We are looking for a highly motivated and compassionate Specialist Nurse to join our Upper GI Cancer Specialist Nursing Team at Oxford University Hospitals. OUH is a tertiary referral centre for oesophogogastric cancer. The role will support the current CNS with ongoing development of the oesophogogastric service and support patients with cancer of unknown primary. You will promote a high‑quality service that provides specialist care, information, support and management to patients, their families and carers. The nursing teams are central to the delivery of excellent care to cancer patients at OUH, delivering a holistic approach using the latest technologies for individualized assessments and care planning. The service aims to provide focused, coordinated specialist knowledge and skills so patients have access to a comprehensive package of care and intervention, supporting clinical decision‑making, providing information and coordinating complex care pathways.
You will work closely with other members of the specialist nursing, AHP, and MDT teams across oncology and surgery, liaising with primary care and other specialist teams to ensure patients are supported throughout their pathway.
Job Summary
* Employed as a Specialist Nurse, working at an enhanced level of practice, completing a specialist programme of training relevant to the role or other service training curriculum in line with professional regulatory body requirements.
* Fulfilling expectations and capabilities of a Specialist Nurse will be achieved through workplace‑based training, assessments and clinical practice, with support from clinical supervision in own service/specialty area.
* Supported in professional development and wellbeing, working at the level of enhanced practice, through achievement of the academic requirements and evidence of workplace‑based capabilities and competence within their service/specialty.
* Expected to demonstrate and develop proficiency across the four pillars of practice—Clinical, Leadership and Management, Education and Research—appropriate to their level of practice and scope of professional practice.
* Develop and provide comprehensive clinical care, specialist advice, and support to patients in the oesophagogastric cancer/CUP service.
* Work as an autonomous, specialist practitioner alongside the multidisciplinary team in the oesophagogastric cancer/CUP service.
* Provide information and specialist knowledge for the support and education of patients and carers.
* Improve care provision by establishing strong communication links with specialist multidisciplinary team members and liaising between primary and secondary health care teams, influencing best clinical practice at local, network and national levels.
* Participate in education activities of colleagues to ensure all working in patient care have appropriate knowledge and skills.
* Serve as key worker in accordance with National Standards, providing a point of contact and continuity for patients and family throughout the care pathway.
* Work independently in assessment of patient needs, using appropriate assessment and history‑taking skills to identify problems and needs.
* Carry out holistic needs assessments and formulate care plans as required.
* Be flexible within the oesophagogastric cancer/CUP service to ensure appropriate specialist cover.
Primary Responsibilities
* Will actively participate in the development of the team and the service to continuously improve patient care, implementing relevant national standards and frameworks at a local level.
* Network locally, regionally, nationally and internationally (as required) and seek opportunities to develop the specialist role or service within scope.
Clinical
* Practice in compliance with professional conduct codes, being responsible and accountable for decisions, actions and omissions.
* Develop own professional judgment, recognising limits of competence and scope, when working with complexity, risk or uncertainty.
* Use partnership working with individuals, families and carers, employing a range of assessment methods such as history‑taking, physical assessments, holistic assessments and risk factor identification.
* Use appropriate diagnostic tests, interpret results and carry out health needs assessments.
* Develop effective communication skills to support decision making, planning care and positive health changes, promoting person‑centred approaches.
* Maintain thorough, accurate documentation in patient records.
* Handle complex or contentious information sensitively, providing information to patients, families or carers with respect, compassion and empathy.
* Make evidence‑based judgments within scope, referencing relevant information and escalating to senior staff when necessary.
* Manage risk appropriately, with support and clinical supervision, particularly in complex and unpredictable events.
* Act as a clinical role model for responsive, evidence‑based care, building the service’s reputation and supporting own caseload or service as required.
* Demonstrate expertise in the oesophagogastric cancer/CUP speciality, maintaining a professional portfolio and following the service‑specific curriculum.
Leadership and Management
* Initiate and develop effective relationships, clarifying the role within teams to improve productivity.
* Role‑model OUH values, demonstrating a person‑centred approach to service delivery and improvement.
* Maintain own scope of practice within legal, ethical, professional and organisational policies, governance frameworks and procedures, focusing on risk management and quality care.
* Evaluate personal practice and participate in MDT and team evaluations, recognising the impact of enhanced practice on service function and quality.
* Seek feedback from patients, families and colleagues to inform personal and service development.
* Adapt to change, developing practice in response to evolving health policies, treatments and population needs.
* Participate in clinical governance reviews and investigations of incidents, leading and facilitating learning to adapt systems and processes.
* Promote wellbeing, identifying and managing stressors to support personal and team health.
Education
* Critically assess and address own learning needs, working to a personal development plan covering all four pillars of practice relevant to the practitioner’s scope.
* Reflect to maximise clinical skill and knowledge, documented in a professional portfolio of evidence.
* Engage with performance reviews and appraisal processes, and participate in clinical supervision and tri‑partite review meetings.
* Advocate for a culture of departmental, service and organisational learning, inspiring staff and sharing best practices.
* Act as an educator within own scope, developing teaching skills, sharing confidence and best practice with others.
* Identify and address the educational needs of patients, families, carers and staff, supporting an appropriate learning environment.
Research
* Develop a knowledge‑rich enquiry culture, fostering research values.
* Engage in research activities, upholding good practice guidelines, and develop evidence‑based strategies for quality, safety and productivity.
* Evaluate and audit own clinical practice, selecting valid, reliable methods and acting on findings with support.
* Critically appraise and synthesise literature to underpin practice and inform others.
* Link clinical practice to robust research, documenting outcomes in a professional portfolio.
* Participate in service review and evaluation, monitoring patient experience and quality outcomes, addressing opportunities and concerns.
* Disseminate best practice research findings and quality improvement projects.
We are a Disability Confident Employer and will generally offer an interview to any applicant who declares they have a disability and meets the minimum criteria for the role. We consider disability as a factor throughout our recruitment process to promote an inclusive working environment.
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