Acute Oncology Clinical Nurse Specialist

Job summary

An exciting opportunity has arisen to join our Acute Oncology Service as a Band 6 Acute Oncology Clinical Nurse Specialist.

We are looking for an experienced, motivated and compassionate registered nurse with a strong interest in oncology and a commitment to delivering high-quality, personalised care. Working alongside our established Acute Oncology CNSs and Consultant Oncologists, you will provide specialist assessment, advice, support and care coordination for patients experiencing acute complications of cancer and its treatment.

The role includes supporting patients with metastatic spinal cord compression, cancer of unknown primary and those presenting with serious non-specific symptoms where cancer is suspected. You will work collaboratively across multidisciplinary teams and care settings, acting as a key worker and helping patients and their families navigate what can be a complex and challenging period.

This is an excellent opportunity to develop your specialist knowledge, clinical decision-making and leadership skills within a supportive team. You will also contribute to education, audit, service improvement and the continued development of high-quality Acute Oncology services across the Trust.

Main duties of the job

As a Acute Oncology Clinical Nurse Specialist, you will play a key role in supporting patients who become acutely unwell as a result of their cancer or its treatment.

You will use your oncology knowledge and clinical assessment skills to identify patients needs, support timely investigation and treatment, and coordinate care across acute, specialist and community services. You will work closely with oncologists, cancer teams and the wider multidisciplinary team to ensure patients receive safe, responsive and well-coordinated care.

A significant part of the role is providing specialist advice, information and emotional support to patients and their families, including during periods of uncertainty, new diagnosis or changing treatment needs. You will act as a key worker and advocate for patients, ensuring care is personalised and their priorities are understood.

You will also have opportunities to develop your specialist practice, support and educate colleagues, contribute to audit and quality improvement, and help shape the continued development of the Acute Oncology Service.

About us

If you are being interviewed you must accept an interview slot in the system to continue, even if you have arranged with the manager.

You must be able to produce ALL certificates stated essential in the person specification or you will not be able to complete pre-employment checks.

We provide hospital services from two acute sites - Darlington Memorial Hospital and University Hospital of North Durham. We have a centre for planned care in Bishop Auckland and provide care from community hospitals in Chester-le-Street, Shotley Bridge, Barnard Castle, Sedgefield and Weardale as well as over 80 other community based settings and providing care in patients' homes.

We particularly welcome applications from disabled and Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic (BAME) candidates as BAME and disabled people are currently under-represented.

Full Job Descriptions can be found in the adverts supporting documents.

Over reliance on AI-generated content is discouraged and may diminish the applicant's chances of success.

For the most up-to-date information on visa requirements and eligibility, please check online to determine whether you can apply.

Details

• Date posted: 17 September 2026
• Pay scheme: Agenda for change
• Band: Band 6
• Salary: £39,959 to £48,117 a year Per Annum
• Contract: Permanent
• Working pattern: Full-time
• Reference number: C9439-2627-RP-N308
• Job locations: University Hospital of North Durham, North Road, Durham, DH1 5TW, United Kingdom

Job responsibilities

The Acute Oncology Clinical Nurse Specialist will work as an integral member of the Acute Oncology Service, providing specialist nursing care, advice and support to patients experiencing acute complications associated with cancer and its treatment.

Working alongside the Acute Oncology Clinical Nurse Specialists, Consultant Oncologists and wider multidisciplinary teams, you will support the assessment, management and coordination of care for patients presenting across the Trust. This includes patients with treatment-related toxicities, metastatic spinal cord compression, cancer of unknown primary and those presenting with serious non-specific signs and symptoms where cancer is suspected.

You will assess patients individual needs, contribute to the planning and delivery of appropriate investigations and treatment, and support timely referral to relevant cancer and specialist services. You will use your clinical judgement to prioritise care and will develop increasing autonomy within the role, working within your professional competence and with appropriate support and supervision from senior members of the Acute Oncology team.

Communication is central to this role. You will provide specialist information, advice and support to patients and their families at what can be a highly uncertain and challenging time. This may include supporting patients following a new or suspected cancer diagnosis, discussing treatment and care options and communicating complex or sensitive information. You will act as a key worker for appropriate patients, helping to ensure that they, their families and the professionals involved in their care are well informed and that care is coordinated effectively.

You will promote personalised care throughout the patient pathway, including the use of Holistic Needs Assessments and Personalised Care and Support Plans where appropriate. You will advocate for patients, ensuring their individual needs, preferences and priorities are recognised and incorporated into their care.

The role requires close collaborative working with site-specific cancer teams, oncology and haematology services, specialist palliative care, primary and community care and other relevant services. You will contribute to effective communication across organisational and professional boundaries to promote continuity of care and a positive patient experience.

You will manage and prioritise your own workload and caseload, maintaining accurate and timely clinical documentation and supporting the effective movement of patients through diagnostic, treatment and follow-up pathways.

As your specialist practice develops, you will have opportunities to further enhance your clinical assessment and decision-making skills. Where appropriate training and competencies have been achieved, this may include the use of advanced clinical skills and non-medical prescribing.

An important element of the post is supporting the development of knowledge and confidence in colleagues caring for acutely unwell patients with cancer. You will act as a specialist resource for nursing, medical and other healthcare professionals, sharing knowledge, providing advice and contributing to education and training.

You will contribute to the ongoing development of the Acute Oncology Service through audit, evaluation, quality improvement and the development of evidence-based practice. You will support the collection and use of service data and patient feedback to identify opportunities to improve quality, safety, patient experience and outcomes.

The postholder will be encouraged to contribute to research and innovation relevant to Acute Oncology and cancer care and to maintain their own professional development through education, clinical supervision and engagement with local, regional and national specialist networks.

You will demonstrate professional leadership and act as a positive role model, promoting compassionate, safe and effective care. You will work in accordance with the NMC Code, relevant NICE guidance, Trust policies and professional standards, maintaining accountability for your practice at all times.

This is a varied and rewarding specialist nursing role offering the opportunity to develop expertise in Acute Oncology while making a meaningful contribution to the experience and outcomes of patients affected by cancer and its treatment.

UK Registration

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

Certificate of Sponsorship

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).