About this role
Job summary
Acute Oncology is a dynamic and evolving specialty that brings together oncology, emergency care, acute medicine, and palliative care to deliver high-quality, patient-centered care for individuals presenting with oncological emergencies.
An exciting opportunity has arisen for an experienced and enthusiastic nurse to join the well-established Acute Oncology Service (AOS) at Walsall Healthcare NHS Trust. We are seeking a highly motivated, compassionate, and forward-thinking nurse with a strong interest in acute oncology and a commitment to delivering excellent care.
Main duties of the job
The post holder will act as a key worker, providing a vital link between patients, carers, and multidisciplinary teams across all healthcare settings. The role focuses on improving acute oncology and cancer of unknown primary (CUP) pathways and enhancing patient experience.
The Acute Oncology Service supports patients experiencing systemic anti-cancer treatment (SACT) toxicities and oncological emergencies, including neutropenic sepsis and malignant spinal cord compression. The team provides a seven-day advisory service and manages the Acute Oncology Triage Advice Line.
You will work closely with medical and nursing teams, offering specialist advice and support in the management of inpatients admitted with complications related to cancer and its treatments.
Training and Support
Full support will be provided by the Acute Oncology Lead Nurse, with learning guided through a recognised competency-based framework. The successful candidate will be encouraged to contribute to ongoing service development and the implementation of the Trust's policies and objectives.
Additional Information
This is a Macmillan-funded post, offering access to a wide range of benefits including mentorship, education programmes, coaching, service development funding, patient information resources, and patient grants.
About us
Walsall Healthcare NHS Trust is an integrated Trust and the only provider of NHS acute care in Walsall, serving a population of 284,300. It provides inpatient and outpatient services at the Manor Hospital as well as a wide range of services in the community. Walsall Manor houses the full range of district general hospital services under one roof. The £170 million development was completed in 2010, and ongoing upgrades ensure the Trust now has state-of-the-art facilities, including a Critical Care Unit, Neonatal Unit, Obstetric Theatre, and Integrated Assessment Unit. A new Urgent and Emergency Care Centre, opened in March 2023, has significantly improved emergency care facilities and capacity, providing almost 5,000 square metres of additional clinical space.
Job description Job responsibilities
Role Purpose
The role of the Acute Oncology Clinical Nurse Specialist is essential in ensuring the care and managementof patients with cancer in an acute setting, such as a hospital emergency department or urgent care unit.
The role focuses on providing expertise and leadership for patients who are experiencing oncological emergencies or complications related to their cancer treatment.
Job Summary
The post holder is a key member of the Acute Oncology Service and plays a key role in the delivery of its service throughout the trust. This role is pivotal to the implementation of the 7-day Acute Oncology service in line with the National Chemotherapy Advisory Group report (NCAG, 2009) and National Quality Standard Measures. The post holder will provide early specialist input for patients presenting with oncological emergencies or complications of cancer and its treatment, ensuring timely assessment, intervention, and coordination of care. This will enable safer, high-quality care for patients experiencing complications of chemotherapy and radiotherapy through early recognition, prompt management, and facilitation of early discharge where appropriate.The post holder will provide rapid clinical review of patients with cancer-related complications, with timely referral and coordination of care with specialist oncology and/or palliative care teams. Appropriate and timely investigation of patients who may benefit from treatment for metastatic spinal cord compression (MSCC) or cancers of unknown primary, including targeted assessment, prompt triage, and efficient referral to specialist oncology, surgical, or palliative care services.
Main Duties and Responsibilities
Clinical Practice
The post holder will provide direct patient care management, prioritising and managing their own workload while maintaining responsibility and accountability for an individual caseload.
Work in conjunction with the Lead Acute Oncology Nurse to ensure the delivery of a high-quality specialist nursing service within the Acute Oncology Service (AOS).
Undertake comprehensive nursing assessments, using advanced clinical judgement and decision-making skills to initiate appropriate interventions, and plan, implement and evaluate care in response to changing patient needs.
Work collaboratively and proactively with wards and departments to support the management of patients referred to AOS, ensuring timely clinical interventions, appropriate investigations, and supporting a reduction in length of hospital stay.
Utilise advanced communication skills to provide and receive highly sensitive and complex information to and from patients, families, and carers.
Work in partnership with multidisciplinary teams and external agencies to ensure holistic care is delivered, particularly in relation to ongoing care needs and discharge planning.
Provide clinical knowledge, advice, and support to AOS patients, carers, and healthcare professionals in the management of complications related to:
Systemic Anti-Cancer Therapy (SACT)
Radiotherapy
Suspected oncological emergencies, including neutropenic sepsis and metastatic spinal cord compression (MSCC)
Disease progression
Signs and symptoms of Cancer of Unknown Primary (CUP)
Maintain a highly visible and accessible presence at key points of entry within the Trust.
Ensure safe, high standards of nursing care are delivered in accordance with Trust policies, procedures, and national guidelines.
Maintain accurate, contemporaneous patient records in line with Trust and NMC standards.
Continually develop and advance personal clinical skills, including clinical assessment, non-medical prescribing (where applicable), risk management, and evidence-based practice.
Request and interpret appropriate investigations in line with scope of practice and clinical protocols.
Act as a key worker for patients with Cancer of Unknown Primary (CUP), coordinating their care pathway.
Management Responsibility
Assist the AOS Lead Nurse to collect and collate service data to inform service delivery, development, and the Trusts annual reporting requirements.
Participate in local audits, data collection and patient experience surveys.
Contribute to the implementation of clinical protocols and pathways for oncological emergencies, including neutropenic sepsis, MSCC, emergency admissions, and CUP, and act as a coordinator for these patient groups.
Provide support to generalist staff and Cancer Clinical Nurse Specialists.
Actively participate in Acute Oncology Team (AOT) meetings to support service delivery, quality, and development.
Develop and maintain strong multidisciplinary relationships, promoting collaborative working, even in challenging situations.
Education, Research and Audit
Identify and deliver effective educational strategies for patients, carers, and staff, using an honest, empathetic, and assertive approach when discussing complex care and treatment plans.
Provide education regarding expected treatment side effects and support treatment adherence, including when treatments may be complex, painful, or life-limiting.
Assess patient understanding and adapt communication methods, accordingly, including the use of interpretation services where required.
Promote patient autonomy through education and support, enabling informed decision-making about care and treatment.
Contribute to education and training programmes related to acute oncology and oncological emergencies.
Recognise and develop opportunities to expand personal scope of practice within acute oncology.
Assist the Lead AOS Nurse in auditing key aspects of the service to ensure continuous improvement in patient care.
Utilise current research and evidence-based practice to inform clinical care and disseminate knowledge across the multidisciplinary team.
Clinical Risk Management & Health and Safety
Comply with Health and Safety at Work legislation and Trust policies to ensure, as far as reasonably practicable, a safe working environment for staff, patients, and visitors.
Take personal responsibility for attending all mandatory training.
Report all accidents, incidents, and near misses in accordance with Trust clinical risk management procedures.
Contribute to the safety and security of the environment, including the protection of patients, staff, visitors, and Trust property.
Job Design and Review
This job description may be subject to change in the future. Any proposed changes will normally be discussed fully with the post holder with the AfC job evaluation process applied and confirmed via the issue of an updated job description.
Person Specification
Qualifications Essential
Registered Nurse and NMC Registered Sufficient Post Qualification Experience Evidence of Continuous Professional Development
Desirable
Oncology/Chemotherapy/Acute Care or relevant experience Qualification in Non-Medical Prescribing (V300) and Advanced Patient Assessment
Experience Essential
Experience working within Oncology, administration of SACT or Acute Medicine Experience caring for acutely unwell patients Experience of working within multi-professional team Experience in coordinating patient care and discharge planning Experience supporting patients with complex physical and psychosocial needs
Desirable
Experience within an Acute Oncology Service Experience in managing oncological emergencies (e.g. neutropenic sepsis, MSCC, CUP)
Skills Essential
Compassionate and patient-centred approach Professional, motivated, and resilient Ability to work under pressure in acute and complex clinical environments Flexible and adaptable to meet service needs Commitment to continuous professional and service development Strong clinical judgement and initiative Good time management Ability to build effective multidisciplinary working relationships
Other Essential
Flexible and positive attitude to healthcare Professional, Caring with respect for others Can use initiative to promote self-directed learning Can work flexibly in a changing environment Calm and patient approach to working with service users Ability to work independently Recognition of own limitations Ability to deal with complex and emotional situations
Desirable
Awareness of national cancer strategies and policies
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 Walsall Healthcare NHS Trust
Address Walsall Manor Hospital
Moat Road
Walsall
WS2 9PS
United Kingdom
Employer's website https://walsallhealthcare.nhs.uk (Opens in a new tab)