Head and Neck Clinical Nurse Specialist

Job overview

Full time 37.5 hours per week. Permanent post.

The Head and Neck Clinical Nurse Specialist (CNS) is a highly skilled specialist nurse who provides expert care, support and care coordination for patients undergoing investigation, treatment and follow-up for Head and Neck cancer. Acting as a key worker throughout the patient pathway, the post holder delivers holistic assessment, symptom management, psychological support and patient education, ensuring that patients and their families receive timely, personalised and compassionate care. The CNS works collaboratively within the multidisciplinary team, coordinating investigations, treatment plans and MDT outcomes across local and regional cancer services, whilst supporting service development, governance and quality improvement activities. The role is integral to maintaining national cancer standards, improving patient experience and delivering excellent outcomes for patients across the Head and Neck cancer pathway.

Interviews will be held on 2nd October 2026.

Main duties of the job

The Head and Neck Clinical Nurse Specialist (CNS) provides expert nursing care and acts as the key worker for patients undergoing investigation, treatment and follow-up for Head and Neck cancer across both the ENT and Maxillofacial cancer pathways. The post holder will coordinate care throughout the patient journey, ensuring patients and their families receive high-quality, personalised and compassionate care from diagnosis through treatment, rehabilitation, survivorship and, where appropriate, end-of-life care.

The CNS will undertake Holistic Needs Assessments (HNAs), develop personalised care and support plans, provide specialist assessment, advice and symptom management, and coordinate complex cancer pathways to ensure timely access to investigations, treatment and follow-up in line with national standards. The post holder will attend and contribute to Head and Neck and Maxillofacial MDT meetings, coordinate MDT outcomes, provide nurse-led clinics and telephone consultations, support patients with tracheostomies, laryngectomies and other complex Head and Neck care needs, and act as an advocate for patients and families throughout their cancer journey. In addition, the role includes leading and contributing to education, service development, audit, research, governance and quality improvement activities to continually enhance patient experience, clinical outcomes and the delivery of high-quality Head and Neck cancer services

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

The Head and Neck Oncology Clinical Nurse Specialist (CNS) is a senior specialist nurse who provides expert clinical care, support and care coordination for patients undergoing investigation, treatment and follow-up for Head and Neck cancer across both the ENT and Maxillofacial cancer pathways. Acting as the patient's key worker, the post holder will coordinate care throughout the cancer journey, ensuring patients and their families receive high-quality, personalised and compassionate care from diagnosis through treatment, rehabilitation and survivorship. The CNS will work across organisational boundaries with Bolton NHS Foundation Trust, Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust and East Lancashire Hospitals NHS Trust, attending regional Head and Neck and Maxillofacial Multidisciplinary Team (MDT) meetings and facilitating seamless, timely and effective patient care. The role encompasses expert clinical practice, leadership, education, service development, audit and research, supporting the delivery of national cancer standards and improving patient outcomes and experience.

Main Responsibilities

• Act as the designated Key Worker for patients diagnosed with, or undergoing investigation for, Head and Neck cancer.
• Provide advanced specialist assessment, advice, support and care coordination across the entire cancer pathway.
• Undertake Holistic Needs Assessments (HNA) and develop personalised care and support plans.
• Deliver nurse-led clinics, telephone consultations and follow-up reviews where appropriate.
• Provide specialist psychological support and information to patients and their families, enabling informed decision-making.
• Coordinate and monitor complex cancer pathways to ensure patients receive timely investigations, treatment and follow-up in line with national standards.
• Attend and contribute to regional Head and Neck and Maxillofacial MDT meetings, representing Bolton patients and ensuring MDT decisions are implemented effectively.
• Work collaboratively with ENT surgeons, Maxillofacial consultants, oncologists, radiologists, pathologists, speech and language therapists, dietitians, restorative dentistry teams, palliative care teams and allied health professionals.
• Provide specialist support for patients with tracheostomies, laryngectomies, voice prostheses and treatment-related complications.
• Act as an expert clinical resource for nursing and multidisciplinary colleagues.
• Lead and contribute to the development of patient information, care pathways, clinical guidelines and policies.
• Support service development, quality improvement initiatives, audit, research and cancer peer review processes.
• Deliver education, teaching and mentorship to nursing staff, students and the wider multidisciplinary team.
• Participate in regional and national Head and Neck cancer networks and professional forums.
• Monitor patient outcomes and patient experience measures, contributing to continuous service improvement.
• Maintain professional accountability in accordance with the NMC Code and Bolton NHS Foundation Trust policies and procedures.

This role is integral to ensuring the delivery of safe, effective and compassionate specialist cancer care across the Head and Neck service, whilst supporting Bolton NHS Foundation Trust's ambition to provide outstanding patient-centred care and maintain compliance with national cancer standards.

Applicant requirements

You must have appropriate UK professional registration.

This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975 (Amendment) (England and Wales) Order 2020 and it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service.