Go back University Hospitals Dorset NHS Foundation Trust
Colorectal Cancer Nurse Specialist
The closing date is 27 August 2025
An exciting opportunity has arisen for a dynamic, motivated individual to work as part of our established Colorectal Nurse Specialist team at University Hospitals Dorset. The position is based on the Bournemouth site, however there is the potential for cross site working as we align our pathways. This is a very rewarding, privileged role which encompasses every aspect of the patient's cancer journey. You will become an integral part of the colorectal team, delivering a high-quality patient centred service acting as the patient's key worker. The CNS team strive to ensure a coordinated and multi-professional approach to diagnosis, treatment, planning and care provision for all patients and their families diagnosed or suspected to have a colorectal malignancy.
Prerequisites of the role include excellent communication and organisational skills as well as the ability to work well as part of a team but also autonomously. You will become a core member of the specialist cancer Multi-Disciplinary Team and will require skills and strategies to help you multitask and prioritise your workload through the busy working day.
If you are passionate about "providing the excellent care we would expect for our own families", have demonstrable success in working as part of a multi-professional team and share our vision for further developing and improving the experience of patients and their families, we would like to hear from you.
Base Location: UHD
Interview Date: TBC
Main duties of the job
* In partnership with the existing Colorectal Cancer Specialist Nursing team this autonomous role will coordinate investigations and treatment and provide support to colorectal cancer patients and their carers/families from pre-diagnosis and diagnosis, throughout treatment and follow-up care or palliation
* Act as key worker and utilise expert knowledge to provide comprehensive specialist advice, information and psychological support to patients with a diagnosis of colorectal cancer.
* The post holder will work clinically and strategically with the multi-disciplinary team (MDT) and its clinical lead in order to develop the service in line with local and National guidelines.
* The CNS for colorectal cancer will be responsible for the development of innovative nursing practice and the provision of specialist advice within their field. They will be an educational resource to all members of the MDT and the wider Trust and facilitate the development of nurses and healthcare staff in order to improve the patient experience.
About us
Our values define who we are as #TeamUHD. They underpin everything we do now and in the future. They define how we treat our patients, visitors, and each other, our valued teammates and colleagues. UHD are investing in services across the Trust, with many being transformed and developed following merger and the New Hospital Programme. This means that some services may move site this year or next, either temporarily or long term. Recruiting Managers interviewing for this role will be happy to answer any specific questions that you have about this at interview.
Please note if the role or service is relocated as part of a planned move, employees will not be eligible for excess mileage reimbursement. Travel from the postholder's home to the new work base will be considered a normal commute. Any other changes not related to this relocation will be managed according to the relevant Trust or National terms and conditions.
Job responsibilities
This autonomous role will coordinate investigations and treatment and provide support to colorectal cancer patients and their carers/families from pre-diagnosis and diagnosis, throughout treatment and follow-up care or palliation
* Be available on a daily basis to support patients when they are being told that they have a likely colorectal cancer. This may be in Endoscopy, Outpatients or ward based emergency admissions
* Become the patients keyworker and be available to support them through their treatment pathway and then into surveillance or palliation
* Refer new patients to the specialist MDT having facilitated and navigated fast track investigations being mindful of national cancer target treatment dates
* Act as patient advocate in specialist MDTs and during clinical consultations
* Break bad news to the patient and their friends/relatives in a sensitive and empathetic way using advanced communication skills and experiential expertise
* Respond to a variety of answer phone messages on a daily basis using specialist colorectal cancer knowledge, history taking and assessment skills ensuring the patient receives clear, concise safe advice/management and safety netting where appropriate
* Provide level 2 psychological support and be able to recognise when more specialised support is required
* Be an integral core member of the specialist cancer MDT
* Support patients and their pathways who are referred to other Trusts for specialist colorectal cancer treatments
* Provide specialist teaching and education about colorectal cancer
* Participate in the leadership and continuous development of the colorectal service at UHD
* Support, mentor and appraise band 6 colleagues
* Undertake clinical audits to help develop and support the Dorset Cancer Partnership
* Work in partnership with the research team to aid recruitment into clinical trials
Person Specification
Qualifications
* NMC registered Nurse
* First degree or equivalent
* Physical Examination of the Adult
* Recognised teaching qualification
* Advanced Communication Skills training
* Master's degree/relevant modules or willingness to work towards
* Level 2 Psychological Skills Training
* Accredited management/leadership training or evidence of practical application of expertise
* Non-medical prescriber
Experience
* Demonstrable experience in colorectal nursing
* Experience of multi-professional working
* Experience of teaching
* Experience running Nurse Led Clinics
* Experience of being accountable for the delivery of a clinical/nursing service
* Demonstrable experience in colorectal cancer nursing
* Experience of audit and research
Knowledge
* Developments in colorectal developments at national and local levels
* Specialty knowledge
* Trust policies/procedures
* Legal, ethical and professional issues of advanced practice
* CQC standards
* NHS England Quality Surveillance Programme
* NHS Long Term Plan ambitions for cancer
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.
University Hospitals Dorset NHS Foundation Trust
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