An exciting opportunity has arisen for an experienced and credentialed Advanced Clinical Practitioner to join the Haematology service at Lewisham and Greenwich NHS Trust as Lead ACP for Haematology, operating across both University Hospital Lewisham (UHL) and Queen Elizabeth Hospital (QEH).
This is a senior clinical leadership post responsible for the development and operational delivery of the ACP‑led haematology service, with a primary focus on haematological malignancy. The post holder practises at the highest level of autonomy, supported by the Consultant Haematologist and wider haematology multidisciplinary team, and will provide expert assessment, diagnosis, non‑medical prescribing, and clinical management for patients across the full range of malignant haematological conditions. The role also incorporates elements of the acute oncology service, which may be developed further in line with the needs of the service and the professional development trajectory of the post holder.
Main duties of the job
The Lead ACP will hold direct line management responsibility for two Band 7 Clinical Nurse Specialists within the haematology team and will play a key role in service improvement, governance, audit, workforce development, and education across both sites. The post is accountable to the Head of Nursing for Cancer and Haematology, with professional oversight from the Lead ACP for Haematology (Band 8b) and clinical accountability to the Clinical Directors for Haematology at UHL and QEH.
The post holder will work 37.5 hours per week on a standard hours basis, with flexibility to accommodate both personal working patterns and evolving service requirements. This is an autonomous, innovative role with significant scope for clinical, academic, and professional development.
The successful candidate will hold a completed MSc in Advanced Clinical Practice or equivalent NHSE‑recognised credential, a V300 non‑medical prescribing qualification, and a demonstrable portfolio evidencing advanced capabilities in haematology or a closely related acute medical speciality.
Job responsibilities
Clinical Practice
Be able to provide advanced practice level care to patients attending the acute Haemato‑Oncology with a variety of medical, acute, and oncological conditions. The ACP will treat patients with various degrees of acuity from routine patient review to urgent presentations.
Use advanced knowledge and skills for the delivery of evidence‑based specialised clinical care in Haemato‑Oncology, exercising a high degree of professional autonomy, demonstrating the ability to make sound decisions based on knowledge and experience. This includes clinical history taking, physical examination, request and interpretation of diagnostics, and the use of clinical reasoning to formulate differential diagnosis and implement evidence‑based management plans including non‑medical prescribing.
Use advanced level knowledge across the range of work procedures and practices related to Haemato‑Oncology underpinned by theory and relevant practical experience.
Provide a holistic consultation of patients using a range of assessment methods including medical history, physical assessment, clinical investigations, and risk‑stratification tools, appropriate to the presentation within the scope of the role.
Order and interpret investigations, laboratory tests, appropriate imaging, interpret and act on results as appropriate.
Reach a valid, reliable, and comprehensive conclusion on complex clinical cases based on history and clinical findings. These conclusions must involve facts or situations that require the analysis, interpretation, and comparison of a range of options.
Initiate drug therapy/medication within the parameters of agreed clinical guidelines for the management of patients with medical presentations and in accordance with legislation for the supply and prescribing of medicines.
Perform advanced skills in line with the Trust Standard Operating Procedures and safely perform complex procedures where accuracy is important.
Communicate with patients in ways that empower them to make informed choices about their health and care, providing and receiving complex, sensitive or contentious information, where persuasive, motivational, negotiating, training, empathic or reassuring skills are required.
Address safeguarding for adults and children with a high degree of professional curiosity.
Work in partnership with other clinical teams making appropriate referrals to optimise health outcomes and resource allocation.
In partnership with patients, clients, and other professions, make sound decisions which are ethically based and in the interest of patients and clients in the absence of precedents and protocols.
Provide specialist knowledge, advice, resource information and support to clinical staff across the Trust.
Responsible for safe use of equipment other than personal equipment, dismantling and assembling equipment for use by other staff or patients/clients.
Be able to recognise, assess and refer patients with potential mental health needs for specialist support as required.
Service & Practice Improvement
Promote the improvement of quality and clinical effectiveness.
Evaluate and audit own and others clinical practice, selecting and applying valid, reliable methods, then acting on findings.
Critically appraise and synthesise the outcome of relevant research, evaluation, and audit, using results to underpin own practice and to inform others.
Take a critical approach to identify gaps in the evidence base and its application to practice, alerting appropriate individuals and organisations to these gaps and how they might be addressed in a safe and pragmatic way.
Develop and implement robust governance systems and systematic documentation processes, with continuous review.
Lead new practice and service redesign solutions in response to feedback, evaluation, and need, working across boundaries and broadening sphere of influence.
Implement practices that are appropriate for patient and service need, considering epidemiological, demographic, social, political, legislative, and professional trends and developments.
Identify the need for change and proactively generate practice innovations to implement solutions to better meet the needs of patients and the service.
Develop and undertake activities to monitor the progress and efficiency of the service and own practice.
Continually assess and monitor risk in own and others practice and challenge others if necessary.
Management and Leadership
Contribute to the development of the specialist service and act as a change agent, facilitating change while encouraging others to be innovative and adaptable in the approach to change.
Demonstrate and role‑model inclusive attitudes and behaviours, proactively initiating and developing relationships, fostering clarity of roles within teams, and encouraging productive working.
Support the development of junior ACPs in line with the Trust SOP.
Work across professional, organisational and system boundaries to proactively develop and sustain new partnerships and networks to influence and improve health, outcomes, and healthcare delivery systems.
Review and update documentation and policies specially required by the team.
Be conversant with all relevant Trust policies and procedures and ensure they are correctly implemented.
Work collaboratively with representatives of other clinical areas, disciplines and services to provide a seamless pathway of care.
Coordinate, lead, and manage the activities of clinics on a day‑to‑day basis.
Assist with the investigation of complaints and lead on the development of action plans to address areas of concern.
Prioritise, organise and manage own workload in a manner that maintains and promotes quality.
Demonstrate team leadership, resilience and determination, managing situations that are unfamiliar, complex or unpredictable and seeking to build confidence in others.
Actively engage in peer review to inform own and others practice, formulating and implementing strategies to act on learning and make improvements.
Actively seek feedback and involvement from individuals, families, carers, communities and colleagues in the co‑production of service improvements.
Participate in the recruitment, selection and retention of staff.
Represent the Trust on national forums related to the role and Advanced Clinical Practice.
Demonstrate receptiveness to challenge, and preparedness to constructively challenge others, escalating concerns that affect individuals, families, carers, communities and colleagues' safety and wellbeing when necessary.
Information Management
Always adhere to confidentiality with sensitive personal data.
Responsible for systematic monitoring of investigations and appointments, in collaboration with administration and managerial staff.
Ensure compliance with care pathways and service development.
Provide reports of statistics related to service and practice developments as required.
Provide high standards of documentation in accordance with the Trust documentation policy.
Education and Training
Lead and participate in development teaching programmes for nurses, doctors and ACPs in the care of patients relevant to the Haemato‑Oncology department.
Achieve trust credentialling status as set out in the Trust SOP for advanced practice, including speciality credentialling where applicable.
Exhibit a personal commitment to clinical education and development. Work in collaboration with others to plan and deliver interventions to meet the learning and development needs of self and other professions.
Raise awareness of current local, regional, national and international perspectives in clinical specialties.
Provide training and education opportunities within the team, the Trust, local and national areas.
Person Specification
Qualifications
* NMC Registered RN/RM, GPhC or HCPC registered professional
* MSc in Advanced Clinical Practice or NHSE digital badge
* Evidence of a portfolio of practice as an advanced clinical practitioner
* Haemato‑Oncology related level 7 studies
* Teaching/Assessment/Mentorship qualification (supervising and assessing)
* Level 7 Advanced physical assessment module
* ALS
* Leadership qualification or relevant leadership experience
* Research in practice qualifications or relevant experience
* IMER certificate
* ALS instructor
* PGCert in education/Fellowship of higher education (FHEA)
Experience
* Extensive previous clinical experience in the acute care of adults
* Senior experience of leadership within a service including the management of a group of staff
* Experience in the development of staff
* Experience of working with a high degree of autonomy in line with a scope of practice. Able to weigh evidence, clinical guidance and occupational policies and seek advice from peers and senior members of the clinical teams when required.
* Ability to interpret highly complex and/or sensitive information demonstrating negotiating empathic skills to achieve outcomes with patients or health professionals
* Evidence of implementing policies related to own area of work
* Evidence of leading on conducting audit/research
* Advanced knowledge in Haemato‑Oncology or related speciality underpinned by relevant experience
* Relevant experience obtaining a clinical history of the patient and conducting a focal physical assessment of the patient and underpinned by assessment models (ie medical consultation models, focal systems assessment).
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.
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