Skin Cancer Clinical Nurse Specialist Band 7

Job details

• Branch: Antrim Hospital
• Location: Antrim Hospital Site
• Directorate: Surgical & Clinical Services Division
• Functional Area: Cancer Services
• Salary: Band 7 (£47,810 - £54,710)
• Contract Type: Permanent
• Opening Date: 07/10/26
• Closes: Wed, 21 October 2026 @ 5:00 PM
• Interview Dates: TBC

Notes

Online and manual applications accepted. Important Information If you are submitting a manual application, please post it to: Recruitment Shared Services, Rosewood Villa, Longstone Hospital Site, 73 Loughgall Road, Armagh, BT61 7PR. Applications received after the advertised closing date/time cannot be considered, so please allow enough time for postage. A waiting list may be created for similar posts that may arise while the waiting list is live, this may include temporary or part-time posts. This will be managed in line with the updated HSC waiting list principles effective from 1 April 2026. Where a part-time waiting list is required, one part-time waiting list will be created- regardless of any specific hours advertised, this waiting list will cover all future vacancies where part-time posts arise. A part-time post is defined as any post that has less than 37.5 hours per week. Please remember to save or print a copy of the job description before submitting your application, as it will not be accessible afterwards. Flexible Working We welcome flexible working requests from day one. All HSC organisations offer a range of flexible working options. The options available for this post will depend on the requirements of the role. Find out more about flexible working options on our website.

JOB DESCRIPTION

JOB TITLE: Skin Cancer Clinical Nurse Specialist

BAND: 7

DIRECTORATE/DIVISION: Surgical and Clinical Services

INITIAL LOCATION: Antrim Area Hospital

REPORTS TO: Lead Nurse/ ACSM for Cancer Services

ACCOUNTABLE TO: Clinical Services Manager (Cancer Services)

FLEXIBLE WORKING

PROVISIONS AVAILABLE: NIL

JOB SUMMARY

KEY RESULT AREAS / MAIN RESPONSIBILITIES

The main purpose of the role is to act as keyworker, providing expert care, treatment and support for patients with suspect or diagnosed skin cancer as part of the wider skin cancer team.

The post holder will be expected to contribute to advancing the body of knowledge through education, research and audit as well as developing practice in others with regard to this patient group. They will be expected to play a key role within the multi-professional team in order to support a seamless, co-ordinated approach to patient care and timely onward referral to relevant other professionals and agencies.

Clinical & Professional

To act as a key worker for patients with skin cancer offering an accessible point of contact across the patient’s journey and cross services (e.g. diagnostics, surgery, oncology, reviews), consistent with the responsibilities outlined in the NICaN guidelines.

To be responsible for organisation and management of own specialist caseload and have flexibility when required to re-plan the day to meet the needs of the service.

To support the undertaking of holistic needs assessment to assess physical, emotional, psychological, social and spiritual needs and develop an appropriate plan of care and appropriate onward referral.

Promote a culture that supports and enables patients to self- manage and actively enable patients to access, identify, appraise and interpret information to facilitate self care where appropriate.

Lead by example in the delivery and promotion of evidence based high quality nursing practice and agreed care pathways, delivering person centred care and high levels of clinical and technical skills reflecting a breadth and depth of knowledge.

To develop, deliver and evaluate new models of review, which are risk weighted and needs tailored to maximize benefit to patients and the service.

To play a key role in the multi-disciplinary team, consistent with the roles outlined in the NICaN (Northern Ireland Cancer Network) guidelines and to work collaboratively, when required, with NICaN.

To provide continuous ongoing assessment of information and support needs of patients and carers, signposting to other sources of information and referring onto specialist support when required. This may require working within a skill mix nursing and nursing support team.

To ensure that the carers and dependents of patients with skin cancer have access to assessment of their needs if and when appropriate, independent of the needs of the patients.

Develop, promote and deliver nurse led activities as deemed appropriate to the service needs which may involve utilising NMP, IRMER competencies etc as required by the service and as approved by management.

To maintain clinical credibility by demonstrating expertise in the nursing care of patients with a skin cancer and their carers, friends or relatives, including the management of the disease and its treatment.

To be aware of emerging evidence, new mandates and advances in clinical practice for this patient group and ensure that these are incorporated into the service delivered.

To develop and maintain effective communication networks within the team and including across service and professional boundaries and ensure effective liaison between different service providers across care interfaces.

To maintain and develop competency in facilitating a wide range of critical enquiry techniques to support the development of reflection in and on practice

To deliver and promote evidence based practice and agreed care pathways

To work in conjunction with the skin cancer nursing team in the development and improvement of services for patients with skin cancer and to support the delivery of a service that is efficient, effective and complies with best practice service standards.

To ensure service user feedback is available for the team and to utilise this feedback in service improvement and re-design.

To ensure a safe environment for patient care is underpinned by best practice guidelines and Health and Safety policies and guidelines, including the use of risk assessments and the development of action plans to mitigate/eliminate identified risks.

To ensure all strategies, policies and protocols relating to infection control are implemented and monitored, and that appropriate and timely action is taken in response to ensuring the prevention and control of infection.

To manage and report accidents, incidents or hazards according to Trust policy and procedure.

Participate as required in the recruitment and selection of staff in accordance with Trust policy.

Communication

Be a role model for excellent advanced communication skills and expertise in patient education and information giving.

To be present at and actively participate in meetings as appropriate, disseminating any organisational/nursing information to others, and to represent nursing views as necessary at these meetings.

To chair meetings as appropriate promoting open communication and participation.

To demonstrate skills in conflict resolution and competent negotiation skills when dealing with difficult or challenging situations / behaviour as part of the skin cancer nursing team.

Provide clinical expertise which supports the provision of an integrated quality service by maintaining effective communication with the multi- disciplinary team, community services, voluntary agencies and others involved in providing services to skin cancer patients.

Enhance the patient experience by maintaining good communication with patients and relatives, providing timely information at all stages of the patient’s pathway ensuring that individual needs are met and addressing any issues identified.

Ensure that all complaints/ incidents are dealt with in the appropriate manner adhering to NHSCT guidance and reported promptly within the Cancer Services team.

Act as the patient advocate providing education and information which enables the patient to make informed choices throughout their journey including how to manage the on-going consequences of treatment.

Ensure accurate and timely nursing documentation as per approved processes, Trust guidelines and NMC requirements.

Education, Research and Practice Development

Utilises quantitative and qualitative data to provide evidence of productivity, outcomes and quality through audit and research.

Ensures accurate completion of regional CNS KPI flowsheet on Encompass and contributes to collation of the Annual Report for the team.

Participate in and develop educational programmes for nurses and other health professionals as required

To support a training needs analysis which reflects the future requirements of the services and which ensures that the nursing establishment has the necessary skills to care for patients with skin cancer and their carers, friends or relatives.

Participate as required in developing policies, protocols and guidelines and adhering to same to ensure safe and effective care

Promote the use of evidence based practice and audit to identify opportunities to enhance patient/ client care or service

To develop a culture which encourages and supports staff in reflective practice using reflective practice strategies.

To provide formal and informal training and education on issues related to the care of patients with skin cancer and their carers, friends or relatives.

To participate in appropriate local and national nursing and multi-professional research and audit aimed at contributing to the outcomes and experiences of persons with skin cancer and their carers, friends or relatives.

Instigates and manages change within a complex environment when required.

To work in collaboration with others to promote and extend the research base of skin cancer and ensure shared learning across Trust boundaries where applicable.

To demonstrate commitment to life long learning by engaging in ongoing personal and professional development.

To maintain own training, education and development records.

Professional

Participate in supervision and appraisal as required by Cancer Services nursing management.

To maintain own personal and professional development in accordance with NMC code of professional conduct and within the scope of professional practice.

Promote adherence to the Department of Health/ HSC policies and procedures and Nursing & Midwifery Council (NMC)

Support pre and post registration student nurses as per the Future Nurse Future Midwife guidelines in achieving the required clinical and nursing experience

Delegate appropriate responsibility and authority to staff, as per NMC, in order to ensure optimum and effective service delivery and decision making whilst retaining overall accountability and responsibility for outcomes.

Make clinical decisions based on evidence based, professional knowledge and expertise, whilst ensuring shared decision making with patients as partners in their own care..

GENERAL MANAGEMENT RESPONSIBILITIES

Ensure the appropriate governance and risk management arrangements are in place for the services you are responsible for and take appropriate action to identify and manage risk and to maintain safety of users, staff and others in accordance with relevant regulations, policies and procedures;

It is essential to ensure that the highest standards of infection prevention and control are maintained to ensure patient and client safety and maintain confidence in the Trust. As a Manager, you must ensure that you implement all instructions/ policy in this area and that all staff are made aware of and fully comply with these;

Where the post-holder has responsibility for managing a budget, ensure that services are managed and developed both in accordance with agreed and funded priorities as set out on a yearly basis and in accordance with Standing Financial Instructions, particularly ensuring your compliance with payroll documentation procedures and timescales;

Ensure the necessary arrangements are in place in regard to the ‘Knowledge and Skills Framework’ outlines, where this applies, for the posts for which you have management responsibility and ensure that each member of staff has an annual development and performance review, a personal development plan and that arrangements are in place to ensure that staff have maximum opportunity to progress through gateways in their pay bands and to contribute effectively towards our objectives;

Promote a culture of continuous service improvement amongst your staff, encouraging their participation and that of service users in reviewing and modernising current services and in service development;

Make sure you are trained and competent in the relevant policies and procedures which apply to the management of staff and other resources and abide by these policies; seeking advice as necessary from senior management or specialist staff as necessary;

Communicate effectively with staff and maintain productive working relationships amongst your staff and with others;

Delegate appropriate responsibility and authority to staff in order to ensure optimum and effective service delivery and decision-making, whilst retaining overall accountability and responsibility for outcomes;

Promote a culture of learning and development and facilitate arrangements for and participate in training and development of staff as agreed for the performance of their duties. Where training is in accordance with relevant standards make sure you have the relevant competences in order to carry out this responsibility;

Promote equality of opportunity for all by personal action, both in the management of your staff and in the provision of care to service users in accordance with the Trust’s Equality of Opportunity Policy and Equality Scheme;

Take responsibility for ensuring appropriate standards of environmental cleanliness and for encouraging staff to maintain standards in their work area. Have an awareness of environmental issues and take appropriate action, for example to ensure the efficient use of energy and other resources, recycling etc.;

Make sure that staff are aware of Trust policies regarding the General Data Protection Regulations (GDPR) and the Data Protection Act 2018, the Freedom of Information Act 2000, the Environmental Information Regulations 2004 and Records Management and that they must not disclose, withhold, retain or dispose of any information unless legally authorised.

GENERAL RESPONSIBILITIES

Employees of the Trust will be required to promote and support the mission and vision of the service for which they are responsible and:-

At all times provide a caring service and to treat those with whom they come into contact in a courteous and respectful manner

At all times demonstrate practice the HSC values of Working Together, Excellence, Openness & Honesty and Compassion

Carry out their duties and responsibilities in a manner which assures patient and client safety

Comply with all instructions in regard to Infection Prevention and Control

Demonstrate their commitment by their regular attendance and the efficient completion of all tasks allocated to them

Comply with the Trust’s Smoke Free Policy

Carry out their duties and responsibilities in compliance with health and safety policy and statutory regulations

Adhere to equal opportunities policy throughout the course of their employment

Ensure the ongoing confidence of the public in service provision

Adhere to the Code of Conduct for HSC Employees which aims to guide staff, managers and employers in the work that they do and the decisions and choices they have to make. Professional staff are expected to follow the code of conduct for their own professions as well as this code.

The post holder will promote and support effective team working, fostering a culture of openness and transparency. The post holder will ensure that they take all concerns raised with them seriously and act in accordance with the NHSCT Raising Concerns Policy and their professional code of conduct, where applicable.

RECORDS MANAGEMENT

All employees of the Northern Health & Social Care Trust are legally responsible for all records held, created or used as part of their business within the Northern Health and Social Care Trust, including patient/client, corporate and administrative records whether paper based or electronic and also including e-mails. All such records are public records and are accessible to the general public, with limited exceptions, under the Freedom of Information Act 2000, the Environment Regulations 2004, the General Data Protection Regulations (GDPR) and the Data Protection Act 2018. Employees are required to be conversant and to comply with the Northern Health and Social Care Trust policies on Information Governance including (for example) the ICT Security Policy, Data Quality and Data Protection Policy and Records Management Policy and to seek advice if in doubt.

SALARY

£ BAND 7 £47,810 - £54,710

per annum (pro-rata for part-time)

RIGHT TO WORK IN THE UK

Please note this role may not meet the requirements for a Skilled Worker visa (including a Heath and Care Worker visa) and the Trust therefore would be unable to employ anyone that requires Sponsorship. For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website (https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/uk-visas-and-immigration).

HOURS

Normal full-time hours of duty are 37½ hours per week, exclusive of meal times

MEDICAL

Appointment will be subject to a successful pre-employment health assessment.

HOLIDAYS

27 days each year; 29 days after 5 years’ service; 33 days after 10 years’ service and 10 statutory and public holidays.

PENSION

The post-holder can participate in the Health Social Care Pension Scheme.

NORTHERN TRUST BENEFITS

You can explore the benefits on offer to you in the Northern Trust by clicking here

PROBATIONARY PERIOD

You will serve a probationary period of normally six months.

WAITING LIST

A waiting list may be compiled for similar permanent/ temporary, full and part time posts which may arise within the next 12 months in the Northern Trust Cancer Services team.

PAY PROTECTION

Legacy Trust Staff who apply for a promotion after 1 April 2011 should be aware that they will lose their legacy protection arrangements and will be entitled to pay protection in accordance with circular HSS (JNF)(1) 2011. This circular will also apply to legacy staff who are currently in receipt of protection and who move post on promotion.

Completed application forms should be returned to the BSO Recruitment and Selection Shared Services Centre, on or before the closing date as stated in the advertisement.

Canvassing, either directly or indirectly, will be an absolute disqualification.

We will review this Job Description and it may include any other duties and responsibilities we determine in consultation with the jobholder. We do not intend it to be rigid and inflexible but rather to provide guidelines within which the jobholder works.

April 2026

PERSONNEL SPECIFICATION

Title of Post: Skin Cancer Clinical Nurse Specialist

Band of Post: 7

Notes to applicants

You must clearly demonstrate on your application form under each question, how you meet the required criteria as failure to do so may result in you not being shortlisted. You should clearly demonstrate this for both the essential and desirable criteria.

Shortlisting will be carried out on the basis of the essential criteria set out in Section 1 below, using the information provided by you on your application form.

Proof of qualifications and/or professional registration will be required if an offer of employment is made – if you are unable to provide this, the offer may be withdrawn.

Volunteering experience may be considered appropriate in particular for roles within the context of direct patient/client care.

ESSENTIAL CRITERIA

SECTION 1: The following are ESSENTIAL criteria which will initially be measured at shortlisting stage although may also be further explored during the interview/selection stage. You should therefore make it clear on your application form whether or not you meet these criteria. Failure to do so may result in you not being shortlisted. The stage in the process when the criteria will be measured is stated below.

Factor

Criteria

Method of Assessment

Qualifications/ Registration

Experience

Registered Nurse on part 1 of the live NMC register

Hold a Nursing Degree or Health Care related Degree

Minimum of 5 years post registration experience at Band 5 or above

2 years post registration experience caring for patients with a skin cancer diagnosis and/or dermatology conditions.

Have a post-registration Cancer related Specialist Practice Qualification or be willing to successfully undertake within an agreed time.

Have Advanced Communications Skills Training or prepared to undertake training within agreed time.

Have an Assessment and Prescribing course or prepared to undertake training and successfully complete

Demonstrate contribution to service improvement

Leadership and management experience

Shortlisting by Application Form

Other

Hold a current full driving licence which is valid for use in the UK and have access to a car on appointment. This criteria will be waived in the case of applicants whose disability prohibits driving but who have access to a form of transport approved by the Trust which will permit them to carry out the duties of the post.

SECTION 2: The following are ESSENTIAL criteria which will be measured during the interview/ selection stage:

Skills / Abilities

Demonstrate ability to plan and manage care needs of a group of patients and evaluate the impact of that care

Demonstrate ability to lead and contribute to service improvement

Experience of teaching and training staff and patients

Organisation and prioritisation skills

Leadership skills including influencing, negotiation, motivating and supporting teams

Ability to work autonomously and as part of the multidisciplinary team

Ability to deal with complex and difficult emotional situations

Demonstrate excellent communication skills both verbal and non-verbal

Experience of working wth a diverse range of stakeholders internal and external to achieve successful outcomes

Have sound knowledge of changing trends and standards within health and social care and cancer services.

Interview / Test

Knowledge

Knowledge in the management of patients with skin cancer.

Have sound knowledge of changing trends in cancer services within health and social care

IT literate

Value Based Recruitment

Value Based Recruitment is a process adopted by the Northern Trust to attract and select employees on the basis that their individual values and behaviours align with those of the Trust.

It focuses on the ‘how’ and ‘why’ people do what they do.

Candidates who are short-listed for interview will need to demonstrate at interview that they have the required knowledge, skills, competencies and values to be effective in this new role.

In answering the value based questions you have the opportunity to share examples of when you have demonstrated values relevant to the Northern Trust.

Criminal Offences, Investigations and Charges

Having a criminal record will not necessarily debar you from working with the Trust. This will depend on the nature of the position, together with the circumstances and background of your offences or other information contained on a disclosure certificate. Where it is necessary to obtain an Access NI disclosure the Trust operates in line with the Access NI Code of Practice (www.nidirect.gov.uk/publications/accessni-code-practice).

If you require further information or a copy of the policy on the recruitment of ex-offenders or the policy on the Secure Handling, Use, Storage and Retention of Disclosure Information, please contact the Trust Human Resources Department.

As part of the Recruitment & Selection process it may be necessary for the Trust to carry out an Enhanced Disclosure Check through Access NI before any appointment to this post can be confirmed.

Essential Leadership Capabilities

(ONLY APPLICABLE TO LEADERSHIP / MANAGERIAL ROLES, DELETE IF NOT REQUIRED)

The successful candidate will need to provide evidence and demonstrate their Leadership capabilities against the required dimension on the NHS Leadership framework.

A shortlist of candidates for interview will be prepared on the basis of the information contained in the application form. It is therefore essential that all applicants demonstrate through their application how and to what extent their experience and qualities are relevant to this post and the extent to which they satisfy each criterion specified. An assessment centre may also be used as part of the short-listing process.

Candidates who are short-listed for interview will need to demonstrate at interview that they have the required competencies to be effective in this demanding leadership role. The dimensions concerned are given in the Healthcare Leadership Model details of which can be found at http://www.leadershipacademy.nhs.uk/resources/healthcare-leadership-model.

Particular attention will be given to the following

Inspiring shared purpose

Leading with care

Evaluating information

Connecting our service

Sharing the vision

Engaging the team

Holding to account

Developing capability

Influencing for results

THE NHSCT IS AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITIES EMPLOYER

Successful applicants

may be required to attend for a Health Assessment

can expect to be placed at the minimum point of the pay scale, although a higher starting salary, within the range of the pay band may be available if the person appointed has experience relevant & equivalent to the post. If the successful candidate is an existing HSC employee moving to a higher band, AfC Pay on Promotion will apply.

have the right to request Flexible Working from the 1st day of their employment. A number of flexible working provisions are offered by all HSC Organisations including Full-time working, Fixed working patterns, Part-time working, Flexi-time, Compressed/elongated hours, Average hours working patterns, Term-time working, Job-share or Homeworking for some or all of the working pattern, depending on the role being undertaken. Successful applicants are encouraged to discuss with their manager what Flexible Working provisions may be available in the role they are taking up, prior to commencing employment, to help them achieve a positive Work/Life Balance.

(April 2026)