Job overview
An opportunity has arisen for a part time highly motivated, enthusiastic and experienced nurse to join the Enhanced Supportive Care (ESC) Team at Barking, Havering and Redbridge University Hospital NHS Trust (BHRUT) with a specialist ineterest in metastatic breast cancer. This is an exciting opportunity to join our nationally unique nurse led service that was recognised by NHS England (2018) as best practice in cancer care. The post holder would be expected to cover dual sites. The clinical nurse specialist (CNS) will provide specialist support to breast patients (as part of a job share) at the point of diagnosis of incurable cancer, throughout treatment ie: radiotherapy, chemotherapy, immunotherapy, targeted therapies, best supportive care and beyond. The ESC CNS will have a key role in working clinically with the oncology multidisciplinary team. The post holder is expected to proactively recognise patients with non-curative cancer who have unmet symptoms, psychological social and spiritual needs by completing a holistic needs assessment. Following a clinical review, you would be expected to work with them to optimise symptom control and plan for their future. They will be expected to create and maintain good links with primary care- general practice, community palliative care teams, community nursing etc- to optimise communication and integration and facilitate care in the community setting. The person will act as an educational resource for members of the wider mutli-disciplinary team. The role comprises of nurse led face to face, telephone and virtual clinics.
Main duties of the job
The post holder will be working closely with the Enhanced Supportive Care Lead Clinical Nurse Specialist to continue to implement the nurse led service model in oncology. The Enhanced Supportive Care model aims to address more fully the needs of cancer patients- in particular, preventing and managing the adverse physical and psychological effects of cancer and its treatment. This is achieved by following the six principles of ESC.
The post holder will work both autonomously and as a job share and team member focussing on embedding the ESC nurse led model of working within the secondary breast cancer community at BHR.
The post holder will be a key role, working alongside colleagues in oncology, palliative care, the community and wider MDT. The post will involve clinical responsibilities, outpatient and inpatient work, nurse-led face to face, telephone and virtual clinics.
The post holder will have clinical responsibilities and provide specialist knowledge and care and support to patients diagnosed with advanced cancer. The post holder will also provide education to oncology, haematology and the wider MDT relating to symptom management, decision making and Enhanced Supportive Care.
Enhanced Supportive Care is recognised as best practice by NHS England 2018.
Working for our organisation
We’re an organisation that is getting better and better and our improvements are driven by a determination to deliver care we’re proud of and our patients are happy with. We’re no longer in special measures; we’ve opened two new theatres at our Elective Surgical Hub in King George Hospital (KGH); and Matthew Trainer, our Chief Executive, was named the top CEO by the Health Service Journal in 2024.
We operate from two main sites – KGH in Goodmayes and Queen’s Hospital in Romford. We have two busy emergency departments with more than 330,000 people visiting them last year. We’re campaigning to secure the £35m we need to transform the A&E at Queen’s and get rid of corridor care.
Our patients are benefitting from our Women’s Health Hub in Ilford; an Ageing Well Centre in Hornchurch; and Community Diagnostic Centres (CDC) at Barking Community Hospital and at St George’s Health and Wellbeing Hub in Hornchurch.
These CDCs are open 12 hours a day, 7 days a week and are providing an extra 94,000 scans a year.
The majority of our 8,000 staff – who come from 146 different countries - live in the three diverse London boroughs we serve and are from black, Asian and minority ethnic groups. Many can work flexibly and more than 400 of them are on our Ofsted accredited apprenticeship programmes. We’re proud to be a London Living Wage employer.
We’re looking forward to introducing an electronic patient record that will be transformative for our staff and beneficial for our patients.
Detailed job description and main responsibilities
For further information on this role, please see the attached detailed Job Description and Person Specification.
The person specification listed below is not the full specification requirements for the role. Please ensure you review the full specification on the job description prior to submitting your application.
Applicants are advised to read all the information on the advert and the supporting information before completing and submitting an application. As you complete your application please ensure you clearly demonstrate how you meet the criteria in the person specification for this post by adequately completing the supporting information section of the application form.
All new staff appointed at the Trust are subject to a probationary period.
Person specification
Education
Essential criteria
1. Registered Adult Nurse with substantial post registration experience
2. Degree level / equivalent or working towards
3. Substantial experience working within Oncology/palliative care
Desirable criteria
4. Advanced Communication skills training
5. Non-medical prescribing course
6. Level 2 psychology
Applicant requirements
You must have appropriate UK professional registration.
This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975 (Amendment) (England and Wales) Order 2020 and it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service.