Walsall Healthcare NHS Trust, an integrated provider of NHS acute care in the West Midlands, is seeking a Lead Cancer Nurse to deliver high quality, patient‑centred care and provide strategic leadership for the cancer nursing and Allied Health Professional workforce.
Job overview
The Lead Cancer Nurse will work closely with key stakeholders, including the West Midlands Cancer Alliance (WMCA), Integrated Care Boards (ICB), Macmillan and local commissioners to implement the national and local cancer agenda, lead service improvement, and oversee quality and governance.
Main duties of the job
- Develop strong, effective relationships with cancer nurse specialists and collaborate with lead professionals representing AHPs, ensuring a multidisciplinary approach to care.
- Contribute to the development, implementation and evaluation of innovative models of care delivery, ensuring services are of a high standard, equitable and consistent.
- Work with all major stakeholders in the business planning process, ensuring improvements are driven by patient experience and aligned with local and network priorities.
- Encourage communication with patients, visitors and staff, monitoring standards to maintain an optimal environment for patient care.
- Provide leadership for change and service improvement within all cancer areas, promoting nursing as a profession within the multi‑disciplinary environment.
- Lead the embedding of projects aligned to the National Policy for Cancer Strategy, including Person‑Centred Follow Up Pathway and Personalised Care.
- Collaborate with all major stakeholders to ensure delivery of quality cancer services aligns with their values and priorities.
Detailed job description and main responsibilities
- Develop partnerships with cancer nurse specialists and AHP lead professionals, maintaining multidisciplinary collaboration.
- Lead the development, implementation and evaluation of innovative models of care delivery, meeting targets within agreed timescales.
- Influence the ongoing development of cancer nursing care, ensuring robust services across the patient journey.
- Take the lead nursing role in the coordination and delivery of the Quality Assurance programme and facilitate the Internal Validation process.
- Coordinate and chair cancer nursing and AHP meetings, liaising with the Trust Cancer steering group and tumour‑specific lead clinicians.
- Advise on the establishment and skill mix of cancer nursing workforce, contributing to recruitment of senior staff.
- Demonstrate expert knowledge and support lead and senior cancer care nurses in research and evidence‑based practice.
- Act as a positive role model through clinical practice observation and professional leadership.
- Lead professional responsibility for Cancer CNSs within the Trust.
- Ensure patient complaints, adverse incidents and near‑miss events are identified and managed using a structured framework.
- Lead the professional nursing contribution to the Trust’s clinical governance framework, monitoring risks on the Risk Register.
- Liaise with other Head of/Lead Cancer Nurses within the WMCA to implement national and regional policies.
- Act as a key link on nursing and AHP issues with WMCA, ICBs, PCNs and other stakeholders.
- Collaborate with Lead cancer clinicians and services managers to support the Trust Cancer Steering Group.
- Ensure Divisional Directors of Nursing are kept informed of national policy developments relating to cancer care.
- Work collaboratively with major stakeholders (Macmillan, charities, WMCA, ICB, PCNs) to align service delivery with their values.
- Collaborate with Lead Cancer Clinician, Cancer Manager, and Clinical Nurse Specialists to implement continuous quality improvement action plans.
- Managerially responsible for Macmillan Cancer Support and Information Service Manager and personalised care facilitator.
- Oversee response to complaints and incidents, providing written reports as required.
- Ensure risks are identified and monitored, with actions taken relevant to cancer patient pathways and workforce.
- Participate in annual PDRs with CNS leads and matrons for specialist nursing staff.
- Work with the Director of Nursing for workforce planning related to nursing within cancer services.
- Identify and develop business‑case opportunities and participate in steering groups.
Communication and Patient Involvement
- Actively contribute to the National Cancer Patient Experience Survey (NCPES) and develop action plans.
- Lead the Trust’s response to the NCPES, creating new ways of working.
- Develop information for patients and carers in line with the Trust’s information strategy.
- Collaborate with the Head of Communications to address information needs.
- Support development of staff training in communicating with cancer patients.
- Supervise consistent nursing practices, auditing practice and developing action plans.
- Work with community and volunteer providers to offer psychological support.
- Collect, collate and report accurate data against the Personalised Care agenda.
- Promote best practice, research and audit findings to support clinical practice.
- Design and implement effective patient care pathways and models of care.
- Apply for external financial grants and ensure resource optimisation.
Research and Education
- Develop an integrated programme of education in cancer care with key stakeholders.
- Advise on educational opportunities to facilitate multi‑professional skills and knowledge.
- Ensure educational activities align with national frameworks.
- Encourage evidence‑based practice and disseminate examples of good practice.
- Collaborate with education and workforce leads to develop relationships with higher education institutions.
- Teach formally and informally across WHT, the network and nationally.
- Create a research and professional development environment that encourages clinical research activity.
- Enable staff to maximise clinical skills and analytical thinking for research.
- Develop skills of generalist nurses and other health professionals across specialties.
- Assist in delivery of educational programmes and raise awareness of educational needs related to cancer.
- Adhere to local trust policies and protocols and act as a professional resource to colleagues.
- Participate in personal objective setting, review and the Trust’s appraisal process.
Person specification
Qualifications
- Registered Nurse with current NMC registration.
- Post‑registration qualifications in the area of cancer care.
- Degree in Nursing or a health‑related subject.
- Education to Masters level or working towards Masters.
- Management/Leadership qualification and evidence of continuous professional development.
Experience
- Significant senior experience within cancer care.
- Significant experience in a leadership role.
- Experience shaping services to support the Personalised Care agenda.
- Working knowledge of national cancer targets and their implementation.
- Ability to conduct audit and implement change to improve patient experience.
- Ability to network and establish effective relationships for collaborative practice.
- Research appreciation and ability to influence others through research findings.
- Overall knowledge of quality assurance programmes.
Skills
- Excellent written and communication skills.
- Effective interpersonal and interpersonal skills, including self‑awareness and self‑regulation.
- Ability to adapt presentation skills to different audiences.
- Evidence of innovation in clinical services or service development.
- Demonstrated effective leadership.
- Consistently professional, collaborative and compassionate in approach.
- Ability to work with a range of partners across organisational boundaries.
- Effective role model, demonstrating the Trust Values.
Benefits
- Salary sacrifice scheme.
- Car leasing scheme.
- On‑site staff accommodation (subject to availability).
- Option to retain NHS pension or join an alternative scheme.
- Opportunity to develop and implement expertise in a challenging environment.
Walsall Healthcare NHS Trust is an equal opportunities employer. We would particularly welcome applications from people of Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic backgrounds and from people with a disability.
