Skin Cancer Nurse Consultant

Job description

Job responsibilities

St MICHAELS CLINIC LTD

DERMATOLOGY - SKIN CANCER NURSE CONSULTANT

JOB DESCRIPTION

Title: Dermatology Skin Cancer Nurse Consultant

Hours: 40 hours

Responsible to: Gail Black Senior Nurse

Job outline: The post holder is required to deliver high quality patient care, acting as an independent consulter, role model and to provide clinical nurse advice, education and leadership within the clinic to result in an improvement to the standard of care provided for patients with dermatology conditions and skin cancer.

Key Tasks.

Clinical Practice:

-Be able to undertake and provide dermatological consultations and advice on common presentations to outpatients specialising in skin cancers and follow patients care through to completion, including relevant prescribing, follow up consultations, onward referral and skin surgery

- To assess referred patients; including those with a complex mix of symptoms due to different illnesses and formulate individual management and treatment plans using clinical reasoning to create a suitable programme of care.

- To act as a source of expertise, advice and knowledge for patients, carers and healthcare professionals with regards to patients having dermatology conditions and skin cancer.

- Provide advanced level practice, for people with skin cancer needs in the clinic, acting as an expert specialist resource. This practice is expected to encompass highly developed specialist skills and knowledge, aimed at enhancing patient outcomes in complex clinical situations, to ensure rapid, appropriate and sensitive clinical decision making.

- Provide expert advice and support for the management of complex care/skin surgery, exercising clinical judgement that integrates specialist knowledge with knowledge of other disciplines, in order that care is sensitive to the needs of patients and their family.

- To have relevant expertise and knowledge related to investigations and treatment options to provide patients with necessary information to ensure informed consent.

- Support practitioners providing care by modelling good practice, providing situated education and emotional support.

- To make patient referrals to appropriate agencies in relation to the specialist area.

- To utilise clinical skills and knowledge to recommend initiate and make changes to treatment regimes and to undertake the role of the patients advocate when appropriate.

- Using skilled communication strategies to support the patient and their carers at the time of a cancer diagnosis.

- Acting as a key worker for patients diagnosed with malignant melanoma and squamous cell carcinoma.

- Care for patients who have complex problems, psychological issues relating to cancer or chronic skin diseases, particularly in relation to such as body dysmorphia, mental health problems and potential self-harm.

- To provide patient education about their illness,

- To work with senior colleagues ensuring that high standards are maintained within the organisation and be actively involved in the wider contribution of service improvement.

- To be aware of the service needs external to the organisation and, where appropriate, to work across boundaries to ensure a smooth transition of patient care and service provision.

- To be actively involved in the implementation of local and national policies, eg NSF, NICE Guidance, develop protocols / care pathways and monitor their effectiveness.

- Maintaining good working relationships with various external staff groups including adjacent trusts, PCT staff, Palliative Care Services and Volunteer Bureaus.

Communication:

- Communicates complex, sensitive information.

- Facilitate discussion of contentious issues where there is disagreement about best treatment and care or where best treatment and care is ethically problematic or unknown/unique

- Can demonstrate proactive communication strategies to meet the needs of patients, relatives and colleagues

- Be approachable and able to perform as a role model / mentor for staff

- Refer to appropriate professionals as required

Education and Development:

- Disseminate expertise and practice skills through role-modelling and practice-situated education.

- Work with all disciplines to educate, develop and support understanding of the needs and management of skin cancer patients. Develop and manage specific educational programmes for skin cancer in coordination with the clinical leads.

- Ensure the orientation, education and development of nursing staff within the cli9nic to enable progression in the skin cancer specialist role and skin surgery within the nursing staff.

- Ensure effective methods of data collection and ongoing evaluation of the service.

- Take part in Health Promotion.

Leadership and Management:

- Monitoring and evaluating programmes of care including improvements as necessary for own and that of other professionals within the Dermatology and Skin Cancer Team.

- Maintain accurate records and computer systems for records and audit purposes.

- Understand and apply the principles of Clinical Governance and Risk Management

- Contribution to the Skin Cancer Multidisciplinary Team (MDT) covering at the Skin MDT to ensure recommendations from national and local standards are met.

- To act as a role model and teacher, providing mentorship and support and demonstrate exemplary practice to all members of the healthcare team.

- To participate in the undertaking of surveys, audit and research.

General role responsibilities:

- Take a strategic view of delivery of care in specialist area and how other specialisms can combine to improve the patient experience and outcome

- Manage complex, sensitive and contentious negotiations in order to facilitate change.

- Making decisions where precedents do not exist, demonstrating innovative and visionary practice.

- Develop standards and guidelines for patients with skin cancer and those requiring surgery.

- Advise on risk issues and problem solving at Clinical Governance

- Develop and maintain practice and protocols to enable risk to be anticipated and minimised.

- Maintain confidentiality at all times.

- Maintaining subject confidentiality and anonymity while undergoing and reporting audit and research.

- Advise and educate on confidentiality issues

Person Specification

Qualifications

Essential

• Registered General Nurse
• NMC Registered
• Degree in Nursing Studies or equivalent of post registered education relevant to role
• Post-registration qualification in specialist field
• Non-Medical Prescriber Course
• Education qualification (or equivalent experience)
• Masters degree (or equivalent experience)

Experience

Essential

• Significant post-registration clinical experience with relevant specialist role
• A portfolio of career-long learning, experience and education
• Successful completion of, or willing to undertake, relevant specialist competencies
• Operational Management experience
• Evidence of practice development in specialist field
• Up to date with current research and ability to share with others

Personal

Essential

• Effective communication skills both written and verbal
• Good interpersonal skills
• Planning and organisational skills
• Works well in a team
• Uses own initiative and is able to make decisions
• Sound clinical skills
• Able to maintain clear and legible documentation
• Basic knowledge of IT skills
• Able to manage own time and workload

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).

Employer details

Employer name

St Michael's Clinic Ltd

Address

St. Michaels Clinic

St. Michaels Street

Shrewsbury

SY1 2HE

Employer's website

https://www.stmichaelsclinic.co.uk/ (Opens in a new tab)