Job overview
We are inviting applications from highly-motivated Registered Nurses with excellent communication/interpersonal skills. You should have post-registration experience and be passionate about cancer care. In return we offer the right candidate a development programme that will not only enhance their academic qualifications and nursing interests, but will also provide an excellent foundation for professional development, as well as gaining an insight into the intra-organisational structure and processes. You will be expected to work on both of our acute hospital sites and be adaptable & flexible in your approach.
The post will also work to raise the profile of breast cancer and its treatments. This will require networking with NHS services, voluntary organisations and community/faith groups outside the South Tees Trust. This will involve working with teams and managers to support service redesign to ensure that services are focused on patient and clinical needs.
As a senior nurse within the team you will be pivotal in developing the team in the delivery of enhanced holistic services and standards of care to our patients.
As an integral part of the cancer nursing team you will be expected to demonstrate enhanced communication skills and demonstrate the ability to support patients receiving a diagnosis.
Main duties of the job
To ensure the provision of equitable specialist nursing care for patients who have secondary breast cancer. This will be achieved through the delivery of an evidence-based service for those patients with secondary breast cancer.
To provide senior clinical support and provide expert nursing advice for all staff caring for patients with secondary breast cancer across the University Hospital Tees Breast services.
The post holder will manage a caseload of patients and work to ensure patients receive expert nursing advice and care.
The post holder will be expected to work in partnership with other organisations, professionals and specialties and refer on appropriately primary breast care teams, surgical and oncology colleagues, specialist palliative care, primary care and social services.
As the key worker the post holder will plan a systematic approach to assessing the management of patient care in consultation with the MDTs and other organisations to address the individual needs of and involving patients and their carers in disease management, whilst encouraging patient participation in care and service development
Working for our organisation
Leadership and Improvement Training
South Tees Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust offers leadership and improvement training to all new staff. This training programme has been designed to support our leaders in developing their understanding of leadership and management skills. You will be expected to attend the following training sessions
Your Leadership Impact
Leading your Team to Success
Leading Into the Future
Service Improvement for Beginners
Developing your Service Improvement Skills
Lean Practitioner
The leadership and improvement programme aims to:
Explore leadership within the NHS
Promote Trust values and behaviours
Develop your leadership effectiveness and skills
Equip staff with the necessary knowledge and skills to lead and complete service improvements within the scope of your role.
After you complete these six and a half days of training you will be able to explore further leadership and improvement training opportunities. We also offer a range of additional in-house and externally provided courses and bitesize programmes through our Leadership and Improvement Team.
Detailed job description and main responsibilities
Please see the full job description and person specification document(s) attached for main responsibilities of the role.
Person specification
Knowledge
Essential criteria
1. Expert level of knowledge of cancer nursing including oncology experience
2. Knowledge of strategic issues which influence area of practice at a local, regional and national level
3. Knowledge of audit and research processes and its application
4. Knowledge of the Clinical Governance agenda and NHS Plan
5. Knowledge about the development of the specialist nurse role in a modern NHS
6. Understanding of the need for strong commitment to high standards of patient care and the active involvement of users in the development of the service
7. Ability to work in a complex environment across the whole speciality.
8. Advanced interpersonal/communication skills including self-awareness
9. Analytical skills
10. Ability to lead and develop staff/service as part of a team to optimise resources
11. Ability to design and deliver education, training and development
12. Leadership and influencing skills
Qualifications
Essential criteria
13. NMC level 1 registration
14. 1st degree
15. Specialist qualification in cancer care
16. Mentor Qualification
17. Advanced communications skills course or willing to undertake
18. Clinical Skills qualification or willingness to undertake
19. Hold a record of continuous professional and academic development
Desirable criteria
20. Counselling course or certificate
21. Teaching Certificate
Experience
Essential criteria
22. Significant post registration experience
23. Substantial experience which should be at a senior grade within a cancer setting
24. Experience in managing change
25. Current teaching experience
26. Experience of implementing protocols and guidelines
27. Understanding and experience of service improvement
28. Experience of working within a busy clinical environment and within multidisciplinary teams.
29. Experience in supporting and managing cancer patients
Desirable criteria
30. Experience of developing protocols and guidelines
31. Experience of working towards Quality Measures Experience of working in the breast cancer area or oncology areas
Disclosure and Barring Checks (DBS)
It is the policy of South Tees Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust that all successful candidates who are new to the Trust who require DBS clearance for the post they have been offered, are required to pay the cost of their DBS. The method of payment for this is via salary deduction from your first month's pay.
Equality, Diversity and Inclusion
Everything we do is shaped by our values: Respect, Support, and Collaborate.
At University Hospitals Tees we want our workspaces to be places where everyone feels welcome, valued and safe. We treat people with respect, and we celebrate the differences that make each of us unique.
We welcome applications from everyone, no matter your age, background, race, religion, disability, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, family circumstances or beliefs.
We are here to support you throughout your application and at every stage of your career with us. We believe we work best when we collaborate, learn from each other and build teams that reflect the communities we serve.
Supporting disabled people and people with longterm conditions
We are a Disability Confident committed employer aspiring to become a lead employer in 2026.
This means we give fair and full consideration to applicants and will offer reasonable adjustments during the recruitment process. If you need help with your application, or need the information in a different format, please contact our recruitment team and we will support you.
If you have any special requirements to help you with your application, email our team at or call us on 01642 854610
Right to Work in the UK
The Trust welcomes applications from all candidates who meet the criteria for the role. Please note that from January 2021, to work in the UK all candidates who are not UK or Republic of Ireland (RoI) nationals require sponsorship unless you have permission to work via another route. Non UK / RoI candidates wishing to apply can self-assess the likelihood of obtaining a Certificate of Sponsorship here Work in the UK - (.
Please provide full and accurate details of your current immigration status on the application form. Your current immigration status will not be considered as part of the shortlisting or interview process.
Please note that not everyone needs a Skilled Worker visa. If you are applying for a vacancy in health or adult social care, you may be eligible to apply for the Health and Care Worker visa instead.
We are able to offer sponsorship for a Health and Care Worker or Skilled Worker visa, subject to candidate and position eligibility. Please review the job eligibility guidance for skilled workers here: Skilled Worker visa: Your job - ( and for the Health and Care Worker visa here: Skilled Worker visa: eligible healthcare and education jobs - (
Please note: if the job you are applying for does not meet the eligibility criteria above, we will be unable to offer you sponsorship and you will need to explore whether you may be eligible to apply for an alternative immigration route which will secure your right to work in the UK before you apply. If you are in the UK already on a visa, please ensure you have no restrictions that would prevent you from taking this post.
The Trust encourages and supports all applicants to be fully vaccinated against both COVID19 and influenza.
Please be aware, there are occasions where some vacancies may close prior to the closing date advertised. This will only happen where sufficient applications are received AND will be made evident on the job advert.
Please note if you are successfully shortlisted, we will contact you via the email address that you have applied from so please ensure you check your emails regularly.
Existing employees of South Tees NHS Foundation Trust currently on the Redeployment Register, who meet the essential criteria for this post, will be shortlisted and interviewed prior to all other applicants.