Job overview
Head and Neck cancer patients benefit greatly from immediate attention and faster diagnostic pathways that enable access to curative treatment. To support this, we are seeking an experienced, enthusiastic, and committed Clinical Nurse Specialist to join our team in this newly developed role.
The successful candidate will play a pivotal role in supporting patients referred with suspected cancer, ensuring that they receive a timely diagnosis within the 28-day Faster Diagnosis Standard. You will be central to the coordination of the diagnostic pathway, including tracking, tracing, and managing outcomes from the multidisciplinary team (MDT) meetings.
This is an exciting opportunity to contribute to the development of a new and emerging specialist role within Head and Neck cancer services.
About you:
·Registered Nurse with recent experience in Head and Neck/ENT surgery.
·Specialist knowledge of suspected cancer pathways and the investigations required.
·Evidence of continuing professional development.
·A proactive, organised approach with the ability to work autonomously and collaboratively within the wider team.
Main duties of the job
The post-holders will work as independent practitioners and with members of the multidisciplinary team, provide advice and support to patients, carers, and healthcare professionals with head & Neck cancers, across both secondary and primary care. The post holders will work as a Head & Neck specialists within the Head & Neck service at the Royal London Hospital. The posts are FTC initially until March 2026, and are currently NELCA funded. A business case will be created to substantiate these posts from next year.
The post holders are expected to support the whole Head & Neck cancer pathway, from first referral, requesting diagnostic, results reviews, following up long-term patients, and acting as a first point of contact for primary care and patients. They will be responsible for contributing to the ongoing development of clinical practice, research and standards of care within the service, including development of policies, protocols and guidelines and contribute to service development to ensure patient have a seamless pathway. Promoting a safe, competent and evidence-based practice, in line with national objectives in survivorship and within the clinical governance framework.
The post holders will influence the positive experience of patients and carers living with Head & Neck cancers by working with the multi-disciplinary team across RLH and acting as a point of contact for patients, GPs and other healthcare workers.
Working for our organisation
Barts Health is one of the largest NHS trusts in the country, and one of Britain’s leading healthcare providers.
The Barts Health group of NHS hospitals is entering an exciting new era on our improvement journey to becoming an outstanding organisation with a world-class clinical reputation. Having lifted ourselves out of special measures, we now have the impetus and breathing space to chart a fresh course in which we are continually striving to improve all our services for patients.
Our vision is to be a high-performing group of NHS hospitals, renowned for excellence and innovation, and providing safe and compassionate care to our patients in east London and beyond. That means being a provider of excellent patient safety, known for delivering consistently high standards of harm-free care and always caring for patients in the right place at the right time. It also means being an outstanding place to work, in which our WeCare values and behaviours are visible to all and guide us in how we work together.
We strive to live by our WeCare values and are committed to promoting inclusion, where every staff member has a sense of belonging. We value our differences and fully advocate, cultivate and support an inclusive working environment.
Detailed job description and main responsibilities
The full job description provides an overview of the key tasks and responsibilities of the role, and the person specification outlines the qualifications, skills, experience, and knowledge required. For both documents, please view the attachment/s below.
Person specification
Qualifications
Essential criteria
1. •First level registered nurse
2. •First level degree
3. •Educated to Masters level or for completion within 12 months of appointment, or able to demonstrate equivalent senior management experience
4. •Post graduate study in cancer at level 6/7
5. •Advanced clinical practice qualification
6. •Leadership qualification
7. •Teaching/mentoring qualification
Desirable criteria
8. •MSc
9. •Non-medical prescribing
Experience
Essential criteria
10. •Extensive experience in cancer and/or H&N nursing
11. •Teaching experience
12. •Evidence of successful change management
13. •Ability to work with different disciplines across the health, social and education settings
Desirable criteria
14. •Evidence of leading strategy development
15. •Publications
16. •Experience of presenting at meetings/conferences