An exciting opportunity has arisen within the South Tyneside and Sunderland NHS Foundation Trust for a highly motivated Head and Neck Clinical Nurse Specialist to join our multidisciplinary team.

You will need to be an experienced Registered Nurse with previous/recent experience caring for patients with Head and Neck Cancer.

You will support the provision of a specialist skilled Head and Neck nursing service promoting clinical excellence within the hospital setting that offers optimum healthcare to patients, their families and other carers.

As a team player, you will work flexibly in order to enable effective outcomes and above you will be passionate about transforming patient care.

Experienced nurses are encouraged to apply who share our vision to progress and develop the service within a forward thinking Trust.

Main duties of the job

As a CNS within the Head and Neck Cancer services, the post-holder will provide clinical expert knowledge to patients with Head and Neck cancer. Support patients with newly diagnosed Head and Neck cancer and contribute to the ongoing development and delivery of nurse led services for our patients.

Candidates must have clinical experience within Head and Neck Cancer services and knowledge of best practice in this area. A thorough understanding of expanded roles/professional practice issues and the ability to provide and receive complex, sensitive or contentious information. Excellent communication skills and proven interpersonal skills. Recent experience of having facilitated learning in practice and evidence of continuing professional development. Clinical skills accreditation and Non-medical prescribing or willingness to complete and evidence of competency in relation to nursing practices appropriate to the post.

The post is for 37.5 hours, Monday to Friday.

This post can be offered as a Band 6 training post for a period of up to 12 months, until competencies have been achieved.

About us

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One Team One Trust - There are many reasons to work at our Trust. From our commitment to putting people first to our accessible services and award winning teams. We have a passion for research, innovation and tackling inequalities. We are committed to respect, fairness and civility and promote a compassionate, caring and positive culture / working environment.

We welcome all applications irrespective of peoples race, disability, gender, sexual orientation, religion/belief, age, gender identity, marriage and civil partnership, pregnancy/maternity and in particular those from under- represented groups. Looking after our workforces health and wellbeing is a priority for STSFT. We also provide access to high quality education, training, career progression and support. Flexible working is supported via the Trust's Flexible Working Policy.

The Trust employs around 8,300 people and provides a range of hospital services to a local community of around 430,000 residents. We also provide a range of more specialised services outside this area, in some cases to a population as great as 860,000. We offer our staff outstanding benefits - Fitness Centre (SRH), libraries at both hospital sites, chaplaincy support and access to a Childcare Co-ordinator to help staff with childcare arrangements. The Trust will not accept applications which are found to be AI generated.

Job description

Job responsibilities

PLEASE REFER TO THE ATTACHED JOB DESCRIPTION FOR FULL DUTIES OF THE ROLE.

The Clinical Nurse Specialist (CNS) will work within the existing CNS team for Head and Neck Cancer, leading the management and care delivery for patients diagnosed with Head and Neck Cancer throughout their cancer pathway.

As a CNS within the Head and Neck Cancer services, the post-holder will:

• Provide clinical expert knowledge to patients with head and neck cancer.
• Provide clinical expert knowledge to patients and their families who require Percutaneous Endoscopic Gastrostomy (PEG) insertion.
• Advise and manage patients nutritional needs as required e.g. via Naso-gastric tube or Percutaneous Endoscopic Gastrostomy (PEG).
• Support patients with newly diagnosed head and neck cancer.
• Contribute to the ongoing development and delivery of nurse led services for patients.
• Demonstrate leadership in contributing to a culture of patient safety and continuous improvement in line with the clinical governance framework.
• Be accountable for the assessment, planning and delivery of all aspects of patient care across the pathway.
• Provide effective supportive care to assist patients living with cancer, ensuring that care is personalised and the holistic needs of patients are met.
• Reduce length of hospital stay and unnecessary hospital admissions.
• To enable patients to spend a greater proportion of their limited time within their own homes.
• To ensure all investigations are appropriate therefore reducing unnecessary procedures that offer limited value to patient outcome.
• To support the existing head and neck cancer CNS team to deliver support to every newly diagnosed head and neck cancer patient.
• To provide inpatient and outpatient support to head and neck cancer patients.
• To deliver a flexible approach which meets the requirements of the service.
• Provide direct access for patients, inpatients or within the community, either face to face or telephone consultation.
• Provide education and training and clinical advice and support to Trust staff, patients and relatives/carers.
• Participate in research relevant to the needs of specialist area.
• Participate in service development within head and neck cancer services across the Trust.
• Contribute to the achievement of national and local standards/targets.
• To comply with the trusts vision, values and behavioural compact.

Person Specification

Skills and Knowledge

Essential

• Clinical experience within Head and Neck Cancer services.
• Experience of leading within a team.
• Evidence of innovation in practice.
• Recent experience of having facilitated learning in practice.
• Evidence of continuing professional development.
• Awareness of national health and social care policy.
• Knowledge of best practice in area of specialism.
• Thorough understanding of expanded roles/professional practice issues.
• Clinical teaching experience.
• Ability to provide and receive complex, sensitive or contentious information, where persuasive, motivational, negotiating, training, empathic or reassurance skills are required.
• Able to work without supervision.
• Competent in the use of IT packages.
• Excellent communication skills.
• Proven interpersonal skills.
• Evidence of competency in relation to nursing practice appropriate to the post.

Physical Skills

Essential

• Ability to assist patients to move as per Trust Moving and Handling Policy.
• Able to travel access sites.

Qualifications

Essential

• Current NMC Registration (Level 1 adult nurse).
• Degree in nursing studies or healthcare related subject (UK equivalent).
• Mentorship qualification/equivalent and or Practice Assessor training or demonstrable equivalent experience.
• Clinical skills accreditation or willingness to complete
• Non-medical prescribing or willingness to complete.

Desirable

• Qualification in specialty.
• Masters level education in related subject.

Experience

Essential

• Clinical experience within Head and Neck Cancer services.
• Experience of leading within a team.
• Evidence of innovation in practice.
• Recent experience of having facilitated learning in practice.
• Evidence of continuing professional development.

Desirable

• Research skills.
• Minimum 2 years clinical experience within head and neck.
• Previous experience managing PEG.

Employer details

Employer name

South Tyneside and Sunderland NHS Foundation Trust

Address

Sunderland Royal Hospital

Kayll Road

Sunderland

SR4 7TP

Any attachments will be accessible after you click to apply.

C9155-GSNM-1024-72