Job responsibilities
KEY RESULT AREAS
The role will support the Acute Oncology ACP and work alongside the Clinical Nurse Specialist for CUP and Acute Oncology.
Will demonstrate skills in advanced practice and extended roles in line with scope of professional practice.
Develop advanced practice skills core and capabilities within the four pillars of advanced practice (Clinical, Leadership, Education & Research).
Will ensure safe triage of referrals to Acute Oncology and highlighted for discussion on the daily handover.
When assessing Oncology patients undertake a patient clinical history and physical examination in line with the scope of your professional practice.
Be able to clearly articulate different concerns and clinical plans, with the support of the Acute Oncology ACP and in line with your scope of professional practice.
Demonstrate skills in clinical reasoning and interpret clinical results and ensure that there is an oncological clinical plan documented in the patients notes for the MDT to view.
Use prescribing skills as appropriate in line with you scope and professional practice.
Advise on the appropriateness of clinical investigations, diagnostic tests, and imaging, escalating appropriately, taking into account the patients comorbidities and performance status.
Escalate and discuss patients that present with concerns outside of your clinical competence and knowledge to the Acute Oncology ACP / Acute Oncology Consultant.
Discuss patients with Acute Oncology ACP / Acute Oncology Consultant concisely and accurately using the SBAR format.
Provide ongoing assessment and review of patients, interpreting blood results and reviewing the ongoing care needs of the patient, escalating to other members of the patients care team appropriately.
Act on professional judgement and seek help from acute Oncology ACP and acute Oncology Consultants when required and escalating concerns appropriately.
Demonstrate critical reflection on own practice, self-awareness, emotional intelligence, openness to change, personal growth and development.
Accept constructive feedback, embrace learning and reflection through feedback.
Provide direct care to patients with acute oncological emergencies, oncology treatment related complications, and new presentation of cancer in the emergency setting; whilst also considering the patients comorbid disease.
You will provide clinical leadership and to teams around the trust caring for oncology patients.
The post holder will be responsible for providing direct patient care that is proactive and patient focussed.
Ensure quality of care and a coordinated approach by demonstrating excellent verbal communication and documentation in the patients notes and Somerset.
The role will provide rapid oncological assessment to support clinical decision making in the Emergency Department, assessment wards and medical wards and across the trust.
Be the source of advice to primary care teams and ensure that primary care teams are updated about the patients changing needs.
Work autonomously to provide a timely and comprehensive assessment of a patients acute oncology needs.
Ensure an early, rapid and coordinated approach to patients presenting with a suspected cancer diagnosis via the emergency pathway, advising on cancer investigations and linking in with relevant cancer multidisciplinary team meetings.
Recognise when patient require a significant conversation, and when to arrange for a breaking bad news conversation.
Develop breaking bad news skills so that eventually you will be able to initiate these conversations.
Offering holistic support to patients undergoing cancer investigations during their inpatient stay, and after discharge, until the patient has been taken over by their specialist tumour site team keyworker.
Cancer of unknown Primary & Malignancy of Unknown Origin:
Attend and present patient cases at the CUP and MUO weekly multidisciplinary team meeting.
Work in partnership with cancer services to ensure that CUP and MUO patient pathways are coordinated and communicated across teams and that patients are updated.
To support the Acute Oncology CNS in providing support to the CUP and MUO patients.
Identify the need for rapid referral to other specialist teams such as Specialist palliative care and cancer tumour site team, cancer multidisciplinary meeting discussion, and Marie Curie and Advancer Care planning.
Malignant Spinal Cord Compression (MSCC):
Carry the MSCC bleep and act and the MSCC coordinator for the shift, reporting to the MSCC lead.
Respond to MSCC referrals promptly and prioritise and coordinate the suspected MSCC patient care in line with local and national guidelines.
To follow the Site operational policy for the role of MSCC coordinator and fulfil stipulated training and annual MSCC coordinator education updates.
To take responsibility for ensuring that mandatory training is up to date.
Provide leadership and advice along the MSCC pathway in line with NICE MSCC guidance and network and local policy.
To work with the team to ensure that the MSCC data base is kept up to date as this is a national requirement.
Work collaboratively with the EAB team.
Support the EAB telephone triage as required.
Utilise clinical assessment skills and support the team in the EAB when required.
Collaborate with EAB regarding referrals for patients in the trust with post treatment side effects and complications.
Work collaboratively with the EAB and Talbot Butler ward team and adhere to local admission criteria.
Leadership & Management:
Contribute to the development of the Acute Oncology Service (AOS) in line with national directives.
Pro-actively initiate and develop effective relationships, fostering clarity of roles within teams to encourage productive working and collaboration.
Role model the values of the organisation, demonstrating a person-centred approach to service delivery and development.
Provide leadership within the oncology directorate and to the nursing teams around the trust.
Education:
Critically assess and address own learning needs. Working with your co-ordinating supervisor to formulate a personal development plan that reflects the breadth of ongoing professional development across the four pillars of advanced clinical practice.
Deliver relevant education to the multidisciplinary team and the wider organisation.
Act as a mentor and / or educational supervisor for junior members of the team.
Advocate for and contribute to a culture of organisational learning to inspire future and existing staff.
Act as a role model, educator, supervisor, coach, and mentor, seeking to instil and develop the confidence of others.
Supporting the wider team to build capacity and capability through work-based and interprofessional learning, and the application of learning to practice.
Take responsibility for own development towards an advanced practitioner competency, whilst being creative about how you meet your portfolio requirements.
Take own responsibility for attending and meeting Masters program education deadlines and expectations.
To undertake training to become an independent non-medical prescriber. Maintaining a portfolio of evidence to demonstrate ongoing competency and capability.
Research & Innovation:
Work in collaboration with the multidisciplinary team and research department, to identify areas of clinical research.
Provide support, encouragement and advice to other clinical staff undertaking audit within the oncology.
Evaluate and audit own, and others clinical practice, selecting and applying valid, reliable methods, then acting on the findings.
Ensure excellent standards of care through evidence-based practice and actively reviewing and applying research into practice.
Deliver education and training regarding oncology care and its emergencies to teams around the trust.
Ensure that data is collected and recorded to ensure review of the Acute Oncology Service provision and need for further service development.
Collect and record data in line with national guidance for the Acute Oncology data set in MSCC and Neutropenic sepsis.
Present audit data and research related findings to the wider teams.
To assist in the development and maintain an advance practice portfolio.
Quality and Safety:
Maintain a culture which actively promotes team contribution to the development and delivery of clinical governance, risk and management objectives.
Adhere to the Code of Professional Conduct (NMC, HCPC) and other national regulations related to working at this level of practice.
Abide by all statutory, professional and Trust policies and procedures, including thorough documentation for all patient care in the patient records.
