Clinical Nurse Specialist

Job overview

An opportunity has arisen to join a well-established Lung Cancer Specialist Nursing team, to care for patients undergoing oncology treatment. The successful candidate will work as a clinical nurse specialist across two hospitals sites: at both The Christie Hospital main site (Withington) and outreach clinic (Christie at Oldham Hospital).

The successful candidate will have recent experience working with people affected by cancer, will be highly motivated and driven to improve patient care and experience. You will be an excellent communicator and will have the opportunity to use your clinical and professional leadership skills to encourage and promote best outcomes for patients, their relatives and carers.

We are looking to appoint an enthusiastic and motivated individual who is willing to develop an understanding of the treatment pathways for lung cancer – chemotherapy, immunotherapy and radiotherapy – and will provide holistic support to patients receiving these treatments.

Main duties of the job

Provide comprehensive key worker support and to people affected by lung cancer, their carers/relatives, both at The Christie Hospital (main site in Withington) and at outreach clinic (Christie at Oldham Hospital). Develop expert knowledge of the treatment pathways for lung cancer and work closely with nurse teams at referring centres to ensure that patient pathways of care are streamlined. Play an integral role in the development of specialist services for people with lung cancer. Be a highly visible and approachable role model, ensuring that best practice is disseminated throughout the clinical areas. Demonstrate excellent communication skills.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

CLINICAL 1.    Perform a comprehensive key worker role for people with lung cancer during their care pathway at the Christie Hospital. Provide expert specialist advice to patients, relatives, carers and other health care professionals in relation to a lung cancer diagnosis. 2.    Develop and maintain advanced clinical skills in assessment and knowledge of diagnosis and treatment options for the patient. 3.    Liaise with other clinical nurse specialists (including those from referring units) to ensure effective transfer of information across different NHS organisations and a smooth pathway of care. 4.    Collect, collate, evaluate and report information, maintaining accurate patient records in line with clinical governance and risk management. 5.    Work independently, managing own case load of patients. 6.    Use advanced communication skills in a variety of settings. This will include discussions around patient care and treatment plans with patients, carers, relatives and members of the multi-disciplinary team. 7.    Provide emotional support to patients, their families and staff during difficult situations e.g. breaking bad news or following an unexpected event. 8.    Involve patients and carers in the planning and delivery of care and development of services to enhance the patient and carer experience. 9.    Provide support to patients attending clinics both on The Christie main Withington site and  in outreach clinics at peripheral Christie sites. 10.    Apply evidence-based research to practice. 11.    Act always in accordance with the NMC code of conduct and guiding documents.

LEADERSHIP 1.    Provide specialist, expert clinical knowledge to clinical colleagues, patients and carers or relatives both within and outside the Trust. 2.    Play an integral role in the operational and strategic development of specialist services for both in-patients and out-patients. 3.    Undertake clinical supervision of health care professional colleagues on an individual or group basis. 4.    Actively contribute to any relevant initiatives within the care group and provide support to senior colleagues. 5.    To contribute positively to the leadership of nursing within the care group acting as an effective role model. 6.    To work with and support managers and clinical staff to identify areas where changes in practice are required. 7.    Ensure effective and efficient use of physical and financial resources. 8.    Monitor health, safety and security of self and others and promote best practice in the clinical area. 9.    Participation in the development and implementation of policies, procedures and guidelines at local and network level.

EDUCATION  1.    Identify own learning needs and plan, implement and evaluate programmes of education to meet identified needs. 2.    To attend meetings and conferences as appropriate ensuring that you are fully conversant with current practices both within the Trust and within specialist lung oncology services locally and nationally. 3.    Be involved in audit and service developments. 4.    Participate in the education of pre and post-registration health care professionals and medical staff. 5.    Ensure own compliance with mandatory training and revalidation requirements. 6.    Receive clinical supervision as part of own professional development. 7.    Maintain up to date skills, knowledge and awareness of professional issues. 8.    Participate in planned programmes of appraisal.

RESEARCH & AUDIT 1.    Identify the need for be involved in undertaking of research, clinical audit and benchmarking, in collaboration with the team to improve effectiveness of patient care. 2.    Disseminate research and audit findings through presentation to professional groups and publication. 3.    Contribute to the writing of protocols relevant to own clinical speciality. 4.    To promote and facilitate evidence-based practice and clinical audit within the Trust. 5.    To promote nursing research and evidenced based practice relevant to the speciality.

PROFESSIONAL   DEVELOPMENT 1.    Develop teaching and presentation skills and apply these principles in the clinical setting. 2.    Keep up to date with current literature and research in the speciality. 3.    Maintain your own personal and professional development, attending mandatory study sessions as required. 4.    Undergo and actively participate in your own performance appraisals. 5.    Adhere to the NMC Code of Professional conduct working within and accepting responsibility for maintaining agreed levels of competence. 6.    Contribute to the improvement of services and quality improvement.

This job description is intended to reflect the main duties and responsibilities of the post holder but is indicative only. It may be reviewed in consultation with the post holder as circumstances change and develop.