Worcestershire Acute Hospitals NHS Trust
An exciting opportunity has arisen within the Hereford and Worcestershire Bowel Screening Centre, serving a population of over 700,000. We are looking to recruit an enthusiastic and dedicated nurse to join our screening team. We have 2 posts available. As a Band 6 Specialist Screening Practitioner (SSP), you will be employed by Worcestershire Acute Hospital NHS Trust and based at the Worcestershire Royal Hospital, but you will be required to work across multiple sites, including Hereford County Hospital, Kidderminster Hospital, Alexandra Hospital Redditch, Malvern Community Hospital, and Ross Community Hospital.
Additionally, you must have good Information Technology (IT) skills as this post also includes daily data entry into a national screening database. Specialist training will be provided for use of the Bowel Cancer Screening IT system, Open Exeter. Some experience in teaching or health promotion is also an advantage, but not essential.
Flexibility is essential amongst the team to deliver the service efficiently at all sites, and some weekend and evening work may be necessary in the future.
Previous experience and knowledge of working in the following areas are also desirable but not essential: screening, gastroenterology, endoscopy, pre-assessment, or oncology.
Main duties of the job
As an SSP, it is mandatory to start the SSP Course within one year of appointment. This course is provided by Liverpool John Moores University or Torbay and South Devon NHS Foundation Trust, run in partnership with the University of Plymouth. Support and mentorship will be provided during this period of study. You must successfully complete this course to continue working within the screening programme.
We are looking for a hardworking, flexible, and committed individual to join our team, providing high-quality care to all screening participants. You must be a registered nurse with a degree or working towards it. You will be responsible for supporting the Bowel Cancer Screening Programme across Hereford and Worcestershire in conjunction with the Lead Nurse. You must be able to work effectively as part of a team and as an autonomous practitioner managing your own caseload of patients. You will be responsible for undertaking nurse-led clinics including patient assessment, provision of information, and preparation and support of those undergoing endoscopic or radiological investigation within the Bowel Cancer Screening programme. This role requires you to communicate and work closely with the wider MDT across different hospital trusts. You must have excellent communication skills and be able to communicate sensitive and complex information to both patients and colleagues, including breaking significant news.
About us
Our purpose is simple - Putting Patients First. We are looking for exceptional colleagues who can help us achieve this.
Worcestershire Acute Hospitals NHS Trust is a large acute and specialised hospital trust that provides a range of local acute services to the residents of Worcestershire and more specialised services to a larger population in Herefordshire and beyond.
The Trust operates hospital-based services from three sites in Kidderminster, Redditch, and Worcester. Our workforce is over 7,000 strong, and our caring staff are recognised as providing good and outstanding patient-centred care. You could be one of them.
We are committed to recruiting the best people to work with us to achieve our Vision - working in partnership to provide the best healthcare for our communities, leading and supporting our teams to move 4ward. Our 4ward behaviours, which we ask all staff to demonstrate, underpin our everyday work and remain firmly at the heart of all we do.
Our objectives are simple:
* Best services for local people
* Best experience of care and best outcomes for our patients
* Best use of resources
* Best people
Better never stops, and our Clinical Services Strategy provides a clear future vision for our Trust, our hospitals, our services, and our role in the wider health and care system.
We are proud to have achieved Timewise accreditation - this means we are committed to embedding flexible working within our organisation as a flex positive employer.
Job responsibilities
Job Purpose:
To play a pivotal role in supporting the Bowel Cancer Screening Programme by:
* Co-ordinating and providing the highest standard of care from the screening centre to meet the needs of individuals arising as a consequence of the National Bowel Cancer Screening.
* Acting as the patients advocate, supporting them throughout all stages of the screening process.
* Working closely with the Health Promotion Coordinator to ensure equal access to health promotion activities and information for all ethnic groups.
* Working collaboratively with multidisciplinary colorectal teams across our catchment areas.
* Ensuring Trust compliance with waiting list targets.
Dimensions of Role:
* To work within a team providing Bowel Cancer Screening in Hereford and Worcestershire.
* To manage a caseload of patients, run regular clinics, attend colonoscopy sessions, and manage a telephone help line.
* To work across various sites including Hereford County Hospital, Kidderminster Treatment Centre, Alexandra Hospital Redditch, Malvern Community Hospital, and Ross Community Hospital.
Key Working Relationships:
* Bowel cancer screening team
* Matron
* Consultant Medical Staff
* Patients and carers
* GP practices
* Health promotion service providers
Multi-disciplinary team Clinical:
Support the provision of helpline services run from the hub by resolving queries referred to the screening centre, by the programme hub.
Provide advice, information, and support for those participants making direct contact with the screening centre.
Be responsible for care delivery to patients identified by the screening programme and meet the needs of patients arising as a result of:
* Having been called to participate in Bowel Screening,
* Having been identified as FIT positive,
* Needing to be assessed as fit to undergo screening colonoscopy or alternative diagnostic investigations,
* Needing to be able to make informed decisions prior to undergoing screening colonoscopy or alternative diagnostic investigations,
* Having been identified as requiring further intervention, treatment, surveillance follow-up, or discharge.
To use specialist knowledge and advanced communication skills with patients and carers when breaking bad news and provide psychological support on diagnosis, treatment, and symptom management.
Ensure timely access to screening colonoscopy or alternative diagnostic intervention, and seamless transition to agreed pathways in primary, secondary, tertiary, or outpatient care settings during all stages of the screening pathway.
To establish effective links with local colorectal cancer multi-disciplinary teams to ensure that when cancer is detected there is timely presentation and transfer of patients to the multi-disciplinary team.
To provide health promotion for the screening programme in liaison with both Worcestershire & Herefordshire to ensure equal access to health promotion activities and information for all ethnic groups. Populate and maintain the BCSP database, including all interim systems.
Participate in ongoing data collection and quality assurance, service feedback, and audit.
Perform comprehensive assessment of patient needs and plan, implement, and evaluate care according to BCSP and local protocols.
Collect, collate, evaluate, and report information, maintaining accurate patient records including data on treatment, staging, and outcomes provided by the MDT.
Work collaboratively with other professionals and organisations to ensure patient needs are met, especially in relation to referrals to local MDTs.
Obtain informed consent from patients undergoing colonoscopy.
Request diagnostic tests as appropriate.
Leadership:
Maintain professional competence and support that of other staff within the BCSP.
Support the BCSP Programme Manager and Lead Nurse in the development of performance reports to the National Screening Office, strategic groups, and the wider health community.
Contribute to the business and strategic planning for Bowel cancer screening services.
Provide specialist, expert knowledge to clinical colleagues, patients, and carers/relatives.
Evaluate service delivery, identify areas for improvement and initiate change.
Manage own workload to ensure timely maintenance of databases and production of data reports as required.
Contribute to team meetings and other appropriate meetings within and external to both Trusts to influence and improve service delivery.
Education and Development:
Participate in education and awareness sessions as identified by the BCSP.
Identify new technology/approaches which should be considered in relation to the service and implement as directed.
Identify, in conjunction with managers and nursing colleagues, educational and development needs and plan action to meet these needs, contributing to courses/training as required.
Collaborate with and participate in both Trust-wide and external further development and education programmes.
Maintain own knowledge of current theory and implement into clinical practice to promote and develop patient-focused care.
Create and maintain opportunities for research activities, facilitating collaborative multidisciplinary research.
Participate in, or facilitate patient involvement in, clinical studies and trials and assist in data collection as required.
Develop, improve and maintain own competence and support that of the nursing team through continuing professional development, including clinical supervision, and formulate personal development plans (PDPs).
Previously completed the Specialist Bowel Cancer Screening Practitioner Course at Liverpool John Moore University / University of Plymouth or a willingness to start this mandatory training within the first year of employment.
Clinical Governance:
Ensure clinical risks are identified, reported, and managed within the department and adhere to the Trust Clinical Governance policy.
Identify need for and undertake research, clinical audit, and benchmarking to improve the effectiveness of patient care.
Disseminate research and audit findings through presentation to professional groups and publications.
Develop and implement policies, procedures, and guidelines relevant to own area of work.
Promote patient and public involvement activities in the BCSP, leading to service improvement.
Promote equality and support diversity.
Comply with Quality Assurance frameworks.
Professional:
To be accountable for own practice and to act at all times in accordance with the NMC Code of Practice and Scope of Professional Practice.
Undertake and be actively involved in quality monitoring, clinical benchmarking, and audit programmes.
Adhere to all Trust policies and procedures and ensure safe practice in health and safety, including manual handling, COSHH, and control of infection.
Carry out other duties as required by Clinical, Managerial, or Professional leads.
Person Specification
Other Job Requirements
* The post holder will be required to work from community-based locations within Worcestershire & Hereford
* Willingness to undertake Bowel Cancer Screening training.
* Attend MDT meetings
* Participate in Health Promotion activities with local health promotion service providers.
* Participate in audit.
Qualifications
* RGN
* Evidence of Continuous Professional Development
* Teaching & Assessing qualification
* Post-registration qualification in gastroenterology/Colorectal care at Diploma level and ability to undertake level 3 education.
Skills and Knowledge
* Up to date professional portfolio meeting the NMC Revalidation criteria
* Understanding of Clinical Risk / Clinical Governance / Health and Safety Regulations / COSHH
* Control of Infection
* Knowledge of colonoscopy procedures
* Demonstrate knowledge and understanding of requirements of GRS, BSG, JAG and how these influence practice.
Experience
* Relevant, current experience caring for patients with bowel disease.
* Patient examination and history taking.
* Ability to communicate sensitive information in an appropriate manner.
* Recent experience in gastroenterology/ colorectal setting.
* Involvement in service development and implementation of change.
Personal Qualities
* Well-developed communication and Interpersonal skills
* High professional standards
* Resourceful
* Flexible approach to work
* Ability to prioritise own workload effectively to meet tight deadlines whilst managing priorities.
* Able to work on own initiative and guide others
* Able to demonstrate initiative and ability to motivate others.
* Motivational skills to encourage collaborative working and promote change.
* Good working knowledge of Microsoft Office including Word, Outlook, and Excel.
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.
Worcestershire Acute Hospitals NHS Trust
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