Paediatric Clinical Nurse Specialist for Neuro-Oncology

Job overview

An exciting opportunity has arisen for a Band 7 Paediatric Clinical Nurse Specialist in Neuro-Oncology at Denmark Hill Site. We are seeking a highly motivated enthusiastic forward-thinking individual to join the multi-disciplinary Neurosurgical  Team. We provide a high-quality service caring for babies, children and young people and their families living with benign and malignant brain tumours. The role shall involve working within a seamless specialist neurosurgical and oncology nursing service that is aimed at continuously improving standards of patient care and facilitating multi-professional working. This will be achieved through clinical practice, management, education, research and audit and professional activities taking into account directorate, corporate, and national policy and within the clinical governance framework.

Main duties of the job

To work as an autonomous clinical nurse specialist to co-ordinate and deliver expert nursing care effectively to a defined caseload of children, young people with brain and spine tumours meeting their health, health related and nursing needs. (Social, emotional, educational, financial etc. as appropriate. Helping the multidisciplinary team (MDT) to meet the objectives of the NICE Cancer Guidelines).

Working alongside the existing specialist nurse to effectively co-ordinate and deliver an expert nursing service to neurosurgical oncology patients in Child Health and mange a caseload of patients. Assessing patients, planning and implementing care, providing specialist advice; maintaining associated records; and provide specialist education and training to other staff and students.

Engaging in flexible, cross-boundary partnership working through the establishment and maintenance of clear communication with primary oncology centres and other health teams to increase knowledge and facilitate patient care in the community.

Using knowledge and skills as a basis from which to further develop practice, understanding the implications of the social, economic and political context of health care, including the assessment and management of risk.

Contribute to the development of evidence based clinical nursing practice in line with current research and guidelines.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

Clinical Practice

Assess health, health related and nursing needs of patients or clients, their families and other carers by identifying and initiating appropriate steps for effective care through the management a patient caseload. This includes:

• Ordering diagnostic tests;
• Making and receiving referrals
• Admitting and discharging patients for specified conditions and within agreed protocols
• Assist in running clinics and seeing patients
• Assist in the running of multidisciplinary meetings
• Administration of chemotherapy protocol

• Ensure all patients have an accurate plan of care, which reflects the assessment undertaken and incorporates the issues and recommendations made.
• Support and empower patients and clients, their families and other carers to influence and participate in decisions concerning their care by providing information on a range of specialist nursing care and services.

Care Management

• Ensure full awareness of the targets set out in the NHS plan and  Cancer plan
• Ensure all care is given in accordance with agreed protocol including working within a suitable mechanism for MDT referrals to the Clinical Nurse Specialists.
• Provide support and guidance to others so that they are able to  support the team in delivering a customer focused service  that meet the objectives of the NICE Cancer GuidelinesAssist in coordinating and attend MDT meetings
• To cross cover other cancer services when peers are on leave
• To deliver a seven-day service for children with cancer treatments in exceptional circumstances.

Clinical Practice Leadership

• Contribute positively to the leadership of nursing within the care group acting as an effective role model supporting the senior nursing team in implementing Trust initiatives and strategies.
• Develop effective working relationships based on trust and open co-operation
• Contribute to the development of nursing practice within the team
• Participate in relevant fora at Care Group, Trust or PCG/PCT or National/International Level to represent the service perspective as appropriate ensuring that fully conversant with current issues. This includes working with the team of clinical nurse specialist within the Trust to evaluate, develop and promote the specialist-nursing role.

Training, Education and Practice Development

• Act as a clinical expert and advise on educational opportunities that will facilitate the development and support of others specialist knowledge and skills to ensure they develop their clinical practiceCreate an environment in which clinical practice development is fostered, evaluated and disseminated.
• Working with the Child Health Practice Development Team to lead and develop programmes of education and practice developments to enhance the nursing contribution and quality of care both across the Trust, nationally and internationally
• Identify specialist learning activities in a clinical setting that contribute to clinical teaching and assessment of learning in a multi-disciplinary environment within scope of expertise and knowledge base.
• Ensure effective learning experiences and opportunity to achieve learning outcomes for students through preceptorship, mentorship, counselling, clinical supervision and provision of an educational environment.
• Work with academic colleagues to improve practice within a range of service/practice developments

Research, evidence based practice and audit

• Promote and facilitate research, evidence-based practice and clinical audit within the Trust, raising the profile enhancing the contribution of nursing to patient care and informing business and service development plans.
• Contribute to clinical audit, in particular involving service users in providing feedbacks ensuring patient experience surveys are completed and action plans developed.
• Contribute to nursing research initiatives and support research activity within individual Care Groups and also through collaboration with other agencies
• Apply and disseminate research findings relating to specialist nursing practice
• Participate and assist with any Trust approved research projects conducted within the department
• Ensure that the rights of patients, and others are protected at all times when involved in audit and research studies
• To contribute to, and take part in, Service Reviews with Macmillan Cancer Support; and to provide an Annual Report of activity and development of the service.
• To collate and record agreed activity data, and evidence of service provision, to measure the effectiveness and impact of the service.