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Acute Oncology Clinical Nurse Specialist
Band 7
Main area Cancer Grade Band 7 Contract Fixed term: 1 year (secondment opportunity also available) Hours Part time - 33.25 hours per week (expected to travel across trust sites, Brighton & Worthing) Job ref 279-7149085-JUN25
Employer 279 University Hospitals Sussex NHS Foundation Trust Employer type NHS Site Royal Sussex County Hospital & Worthing General Town Brighton Salary £46,148 - £52,809 per annum pro rata Salary period Yearly Closing 23/06/2025 23:59
About our Trust
At UHSussex we’re proud to be at the heart of the NHS. As one of the UK’s largest acute Trusts, we’re a leading example of the excellence, the ambition and the values that have embodied the NHS for over 70 years.
Our hard-working, talented and dedicated people work together towards a common goal – to always put our Patient First. In fact our mission is summed up by our ‘where better never stops’ motto and you will play a part in driving us forwards and in improving the lives of patients across Sussex.
At UHSussex, diversity is our strength, and we want you to feel included to help us always put the Patient First. Your uniqueness and experiences will be part of our creative and innovative community where everyone is encouraged to succeed. We have a range of Staff Networks to help break down barriers, and can offer a buddy to help new members settle in. We’re proud to be a Disability Confident Employer (Level 2) and a Veteran Aware Trust.
We treat our patients and staff with the same compassion and empathy we expect for ourselves. We’re here for them when they need us, and we go above and beyond to meet their needs. This can be seen in ourWellbeing Programme for staff which is extensive and designed to support you when you need it, including where possible, flexible working to support work life balance - because we know that to look after others we must first look after ourselves.
As a university trust and a leader in healthcare research, we value learning, teaching and training so that we can be the best that we can be. From the moment you start with us and throughout your career we will help you to grow and develop. We hope that in choosing UHSussex you are choosing a long and happy career where you will be able to see the difference you make and feel valued for all that you do.
We look forward to receiving your application and the start of your journey with UHSussex.
Job overview
The Macmillan Clinical Nurse Specialist (CNS) team for Acute Oncology is looking for a motivated, flexible and resilient band 7 CNS to join our team in a 1 year fixed term/secondment.
The post holder will provide individualised patient-centred care for those who have a cancer diagnosis and have presented acutely unwell as a consequence of their cancer or treatment. The post holder will be supporting patients presenting with a suspected new diagnosis of cancer, as well as managing toxicities both in the inpatient and outpatient setting.
The post holder will also be leading service development and improvement at Royal Sussex County Hospital and Worthing General sites and working collaboratively across the Trust to ensure parity of care across all sites.
The post holder will also be supporting with educational requirements both within the team and in the wider MDT. The post holder will be instrumental in reviewing and improving communication and pathways between the multidisciplinary teams involved in patient care and management.
Please note that if you currently work for another NHS Trust or UHSussex and you are applying to accept this position as a secondment opportunity, before applying you must seek agreement and authorisation from your current Trust/Manager. Secondments can’t be agreed without this approval. If you are unable to gain approval you should refrain from applying unless you wish to take this role as a fixed term position.
Main duties of the job
* Assessment of cancer patients admitted as an emergency within 24 hours of presentation.
* Perform comprehensive assessment of patient s ’ nursing and medical needs.
* Assess complex situations and make clinical decisions regarding care.
* Support patients and colleagues at breaking bad news for new diagnoses or progression of disease.
* Support work up and management of patients under the Cancer of Unknown Primary pathway.
* Supporting inpatients and outpatients with diagnosis and management of toxicity.
* Contribute to the personalised care of the patient group.
* Provide appropriate information and advice to patients and others affected by cancer.
* Provide a responsive service to queries and concerns - being able to triage and make appropriate clinical decisions, working within your limitations referring to senior colleagues as necessary.
* Signpost and refer to services appropriately, such as physiotherapy, counselling, and palliative care.
* Provide support and line management to junior members of the team.
* Liaise effectively with members of the multi-disciplinary teams.
* Work effectively and collaboratively with the CNS teams across UHSx and with our partner organisations.
* Be a support and mentor to junior staff members.
* To actively lead on and contribute to service development - including developing appropriate KPIs that are measurable which demonstrate service improvement.
Working for our organisation
At UHSussex, diversity is our strength, and we want you to feel included to help us always put the Patient First. Your uniqueness and experiences will be part of our creative and innovative community where everyone is encouraged to succeed. We have a range of Staff Networks to help break down barriers, and can offer a buddy to help new members settle in. We’re proud to be a Disability Confident Employer (Level 2) and a Veteran Aware Trust.
We treat our patients and staff with the same compassion and empathy we expect for ourselves. We’re here for them when they need us, and we go above and beyond to meet their needs. This can be seen in ourWellbeing Programme for staff which is extensive and designed to support you when you need it, including where possible, flexible working to support work life balance - because we know that to look after others we must first look after ourselves.
As a university trust and a leader in healthcare research, we value learning, teaching and training so that we can be the best that we can be. From the moment you start with us and throughout your career we will help you to grow and develop. We hope that in choosing UHSussex you are choosing a long and happy career where you will be able to see the difference you make and feel valued for all that you do.
We look forward to receiving your application and the start of your journey with UHSussex.
Detailed job description and main responsibilities
To include but not limited to:
* Triage, assessment and management of acutely unwell cancer patients.
* Management and co-ordination of treatment for cancer emergency presentations including neutropenic sepsis, metastatic spinal cord compression.
* Support and advise on the diagnosis of suspected cancer.
* Support the work-up, diagnosis and management of patients under the Cancer of Unknown Primary pathway.
* Attendance at the multidisciplinary meetings and clinics
* Management of patients presenting with immunotherapy toxicity and on-going assessment of response to treatment.
* Collaborative working with all members of the MDT, including acute medical teams, site-specific CNS teams.
* Signposting and making appropriate referrals
* Lead on the service development of cancer CNS teams
* Present at breaking bad news as required
* Delivering and supporting patients when receiving life-altering / limiting news
* Demonstrate effective and compassionate enhanced communication skills
* Ensuring pathways for investigations and treatments are timely - managing and escalating as required any concerns that may impact the diagnostic and treatment target dates
* Working clinically autonomously to provide advice in response to unscheduled contacts from patients and professionals
* Reviewing current practice and working collaboratively to improve,
* Be an influential leader to all grades and disciplines of staff
* Conduct audit - including design and data analysis
* Working in line with trust values and the NMC code of conduct
Please see JD and person spec for full details
Person specification
Qualifications
* NMC registration
* Experience in SACT/RT
* Experience in Acute Oncology
* Oncology relevant course or modules
knowledge and skills
* Relevant experience at senior nurse level band 6 / 7
* Demonstrable enhanced communication skills
* MDT / cross-boundary working - at senior level
* Service development / improvement / change management experience inc audit and data analysis
* Demonstrates commitment to personal and professional development
* Leadership and mentorship experience
Equality, Diversity and Inclusion
* Evidence of having undertaken own development to improve understanding of equalities issues
* Evidence of having championed diversity in previous roles (as appropriate to role).
Important information for applicants:
A Note on AI Use in Applications
We value the individuality and authenticity that each candidate brings to the application process. While AI tools are increasingly accessible, we strongly discourage their use in completing your application. Your responses should reflect your own voice, experiences, and motivations—elements that are essential to a fair and accurate evaluation.
Applications that rely heavily on AI-generated content may misrepresent your abilities and could result in your application being rejected. We encourage you to take the time to present your genuine self, as this helps us better understand your potential and ensures a transparent selection process.
Closing Adverts Early: In the event of exceptional interest, we may close adverts earlier than specified.
Some of our adverts are capped for a limited number of applications; therefore, the advert will close once the cap has been reached. We therefore encourage you to submit your application as soon as possible if you are interested in the position to prevent you from missing out on applying for the opportunity.
Flexible Working: If you would like to explore potential options regarding flexible working please speak with the appropriate recruiting/line manager.
DBS Checks: As part of our commitment to a safe working environment, we undertake a Disclosure and Barring Service check on all new employees where the role is eligible for a criminal record check. We make offers in line with the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1975.
Skilled Worker Visa: Applications for Skilled Worker sponsorship are welcome for the roles that meet the Visa and Immigrations eligibility criteria. For further information please visit the gov.uk website searching for Skilled Worker. It is your responsibility as the applicant to ensure that you meet this criteria.
UHSussex reserves the right to close the role early if we receive a high volume of applications
Further Information
For help with the application process for Nursing vacancies, please email uhsussex.nursingteam@nhs.net.
For help with the application process for Non-Nursing vacancies, please email uhsussex.nonnursingteam@nhs.net.
Employer certification / accreditation badges
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.
Name Bethany Maynard Job title Joint lead for Acute Oncology/ACP Email address bethany.maynard4@nhs.net Telephone number 07826922660 Additional information
Available Mon 08.30-17.30 + Wed-Fri 08.30-17.30
Alternate contact: Faye Clayton faye.clayton@nhs.net Joint lead for Acute Oncology/ACP
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