The Christie hotline is a 24/7 telephone service which provides specialist advice and support to all Christie cancer patients as well as to their carers and community doctors and nurses. It is important for patients and their carers to have access to this service to manage side effects and any complication of treatment.

The team is a group of specialist nurse advisors with extensive oncology and haematology experience.

Acute oncology experience is desirable and oncology experience is essential.

The successful candidate will be an effective team player with excellent communication and interpersonal skills.

Main duties of the job

• To provide telephone triage assessments for calls to the acute oncology management service (incorporating the hotline).
• To give advice to patients/carers for patients who are experiencing problems following systemic anti-cancer treatments.
• To liaise with all services involved in the patient's cancer journey both within the Christie, other local hospitals in the region and in the community.

About us

The hotline team is a friendly and welcoming team who work closely and have good relationships with a wide range of departments across the trust including both inpatient and outpatient clinical settings.

We work in close contact with the patient flow team who provide a 24 hour access to the trust as well as the acute ambulatory care unit and acute assessment unit.

As an innovative and forward-thinking team we are always looking to improve operations for the benefit of our patients and colleagues so welcome and new and exciting ideas.

We promote a healthy work-life balance and understand that cancer care is a challenging field and our friendly team work closely together to adopt a supportive culture. The trust also offers free and confidential counselling support and discounted onsite treatments from our complimentary therapy team.

We are dedicated to our staff development and invest in your career development with access to further education and training opportunities for your progression.

Job description

Job responsibilities

1.1 Provide 24/7 telephone helpline service to enable patients to access expert advice and management with the side effects of their treatments.

1.2 Communicate with patients and/or their carers regarding their care management dealing with highly sensitive information requiring sympathy and reassurance and where there are often barriers to understanding.

1.3 Assess patient provided information and provide appropriate and safe advice on a range of clinical issues.

1.4 Make clinical judgements from caller information, evaluating alternative courses of action.

1.5 Organise workload to ensure all calls are answered in a timely manner.

1.6 Ensure that all computerised records are accurate and kept up to date.

1.7Liaise with the multi-disciplinary team with respect to the management of the critically ill patient.

1.8 Ensure effective communication between patients, their families and the healthcare team in order to maintain continuity of care and that appropriate and consistent information is conveyed to patients and their families.

1.9 Ensure effective and timely communications with the Acute Oncology Management teams at local hospitals is maintained.

1.10 Maintain links with specialist nurses and with GPs and nursing teams in the community to ensure continuity of care.

MANAGEMENT AND ADMINISTRATION

2.1 To deputise for and support the Acute Oncology Team Leader in managing the service.

2.2 Provide management support for junior members of the team.

2.3 Assess, plan and implement clinical care and maintain associated patient records.

2.4 Be aware of Health and Safety issues and ensure relevant risk assessments are undertaken.

2.5 Report and record all accidents and complaints according to the agreed policy, investigating speedily and compassionately.

2.6 Ensure all trust policies and procedures are adhered to and new ones implemented as necessary.

2.7 Regularly liaise and report to Department Manager/Senior Nursing team on unit affairs and staff development.

2.8 Ensure each designated staff member participates in a personal development plan and act to maximise the potential of others.

2.9 Assist in nursing recruitment process when required.

2.10 Take a progressive approach to the management of short and long-term sickness/absence in collaboration with the Department manager/Senior Nursing team.

2.11 Assist in reviewing the service and implement change to the service to support ongoing improvements in the acute oncology management service reflecting local and national initiative.

2.12 Participate and lead, where appropriate, team meetings and co-ordinate shifts, gathering appropriate concise information.

2.13 Work as a professional role model, providing leadership at all times and work as the patient advocate when necessary, which reflects the Trusts values and behaviours.

OPERATIONAL

3.1 To liaise appropriately with colleagues regarding bed status and escalate accordingly regarding patient wait times for admission.

3.2 Escalate patient call wait times accordingly.

3.3 To co-ordinate and where necessary take responsibility for the running of the shift.

3.4 Work with and where necessary cross cover the Patient flow team

TRAINING & EDUCATION

4.1 Complete appropriate clinical skills and mandatory training as directed by management.

4.2 Participate and undertake research and audit which will influence practice.

4.3 To be up to date in all IV training programs including annual updates and competent in all areas of clinical practice including medicines management, moving and handling, assessment of critically ill patient and basic life support.

4.4 Attend all mandatory study days

4.5 Maintain awareness and competency within the role against national and regional initiatives and subsequently implement these initiatives into practice.

4.6 Act as a link nurse as directed by management and support the team through this role

PROFESSIONAL5.1 Act as a resource giving advice and support to the multi-disciplinary team.

5.2 Liaise closely with the medical team and other members of the MDT in respect of patient care promoting the highest standard of care.

5.3 To develop and maintain a professional interest in all aspects of nursing and associated research.

5.4 To highlight areas of improvement/development within the department and undertake relevant projects.

5.5 Foster and demonstrate creativity, energy and inspiration into ward teams toward efficient patient flows and pathways.

5.6 Maintain awareness of current developments in relation to evidence based practice.

5.7 Provide representation for committees and groups directly involved in patient care and service development.

5.8 Complete clinical incident reports in accordance with trust risk management policy.

5.9 Support development of current role by meeting with peers giving and receiving reflective feedback.

5.10 Maintain awareness and comply with all trust policies and procedures.

PERSONAL

6.1 Demonstrate a pleasant and approachable manner and help create and promote a good working relationship.

6.2 Show professional and courteous manner whilst practicing excellent communication skills at all levels

6.3 To show respect for members of the team and endorse the Wards philosophy of giving mutual support.

6.4 Being aware of ones own limitations, maintain confidentiality and adherence to NMC Professional Code of Conduct

6.5 Cooperate in own performance review by indicating learning goals and support needs.

6.6 Actively seek mentorship / supervision to enable reflection and development within the role.

Person Specification

Qualifications

Essential

• RGN Level 1
• Degree or Diploma in Nursing Studies
• Post Registration Certificate in Oncology/Haematology or equivalent experience

Desirable

• Palliative Care Training
• Management Training
• Advanced Communication Skills Training
• UKONS acute oncology passport
• UKONS SACT passport

Experience

Essential

• Previous oncology/haematology or emergency care experience

Desirable

• Palliative Care Experience
• Managerial Experience
• Patient Flow Experience
• Triage Experience
• Performance Management Experience
• Experience using UKONS triage tool
• Surgical Experience
• Interventional Radiology Experience

Skills

Essential

• Excellent communication skills
• Excellent assessment skills
• Computer Literacy
• Ability to deliver a high quality of care
• Good medicines management skills
• Ability to prioritise and manage heavy workloads and complete tasks effectively

Desirable

• Leadership skills
• IV skills
• SACT administration
• Advanced life support

Knowledge

Essential

• Evidence of sound clinical knowledge
• Evidence of continued development
• Understanding of need for evidence based practice
• Committed to own personal development and that of colleagues

Desirable

• SACT knowledge
• Understanding of UKONs triage tool
• Surgical oncology knowledge

Values

Essential

• Ability to demonstrate the organisational values and behaviours.

Personal Attributes

Essential

• Ability to work well in a team and independently using own initiative.
• Ability to organise and prioritise own workload
• Remain calm under pressure.
• High motivated and committed

Desirable

• Good organisation skills.
• Flexible

Employer details

Employer name

The Christie NHS FT

Address

Hotline - E00034

Manchester

M20 4BX

Any attachments will be accessible after you click to apply.

413-85629-CSSS-LS-A