Specialist Nurse Practitioner - Aylesford Unit

Job overview

This is an exciting opportunity for a Clinical Practitioner to take on this specialist nursing role working as a key member in developing our cancer services.

The post requires vision, innovation and the ability to work across professional boundaries, underpinned by a real desire to provide the highest standards of patient care. As an experienced haematology/oncology nurse, you will be required to develop your knowledge and skills to undertake nurse-led assessment and nurse-led clinics.

You will be part of a committed team of professionals and work closely with the Nurse Consultant – Cancer Services, Head of SACT, Head of Acute Oncology and other Clinical Practitioners within our team. We offer a friendly and supportive work environment, participation in clinical supervision and excellent opportunities for professional development.

You will be expected to work flexibly including weekends and Bank Holidays and cover on an on call basis.

As a Registered Nurse, you will possess a high level of up-to-date relevant clinical knowledge and experience with a minimum of 2 years recent relevant experience in haematology/oncology and one year at Band 6. You must have completed your advanced health assessment and non-medical prescribing courses or be willing to work towards . You will have a nursing degree. Additionally you will have post registration qualification in Systemic Anti-Cancer Therapy. An accredited communication skills qualification is desirable.

Main duties of the job

To provide expert care, advice and support to patients receiving treatment on an inpatient, day case and out-patient basis, and to their families, and act as a resource for other staff. As a clinical leader, the post holder will lead on the implementation of the service objectives.

The main emphasis of this role is clinical and includes the development and leadership of a nurse led service including nurse-led clinics and chemotherapy services to provide for the needs of patients and their families.

This is an innovative post aimed at developing future cancer leaders. The post holder will include shared working experience between 4 key posts.

Lead Chemotherapy Nurse.

Education and Development Nurse.

Acute Oncology Nurse.

Nursing Management

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

Clinical Responsibilities

The post holder will provide direct, specialised care and advice to patients within a defined case load, using specialist nursing skills and ensuring that care and support to patients and families is sensitive to their needs for courtesy, dignity and privacy.

To act as a patients’ advocate and to give advice regarding treatment options in order that patients are able to give informed consent. To take informed consent from patients and their families.

To work in collaboration with all members of the multi-disciplinary team in order to ensure the provision of a quality service for patients and their families.

To collaborate with multi-disciplinary team and produce a quality framework for the purpose of auditing and evaluating cancer and chemotherapy services.

To support the day case treatment suite clinically and professionally on a daily basis. Providing clinical advice and support to staff and monitoring the patients attending the unit.

To participate in nurse led chemotherapy and emergency clinics.

To work with the Acute Oncology Team to support inpatients, outpatients and the day case treatment suite clinically and professionally on a daily basis. Providing clinical advice and support to staff and monitoring the patients attending the unit. To participate in the acute oncology nurse rota including weekends and bank holidays.

To check and/or administer chemotherapy, as appropriate, according to the relevant Trust policies and procedures including close monitoring of the patient pre/post and during chemotherapy treatment.

Perform cannulation, venepuncture, and venesections on patients.

Undertake emergency assessment of the unwell patient with cancer e.g. acute neutropenic sepsis providing the appropriate management and supportive therapies.

As a Nurse Independent Prescriber prescribe chemotherapy and supportive drugs for patients attending the Aylesford Unit or Rigby Unit.

Managerial Responsibilities

To evaluate existing services within the unit, identifying gaps in this clinical service and making recommendations on improvements and their implementation in order of priority.

In collaboration with Nurse Consultant and other team members regularly review established policies relating to current clinical practice develop new policies as necessary based upon current research findings and ensure effective implementation.

To facilitate access to support services for patients, carers and staff.

To develop and maintain links with the cancer centre ensuring a seamless passage of care for patients requiring intensive cancer treatment.

To provide statistical data regarding caseload and activity.

To recommend to the Nurse Consultant ways in which current clinical practice could be improved upon and advice upon likely future developments which will have implications on the existing resources within the department.

Maintain awareness of, and ensure that all members of the team comply with, Trust, local and national policies, procedures, and guidelines.

Assess existing information systems and advise of potential areas of improvement with the intention of securing and maintaining information on cancer related activity.

Management of Resources

Ensure effective and efficient use of resources.

Use and deploy resources to achieve optimum value for money without detriment to patient care.

Assist the Nurse Consultant in identifying resource implications associated with service improvements and changes in clinical practices.

Observe a personal duty of care when using equipment and resources.

Promote and demonstrate research-based practice, initiate research projects and encourage and support staff who wish to be actively involved in service development.

To undertake research and development plus clinical audit in relation to all areas of responsibility.

To ensure implementation of national acute oncology measures in Lead Chemotherapy Nurse/ Lead Acute Oncology Nurse role.

Governance

Ensure Trust Policies and Procedures are implemented and adhered to developing new guidelines as and when necessary.

Liaise with other members of the multi-disciplinary team to ensure seamless patient care is provided through the development of protocols and pathways, identifying and initiating these as required.

Key Specialist Responsibilities

Unit Manager

Responsible for the overall management of the Treatment Suite.

To establish, develop, maintain, monitor and facilitate the delivery of services within the Aylesford unit, ensuring services provided meet organisational objectives, divisional service strategies and quality accounts.

Responsible for the overall development and on-going management of the Aylesford Unit, ensuring that available resources are optimised to achieve strategic changes and improvements in services and operational systems in conjunction with the delivery of evidence-based, patient centered quality care.

Responsible for recruitment, retention, performance review and monitoring of staff absence.

Responsible for health and safety within the Aylesford Unit /Rigby Unit including clinical incidents, risk assessments and COSHH.

Lead Education and Development Nurse

To develop teams, individuals and self to enhance performance, ensuring that staff training needs to meet organisational objectives are pursued through the principles of IPR and PDP and knowledge & skills framework, in accordance with Trust policies and procedures.

To assess the skills and training needs of staff and, in collaboration with the multi-disciplinary team, identify priority areas and develop and maintain educational programmes in order to deliver expert and specialist care for patients and carers.

Lead Chemotherapy Nurse

Work with the Head of Chemotherapy and lead chemotherapy clinicians in developing a safe, robust clinical chemotherapy service.

Lead Acute Oncology Nurse

Work with the Head of Acute Oncology and Lead Acute Oncology Clinicians in developing a safe, robust acute oncology service.

Operation lead of the acute oncology service.

To undertake a specialist role in the management of cancer of unknown primary patients.

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.