An exciting opportunity has arisen to join a specialist skin cancer nursing team to care for patients undergoing treatment for non-melanoma skin cancers (NMSC) within an oncology setting.
The successful candidate will be an experienced oncology nurse, highly motivated and driven to improve patient care and experience. You will be an excellent communicator and will have the opportunity to use your clinical and professional leadership skills to encourage and promote best outcomes for patients, their relatives and carers. Non-medical prescribing would be desirable for this role.
Excellent interpersonal skills are paramount for this role together with the confidence to engage and work with a range of colleagues at all levels and from all professional groups.
To apply you need to be a dynamic, enthusiastic, motivated and pro‑active individual. The successful applicant will have experience and knowledge of treatment pathways and specialist care for non‑melanoma skin cancer patients and must be able to demonstrate sound leadership skills.
Main duties of the job
Provide specialist and expert clinical knowledge relating to non-melanoma skin cancers (e.g. basal cell carcinoma, squamous cell carcinoma) to colleagues, patients and carers.
Perform a comprehensive keyworker role for patients throughout their cancer care pathway. Work closely with referring centres and community services to ensure seamless and coordinated patient pathways.
Play an integral role in the operational and strategic development of skin cancer services.
Act as a visible and approachable role model, promoting best practice across clinical areas. Contribute to the development of nurse‑led services, including telephone and virtual clinics.
Use advanced communication skills to support patients through complex discussions, including diagnosis, treatment options, disease progression and supportive care planning.
Apply Level 2 psychological skills to assess emotional distress and initiate appropriate support or referrals.
Provide clinical expertise in systemic anti-cancer therapies, radiotherapy and topical treatments relevant to NMSC.
About us
The Christie is one of Europe's leading cancer centres, treating over 60,000 patients a year. We are based in Manchester and serve a population of 3.2 million across Greater Manchester & Cheshire, but as a national specialist around 15% patients are referred to us from other parts of the country. We provide radiotherapy through one of the largest radiotherapy departments in the world; chemotherapy on site and through 14 other hospitals; highly specialist surgery for complex and rare cancer; and a wide range of support and diagnostic services.
We are also an international leader in research, with world first breakthroughs for over 100 years. We run one of the largest early clinical trial units in Europe with over 300 trials every year. Cancer research in Manchester, most of which is undertaken on the Christie site, has been officially ranked the best in the UK.
Job responsibilities
Provide specialist and expert clinical knowledge relating to non-melanoma skin cancers (e.g. basal cell carcinoma, squamous cell carcinoma) to colleagues, patients and carers.
Perform a comprehensive keyworker role for patients throughout their cancer care pathway.
Work closely with referring centres and community services to ensure seamless and coordinated patient pathways.
Play an integral role in the operational and strategic development of skin cancer services.
Act as a visible and approachable role model, promoting best practice across clinical areas.
Contribute to the development of nurse‑led services, including telephone and virtual clinics.
Use advanced communication skills to support patients through complex discussions, including diagnosis, treatment options, disease progression and supportive care planning.
Apply Level 2 psychological skills to assess emotional distress and initiate appropriate support or referrals.
Provide clinical expertise in systemic anti-cancer therapies, radiotherapy and topical treatments relevant to NMSC.
Detailed job description and main responsibilities
Duties and Responsibilities
Act as a key worker for patients with non-melanoma skin cancer, their families/carers and healthcare professionals.
Provide specialist advice and support during complex or sensitive clinical situations.
Deliver evidence-based, patient-centred care and act as a resource of specialist knowledge.
Educate and support patients to make informed decisions regarding treatment options.
Facilitate effective multidisciplinary team (MDT) working and contribute to decision-making processes.
Participate in audit, service evaluation and quality improvement initiatives.
Maintain accurate and timely patient records in line with professional and organisational standards.
Contribute to the development of clinical guidelines, protocols and policies.
Support junior staff through supervision, mentorship and education.
Promote patient self-management and survivorship strategies.
Clinical Duties
Attend oncology clinics for SACT and radiotherapy (including nurse‑led clinics) to assess, support and review patients.
Undertake holistic needs assessments and coordinate care across acute and community services.
Provide ongoing support and counselling before, during and after treatment.
Assess and manage treatment-related toxicities in patients receiving systemic therapies, radiotherapy or topical treatments.
Undertake non‑medical prescribing (where qualified) within scope of competence.
Manage patient queries via telephone or virtual clinics, including triage of symptoms and concerns.
Act as a specialist resource for ward and outpatient staff.
Attend MDT meetings and contribute to patient management discussions.
Maintain awareness of relevant clinical trials and support patient recruitment where appropriate.
Leadership and Management
Provide clinical leadership within the non-melanoma skin cancer service.
Contribute to service development and improvement initiatives.
Support multidisciplinary collaboration across primary, secondary and tertiary care.
Participate in clinical supervision and reflective practice.
Contribute to local and regional cancer network developments.
Education and Development
Maintain professional development and revalidation requirements.
Deliver education and training to healthcare professionals on non-melanoma skin cancer care.
Identify learning needs and contribute to educational programmes and study days.
Participate in conferences and dissemination of best practice.
Develop patient information resources and support materials.
Research and Audit
Ensure practice is evidence-based and aligned with current guidelines.
Participate in clinical audit and quality improvement projects.
Identify and support opportunities for research within the specialty.
Professional Responsibilities
Practice in accordance with the NMC Code of Conduct.
Maintain professional registration and competencies.
Adhere to organisational policies, procedures and governance frameworks.
Promote equality, diversity and inclusion in all aspects of care.
Report risks, incidents and quality concerns appropriately.
Person Specification
Qualifications
* RGN/RN(NMC registered)
* Degree in Nursing or health-related subject
* Post-registration qualification in oncology or equivalent experience
* Teaching and assessing qualification or equivalent experience
* Master's degree or working towards
* Advanced communication skills training
* Level 2 Managing Psychological Distress training
* Leadership qualification or completion of a leadership programme
* V300 Non-Medical Prescribing qualification or willingness to work towards
* Clinical assessment module
Experience
* Recent clinical experience in oncology.
* Experience in caring for oncology patients at Band 6 or above.
* Experience of participating in service development and implementing change.
* Experience of coordinating patient pathways and delivering holistic care.
* Audit or research experience.
* Experience of working within resource constraints and demonstrating effective use of resources.
* Experience managing patients with complex needs, including those receiving systemic anti cancer therapy or radiotherapy.
* Experience of influencing change within clinical services.
Skills
* Excellent verbal and non verbal communication skills
* Ability to communicate complex and sensitive information effectively
* Ability to present information to a range of professional groups
* Confidence to adapt within a developing and evolving service
* Competent IT skills (electronic patient records, data systems)
* Ability to use initiative, make decisions, prioritise and manage own workload
* Ability to analyse data and produce written reports
* Ability to work autonomously and as part of a multidisciplinary team
* Strong organisational and prioritisation skills
* Ability to build effective working relationships across health and social care settings
* Experience in writing clinical protocols, standards and guidelines
* Experience delivering education or training to healthcare professionals
* Knowledge / experience in caring for patients with skin cancer
Knowledge
* Understanding of clinical governance and its application to practice
* Knowledge of NHS structures, policies and current issues relevant to oncology services
* Knowledge of non melanoma skin cancer pathways, treatments (e.g. radiotherapy, systemic therapies, topical treatments) and patient support needs
* Evidence of continuing professional development
Values
* Ability to demonstrate organisational values and behaviours (e.g. patient centred care, compassion, respect, teamwork)
* Innovative, proactive and motivated approach to service improvement
Other
* Flexibility in working hours to meet service needs
* Ability to attend clinics and MDT meetings across sites
* Willingness to support service development, including nurse‑led and virtual services
Disclosure and Barring Service Check
This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.
£49,387 to £56,515 a year Pro rata, per annum
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