CUP & Rare Diseases CNS Oncology

Job responsibilities

General Duties:

Clinical Practice

To be a point of contact/ keyworker for patients with CUP / Rare Cancers throughout their disease trajectory.

Working autonomously, maintain a caseload of patients and demonstrate practice in holistic needs assessment, planning, implementation and evaluation of care promoting the philosophy of person centred care for patients with CUP / Rare cancers.

Utilising advanced communication skills when discussing diagnosis, prognosis, and treatment options for this group of patients with sensitivity and expertise.

Assess educational and information needs for patients and families, and devise plans to ensure their needs are met.

Visit the ward areas including ED and review patients where appropriate, provide leadership, support and guidance to staff in monitoring the planning, delivery and evaluation of individualised specialist care.

Act as an advocate for patients within the department, to ensure a patient orientated approach to the delivery of care and to meet standards within the NHS plan and relevant guidelines.

Ensure all patients receive high quality clinical care and good patient experience, having regard and sensitivity for their customs, culture, religious beliefs and lifestyle.

To be responsible for maintaining a safe environment for patients, visitors and other staff within the clinical environment.

Recognise and avoid situations that may be detrimental to the health and wellbeing of the individual.

Participate in case conferences in relation to the management of patients, ensuring the coordination of ongoing care.

Support and enable patients and carers to make informed decisions relating to their treatment and management.

Uses advanced communication, listening and negotiation skills to facilitate discussion of complex, sensitive and emotive issues around cancer diagnosis, disease management, recurrence/progressive disease and prognosis.

Promote collaborative working relationships and effective communication between all members of the trust, community and tertiary services/ MDT to improve the management and outcomes of the patient group.

Promote high quality care and assist in the development of the specialist service, through the use of evidence based practice and clinical standards.

Knowledge Skills and Experience:

The post holder will provide direct, highly specialised care and advice to patients within the CUP and Rare Cancer service demonstrating advanced clinical skills and expert knowledge for those undergoing diagnosis, treatment or with advanced disease.

To have knowledge of therapies available for the treatment of CUP and rare cancers. This includes understanding how the treatment is delivered and common side effects.

To have extensive knowledge of CUP and Rare Cancers and the potential complications relating to the diseases. This includes symptom management strategies such as appropriate medical management or specialist referral.

To utilise advanced health assessment skills and non-medical prescribing where appropriate to support with recognising and managing patients with adverse symptoms relating to their disease.

Professional Leadership and Management:

Works as an expert practitioner with patients with CUP and rare tumours, acting as a resource for other interdisciplinary healthcare professions. Maintains a high profile in the clinical area, acting as a role model for good practice.

Organise own work and manage caseload and practice, identifying and maintaining supportive networks for self and other staff members.

To be fully aware of national targets and corporate, divisional and directorate objectives in conjunctional with the MDT use the available resources to meet these targets.

To be involved in the development, assessment and implementation of guidelines, protocols and pathways.

Develop the role according to patients changing needs and research findings, within the resources available.

Maintain accurate records of clinical service ensuring confidentiality are maintained.

Facilitate a high quality, cost effective service through monitoring, audit and other quality initiatives agreed by the trust (quality surveillance programme).

Provide a leadership role, demonstrating a high standard of care utilising their specialist knowledge to provide support and advice when necessary.

Attend and participate in the multi-professional team meetings acting as the patient advocate and supporting nursing views.

Lead the development of patient focused education, including training to self-manage ongoing consequences of their disease or treatment.

Identify and intervene where circumstances contribute to unsafe environment for patients or staff. To bring instances to the attention of the senior nursing team.

Within the framework of clinical governance, work continuously to improve quality and safeguard standards of care, and maintain a patient focused service, promoting and implementing evidence based practice with measurable standards and outcomes.

Initiate and be involved in audit projects that measure standards of care. Help to identify and highlight any gaps in evidence/ service provision. In conjunction with other members of the multi-professional team, review existing policies and protocols and develop new ones as required.

Works with relevant clinical groups at Cancer Alliance level in order to deliver local and national objectives for the specialist area.

Education, research, training and development:

Maintain own statutory and mandatory training requirements

Identify and raise awareness of the educational needs of patients and carers and implement appropriate educational programmes.

Support and participate in education and training programmes, developing training packages as required.

Participate in the trust CNS development days utilising it as a platform to share good practice and discussion of challenging situations.

Promote and undertake nursing research updating own knowledge to promote excellence in clinical practice.

Utilise research findings in the delivery of specialist patient care, developing new ways of working and to disseminate relevant information to staff.

Participate and contribute to audits and research within the speciality and collaborate with colleagues.

To regularly liaise with the trials team and have an awareness of clinical trials available for the specialist patient group.

Experience

Essential

• Relevant experience at Band 6 or above
• Oncology/ Palliative care/ clinical nurse specialist experience

Desirable

• Experience of delivering SACT and managing the side effects

Personal Qualities

Essential

• Ability to work autonomously and as a team member
• Good interpersonal and communication skills
• Highly motivated
• Able to deal with the emotional aspects of the post e.g. Breaking of bad news
• Articulate and assertive
• Good mediator
• Committed to quality care

Qualifications

Essential

• First level registration
• First level degree or working towards
• Evidence of significant continued professional development
• Recognised teaching/ assessing qualification

Desirable

• Msc Degree
• Advanced heath assessment
• Non-medical Prescribing
• Advanced communication skills course

Knowledge and Skills

Essential

• Leading, developing and monitoring service change
• Good understanding of issues that relate to cancer patients and their individual needs
• Excellent communication skills
• Ability to work within a multidisciplinary team and with MDT process
• Able to work under own initiative within boundaries of role
• Able to prioritise
• Organisational skills e.g. Managing patient case-load
• Exemplar written communication skills
• Knowledge of current issues and the impact of national cancer targets

Desirable

• Knowledge of CUP and rare cancers and the current diagnostic pathways / treatment options.

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.

UK Registration

Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see NHS Careers website (opens in a new window).