An exciting opportunity exists within the Breast Care nursing team for a fixed term post as Band 6 Breast Care Nurse specialist.

We are looking to appoint a dynamic, enthusiastic and reliable individual with significant staff nurse experience and knowledge in Breast Cancer Care/Oncology to join our team. The post holder will ensure that the patient has a supported journey by acting as their key worker throughout their journey. The team have been at the forefront of new initiatives regionally and nationally including stratified follow up and nurse-led symptomatic clinics and are a dynamic motivated first class team.We are looking for a highly motivated flexible individual who will also have well-developed interpersonal and communication skills and be able to interact with staff and colleagues at all levels. You must be able to demonstrate the ability to work as an effective member of a multidisciplinary team, work autonomously and demonstrate excellent clinical skills to deliver exceptional standards of care for all patients and their families.

The breast team provides a service to both screening and symptomatic breast patients over 2 sites and offers a range of surgical and oncological services to patients from Gateshead, Sunderland, South Tyneside and Durham.

Specialist training will be provided by the breast care nurse team and the post will offer development opportunities. For further info please contact Caroline Buchanan, Breast Care Nurse Consultant on 0191 445 3738.

Main duties of the job

• To provide the highest standard of holistic care for patients through the utilisation of enhanced clinical skills and advice in the assessment and management of patients in collaboration with the multi-disciplinary team to improve and maintain the quality and safety of patient care
• To contribute to the delivery and development of the Breast Care service through the use of effective evidence based practice in line with agreed national standards for clinical practice
• To be accountable for the planning and delivery of all aspects of patient care in relation to the service and as set out in the NMC Code
• To continuously improve clinical care standards in line with the clinical governance framework to ensure the highest quality of care is provided in safest manner
• To work as a member of a clinical team in the provision of enhanced care and knowledge
• To provide enhanced clinical advice and support to clinical staff within GHNT on the management and care of patients within your defined area of practiceto facilitate the effective delivery of care to patients
• To communicate effectively with all members of the multi-disciplinary team, patients, carers and the public
• To act as a resource and role model for the profession at all times
• To provide education and training to clinical staff and internal /external agencies

About us

Breast services at Gateshead Health NHS Foundation Trust (GHNFT) have an excellent reputation. Over recent years the service has grown to become one of the biggest breast units in the North-East of England. As our service continues to develop, we are looking to recruit additional Breast Care Nurse Specialists.

Our service is currently the lead provider for breast care services across Gateshead, Sunderland and South Tyneside. Feedback on our services is consistently excellent, with the service consistently ranked in the UK's top five in the National Cancer Survey of patient's experience of care. GHNFT also provides the breast screening programme for Gateshead, South Tyneside, Sunderland, Durham and Chester-Le-Street, and as a result, we benefit from retaining an experienced and established specialist breast radiology team.

The future development of breast services is an organisational priority, with the growth in service demand being supported through investment, including the recruitment of additional Breast Care Nurses into our existing experienced team. Collaboration with Sunderland CCG has provided us with the use of a purpose-built breast clinic facility within Grindon Primary Care Centre. This allows GHNFT to provide locality-based breast care services for Sunderland patients. It is expected that all our breast team support the delivery of services from all localities from which breast services are provided.

Job description

Job responsibilities

Analytical and Judgemental Skills

Assess patients using clinical skills and knowledge to make a clinical judgement on condition and discuss treatment plan with clinical colleagues

Work as a specialist practitioner, providing support and advice relevant to patient care and treatment/ management plan

Utilise analytical and judgement skills in the implementation of agreed protocols e.g. nurse led discharge

Effectively deal with complaints from patients and relatives

Effectively deal with sensitive issues and upset patients and relatives

Analyse clinical information through detailed patient assessment

Analyse audit data and research, relating it to practice

Make judgements and recommendations about clinical nursing practice

Comply with the Trusts Risk Management Strategy and report any incidents/accidents and near misses in accordance with the Trust Policy

Planning and Organisational Skills

Actively participate in the planning, organisation and implementation of individual patient care

Plan short term adjustments to own workload depending on priorities and staffing

Support the planning and implementation of audits to meet the needs of reviews, service development and improvements

Carry out audit of compliance with protocols/care pathways

Plan care in collaboration with other health care professionals, other agencies and the patient and devise nursing care plan for implementation

Contribute where appropriate to the Clinical Quality Assurance Framework

Physical Skills (manual dexterity)

Undertake highly developed physical tasks and clinical skills where accuracy is important

Deliver practical/clinical care which may involve a range of physical skills, e.g. IV cannulation and phlebotomy, IV drug administration, recording and interpreting ECGs, taking arterial blood gases, male/female catheterisation, physical assessment of patients using clinical skills

Deliver enhanced clinical care which may involve a range of specialist physical skills, e.g. stoma care, bladder scanning, chest examination

Competence in the use of all medical devices

Competence in the use of specialist equipment relevant to the role

Accurate IT skills required for policy, presentation, reports, date entry and email communication

Patient/Client care:

Develop and deliver the specialist nursing service

Support an environment where health promotion and informed patient choice is encouraged and developed to its maximum potential, with the available resources

Support the evaluation of specialist clinical practice by monitoring the standards of care and ensuring that nursing practice is audited and research based in order to provide a continually improving service and support the clinical governance framework

Request patient investigations within protocols and manage patient care with own professional /enhanced competence

Monitor treatment compliance and advise on modifications to treatment within agreed guidelines and protocols

Contribute to the development of nursing practice guidelines, policies and protocols/ care pathways within defined area of practice

Act as patients advocate in all matters relating to his or her care, treatment and welfare acknowledging and incorporating cultural preferences, health beliefs and behaviours

Demonstrate specialist knowledge and skills through delivery of enhanced nursing practice to the highest standard

Act as a professional role model and provide specialist support and advice to colleagues

Take a lead in assessing, planning, implementing and evaluating specialist programmes of care in partnership with the patient and the multidisciplinary team

Respond to enquiries from patients, relatives and carers deal with concerns, formal complaints, PALS concerns and actively problem solve to improve the patients experience Comply with NMC Professional Registration practice in line with current NMC Code and keep up to date with current nursing practices

Complete and maintain the required specialist training and related clinical, technical and interpersonal skills and competence required to undertake a holistic approach to the systematic assessment of patient needs and implementation of care required

Ensure safe administration of drugs in accordance with current NMC guidelines for administration of medicines and GHNT Policies

Ensure accurate nursing records are kept in line with current NMC guidelines on records and record keeping and GHNT Policies

Ensure that evidentiary documentation of competence and skills is maintained and reviewed annually though appraisal and personal development plan

Provide trust wide education and training on both specialist area of practice and generic nursing and care management

Policy and Service Development:

Audit areas of practice encouraging change where necessary to ensure best practice

Implement locally devised PGDs

In conjunction with all members of the team ensure that all national targets, standards and guidance are achieved

Contribute to policies, procedures & Governance relevant to services

Ensure that Trust policies are adhered to by self and others

Deliver the quality standards and targets outlined in the Trusts Risk Management Strategy and local Operational Policies

Demonstrate learning from compliments, complaints and concerns and patient experience feedback

Contribute to team discussion on proposed and planned changes affecting clinical area and the continuing development of services

Financial and Physical Resources

Ensure a safe working environment, using the resources available

Comply and adapt to the changing needs of the health care system

Utilize resource effectively using evidence based practice

Demonstrate awareness to be cost effective

Report the failure or mechanical problems of any items of equipment in line with the Medical Devices Policy

Adhere to the Trust Information Governance Procedures

Human Resources

Identify and pursue own educational and professional development to meet the requirements of role including revalidation

Mentor junior staff, participate in teaching programmes for all learners in accordance with their objectives and work closely with the Clinical Facilitators

Provide clinical advice and support to colleagues

Lead by example and act as a specialist resource for all staff

Assess ward/departmental nurse competencies where applicable

Attend mandatory training days

Support and contribute to the delivery of education and training to nursing staff, AHPs and the wider multi-professional team

Participate in the induction of staff new to the clinical area

Monitor work performance of junior staff and make accurate and honest reports to the person with continuing responsibility as appropriate

Behave in a manner that respects the differing needs and cultures of patients and other staff

Actively participate in Annual Appraisal and provide evidence to demonstrate achievements towards Knowledge and Skills Framework

Ensure that CPD requirements are achieved and demonstrated in practice including revalidation requirements

Demonstrate the Trust vision and core behaviours in delivering a quality service to both internal and external customers

Information Resources

Access patient results and act appropriately in a timely manner

Maintain accurate documentation with patients records, integrated care pathways and electronic systems

Maintain confidentiality and follow Trust data management and documentation policies

Complete relevant records relating to annual leave, study leave and travel expenses

Use of PAS and any other IT programmes

Use IT/databases in clinical and non-clinical work

Research and Development

Support the development of audit tools to assess patient experience and satisfaction

Support the evaluation of clinical practice by monitoring standards of care and ensuring that nursing practice is audited and research based in order to provide a continually improving service

Remain up to date with developments in research and evidence based practice in relation to own and associated areas

Proactive in developing own and others practice and in contributing to quality improvement within the Trust

Participate in research and practice development activities

Freedom to Act

Accountable for own professional practice and able to work without direct supervision

Work within the Trust policy and guidelines to meet current standards

Able to prioritise and arrange own workload and that of others on a daily basis according to service needs

Use management and judgemental skills to analyse complex situations and formulate appropriate solutions

Maintain own high professional standards and discuss opportunities to develop clinical practice with line manager

Alert the line manager or of any untoward situation

Practice in accordance with current NMC code with particular reference to acknowledging the limitation of competence of staff in order to safeguard the wellbeing of patients.

Person Specification

Qualifications

Essential

• Current RN NMC Registration
• Degree in Nursing or working towards
• Teaching Qualification

Experience

Essential

• Broad knowledge, skills and experience in acute nursing
• Experience working in breast care/oncology
• Evidence of ongoing Professional Development and Clinical Practice Development (CPD)
• 2 years staff nurse experience

Skills

Essential

• 2 years staff nurse experience
• Organisational skills

Any attachments will be accessible after you click to apply.

297-6602911-A