Job overview
An exciting opportunity has arisen to join our Chemotherapy Nurse Practitioner team.
As a senior member of the Chemotherapy team, a key aspect of this role will be contributing to service review and establishing new ways of working to support, develop, and implement nurse‑led clinics in line with new NICE guidance and treatment pathways.
Main duties of the job
To autonomously assess the needs of patients receiving systemic anti‑cancer treatment, initiate appropriate investigations, determine differential diagnoses, and deliver holistic, evidence‑based care. The role also includes independently conducting nurse‑led clinics, providing specialist and advanced clinical skills to support medical and nursing teams within the oncology department, and contributing to the education and development of chemotherapy staff.
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. The Trust continues to be committed to delivering the best patient care using the best clinical knowledge and technology available.
We not only recruit based on qualifications and experience - we recruit individuals who demonstrate the behaviours which underpin our Trusts core values. We achieve this by using values based recruitment. We are dedicated to making our recruitment practices as inclusive as possible for everyone, we are committed to promoting equality and diversity, and creating a culture that values differences.
Please note that vacancies may close prior to the advertised closing date when sufficient number of applications have been received. All new staff will be subject to a probationary period covering first 6 months in post. Travel between hospital sites may be required. Please review all documents attached to ensure you familiarize yourself with all requirements of the job.
Detailed job description and main responsibilities
1. Provide expert advice and support to patients receiving chemotherapy, as well as to their families and carers, before, during and after treatment.
2. Ensure Cancer Standards are consistently met and maintained in line with peer‑review requirements.
3. Take responsibility for assessing, planning and evaluating patient care.
4. Maintain up‑to‑date knowledge of chemotherapy treatments, supportive measures and current clinical trials to promote evidence‑based practice.
5. Communicate effectively with patients and their families/carers to assess needs and provide appropriate support, information, education and advice.
6. Offer guidance on sensitive issues, including anxiety related to body image and sexuality.
7. Identify patients’ physical, social and psychological needs and make appropriate referrals to other services.
8. Act as a patient advocate, providing clear information on treatment options to support informed consent.
9. Deliver a high standard of clinical care to patients receiving cytotoxic drugs.
10. Work closely with the vascular access team, ward staff and community teams to ensure patients and relatives receive education on the care of Central Venous Access Devices.
11. Provide information on disease, treatments, dietary considerations, and available local and national support groups.
12. Liaise closely with Cancer and Palliative Care Teams.
Please refer to the attached JD.
Person specification
Qualifications
Essential criteria
13. 1st level registered nurse with valid registration
14. Educated to degree level or working towards this level
15. independent prescribing qualification or willing to undertake
16. SACT passport
Desirable criteria
17. Teaching qualification
18. Evidence of leadership development
19. Evidence of management development
20. Advanced communication skills
Expereince
Essential criteria
21. relevant experience at B6 within chemotherapy
22. Experience of successful multi-agency working
23. Experience of teaching and assessing in the clinical area
24. Experience of developing and undertaking audit
25. Participation in service development and implementation of change
Desirable criteria
26. Management of clinical leadership experience
Knowledge
Essential criteria
27. knowledge of professional issues and policy relating to specialist area.
28. Understanding of trusts policies and procedures
29. Knowledge and application of clinical governance
30. Knowledge of audit
31. Knowledge of Risk Management
32. Knowledge of clinical issues - assessing, planning, implementing and evaluating patient care
Desirable criteria
33. NHS IT Systems
Skills
Essential criteria
34. Highly developed communication skills ( interpersonal, liaison and negotiation, writing and presentation)
35. Able to be a positive and effective team worker in the MDT
36. Able to work autonomously
37. Organisational skills and the ability to work effectively with a management structure
38. Able to perform advanced clinical assessment
39. Ability to adapt to change within working situation
40. Ability to prioritise work
41. Ability to embrace, lead and drive change in a complex environment
42. Ability to deal with highly distressing situations
43. Able to participate/undertake clinical audit & research
Desirable criteria
44. Intermediate IT skills
45. Demonstrate team leadership and motivational skills
46. Demonstrate ability to improve performance and services
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.