Job Overview
The Upper Gastrointestinal Department has an opportunity for a Band 7 Upper GI Cancer Nurse Specialist to join the Hepatobiliary (HPB) team caring for patients affected by HPB cancers. The role requires an enthusiastic registered nurse with post‑registration experience, continuing professional development, and the ability to work flexibly within a dynamic environment. The candidate will demonstrate in‑depth knowledge of Upper GI/HPB care and excellent communication with patients, families and the multidisciplinary team. This role offers a tailored induction, ongoing development supported by MDT colleagues and the opportunity to work within the Dyson Cancer Centre.
Main Duties
- Provide specialist nursing expertise for patients with HPB cancers, acting as a key point of contact throughout the diagnostic and treatment pathway.
- Deliver high‑quality, safe and effective care with accuracy and autonomy, ensuring timely coordination across the multidisciplinary team.
- Offer psychological and emotional support to patients and their families, promoting personalised compassionate care.
- Work collaboratively with medical, surgical and allied health professionals to ensure seamless pathway management and excellent communication.
- Contribute to service development, audit and quality improvement initiatives within the Upper GI/HPB service.
- Participate in ongoing professional development, clinical supervision and education activities for patients, carers and staff.
- Support the implementation of evidence‑based practice and uphold high standards of clinical care within the team.
Responsibilities
- Act as key worker for patients within the speciality, providing expert knowledge, specialist care and ongoing support throughout the cancer pathway.
- Maintain regular liaison and clear communication with all members of the multidisciplinary team.
- Deliver individualised, holistic and responsive care using needs assessment and personalised planning.
- Provide specialist advice, information and education to patients and carers regarding diagnosis, treatment options, symptom management and ongoing care.
- Offer education, training and clinical support to colleagues across the Trust.
- Uphold patient confidentiality at all times.
- Use advanced clinical assessment and reasoning skills to recommend appropriate investigations and contribute to complex clinical decision‑making.
- Maintain accurate, timely and comprehensive written and electronic records.
- Deliver specialist care to patients in complex, sensitive and distressing situations, demonstrating resilience and advanced communication skills.
- Work collaboratively with the wider multidisciplinary team to ensure evidence‑based, patient‑centred care, including timely referral to palliative and end‑of‑life services when appropriate.
- Build effective partnerships with patients, carers and relatives to ensure they understand all aspects of their care and treatment.
- Act as a patient advocate, leading and supporting difficult or sensitive conversations with compassion and clarity.
- Participate in or initiate complex discussions around advance care planning.
- Support medical colleagues during the delivery of difficult news.
- Encourage patient participation in health and wellbeing activities.
- Consistently work at an enhanced level of specialist practice, demonstrating autonomy, leadership and a commitment to continuous improvement.
- Provide visible clinical leadership within the HPB/Upper GI service and act as a role model for specialist nursing practice.
- Lead or contribute to service development initiatives.
- Participate in audit, quality improvement and research activities.
- Support development, review and implementation of clinical guidelines, protocols and pathways.
- Contribute to governance processes, including incident review and risk assessment.
- Provide leadership in education by supporting development of junior staff.
- Represent the CNS service at relevant meetings, working groups and MDT forums.
- Use data, audit findings and patient feedback to identify areas for improvement and drive positive change.
Person Specification
Essential criteria
- Post registration experience at Band 6 or above relevant to this post.
- Previous experience of working as a clinical nurse specialist.
Desirable criteria
- In‑depth knowledge of HPB malignancies and their management.
- Advanced communication skills.
Applicant Requirements
Applicants must have appropriate UK professional registration. This post requires a Disclosure to the Disclosure and Barring Service and complies with the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975 (Amendment) (England and Wales) Order 2020.
