Job summary
An exciting opportunity has arisen for passionate individuals to apply for an innovative role, developed in partnership between King's College Hospital and Macmillan Cancer Support. This as a result of collaborative improvement programme aims to provide people with cancer an excellent experience of care. We are currently working on Acute Oncology service redesign and expanding the team.
The AOS/CUP CNS will be responsible for working collaboratively with the existing Acute Oncology Team and Lead of Cancer of Unknown primary element of AOS care. This is to provide a high-quality cancer service for patients at the KCH, to be accessible and available to give advice and clinical expertise to health professionals and patients on CUP pathway and within AOS service. Also ensuring that patients receiving appropriate care at right time and decisions about care are not delayed and patients are visible in their clinical pathways.
Development opportunities considered for the right candidate.
Main duties of the job
1. To work as an advanced practitioner and effectively deliver an expert nursing service within AOS/CUP, a well-developed and established specialist area
2. To manage a caseload of patients/clients effectively in accordance with agreed protocols and pathways of care
3. To ensure that patients and their families are fully informed and supported by providing clinical, emotional, psychological and social assessment and support
4. To assist in the development of evidence based clinical nursing practice in line with current research and guidelines
5. To establish clear lines of communication within the speciality team to ensure cohesive multidisciplinary management of patients
6. To be integral part of established AOS/CUP team, maintaining excellent communication to support coordinated care
7. To be an integral part of the UGI MDM which carries function of designated CUP MDM
8. To link with healthcare teams in order to increase knowledge and facilitate the care of this group of people in the community
9. Implementation of recovery package in clinical practice
About us
King's College Hospital NHS Foundation Trust is one of the UK's largest and busiest teaching Trusts with a turnover of c£1 billion, million patient contacts a year and more than 15,000 staff based across South East London. The Trust provides a full range of local and specialist services across its five sites. The trust-wide strategy of Strong Roots, Global Reachis our Vision to be BOLD, Brilliant people, Outstanding care, Leaders in Research, Innovation and Education, Diversity, Equality and Inclusion at the heart of everything we do. By being person-centred, digitally-enabled, and focused on sustainability, we aim to take Team King's to another level.
We are at a pivotal point in our history and we require individuals who are ready to join a highly professional team and make a real, lasting difference to our patients and our people.
King's is committed to delivering Sustainable Healthcare for All via our Green Plan. In line with national Greener NHS ambitions, we have set net zero carbon targets of 2040 for our NHS Carbon Footprint and 2045 for our NHS Carbon Footprint Plus. Everyone's contribution is required in order to meet the goals set out in our Green Plan and we encourage all staff to work responsibly, minimising their contributions to the Trust's carbon emissions, waste and pollution wherever possible.
Job description
Job responsibilities
10. Clinical Practice
11. Fully comply with the trust Cancer CNS Standing Operational Policy; AOS SOP and CUP SOP
12. To assist in the delivery of an advanced specialist nursing service for people with specialist needs
13. To provide specialist nursing advice and support to patients, their families and other healthcare professionals following diagnosis and through treatment and where applicable onward referral for end of life care.
14. To ensure continuity of a high standard of evidence based nursing care, assessing health, health related and holistic needs of patients, their families and other carers by identifying and initiating appropriate steps for effective care. This can include:
15. Managing a patient caseload
16. Ordering diagnostic tests and being able to interpret results and take appropriate actions
17. Making and receiving referrals
18. Develop practice to be able to deliver nurse led clinics
19. Support the team and organisation in delivering innovative services to support patient access to the team and early diagnoses
20. Assessing and meeting patients on going care, health and well-being needs and develop a care plan and action referrals as a result
21. Ensuring clear documentation in the patients records
22. To be actively involved in in-patient care, liaising with ward staff to ensure high quality nursing care
23. Attend A&E for assessment of patients with potential AOS/CUP diagnoses and to offer key worker point of contact to oversee their care
24. To attend out-patients, ensuring nurse consultation with all newly diagnosed patients
25. Ensure all patients receive appropriate follow-up and that relevant information is available to enable patients to make an informed choice about their treatment and care
26. Take responsibility for delivery of Recovery Package initiatives and accurate maintenance and submission of the data associated with delivery of Quality Matrix
27. To attend MDT meetings for Upper GI, designated as a CUP MDT and coordinate with MDT coordinator or other wider MDMs in accordance with national standards, increasing visibility of a patient to the cancer team.
28. To attend Specialist MDM at GSTT for CUP once a week face to face or video link, to develop understanding of pathway of care and establish good working practices
29. To accept responsibility as the named key worker, ensuring clear documentation in the patients notes and consistency of delivery of ongoing needs assessment
30. To follow-up patients as appropriate and ensure all relevant information is available to enable patients to make an informed choice about their treatment
31. To deliver a seamless service through the development of enhanced Multidisciplinary team processes and communication
32. To work collaboratively with UGI MDM where CUP are discussed and AOS services as well as other MDTs at Denmark Hill or Princess Royal Hospital site and with teams at GSTT
33. To participate in the identification and development of clinical protocols and strategies to enhance both the continuity and standard of specialist care whilst ensuring equity of access to the service
34. To participate in the process of operational policies and review annually in accordance with national standards
35. Review and update clinical information offered to patients every two years
36. To ensure all care is given in accordance with agreed protocols
37. Provide support and education to patients and their families
38. To regularly review those clinical notes of patients requiring imminent admission, ensuring all assessments, diagnostic investigation and test results are up-to-date and in place to ensure a smooth admission process
39. To liaise with the discharge coordinator and ward staff to ensure appropriate and timely discharge/follow-up arrangement are in place for patients
40. To maintain a suitable mechanism for MDT referrals to the Clinical Nurse Specialists
41. To work with the MDT to develop, implement and evaluate integrated care pathways and systems of MDT documentation
42. To liaise with local community, social services, paramedics and voluntary organisations in order to develop existing services for clients, carers and health professionals
43. To actively involve service users in providing feedback of their experience of the current service and suggestions for improvements
44. To participate in relevant fora at Care Group, Trust, PCT, Cancer Network or National/International level to represent the service perspective
45. Education and Research
46. To ensure all patients are fully informed of the risks and benefits of proposed procedures/treatments, contributing to the process of securing informed consent
47. To produce and provide all patients with relevant and accessible written information regarding their treatment in accordance with Trust standards
48. Participate in the speciality and the trust wide audits
49. To supervise and participate in the delivery of programmes of education and training according to the identified needs of clients, carers and other involved in their care
50. To work with other clinical staff to identify knowledge gaps in relation to specialist patients and ensure staff are appropriately educated
51. To contribute to the development of nursing practice within the team Additionally, where appropriate, to act as a practice supervisor to Trust and honorary contract employees
52. To actively participate in education events provided by the Trust and primary care sector.
53. To attend meetings and conferences as appropriate ensuring that you are fully conversant with current issues both within the Trust and within the specialist services locally and nationally
54. To promote and facilitate evidence based practice and clinical audit within the Trust, raising the profile and enhancing the contribution of nursing to patient care and informing business and service development plans.
55. To participate in and assist with any appropriate/relevant Trust approved research projects conducted within the department.
56. To promote nursing research and evidenced based practice relevant to the speciality
3. Management
To liaise effectively with all other disciplines within the Trust and at local level
57. To participate in the management of change to improve standards and communication links from Acute Trusts through to Primary Care
58. To contribute actively to any relevant initiatives within the care group and provide support to colleagues and Heads of Nursing
59. To contribute positively to the leadership of nursing within the care group acting as an effective role model
60. To comply with measures to actively manage and reduce risk to patients. Ensure the formal reporting and recording of adverse incidents in line with Trust policy
61. Network with the team of Clinical Nurse Specialists within the Trust to evaluate, develop and promote the specialist nursing role
62. To utilise and maintain information systems to aid audit and to provide regular activity analysis reports
63. Maintain contemporaneous and accurate treatment records, submitting relevant statistics, reports and activity data as requested. To participate in the evaluation of the service in terms of clinical effectiveness, clinical excellence and value for money
64. To ensure the best use of available resources are used within agreed budget to provide a cost effective service
65. To forge effective links within primary, secondary and tertiary care to ensure effective communication
66. Ensure compliance with the Trust's Equality and Diversity Policy, supporting the delivery of the Trusts Race Equality Scheme and the Trust's duty to promote race equality and equality of opportunity for disabled people ensuring services are responsive to the needs of equality groups
67. Comply with measures in the Service Quality Standards and appropriate NICE/ IOG guidance, ensuring transparent delivery of service
68. To participate with the Peer Review process, liaising with Trust cancer management team and lead on the implementation of recommendations from peer review.
69. Personal Professional Development
70. To achieve a range of clinical competencies as required to fulfil the role
71. To keep up-to-date with current literature and research in the speciality
72. To maintain your own personal and professional development in accordance with PREP requirements, attending mandatory study sessions as required
73. To undergo and actively participate in own performance appraisals
74. To keep up to date with NMC, relevant specialist Faculty & Trust guidelines and protocols.
75. To adhere to the NMC Code of Professional conduct working within and accepting responsibility for maintaining agreed levels of competence.
76. To be working towards higher degree or equivalent
Person Specification
Education and Qualification
Essential
77. Relevant post-registration qualification and evidence of professional development
78. Educated to Degree level
79. Chemotherapy Course
80. NMC Level 1 Registered Nurse
Desirable
81. Breaking bad news training
82. Advanced communication training
83. Advanced clinical assessment skills or willingness to develop these