Macmillan Head & Neck Clinical Nurse Specialist

Job overview

The Macmillan Head and Neck Clinical Nurse Specialist (CNS) provides expert, patient-centred care for individuals diagnosed with Head and Neck and Thyroid cancers throughout the cancer pathway. Acting as the Key Worker, the post holder delivers clinical, psychological and supportive care from diagnosis through treatment, recovery, survivorship and, where appropriate, end of life care. The CNS coordinates personalised cancer care interventions in line with NHS England priorities and national cancer standards.

Successful applicants will be required to provide an immunisation and vaccination report, from either their current UK occupational health provider or their UK GP.

Main duties of the job

• To work autonomously within their sphere of competence, undertaking specialist assessment, care planning, implementation and evaluation, ensuring care is safe, effective and evidence-based.
• To collaborate with all members of the multidisciplinary team, providing specialist advice and support across professional and organisational boundaries, and coordinating patient pathways to ensure seamless care throughout the patient journey.
• To undertake nurse-led clinics and specialist services, ensuring excellent standards of care through the planning, coordination, delivery and evaluation of clinical activity.
• To contribute to the delivery of personalised cancer care, including holistic needs assessments, personalised care and support planning, treatment summaries and supported self-management interventions.
• To support the development and continuous improvement of the Head and Neck Cancer Service through participation in audit, education, research, quality improvement and service development activities, ensuring care aligns with national guidance, cancer standards and Trust objectives.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

• Act as Key Worker for patients with Head and Neck and Thyroid cancers throughout the cancer pathway.
• Provide specialist nursing assessment, advice and support to patients, carers and families.
• Develop, implement and evaluate individualised care plans.
• Undertake Holistic Needs Assessments and develop Personalised Care and Support Plans.
• Deliver treatment summaries and support patients transitioning to follow-up and survivorship care.
• Assess, monitor and manage treatment-related toxicities and complications.
• Provide specialist support to patients with tracheostomies, laryngectomies, swallowing difficulties and nutritional concerns.
• Participate in nurse-led follow-up and surveillance clinics.
• Support patients with complex symptom management and psychological needs.
• Facilitate referrals to allied health professionals, community services and support organisations as appropriate.

For further details of the role please see the attached job description.

Applicant requirements

You must have appropriate UK professional registration.

The postholder will have access to vulnerable people in the course of their normal duties and as such this post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975 (Amendment) (England and Wales) Order 2020 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service to check for any previous criminal convictions.