current NMC registration Relevant post-registration study and evidence of continuing professional development Educated to degree level or equivalent experience Evidence of study/development relevant to advanced clinical assessment, cancer, acute medicine or a related specialty Willingness to undertake further specialist/advanced study appropriate to the role
Desirable
Advanced clinical assessment qualification or relevant postgraduate study Independent/non-medical prescribing qualification. Evidence of postgraduate study at Master's level
Experience Essential
Significant post-registration clinical experience at a senior level Experience of assessing and managing patients with complex clinical needs Experience of autonomous working and clinical decision-making within scope of practice Experience of coordinating care across multidisciplinary and/or multi-specialty pathways Experience of supporting patients and families through uncertainty, difficult diagnoses or complex episodes of care Evidence of involvement in service development, audit or quality improvement Experience of effective multidisciplinary working
Desirable
Experience of requesting/interpreting diagnostic investigations where appropriate to scope of practice Experience of nurse-led clinics Experience of pathway/service redesign and evaluation
Knowledge Essential
Understanding of cancer pathways and the principles of earlier and faster diagnosis Understanding of patient-centred and personalised care Knowledge of clinical governance, patient safety, safeguarding and professional accountability Understanding of the importance of pathway monitoring, timely diagnostics and escalation of clinical concerns
Desirable
Strong understanding of clinical assessment and management of patients presenting with complex or non-specific symptoms
Skills and Abilities Essential
Excellent clinical assessment and clinical reasoning skills Ability to work autonomously, prioritise and make appropriate clinical decisions Excellent advanced communication and interpersonal skills Ability to communicate complex, sensitive or distressing information Strong organisational and pathway-management skills, including management of competing priorities Ability to build effective relationships across professional and organisational boundaries Ability to identify deterioration or significant clinical concern and escalate appropriately Ability to analyse information, contribute to audit and use data to support service improvement
Desirable
Previous experience within cancer services, acute medicine, diagnostics, advanced practice or another relevant specialty
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).
Employer details Employer name Stockport NHS Foundation Trust
Address Stepping Hill Hospital
Polar Grove
Hazel Grove
SK26JE
United Kingdom
Employer's website http://www.stockport.nhs.uk/ (Opens in a new tab)