Job overview
The National Bowel Cancer Screening Programme has been successfully rolled out across the UK over the last decade and is now well established and recognised as reducing the number of people who die from bowel cancer by 16%.
Due to continued development and expansion of the service we are looking for an enthusiastic and dynamic nurse to join this exciting and fast moving service.
The main function of your role will be to assess participant’s suitability for colonoscopy, inform and support them through the process, including communicating results, providing a quality service and maintaining accurate records that reflect this.
You will be required to attend Multi-Disciplinary Team meetings and link with health promotion teams to improve uptake and inclusivity.
You should be able to work independently and autonomously across Bedfordshire Foundation NHS Trust but with the benefit of working within a supportive team environment.
It’s essential that you have good organisational and communications skills and you must be able to work flexibly as our screening lists may be undertaken 7 days a week.
Main duties of the job
This role will include the delivery of nurse-led and virtual clinics, within the community of Luton and Bedfordshire.
You will act as the individuals' advocate, supporting and empowering them and their family to make informed choices and decisions about their screening examination, care, treatment and future participation, through all stages of the screening programme.
You will be involved in assessing individuals, making decisions based on the outcomes of your assessment and managing your own caseload.
You will participate at colorectal cancer multidisciplinary team meetings (MDT's) in the participating individuals' relevant Trust.
You need to be able to work well within a team and also work autonomously as an individual.
You will be expected to communicate sensitive and bad news to individuals when required.
Working for our organisation
Bedfordshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust provides hospital services to a growing population of around 700,000 people living across Bedfordshire and the surrounding areas across two busy hospital sites in Bedford and Luton. Both hospital sites offer key services such as A&E, Obstetrics-led Maternity and Paediatrics.
You will be joining a friendly, high performing Trust committed to ensuring the health and wellbeing of staff. As one of the largest NHS Trusts in our region you will have access to a programme of high quality training and development to help you grow your career.
We have state-of-the art facilities placing us at the heart of cutting edge health care. The Trust continues to be committed to delivering the best patient care using the best clinical knowledge and technology available.
Please note that vacancies may close prior to the advertised closing date when sufficient number of applications have been received. Please ensure that you make your application as soon as possible.
All new external staff will be subject to a probationary period covering their first six months in post. Travel between hospital sites may be required.
Please review all documents attached to this advert to ensure you familiarise yourself with all requirements of the job.
Detailed job description and main responsibilities
The post will be based at Bedford Hospital though cross site working to Luton and Dunstable Hospital will be required.
You will be allocated a mentor who will support you through a comprehensive induction and training and you will be required to attend a 2 day virtual course to use the Bowel Cancer Screening database.
You would be expected to successfully complete a Specialist Screening Practitioner certificate within 12 months of employment at Liverpool John Moore's University.
Person specification
Qualifications
Essential criteria
1. Registered First level Nurse
2. Teaching and mentoring course
3. Evidence of continuing professional development in speciality.
Desirable criteria
4. Evidence of study at degree level
5. Certification in Advanced Communication skills
Experience
Essential criteria
6. Broad range of clinical experience with specific experience in managing own caseload/working within a speciality.
7. Application of teaching within the work area
Desirable criteria
8. Experience of providing nurse led clinics
9. Participation in service development and implementation of change
10. Able to analyse complex patient conditions and take appropriate action within the context of Bowel Cancer Screening
Knowledge
Essential criteria
11. Able to perform assessment, planning, implementation and evaluation of specialist care
12. Ability to communicate in a variety of settings with patients of varying levels of understanding.
13. Able to prioritise and manage own workload and work with minimal supervision
14. Basic IT skills in word processing and spreadsheets
Desirable criteria
15. Specific knowledge relating to national policies and procedures relevant to the NHS bowel Cancer Screening Programme
personal
Essential criteria
16. Ability to develop effective interpersonal relationships with colleagues in the health care setting
17. Ability to travel independently and work cross site.
Applicant requirements
You must have appropriate UK professional registration.
The postholder will have access to vulnerable people in the course of their normal duties and as such this post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975 (Amendment) (England and Wales) Order 2020 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service to check for any previous criminal convictions.