Job summary
Working Full time: 37.5 hours per week
This specialist nursing post will provide clinical support, expert care and clinical leadership to support patients with suspected cancer, provide improved care and support for patients on a cancer pathway (TWR / 28 day pathway) support the faster diagnosis and improved outcomes for patients with colorectal cancer work with the Colorectal Team, the Clinical Nurse Specialists positively impact on the experience of patients and carers by providing high standards of clinical practice and care as appropriate across the trust.
The senior CNS possesses expertise in clinical risk evaluation, change management and the provision of educational support to patients, carers and colleagues across organisational and professional boundaries.
The post holder will be expected to demonstrate a higher level of practice in both her/his direct care of patients and in her/his ability to plan and develop services to support patient care. Utilising the skills of leadership, clinical expertise, evidence based practice and innovation the post holder will facilitate and deliver care which is patient centred, safe, and effective.
The post holder may be required to work on other wards/ departments within the Trust at short notice in the event of hospital pressures/major civilian disaster.
Main duties of the job
1. To plan/organise/manage a defined patient caseload, be accountable for professional actions, and to work on own initiative without direct supervision.
2. To work as a specialist, autonomous practitioner and use expert clinical decision-making skills.
3.To provide nurse-led clinics according to service requirements
4.To follow existing guidelines/policies for assessment and delivery of care, and develop, with the team, new guidelines/policies as required.
5.To ensure effective communication is maintained both written and verbally, regarding patients, through close liaison with professional colleagues, both in primary and secondary care, and to develop working relationships with consultants, general practitioners and other support services.
6.To demonstrate the ability to manage stressful and conflicting situations professionally, as they arise.
7. To ensure that all requirements for continuing professional development are met and to keep abreast of new advances in the field of Colorectal as appropriate.
About us
The Trust's services are provided from three locations:
o The Countess of Chester Hospital: providing 473 general and acute beds.o Ellesmere Port Hospital: providing 60 beds as a rehabilitation, intermediate and outpatient facility.o Tarporley War Memorial Hospital: a base for community services which serve the local rural population.
The Countess of Chester Hospital NHS Foundation Trust employs 5,964 staff (headcount) to provide care and treatment to a population of over 400,000 people living in Chester and West Cheshire which includes Ellesmere Port and Neston as well as the Deeside area of Flintshire.
The Trust works collaboratively within the wider Cheshire and Merseyside Integrated Care System. Due to its location on the border with North Wales, the Trust also works closely with the Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board.
The Trust treats patients from England and some parts of Wales. During 2024/2025, there were approximately 643,000 patient attendances (inpatient, A&E, outpatient and diagnostic) ranging from a simple outpatient appointment to major cancer surgery
Job description
Job responsibilities
See Job Description for further details.
Recruitment selection processes are based on competence (see Person specification) and values.
Please note applicants will be required to pay for their DBS check. Costswill be deducted from their salary over the first three months of employment.
You are encouraged to enrol for the DBS Update Service. A small annual fee of £16per year applies.
New entrants to the NHS will commence on the minimum of the scale stated above.
Applicants are advised to apply early as if a large number of applications are received for this post, we reserve the right to close the vacancy prior to the advertised date.
Good luck with your application.
Job description
Job responsibilities
See Job Description for further details.
Recruitment selection processes are based on competence (see Person specification) and values.
Please note applicants will be required to pay for their DBS check. Costswill be deducted from their salary over the first three months of employment.
You are encouraged to enrol for the DBS Update Service. A small annual fee of £16per year applies.
New entrants to the NHS will commence on the minimum of the scale stated above.
Applicants are advised to apply early as if a large number of applications are received for this post, we reserve the right to close the vacancy prior to the advertised date.
Good luck with your application.
Person Specification
Skills and Abilities
Essential
- Able to manage own workload and co-ordinate that of others.
- Basic IT skills in word processing/Hospital Systems
- Able to present written information in a logical manner
- Ability to communicate in a variety of settings with patients of varying levels of understanding.
- Ability to communicate sensitive information.
- Ability to develop effective interpersonal relationships with colleagues at all levels of the organisation
Desirable
- Presentation / teaching skills
Qualification
Essential
- RN/RSCN Diploma or Degree
- NMC Registered
- MSc Advanced Practice/Clinical Masters or working towards within 2 academic years of appointment
- Recognised teaching/assessing qualification 998/997 /mentorship
- Relevant specialty related qualification/module
Desirable
- Trained in Advanced Life Support
- Management qualification or equivalent
- Continuous Professional Development port folio
Knowledge and Experience
Essential
- Speciality knowledge and experience
- Basic knowledge of financial management within the clinical setting.
- Knowledge of professional and NHS issues and an understanding of corporate objectives.
- To complete the Trust toolkit competencies
- Relevant Post Registration clinical experience
- Initiation and implementation of change
Desirable
- CNS mentorship and development
- Countess 20:20 Leadership Programme
Person Specification
Skills and Abilities
Essential
- Able to manage own workload and co-ordinate that of others.
- Basic IT skills in word processing/Hospital Systems
- Able to present written information in a logical manner
- Ability to communicate in a variety of settings with patients of varying levels of understanding.
- Ability to communicate sensitive information.
- Ability to develop effective interpersonal relationships with colleagues at all levels of the organisation
Desirable
- Presentation / teaching skills
Qualification
Essential
- RN/RSCN Diploma or Degree
- NMC Registered
- MSc Advanced Practice/Clinical Masters or working towards within 2 academic years of appointment
- Recognised teaching/assessing qualification 998/997 /mentorship
- Relevant specialty related qualification/module
Desirable
- Trained in Advanced Life Support
- Management qualification or equivalent
- Continuous Professional Development port folio
Knowledge and Experience
Essential
- Speciality knowledge and experience
- Basic knowledge of financial management within the clinical setting.
- Knowledge of professional and NHS issues and an understanding of corporate objectives.
- To complete the Trust toolkit competencies
- Relevant Post Registration clinical experience
- Initiation and implementation of change
Desirable
- CNS mentorship and development
- Countess 20:20 Leadership Programme
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).
