Epsom and St Helier University Hospitals NHS Trust
The post holder will serve as the primary keyworker for patients with suspected or diagnosed Head and Neck conditions. Utilising exceptional communication skills, they will deliver holistic, patient-centred assessments and care. Their responsibilities include providing psychological support, guidance, and information to patients and their carers or families. The role requires the ability to work both autonomously and independently while maintaining collaboration within an integrated team.
The role involves conducting initial assessments of patients referred from Primary Care. The post holder will coordinate the patient's investigative pathway across hospital departments, including surgery and radiology, with strong support from the clinical and cancer services operational teams. In collaboration with the pathway coordinator, they will serve as the primary point of contact between the patient and the various specialty teams involved in the diagnostic process.
Main duties of the job
Head & Neck Cancer Clinical Nurse Specialist - Band 7
The Epsom & St Helier Hospitals Cancer Nursing Department is thrilled to offer an exciting opportunity to join our nationally acclaimed Head & Neck Clinical Nurse Specialist (CNS) Team. We are seeking a dedicated and experienced nurse to join our team as a full-time, permanent Band 7 CNS. This role advances our tradition of innovation, focusing on developing and delivering nurse-led care models for patients experiencing symptoms or diagnoses of Head & Neck cancers.
The successful candidate will bring experience in Oncology, ENT and Oral and Maxillofacial surgery, showcasing a high level of clinical expertise. They will work in close collaboration with the Head & Neck medical team, cancer services, and multidisciplinary professionals to provide comprehensive assessment and investigational care. This role demands a commitment to safe and effective clinical decision-making to meet the needs of our patients.
In the longer term, there is scope for the post holder to advance their clinical practice, supporting post-diagnosis patients during surveillance, managing acute presentations, and offering guidance on managing symptoms of malignant disease and treatment side effects.
About us
Welcome to the Epsom and St Helier University Hospitals NHS Trust. We offer an extensive range of services, including cancer, pathology, surgery, and gynecology to over 490,000 people in south west London and north east Surrey. We operate two busy general hospitals, Epsom Hospital and St Helier Hospital, and run services from other locations, including Sutton Hospital. We are also part of two innovative integrated care partnerships - Sutton Health and Care and Surrey Downs Health and Care. St Helier Hospital is home to the South West Thames Renal and Transplantation Unit and Queen Mary's Hospital for Children, while Epsom Hospital is home to the South West London Elective Orthopaedic Centre (SWLEOC). Both Epsom and St Helier hospitals have Accident and Emergency departments (A&E) and Maternity services (Obstetrics). With nearly 900,000 people coming to our hospitals for care and treatment every year, our almost 5,000 staff and 500 volunteers work around the clock to keep our busy hospitals running smoothly.
As teaching hospitals, we play a key role in the education and training of tomorrow's doctors, nurses, and other health professionals. Both sites work in partnership with St George's Hospital and St George's Medical School in south London to deliver high-quality education and research.
Job responsibilities
Please see the attached supporting document which contains more information about the Head & Neck Cancer Clinical Nurse Specialist role at Epsom and St Helier.
Person Specification
Qualifications & Training
* Registered General Nurse
* BSc healthcare related
* MSC healthcare related
* Advanced communication skills training
Experience
* Relevant experience at Band 6 or above
Knowledge and Skills
* In depth knowledge of current practice
* Holistic patient assessment
* Professional issues in nursing and healthcare
* Clinical governance
* Research/clinical audit
* Multidisciplinary team leadership
* Teaching staff and patients
* Set and maintain standards/protocols of care
* Development of pathways
* Quality improvement
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.
Epsom and St Helier University Hospitals NHS Trust
£51,883 to £58,544 a year per annum incl HCAS
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