Job overview
1. The Integrated Breast Service are looking for an experienced Breast Care Nurse who is passionate about providing excellent care to all patients in both the breast screening and breast cancer pathways. The CNS will demonstrate clinical excellence and excellent communication within the nursing teams, MDT, and wider Trust staff. The post holder will work across-sites in the delivery of high-quality delivery of care for patients recalled from the National Breast Screening Programme and those diagnosed with breast cancer providing support and information throughout the cancer pathway and beyond. Advanced communication skills are essential for this post holder. The CNS will also take part in Health Promotion activities relating to Breast Screening and Breast Awareness and support in the training and development of band 6 nurses and Health Care Assistants. As well as assisting with clinical audits and working to make service changes and improvements.
This role is eligible for visa sponsorship under the UK Visas & Immigration (UKVI) Skilled Worker route however sponsorship can only be provided where applicants meet the specific requirements set by UKVI, including the relevant skill and salary thresholds (£25000), and any role-specific criteria.
Main duties of the job
2. Work collaboratively with the MDT ensuring effective teamwork for both breast screening and breast care services at all sites.
3. Provide sensitive and advanced communication to all patients and their significant others with all interactions.
4. Working with the nursing teams across sites and Allied Health Professionals within the Breast Screening and Imaging Service and Breast Care Services, supporting patients recalled for further assessment and patients with breast cancer.
Working for our organisation
At UHSussex, diversity is our strength, and we want you to feel included to help us always deliver Excellent Care Everywhere, as shown in our Outstanding for Caring CQC rating. 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 3) and a Veteran Aware Trust.
Detailed job description and main responsibilities
Communication
·Always work collaboratively with the MDT ensuring effective teamwork for both breast screening and breast care services at all sites
·Provide sensitive and advanced communication to all patients and their significant others with all interactions.
·Working with nurses and Allied Health Professionals within the Breast Screening and Imaging Service, Breast Care Services, supporting and developing their skills in caring for patients recalled for further assessment and patients with breast cancer, particularly when communication complex and sensitive issues.
·Ensure the delivery of appropriate communication for patients who may have barriers to communication and specific needs such as learning disabilities / difficulties
·To consult effectively with internal and external trust staff to ensure the optimal care delivery for patients
·To attend daily staff huddles and team meetings and escalate operational, clinical and staffing concerns
·To provide clear, concise, and accurate written and digital nursing documentation
·To deliver benign results to patients as locally agreed
·Provides expert advice to patients and staff on breast cancer and benign breast conditions.
·Partakes in formal and informal teaching activities on breast cancer and treatments to trust staff and patients
Service delivery and improvement
·Contributes to the risk management and health and safety in the workplace raising concerns appropriately
·Demonstrate team cohesion and collaborative working adapting practice to the needs of the service
·Flexible approach to working across sites to ensure the service delivery optimisation
·To attend team meetings and play an active role in supporting any service changes and improvements within breast screening and breast care
·Supports the trust and divisional cancer strategies
·Works with the Matrons and Quality Improvement Manager to actively partake in Health Promotion activities relating to Breast Screening and Breast Awareness
·Initiative-taking in performing clinical audits and patient experience surveys relating to trust standards and breast services
·Supports the development of nurse-led services for service demands
·Works within the West Sussex, East Sussex, Brighton and Hove Breast Screening services under the NHS England Quality Assurances guidelines for the CNS in breast screening
·Contributes to the development of Standard Operating Procedures and Policies relating to the breast services
·Ensures concerns are raised within the trust policy using DATIX, governance and risk frameworks
People management and development
·Responsible for performing duties in line with the Trust’s e-rostering processes, including managing rosters, supporting staff allocation, and contributing to effective budget reconciliation and workforce planning
·Provide support and development training for the Band 6 nurses and HCAs
·Performs staff annual appraisals in line with trust guidance and line management
·Deputise the Matrons when asked to support the management of staff sickness and absences in line with Trust policy
·Provide professional and clinical leadership to enable effective and safe team working
·Actively involved in the recruitment process and retention of staff
·Acts as a role model for junior staff and partakes in staff clinical supervision
Patient care delivery
·Adheres to the NMC Code- Professional standards of practice and behaviour for nurses, midwives and nursing associates always
·Responsible for Nurse-in-Charge duties to manage the clinical demands of the service and team to ensure patient care is always delivered to a high standard
·The CNS will provide specialist support for patients recalled from breast screening to assessment and specialist nursing advice
·Undertakes an assessment of all patients information needs and provides appropriate support and information during the diagnostic process
·Use specialist knowledge to deliver evidence-based care to all patients during a cancer and non-cancer diagnosis and treatment
·Ensures effective and timely management and response to patients who call the helpline in conjunction with the cancer support workers
·Uses effective time management to prioritise and manage patient demands
·Contributes to the review and updating of patient information resources used within the services
Learning and development
·Attend mandatory training updates as required.
·Undertake training as necessary in line with the development of the post and as agreed with the line manager as part of the personal development process.
·Achieve and demonstrate agreed standards of personal and professional development within agreed timescales.
·Identify own learning needs and jointly plan training requirements with your line manager
·Participate in the Trust’s appraisal process to discuss how your role will help deliver the best possible care to our patients and help to deliver any changes in service.
·Demonstrates a commitment to the 4 pillars of advanced practice.
This job description is an outline of the role and responsibilities. From time to time due to the needs of the service, we may ask you to flexibly undertake other duties that are consistent with your role and banding, including project work, internal job rotation and absence cover.
Person specification
Experience/ Qualifications
Essential criteria
5. UK registered Nurse
6. Undergraduate degree or equivalent experience
7. Post registration or equivalent experience in Breast screening/ breast cancer
8. Advanced Communication skills
9. Experience at band 6/7 required in breast screening/ breast care preferably as a CNS
Desirable criteria
10. Experience of staff recruitment
11. Experience of managing teams
12. Experience of staff development and training
Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion
Essential criteria
13. Evidence of having championed diversity in previous roles (as appropriate to role).
14. Evidence of having undertaken own development to improve understanding of equalities issues
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