Research Lead Nurse

This is an exciting new post and the successful candidate needs to be clinically credible and experienced and although oncology experience an advantage it is not essential we would welcome applications from nurses with critical care or critical care outreach experience. We want you to bring strategic vision, endless energy and a passion for delivering the highest standards of care. The post holder will join a team of Lead Nurses and work closely with the Divisional Associate Chief Nurse to focus on the provision of high quality, visible, professional leadership, setting and maintaining standards of clinical excellence, improving outcomes and experiences for patients, families, carers as well as staff. We are looking for a highly motivated, self-starting and imaginative individual with strong engagement and influencing skills who can ensure commitment to complex projects making certain that deadlines and required changes are delivered.


The oncology critical care unit (OCCU) is an 8-bedded unit with a team of highly skilled nurses which supports elective, highly specialised surgery in addition supporting any deteriorating patients who require level 2 or 3 care. The post-holder in addition to OCCU will also directly manage the Critical Care Outreach Team (CCOT) who alongside their clinical responsibilities support the Trust with a training and education programme for resuscitation and deteriorating patients.
We provide radiotherapy through one of the largest radiotherapy departments in the world chemotherapy on site and through 14 other hospitals highly specialist surgery for complex and rare cancer and a wide range of support and diagnostic services. We are also an international leader in research, with world first breakthroughs for over 100 years. We run one of the largest early clinical trial units in Europe with over 300 trials every year. Cancer research in Manchester, most of which is undertaken on the Christie site, has been officially ranked the best in the UK.
Ensure self and others practice is in accordance with the Nursing and Midwifery Councils Code of Conduct.
As an ambassador of the nursing profession, ensure self and others practice to the highest professional standards.
Ensure that all direct line report staff have clear and agreed performance objectives that support the delivery of the Directorate and the wider Divisional and Trust objectives.
Participate in skill mix review, workforce redesign and recruitment and retention strategies to develop and modernise the workforce in conjunction with the divisional senior nursing and management team.
Responsible for overseeing HR management within their areas of responsibility including recruitment, sickness absence, training etc.
Overseeing and monitoring the quality, timeliness and development of nursing care in accordance with relevant professional standards.
The Lead Nurse will provide professional advice and support to specialty teams and service line colleagues to ensure the delivery of the highest quality of patient care and service delivery.
As a member of the senior team within the Division, the Lead Nurse will act as a professional role model to all nurses and will take corrective action to uphold the standards required of the Trust and the profession.
The Lead Nurse will ensure that nursing and relevant support staff are managed and developed to enable them to deliver the highest standards of patient care and service.
Participate in training and development activities that are relevant to the job role.
Assess and initiate care for critically ill patients using critical care expertise and skills to assist in prevention, identification, and proactive management of current and potential problems.


To plan and deliver research/ evidence-based care and treatment in partnership with other health professionals this may include prescribing medication and actively monitoring the effectiveness of therapeutic interventions.


To request and/ or undertake investigations to augment patient assessment and care.


To monitor and review the effectiveness of interventions with the patient and colleagues and modify this to meet changing needs and established goals of care.


To delegate/ refer to other practitioners when this will improve health outcomes, or when risks and needs are beyond own competence and scope of practice.


Provide post cardiac arrest debriefing of staff and relatives.


Accountable for ensuring the appropriate and effective development, delivery and monitoring of patient care and service across areas of responsibility.


Monitor the quality and timeliness of nursing care and service provision in accordance with relevant professional and local standards.


Responsible for ensuring that care is delivered in a safe, efficient, effective and timely manner and that plans for discharge to ward, and department areas and transfer of patients is within acceptable safe parameters.


Responsible for providing senior nursing advice across areas of the Trust as required, including participation in Duty Manager rota for evenings, weekends and bank holidays.


Support Lead Nurse colleagues and Ward Managers to ensure the most appropriate distribution of staffing resources to balance risks and to ensure the safe and smooth running of the division.


Responsibilities for Risk & Clinical Governance


Works collaboratively with Divisional Governance team and Quality & Standards team and leads on complex investigations, resolutions and action planning.
Undertake root case analysis and develop action plans, ensuring this leads to sustainable changes in improved practice.
Supports patients and staff in the handling of complaints and works to ensure early and satisfactory resolution of concerns.
Where possible, take all reasonable action to address problems, concerns and complaints as near to source as possible, but also understands when to escalate.
Responsible for implementing effective risk assessment and management within own clinical areas or teams working closely with the divisional quality and governance team.
Responsibilities for Policy and Service Development and Implementation


Participates with service/specialty teams in the development of policy, processes and business plans at Directorate/Service level.


Represent and provide nursing expertise and advice to business and operational discussions, meetings and forums.


Ensuring that all staff practice in accordance with statutory and corporate policies including those specific to patient safety.


To be aware of, comment on and/or actively participate in changes on policies, procedures or service developments.


Participate in National forums for Critical Care, Critical Care Outreach and Resuscitation, presenting and disseminating work as appropriate and contributing to the national agenda.


Advise and collaborate with other health care professionals and managers in implementing national and local guidelines for improving patient safety.


Collaborate with other members of the health care team, to maximise learning, reduce risk and improve patient safety.


Responsible for ensuring that areas for which they are responsible implement the quality audits and any associated or successor initiatives to within agreed/required timescales. Development of audits and analysis of working practices and trends to support improvements in performance in relation to quality and patient experience.


Responsibilities for Planning and Organising


Monitor and action decisions in relation to clinical areas ensuring nursing skill mix in relation to activity and acuity. Manage and report any risk issues to the Divisional Associate Chief Nurse in a timely manner.
Use information obtained from patients, families and staff to make changes to the patient environment and care where appropriate or necessary.
The Lead Nurse will supervise the assessment, planning, implementation provision and evaluation of patient care ensuring that nursing and corporate standards are implemented, maintained, monitored and improved upon where necessary. This includes assuming all overall accountability within the directorate for the monitoring, review, improvement and provision of evidence and assurance relating to patient care.
In conjunction with the Divisional Associate Chief Nurse, the Lead Nurse will contribute to the strategic direction of service lines and specialties through meeting key performance indicators and national and local activity targets.

Responsibilities for Physical and / or Financial Resources


Within sphere of responsibility ensure self and line-report staff manage pay and non-pay resources efficiently and effectively, and in accordance with corporate standards, procedures, policies and objectives. Work in partnership with Divisional Senior Management team, finance, HR and information analysts to lead the service line and specialties in a business-like way and to ensure the safe and effective management and leadership of the specialty teams and resources.

NMC Registered Nurse
Degree in Healthcare related subject
Master's Degree or working towards, or equivalent experience
Evidence of continuing personal and professional development
Advanced Adult Life Support Instructor
CCU post-graduate qualification
Oncology post-graduate qualification
Non-medical prescribing course
Significant clinical experience in critical care at a senior level
Evidence of proactive involvement in the development of nurses and nursing practice
Leading teams to achieve high-quality patient care through evidence based clinical practice