Job summary
Breast Cancer CNS, Band 7
Permanent
Chelsea & Westminster NHS Foundation Trust invites applications for an exciting role in our Breast Cancer CNS team for a Breast Cancer Nurse Specialist.
We are looking for an enthusiastic and experienced nurse who is committed to delivering excellent patient care andtakes pride in what they do. The nursewill work within the cancer nursing team to improve and enhance the breast cancer patient journey. As an experienced nurse you will work alongside nursing and medical colleagues in surgery and oncology to facilitate the best experience and care for individuals diagnosed with breast cancer.
A background in breast cancer / oncology or palliative care would be advantageous to the applicant. Excellent communication skills are essential together with an ability to prioritise workload, whilst working as part of a team is also essential.
Main duties of the job
The breast cancer clinical nurse specialist functions within a field of practice that focuses on the needs of the patient and encompasses interaction with others in delivering nursing, health and social care.
The CNS promotes excellence in nursing practice through the integration of expert clinical practice, education, consultancy, acting as a resource and commitment to nursing research.
The post holder will contribute to the on-going role in the development of the service for patients with breast cancer. This will include developing protocols; setting up; and running a nurse led clinics (face to face/Virtual/telephone) for follow up care which will include advanced assessment skills.
The post holder will be the key professional involved in supporting and counselling a caseload of patients and their families through the entire cancer journey and specifically around the time of the cancer diagnosis and surgery and following cancer specific treatments.
The post holder will also participate in the education of all disciplines of staff working with this patient group and act as an expert resource to other professionals involved in the care of these patients.
The post holder will work to ensure that cancer specific guidelines are adhered to and Department of Health standards are maintained.
About us
Chelsea and Westminster Hospital NHS Foundation Trust is one of England's top-performing and safest trusts. We operate two main acute hospital sites--Chelsea and Westminster Hospital and West Middlesex University Hospital--along with award-winning clinics across North West London.
Our nearly 7,500 staff care for a diverse population of 1.5 million, providing full clinical services, including maternity, A&E, and children's services, plus specialist HIV and sexual health clinics. The Care Quality Commission rates us 'Good' in safety, effectiveness, care, and responsiveness, and 'Outstanding' in leadership and resource use.
We continually invest in our facilities, including a £30m expansion of critical care at Chelsea and Westminster and an £80m Ambulatory Diagnostic Centre at West Middlesex.
We are committed to equal opportunities and believe that diversity drives innovation and excellence. As part of our dedication to equity, we actively welcome applications from individuals from the global majority, veterans and underrepresented communities. We value the unique perspectives and experiences that diverse teams bring and are committed to creating an environment where all voices are heard, respected, and empowered to succeed."
If you haven't heard from us within three weeks of the closing date, your application was likely unsuccessful. Employment is subject to a six-month probationary period.
Some roles may require weekend shifts at multiple sites.
Job description
Job responsibilities
- To provide expert nursing advice to patients with Breast malignancies and their families throughout the course of their illness from diagnosis, assessing their needs and providing information as required.
- To demonstrate specialist skills and knowledge through expert nursing practice.
- To liaise with all relevant members of the multidisciplinary team in the care and support of individual patients including GPs.
- To maintain a high profile in the clinical area, acting as a role model for other health care professionals
- To facilitate individualised patient care based upon the principles of evidence based practice.
- To act as a liaison nurse between inpatient, outpatient and home care, referring on to community support agencies when required.
- To hold a nurse led clinic including the development of written protocols based on national standards, following up all Breast cancer patients, arranging relevant tests, reviewing results, diagnosing, prescribing appropriate medication and referring back to a medical team as appropriate.
- Supporting patients with body image and sexuality concerns in relation to surgery, utilising other agencies and specialists as appropriate.
- To offer advice and support on pain and symptom control liaising with the Specialist palliative care team, and make appropriate referrals to the chronic pain service.
- To assess individual patients psychosocial and spiritual needs and refer for appropriate counselling or to other agencies.
- To work in close collaboration with colleagues in the Surgical Directorate.
- To work in close collaboration with the cancer and palliative care team.
- To counsel the family of patients with Breast cancer, referring to the appropriate genetic service as required.
- To provide professional clinical leadership and expertise to other nursing staff.
- To help co-ordinate the weekly multi-professional meetings for Breast cancer patients to achieve high standards of MDT working and assist with the compliance and evidence for cancer peer review.
- To provide expert nursing advice to primary care teams on managing patients with Breast malignancies.
- Responsible for implementing the recovery package for Breast patients including completing of HNAs assisting with health and well-being events and treatment summaries where appropriate.
Education and Leadership
- To promote patient/carer independence through the provision of relevant teaching and support.
- To participate in and organise study days/education programmes to raise awareness of the holistic needs of patients.
- To develop resource and teaching packs for use by patients and/or staff in the clinical and educational setting.
- To ensure the provision of appropriate written information is available to patients and staff.
- To participate in the Trusts on-going educational programmes.
- To evaluate the need for patient support groups within the Trust.
- Liaise with other charities, organisations and agencies dedicated to Breast cancer ensuring patients, their families and carers are informed of the availability of existing support services.
Research / Auditing / Quality
- To utilise up-to-date research findings in the delivery of patient care and to disseminate this knowledge to all members of the multidisciplinary team.
- To participate as appropriate in relevant research studies and audit findings and disseminate these findings to clinical practice as appropriate in order to develop best practice.
- To identify opportunities for nursing research within own specialist area and carry out nursing research appropriate to the speciality.
- To regularly audit service including eliciting the views of patients, carers and professionals ensuring patient feedback is incorporated into developments in the service.
- To attend relevant departmental and Directorate and network meetings relating to clinical governance and to contribute to the clinical governance agenda.
Management
- To liaise with other members of the team to ensure that there is an efficient use of resources, human, financial and time.
- To ensure that there is a safe and acceptable environment for clients/patient.
- To act as a patient/staff advocate through the application of ethical, legal and professional knowledge and skills.
Personal Development
- To maintain own expert level of competence.
- To participate in Annual review with the Clinical Nurse Lead
- To critically reflect on own performance through clinical supervision, coaching or mentoring.
- To work within the NMC Code of Professional Conduct and all Trust Guidelines.
- To continue own personal development through the pursuit of relevant professional and academic study.
- Participate in Annual job planning
- Prepare for NMC revalidation
Collaboration / Consultancy
- To work in a collaborative manner with all members of the multidisciplinary team recognising the unique contribution of other disciplines and appropriately referring.
- To recognise own limitations and seek advice and support on referrals.
- To act as a resource within the Trust and to participate in Trust-wide professional groups as appropriate.
- To represent the Trust locally and nationally, participating in and speaking at conferences.
- To work in a collaborative manner with local primary care teams.
- To act as a resource to primary care teams, attending meetings organised by the PCT as appropriate.
- To provide specialist advice and support related to the purchasing and commissioning of resources/services.
- To act in an advisory/ collaborative role with senior management in issues relation to the specialty.
- To act as a specialist resource for the management of patients.
Communication
- Ensure all communication, which may be complex, contentious or sensitive, is undertaken in a responsive and inclusive manner, focusing on improvement and ways to move forward.
- Ensure all communication is presented appropriately to the different recipients, according to levels of understanding, type of communication being imparted and possible barriers such as language, culture, understanding or physical or mental health conditions.
PLEASE SEE JOB DESCRIPTION AND PERSON SPECIFICATION DOCUMENT FOR FULL JOB DETAILS
Job description
Job responsibilities
- To provide expert nursing advice to patients with Breast malignancies and their families throughout the course of their illness from diagnosis, assessing their needs and providing information as required.
- To demonstrate specialist skills and knowledge through expert nursing practice.
- To liaise with all relevant members of the multidisciplinary team in the care and support of individual patients including GPs.
- To maintain a high profile in the clinical area, acting as a role model for other health care professionals
- To facilitate individualised patient care based upon the principles of evidence based practice.
- To act as a liaison nurse between inpatient, outpatient and home care, referring on to community support agencies when required.
- To hold a nurse led clinic including the development of written protocols based on national standards, following up all Breast cancer patients, arranging relevant tests, reviewing results, diagnosing, prescribing appropriate medication and referring back to a medical team as appropriate.
- Supporting patients with body image and sexuality concerns in relation to surgery, utilising other agencies and specialists as appropriate.
- To offer advice and support on pain and symptom control liaising with the Specialist palliative care team, and make appropriate referrals to the chronic pain service.
- To assess individual patients psychosocial and spiritual needs and refer for appropriate counselling or to other agencies.
- To work in close collaboration with colleagues in the Surgical Directorate.
- To work in close collaboration with the cancer and palliative care team.
- To counsel the family of patients with Breast cancer, referring to the appropriate genetic service as required.
- To provide professional clinical leadership and expertise to other nursing staff.
- To help co-ordinate the weekly multi-professional meetings for Breast cancer patients to achieve high standards of MDT working and assist with the compliance and evidence for cancer peer review.
- To provide expert nursing advice to primary care teams on managing patients with Breast malignancies.
- Responsible for implementing the recovery package for Breast patients including completing of HNAs assisting with health and well-being events and treatment summaries where appropriate.
Education and Leadership
- To promote patient/carer independence through the provision of relevant teaching and support.
- To participate in and organise study days/education programmes to raise awareness of the holistic needs of patients.
- To develop resource and teaching packs for use by patients and/or staff in the clinical and educational setting.
- To ensure the provision of appropriate written information is available to patients and staff.
- To participate in the Trusts on-going educational programmes.
- To evaluate the need for patient support groups within the Trust.
- Liaise with other charities, organisations and agencies dedicated to Breast cancer ensuring patients, their families and carers are informed of the availability of existing support services.
Research / Auditing / Quality
- To utilise up-to-date research findings in the delivery of patient care and to disseminate this knowledge to all members of the multidisciplinary team.
- To participate as appropriate in relevant research studies and audit findings and disseminate these findings to clinical practice as appropriate in order to develop best practice.
- To identify opportunities for nursing research within own specialist area and carry out nursing research appropriate to the speciality.
- To regularly audit service including eliciting the views of patients, carers and professionals ensuring patient feedback is incorporated into developments in the service.
- To attend relevant departmental and Directorate and network meetings relating to clinical governance and to contribute to the clinical governance agenda.
Management
- To liaise with other members of the team to ensure that there is an efficient use of resources, human, financial and time.
- To ensure that there is a safe and acceptable environment for clients/patient.
- To act as a patient/staff advocate through the application of ethical, legal and professional knowledge and skills.
Personal Development
- To maintain own expert level of competence.
- To participate in Annual review with the Clinical Nurse Lead
- To critically reflect on own performance through clinical supervision, coaching or mentoring.
- To work within the NMC Code of Professional Conduct and all Trust Guidelines.
- To continue own personal development through the pursuit of relevant professional and academic study.
- Participate in Annual job planning
- Prepare for NMC revalidation
Collaboration / Consultancy
- To work in a collaborative manner with all members of the multidisciplinary team recognising the unique contribution of other disciplines and appropriately referring.
- To recognise own limitations and seek advice and support on referrals.
- To act as a resource within the Trust and to participate in Trust-wide professional groups as appropriate.
- To represent the Trust locally and nationally, participating in and speaking at conferences.
- To work in a collaborative manner with local primary care teams.
- To act as a resource to primary care teams, attending meetings organised by the PCT as appropriate.
- To provide specialist advice and support related to the purchasing and commissioning of resources/services.
- To act in an advisory/ collaborative role with senior management in issues relation to the specialty.
- To act as a specialist resource for the management of patients.
Communication
- Ensure all communication, which may be complex, contentious or sensitive, is undertaken in a responsive and inclusive manner, focusing on improvement and ways to move forward.
- Ensure all communication is presented appropriately to the different recipients, according to levels of understanding, type of communication being imparted and possible barriers such as language, culture, understanding or physical or mental health conditions.
PLEASE SEE JOB DESCRIPTION AND PERSON SPECIFICATION DOCUMENT FOR FULL JOB DETAILS
Person Specification
Education and Qualifications
Essential
- Registered Nurse
- Relevant Breast Cancer nursing qualification
- Evidence of recent and on-going professional development
Desirable
- Mentorship/teaching/assessing qualification or prepared to work towards
Experince
Essential
- Post registration experience working in an acute hospital setting
- Breast cancer nursing experience
- Experience of running nurse led clinics independently
- Ability to utilise experience to demonstrate an understanding of the relevant setting
- Experience with research and audit
Desirable
- General leadership and management skills
- Experience in running nurse led PIFU services
Skills and Knowledge
Essential
- Proven clinical skills in relevant area
- Demonstrates a genuine interest and has awareness in speciality
- Evidence of self- Development within speciality
- Knowledge of the NMC code of professional conduct and awareness of current nursing and NHS issues
- Ability to make decisions, organise, prioritise and work with minimal supervision
- Excellent verbal, written and interpersonal skills
- Computer / IT literate - able to use Word, Excel, PowerPoint and manage databases
- Knowledge and understanding of confidentiality
Desirable
- Awareness of NHS reforms and professional issues relating to specialty
- Specialist knowledge in area of speciality
Person Specification
Education and Qualifications
Essential
- Registered Nurse
- Relevant Breast Cancer nursing qualification
- Evidence of recent and on-going professional development
Desirable
- Mentorship/teaching/assessing qualification or prepared to work towards
Experince
Essential
- Post registration experience working in an acute hospital setting
- Breast cancer nursing experience
- Experience of running nurse led clinics independently
- Ability to utilise experience to demonstrate an understanding of the relevant setting
- Experience with research and audit
Desirable
- General leadership and management skills
- Experience in running nurse led PIFU services
Skills and Knowledge
Essential
- Proven clinical skills in relevant area
- Demonstrates a genuine interest and has awareness in speciality
- Evidence of self- Development within speciality
- Knowledge of the NMC code of professional conduct and awareness of current nursing and NHS issues
- Ability to make decisions, organise, prioritise and work with minimal supervision
- Excellent verbal, written and interpersonal skills
- Computer / IT literate - able to use Word, Excel, PowerPoint and manage databases
- Knowledge and understanding of confidentiality
Desirable
- Awareness of NHS reforms and professional issues relating to specialty
- Specialist knowledge in area of speciality
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).