Clinical Nurse Specialist Colorectal & PTS

Job overview

An exciting opportunity has arisen to join our well established and dedicated colorectal CNS team. Due to expansion within the service, we are seeking a full time band 6 CNS who will come with dedication, passion and compassion to support our patients. Oncology experience is essential, previous surgical experience is desirable.

The post holder will provide specialist nursing advice, care and support to patients who are being investigated, diagnosed and treated for advanced colorectal cancer, peritoneal tumours (PTS), anal cancer, sarcoma and neuroendocrine tumours.

This is a training post in which the post holder will be supported in developing into a band 7 CNS within the team

Main duties of the job

You will provide specialist support and advice to patients acting as their Keyworker. You will oversee and co-ordinate care and personalise the patient pathway to deliver a supportive nursing service for patients and their families undergoing in-patient and out-patient treatment at The Christie. You will be responsible for delivering specialist colorectal cancer care across organisational, professional, and geographical boundaries both autonomously and as part of a highly valued member of the colorectal surgical oncology team.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

• Provide specialist nursing advice, care and support to patients who are being investigated, diagnosed and treated for advanced colorectal cancer, peritoneal tumours (PTS), anal cancer, sarcoma and neuroendocrine tumours. To facilitate high quality, individualized care to patients and relatives/carers, both inpatients and outpatients in collaboration with the multi-disciplinary team (MDT) and in-line with local and national targets.
• At all times ensure that the needs of the patient are placed at the centre of care delivery and where appropriate acting as ‘associate key worker’.
• Work to improve the patient experience throughout the patient journey.
• Act as a professional role model, to support senior CNS’s, providing direct and indirect clinical care, teaching and research as designated.
• To work with senior members of the team and contribute to best working practice of the clinical nurse specialist role in accordance with local and national policy and ensure the needs of patients and their families are central to service improvement initiatives.

KEY WORKING RELATIONSHIPS

• Patients and visitors within the clinical area and specialty.
• Senior colorectal/PTS CNS team and surgical matron.
• Cancer Centre Services management team
• Reporting direct to line manager.
• Working with other CNS teams within The Christie as appropriate.
• Liaison with MDT’s, GP’s & other relevant secondary care agencies.

CLINICAL

• Placing quality at the heart of practice by delivering evidence based individualized patient care according to patients changing health care needs, through holistic needs assessment (HNA) or electronic patient reported outcome measures forms (ePROM).  Providing specialist advice to ensure continuity of effective patient care.
• Acts as Associate Keyworker for a clinical caseload within specialty, working to support the coordination of care and provide easy access for ongoing support for patients.
• In liaison with other CNS’ within the team, supports the MDT Lead Consultant and MDT coordinator to ensure the MDT requirements are accurate and robustly managed within specific timeframes in accordance with local and national policy, to ensure: proficient pathway communication internal and external; clinical data collection; cancer data reporting/cancer waiting times compliance; cancer pathway management.
• In liaison with other CNS’ within the team, works with MDT Lead, MDT coordinator and data administrator ensuring effective and efficient data collection/MDT function and outcomes are accurately recorded.
• Develops skills in advanced communication for all aspects of patient assessment, care and support and to provide and receive complex, sensitive or contentious information.
• Manage all results and documentation for patient cohort group reporting any discrepancies to the Senior clinical nurse specialists and/or lead consultant.
• Supports team to assess people’s information needs and provides relevant information to meet those needs.  Assists people to access, identify, appraise and interpret information to determine their own future.
• Develops clinical expertise, to support the team in giving specialist advice and patient support across service boundaries.
• Supports the senior CNS and patient in their care pathway, refers to other professionals and sign-post patients to other agencies as appropriate especially in relation to ongoing care needs and discharge arrangements.
• Participates in development of policy and clinical guidelines internally.
• In conjunction with the clinical team, supports (risk) stratification for patients having cancer follow up.  Promotes self-management through education and guided support.
• Actively participates in multi-professional meetings, acting as the patient advocate and representing nursing views, as delegated/where appropriate.
• Makes sure that people are affected by cancer are aware that they are interacting with an expert cancer care professional and have access to the range of cancer resources and services (financial, information, support, etc)

LEADERSHIP

• Foster a supportive working environment and maintenance of staff morale, promoting a culture in which staff feel valued and able to reach their potential.
• Actively participate in clinical risk assessments and ensure correct reporting of clinical incidents in accordance with hospital policy.
• Be aware of responsibilities with regard to Health and Safety At Work Act. Maintain and develop an environment and culture that improves health, safety and security.
• Supports a culture that facilitates patient centred care and patient empowerment
• Acts as a role model demonstrating high standards of care for patients.
• Supports the development and promotion of the specialist nursing service ensuring the delivery of high quality, cost effective care.
• Engages patient and public involvement within the sphere of practice.
• Contributes to the collection of quantitive and qualitative data to provide evidence of productivity, outcomes and quality.  Is able to utilize data to write reports as appropriate.

EDUCATION

• Attend annual updates and ensure compliance with all mandatory training.
• Supports CNS team in the education and training of other professionals involved in patients care within the area of specialism particularly within the Surgical Oncology Unit.
• Actively integrates research, theory and practice. Undertakes surveys or audits, as necessary to own or team work.
• Takes personal responsibility for life-long learning and personal development through clinical supervision, appraisal and actively engages with learning and development opportunities.

PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT

• Supports the nursing contribution to service development, ensuring the pursuit of excellence in care.
• Contributes to the identification of service goals and appreciates how these links with performance targets and quality indicators.
• Ensures the provision of care is in accordance with The Christie NHS Trust’s policies and procedures.
• Adherence to relevant site specific clinical guidelines for cancer nursing practice.  Works collaboratively with the senior CNS to contribute to annual report and annual work plan development.
• Works alongside cancer team and other partners to raise the profile of cancer nursing and promote patient centred services for patients affected by cancer.
• Promote equality and value diversity.
• Upholds The Christie shared values.
• Promote a positive relationship on behalf of the Colo-Rectal Team with all grades of staff within the Trust, and with outside agencies.