Job Summary
An exciting opportunity has arisen for a motivated and enthusiastic individual to join our Oncology Team at Worcestershire Acute Hospitals trust as a Cancer of Unknown Primary (CUP) and Rare Cancer Clinical Nurse Specialist (CNS) for a 6 month temporary post / secondment.
The CUP and Rare Cancer CNS will provide specialist, high quality expert nursing care and support for patients (and their carers) with CUP and Rare Cancers, delivering holistic, patient centred care according to their changing health care needs. They will work closely with the Multidisciplinary teams, acting as the patients advocate to help in ensuring the best outcomes as the patients key worker throughout their diagnostic and treatment pathway.
The applicant should have specialist skills, knowledge and experience in oncology and possess excellent communication skills.
Main duties of the job
1. The post holder will act as the key worker for patients with Cancer of Unknown Primary (CUP) and rare cancer using excellent communication skills, provide holistic needs assessment and care.
2. To provide psychological support and care, advice, information for patients, carers and families.
3. The post holder must have the ability to work autonomously and independently.
4. To act as a resource and to advise health and social care personnel on any aspects of patients therapeutic programmes of care.
5. To be an active member of the CUP and NET (Neuroendocrine Tumour) MDTs and where appropriate feedback any outcomes to the patient, carers and relatives.
Job Description
Job responsibilities
General Duties
1. To be a point of contact/keyworker for patients with CUP/Rare Cancers throughout their disease trajectory.
2. Working autonomously, maintain a caseload of patients and demonstrate practice in holistic needs assessment, planning, implementation and evaluation of care promoting the philosophy of person centred care for patients with CUP/Rare cancers.
3. Utilising advanced communication skills when discussing diagnosis, prognosis, and treatment options for this group of patients with sensitivity and expertise.
4. Assess educational and information needs for patients and families, and devise plans to ensure their needs are met.
5. Visit the ward areas including ED and review patients where appropriate, provide leadership, support and guidance to staff in monitoring the planning, delivery and evaluation of individualised specialist care.
6. Act as an advocate for patients within the department, to ensure a patient-orientated approach to the delivery of care and to meet standards within the NHS plan and relevant guidelines.
7. Ensure all patients receive high quality clinical care and good patient experience, having regard and sensitivity for their customs, culture, religious beliefs and lifestyle.
8. To be responsible for maintaining a safe environment for patients, visitors and other staff within the clinical environment.
9. Recognise and avoid situations that may be detrimental to the health and wellbeing of the individual.
10. Participate in case conferences in relation to the management of patients, ensuring the coordination of ongoing care.
11. Support and enable patients and carers to make informed decisions relating to their treatment and management.
12. Uses advanced communication, listening and negotiation skills to facilitate discussion of complex, sensitive and emotive issues around cancer diagnosis, disease management, recurrence/progressive disease and prognosis.
13. Promote collaborative working relationships and effective communication between all members of the trust, community and tertiary services/MDT to improve the management and outcomes of the patient group.
14. Promote high quality care and assist in the development of the specialist service, through the use of evidence-based practice and clinical standards.
Person Specification
Experience Essential
* Relevant experience at Band 6 or above
* Oncology/Palliative care/clinical nurse specialist experience
Qualifications Essential
* First level registration
* First level degree or working towards
* Evidence of significant continued professional development
* Recognised teaching/assessing qualification
Knowledge and Skills Essential
* Leading, developing and monitoring service change
* Good understanding of issues that relate to cancer patients and their individual needs
* Excellent communication skills
* Ability to work within a multidisciplinary team and with MDT process
* Able to work under own initiative within boundaries of role
* Able to prioritise
* Organisational skills e.g. Managing patient case-load
* Exemplar written communication skills
* Knowledge of current issues and the impact of national cancer targets
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