Associate Colorectal Clinical Nurse Specialist

Job overview

The postholder supports the Macmillan Colorectal Clinical Nurse Specialist (CNS) in providing high-quality, evidence-based care to colorectal cancer patients. Key responsibilities include:

• Preparing cases for Colorectal Cancer Multi professional Team (CRC MDT) meetings and ensuring data compeletenses
• Following up on post MDT actions and providing expert advice on care, including surgical options, adjuvant therapy, and living with the disease
• Collaborating with other CNS teams, including Stoma care, ERAS and office staff, to address patient concerns and develop management plans.
• Signposting patients to appropriate departments/agencies and undertaking Macmillan Holistic Needs Assessment (HNA) at key points
• Attending surgical and oncology outpatient appointments  (OPA) to support patients, and liaising with the chemotherapy unit,
• Being available in the endoscopy unit to support patients, undergoing investigations
• Promoting teamwork and integration within the nursing team.

Main duties of the job

• To take a key role in the CRC MDT meeting, preparing the cases for presentation, ensuring the minimum data set is completed. The following up post MDT to ensure the duties required post MDT are done by the supporting SHO. To provide expert advice and education to the multi-disciplinary team, patients and carers on all aspects of care for the individual who has CRC, including surgical options, adjuvant therapy and living with the physical impact of the disease. Provide timely and appropriate written information for colorectal cancer patients, ensuring patients are aware of support groups and available services e.g. psychotherapy, welfare benefits and complementary therapies for cancer patients. Meet on a weekly basis with the CNS team covering Stoma Care, ERAS and the office admin to discuss mutual patents, address any concerns and develop a management plan for patients. Attend surgical OPA where patients are being given their diagnosis, to offer support, advice and information. Referring to the other professionals, GP’s and signposting patients to other agencies as appropriate. To support the Macmillan Colorectal CNS to provide a consistently high standard, evidence-based service to patients diagnosed with colorectal cancer. This support extends to family / carers Assists in the co-ordination of patient treatment pathways between the various departments in both primary and secondary care to facilitate continuity of care

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

1.    CLINICAL RESPONSIBILITIES

2.    RESPONSIBILITY FOR PATIENTS

• 1.1 To take a key role in the CRC MDT meeting, preparing the cases for presentation, ensuring the minimum data set is completed. The following up post MDT to ensure the duties required post MDT are done by the supporting SHO. 1.2 To provide expert advice and education to the multi-disciplinary team, patients and carers on all aspects of care for the individual who has CRC, including surgical options, adjuvant therapy and living with the physical impact of the disease. 1.3 Provide timely and appropriate written information for colorectal cancer patients, ensuring patients are aware of support groups and available services e.g. psychotherapy, welfare benefits and complementary therapies for cancer patients. 1.4 Meet on a weekly basis with the CNS team covering Stoma Care, ERAS and the office admin to discuss mutual patents, address any concerns and develop a management plan for patients. 1.5 Attend surgical OPA where patients are being given their diagnosis, to offer support, advice and information. 1.6 Referring to the other professionals, GP’s and signposting patients to other agencies as appropriate.

2.1  To support the Macmillan Colorectal CNS to provide a consistently high standard, evidence-based service to patients diagnosed with colorectal cancer. This support extends to family / carers.

2.2 Be available to attend endoscopy unit where patients undergoing investigations may be informed of suspected cancer, to offer information, support and contact details

2.3 To provide a telephone link for on-going support and advice offering flexibility and easy access for patients with bowel cancer

2.4 Supports people to access, identify, appraise and interpret complex technical information, to enable people to determine their own future.

2.5 To competently act as the patients advocate and assist patients in understanding their disease and treatments available to them, to support them to make informed choices about their care.

3.    RESPONSIBILITY FOR POLICY AND SERVICE DEVELOPMENT

3.1 Follows an agreed care pathway, refers to other professionals and signposts to other agencies as appropriate.

3.2 Assists in the co-ordination of patient treatment pathways between the various departments in both primary and secondary care to facilitate continuity of care.

3.3 Supports and contributes to the implementation and monitoring of adherence to relevant clinical guidelines.

3.4 Supports and contributes to the development of policy and clinical guidelines

3.5 Supports the development of patient focused education, including training to self

manage ongoing consequences of treatmentT

4.    RESPONSIBILITY FOR FINANCIAL AND PHYSICAL RESOURCES

4.1 careful use of clinical and financial resources

4.2 Order stock when needed from the appropriate suppliers and manufactures in accordance wit eh ordering procedures dn order of delegation/finstructions

5.    RESPONSIBILITY FOR LEADING AND MANAGING

5.1 Act as an Associate Key Worker for a clinical caseload under supervision, working to proactively manage care and provide easy access for ongoing support for patients. •

Assesses people’s information needs and provides relevant information to meet those needs working in collaboration with Macmillan Health Care Support Worker, Personalised Care Manager and Macmillan Information Pod.

5.2 To be responsible in ensuring accurate and comprehensive documentation in all patients notes which include Somerset cancer database system.

5.3 Demonstrates leadership through clinical expertise, delivering high standards of person-centered care and using the underpinning philosophy of co-creating care with people affected by cancer.

5.4 Takes professional responsibility for ensuring effective communication between all service providers across the care pathway

6.6.    RESPONSIBILITY FOR INFORMATION RESOURCES

6.1 Participates in SACAS colorectal meeting to ensure the voice of nursing is heard, particularly when service development is being discussed.

6.2 Encourage patients to be empowered to take responsibility for their own care, follow up and signpost to the appropriate departments/ agencies as needed.

6.3 Documentation of interactions, ether in Care Flow or Somerset, in accordance with NMC Professional Standard

6.4 Report any clinical matters/ concerns arising to the Macmillan Colorectal CNS

6.5 To be responsible in ensuring accurate and comprehensive documentation in all patients notes which include Somerset cancer database system

7.    RESPONSIBILITY FOR RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT

7.1 Participate in developing patient focussed audit to review the service. Implements the findings into practice

7.2 Uses evidence-based approach to care.

7.3 Can challenge practice utilising an evidence-based approach to questions, and academic rigour.

7.4 Actively participates in multi-professional research as appropriate, acting as patient advocate and representing nursing views

7.5 Use research to provides clinical expertise, specialist advice and support across service boundaries. Supports the nursing contribution to service development, ensuring the pursuit of excellence in care