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Macmillan Head and Neck Clinical Nurse Specialist

Queen Victoria Hospital NHS Foundation Trust
This job is closed to applications

Location
Salary
£46,148 - £52,809 per annum
Profession
Clinical nurse specialist
Grade
Band 7
Deadline
27 May 2025
Contract Type
Permanent
Posted Date
13 May 2025

Job overview

This post seeks an experienced and motivated nurse to join our multidisciplinary team.  Working alongside the existing head and neck cancer nurse specialists, the role ensures the delivery of a seamless pathway of care from cancer diagnosis to treatment, rehabilitation, and, where necessary, to palliative care.  Acting as Key Worker to assess and support the holistic needs of patients, relatives/carers whilst working within the specialist multidisciplinary team to deliver evidence based care.

Main duties of the job

  • This post will participate in the delivery of specialist nursing care for those undergoing diagnosis and treatment for head and neck cancer on both an inpatient and outpatient basis
  • To act as key worker for patients undergoing head and neck cancer treatment at QVH, their relatives and carers
  • To be a member of the multi-disciplinary team working to the achievement of evidence based care
  • Run Nurse Lead Clinic's
  • Assist in the development and delivery of personalised care
  • Ensure seamless pathways of care
  • To be an educational resource for staff

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

Clinical

  • Act as Key Worker to provide specialist support to patients and their families / carers empowering them to participate in their treatment and rehabilitation.
  • Provide a seamless pathway of care for patients diagnosed with head and neck cancer.
  • Promote collaborative working relationships, multidisciplinary team working and effective communication between all members of the multidisciplinary team.
  • To actively participate in MDT meetings and other inter-professional discussions.
  • Communicate effectively to sensitively inform patients and their carer/families of cancer diagnoses. To discuss all treatments for head and neck cancer.
  • Where appropriate act in the role of advocate in order to enable patients to make informed decisions.
  • Provide both written and verbal information to assist patients, their families and carers in treatment decision making.
  • Undertake holistic patient assessments and care planning to meet the individual patient needs.
  • Run Nurse Lead Clinic's.
  • Participate in the completion of treatment summaries.
  • Provide emotional and psychological support to patients, identify and make appropriate onward referrals for specialist psychological support.
  • Liaise with other specialist nurses and healthcare professionals to provide a high standard of patient care. Refer where necessary to services both internally and externally to the Trust.
  • Act as a point of contact for referring centres, ensuring and taking responsibilities for the dissemination of information and feedback where appropriate.
  • To respect the patients’ right to confidentiality, acknowledging also the families/carers needs which may at times conflict with those of the patient.
  • To assist in the organisation and running of the patient support group.

Education and Training

  • Act as a resource to educate appropriate staff groups on an ongoing basis developing and empowering staff to give consistent and standardised approach of care by providing clinical advice in the specialist area.
  • Contribute to the mentorship of students and new staff to the Trust.
  • Organise, develop and contribute to educational and training events for both staff and patients/carers in the speciality of head and neck.

Professional

  • Act in accordance with the NMC Code at all times, maintain clinical expertise and knowledge and professional re-validation.
  • Contribute to the achievement of corporate nursing objectives, participating in organisational and professional activities as appropriate.
  • Maintain strict confidentiality with regard to patient information.
  • Maintain accurate, written clinical records using Trust systems.
  • Adherence to all Trust policies and procedures.
  • Ensure that Quality Assurance requirements are met.
  • Initiate and participate in audit and collaborative projects, assisting the implementation of proven recommendations to ensure nursing practice is evidence based, drawing upon recent literature to improve quality of care. Disseminating results to clinical colleagues, the MDT and any relevant personnel.
  • Assist in the development and implementation of policies for head and neck cancer treatments and patient pathways within the specialist field.

Managerial

  • In all aspects of work demonstrate an ability to work across organisational and professional boundaries.
  • To identify requirements to enable the post holder to carry out and develop this specialist role.
  • To maintain accurate data / information relating to the clinical service which will profile the service and inform its future strategic developments.
  • Organise own workload ensuring it reflects all elements of the role.
  • Communicate effectively with clinicians, departments, wards, MDT to facilitate high quality co-ordinated patient care.

Personal and Professional Development

  • Participate in the Trust’s annual appraisal system designed to identify objectives and personal development opportunities.
  • Participate in the Trust’s annual pay progression review (if applicable).
  • Ensure that all mandatory training is up to date.
  • The post holder will be responsible for continually maintaining their working knowledge of local practices, policies and procedures and highlight ongoing training and development needs to their manager.