# Colorectal CNS > NHS job listing from Job Clerk for University Hospitals Plymouth NHS Trust. ## Canonical URLs - **HTML:** https://www.jobclerk.com/job/colorectal-cns/9a067527-cf3b-4aad-a5c0-78f5f08c166c - **Markdown:** https://www.jobclerk.com/job/colorectal-cns/9a067527-cf3b-4aad-a5c0-78f5f08c166c.md ## Summary - **Status:** Live - **Employer:** University Hospitals Plymouth NHS Trust - **Town:** Plymouth - **Region:** South West - **Country:** England - **Profession:** Clinical nurse specialist - **Salary:** £39959.00 to £48117.00 - **Contract type:** Permanent - **Employment type:** Full time - 37.3 hours per week (Mon-Fri 08.30 - 4.30pm) - **Closing date:** 2026-08-13T23:59:00.000Z - **Posted:** 2026-07-31T11:50:28.404Z - **Source information URL:** https://www.healthjobsuk.com/job/-v8165154 - **Application URL:** https://apps.trac.jobs/job-advert/8165154?ShowJobAdvert=&feedid=9002 - **Employer website:** https://www.plymouthhospitals.nhs.uk ## Job Content ### Job overview Join our specialist colorectal team and make a meaningful difference at every stage of the patient journey. We are looking for an enthusiastic and compassionate Colorectal Clinical Nurse Specialist (CNS) to help deliver a responsive, high-quality service for patients referred on the suspected colorectal cancer pathway. In this rewarding role, you will support patients and their families from assessment and diagnosis through treatment, recovery, and follow-up. Acting as a trusted point of contact, you will provide expert clinical advice, clear information, and emotional support during what can be an uncertain and challenging time. Working closely with the wider multidisciplinary team and with the guidance of the Lead CNS, you will assess, plan, coordinate, and evaluate individualised patient care. You will play an important part in ensuring that pathways are timely, well organised, and centred around each patient’s needs. The role will also give you the opportunity to support nurse-led clinics, coordinate treatment pathways, contribute to service development, and build specialist knowledge in colorectal cancer care. This is an excellent opportunity for a motivated nurse who is keen to develop within a specialist field. You will receive dedicated training, mentorship, and support to grow your confidence, expertise, and career as a Colorectal CNS. Please note that applications from temporary workers who have been engaged with the Trust for a minimum of 3 months are welcome. ### Main duties of the job - Support the development of a responsive, high‑performing service that meets the challenges of increasing Suspected Cancer referrals, ensuring patients are seen swiftly and compassionately at every stage. - Help deliver a smooth, efficient diagnostic and treatment pathway for patients with suspected colorectal cancer, ensuring they receive timely and coordinated care. - Work autonomously within the limits of professional competence, agreed clinical pathways, protocols and Trust policies, recognising limitations and seeking advice or escalating complex, unusual or deteriorating patients to the Lead Colorectal CNS or appropriate medical practitioner. - Provide specialist nursing advice, emotional support, and psychological reassurance to patients, their loved ones, and colleagues across the multidisciplinary team. - Coordinate agreed elements of patients’ investigation and treatment pathways, maintaining oversight of their progress and facilitating effective communication between clinical teams and services. - Knowledge of colorectal surgery is highly desirable - support, training and mentorship within the team as well as externally will be provided. - Use your extensive acute clinical experience and interest in colorectal care to contribute to nurse‑led clinics, with opportunities to expand your scope of practice as you grow in the role. ### Detailed job description and main responsibilities - Primary duties & areas of responsibility 1. Clinical Practice Manage joint CNS caseload while working as an integral member of the multidisciplinary team, ensuring seamless, high‑quality care. Communicate highly sensitive and complex information with empathy and clarity, supporting patients and families through initial referral, staging, diagnosis, treatment, terminal illness, and bereavement. Undertake comprehensive assessments of new patients, identifying psychological, physiological, emotional, spiritual, and cultural needs to develop individualised pathways of care. Act as a dedicated patient advocate, ensuring individuals understand all investigation and treatment options and empowered them to make informed choices, liaising closely with the medical team to agree optimal care plans. Provide continuity throughout the entire patient journey, supporting transitions across specialist areas and services. Interpret and act upon clinical information and investigation outcomes within agreed protocols and the limits of competence. Participate in nurse-led assessment, follow-up or support clinics following completion of relevant competencies and formal sign-off. Identify changes in patients’ conditions and initiate appropriate action or escalation Contribute to the development of specialist care programmes and deliver specialist advice, both written and verbal, to patients and their loved ones. Offer clinical guidance to healthcare professionals across disciplines and organisational boundaries.   For further information please see attached job description | Primary duties & areas of responsibility 1. Clinical Practice Manage joint CNS caseload while working as an integral member of the multidisciplinary team, ensuring seamless, high‑quality care. Communicate highly sensitive and complex information with empathy and clarity, supporting patients and families through initial referral, staging, diagnosis, treatment, terminal illness, and bereavement. Undertake comprehensive assessments of new patients, identifying psychological, physiological, emotional, spiritual, and cultural needs to develop individualised pathways of care. Act as a dedicated patient advocate, ensuring individuals understand all investigation and treatment options and empowered them to make informed choices, liaising closely with the medical team to agree optimal care plans. Provide continuity throughout the entire patient journey, supporting transitions across specialist areas and services. Interpret and act upon clinical information and investigation outcomes within agreed protocols and the limits of competence. Participate in nurse-led assessment, follow-up or support clinics following completion of relevant competencies and formal sign-off. Identify changes in patients’ conditions and initiate appropriate action or escalation Contribute to the development of specialist care programmes and deliver specialist advice, both written and verbal, to patients and their loved ones. Offer clinical guidance to healthcare professionals across disciplines and organisational boundaries.   For further information please see attached job description - Primary duties & areas of responsibility 1. Clinical Practice Manage joint CNS caseload while working as an integral member of the multidisciplinary team, ensuring seamless, high‑quality care. Communicate highly sensitive and complex information with empathy and clarity, supporting patients and families through initial referral, staging, diagnosis, treatment, terminal illness, and bereavement. Undertake comprehensive assessments of new patients, identifying psychological, physiological, emotional, spiritual, and cultural needs to develop individualised pathways of care. Act as a dedicated patient advocate, ensuring individuals understand all investigation and treatment options and empowered them to make informed choices, liaising closely with the medical team to agree optimal care plans. Provide continuity throughout the entire patient journey, supporting transitions across specialist areas and services. Interpret and act upon clinical information and investigation outcomes within agreed protocols and the limits of competence. Participate in nurse-led assessment, follow-up or support clinics following completion of relevant competencies and formal sign-off. Identify changes in patients’ conditions and initiate appropriate action or escalation Contribute to the development of specialist care programmes and deliver specialist advice, both written and verbal, to patients and their loved ones. Offer clinical guidance to healthcare professionals across disciplines and organisational boundaries.   For further information please see attached job description ## Person Specification ### Qualifications **Essential** - - Registered Nurse with current NMC registration. - - First level degree in related subject or undertaking a Degree Pathway or the equivalent demonstrable experience. **Desirable** - - Post-basic qualification in cancer/palliative care or equivalent relevant subject or demonstrable experience/working towards - - Advanced Communications Skills Training or prepared to work towards - - Evidence of Master’s level learning or prepared to work towards ### Aptitudes & abilities **Essential** - - Proven ability to support and influence change - - IT literate - - Teaching/assessment and presentation skills - - Organisation and negotiation skills - - Exemplar written communication skills **Desirable** - - Leadership and motivational skills ### Knowledge & experience **Essential** - - Evidence of continuing professional development relevant to the role. - - Proven knowledge in relevant speciality - - Demonstrable experience of teaching **Desirable** - - Experience of audit and research leadership and management experience - Demonstrable colorectal experience. ### Disposition, attitude and motivation **Essential** - - Proven ability to motivate self and others - - Proven ability to work autonomously and as part of a team - - Flexible attitude to working. - - Organisation and negotiation skills **Desirable** - Leadership and motivational skills ## Documents - [colorectal cns (pdf, 576.5kb)](https://www.healthjobsuk.com/documents?vdoc=10503912) ## Agent Notes - This Markdown page is generated from the same Job Clerk job record as the HTML job detail page. - Use the canonical HTML URL for user-facing references. - Use the application URL when the user wants to apply on the source NHS site.