Neuro-Oncology Clinical Nurse Expert

Position Overview

We are pleased to announce a remarkable opportunity for a Neuro-Oncology Clinical Nurse Expert to become a vital member of our dedicated team. The Christie NHS Foundation Trust stands as a global frontrunner in cancer care, recognized as the largest cancer treatment facility in Europe.

This role offers the chance to integrate into a well-established Neuro-Oncology Clinical Nurse Expert Team as a Band 7, working full-time from Monday to Friday. The ideal candidate must possess a valid Registered Nurse (RN) qualification and have a minimum of five years of pertinent experience in oncology, neuro-oncology, or palliative care, or an equivalent background.

Exceptional communication, organizational, and prioritization skills are crucial for success in this position.

Key Responsibilities

Primary Duties

• Accountable for personal actions in alignment with the NMC Code of Professional Conduct, contributing to corporate objectives while adhering to local and statutory guidelines and policies. Execute specialized technical and practical skills to ensure optimal patient management, including complex patient monitoring and defined expanded clinical roles. Serve as a resource of specialized knowledge and clinical expertise to guarantee that patient care is appropriate, optimal, and evidence-based. Demonstrate clinical expertise by modeling patient-centered practices for others.
• Exhibit leadership that fosters professional decision-making and effective collaboration within multidisciplinary teams. Act as a change agent capable of initiating clinical audits and research to monitor clinical practices and processes, following up with a benchmarking approach to ensure compliance with best practice clinical guidelines. Participate in the evaluation and audit of care standards within established policies and procedures for lung cancer management. Utilize and ensure the effective use of information and IT systems to secure accurate and timely patient, workforce, and data availability. Responsible for identifying and assessing complex clinical and non-clinical issues, implementing resolutions, and monitoring outcomes. Act as a resource for staff, providing guidance on national, local, and Trust policies and procedures, ensuring that clinical governance is integrated into practice. Support nursing staff in developing management and leadership skills through appropriate delegation and supervision. Collaborate with lung cancer clinicians to formulate protocols, policies, and clinical guidelines.

Clinical Duties

• Serve as a primary contact for lung cancer patients, their families, and other professionals, providing advice, support, and symptom management.
• Attend lung oncology clinics to meet with patients and their relatives, offering information about treatment and being well-versed in treatment protocols. Conduct holistic assessments of patient needs, referring appropriately to services in both acute and community settings. Communicate effectively and provide support to patients and relatives before, during, and after treatment, acting as a reliable point of contact.
• Conduct clinical assessments of patients undergoing anti-cancer treatments in planned nurse-led clinics, as well as during unplanned telephone contacts. Undertake non-medical prescribing (within the limits of competence) to manage treatment toxicity and symptoms.
• Ensure accurate and timely documentation of patient care in accordance with hospital policies and NMC standards.
• Act as a specialist contact for ward staff regarding inpatients, providing advice and support to patients and their families.
• Participate in multidisciplinary team (MDT) and radiology meetings as appropriate, contributing to discussions about individual patients.
• Maintain awareness of current clinical trials and liaise with lung research nurses regarding patient eligibility.
• Adhere to the NMC Code and guiding documents.

Managerial and Clinical Leadership

• Provide specialized clinical knowledge to colleagues, patients, and caregivers both within and outside the organization.
• Evaluate service delivery, identifying areas for improvement to enhance patient care and initiate change. Involve patients, patient representatives, and the public in service development as appropriate.
• Document evidence of service development and performance.
• Engage with the GM Cancer Alliance and build effective professional relationships across acute and community settings.
• Facilitate clinical supervision and mentorship to promote reflective practice.
• Act as a role model, presenting a professional image at all times.

Education and Development

• Participate in annual appraisals and take personal responsibility for professional growth and development. Maintain a professional portfolio for revalidation purposes.
• Ensure compliance with Trust essential training.
• Identify training needs of colleagues and develop educational programs in collaboration with nursing colleagues, including ward teaching and dissemination of best practices through presentations at conferences and study days.
• Utilize relevant educational opportunities, including attending national and international conferences, to ensure the highest standards of evidence-based patient care.
• Collaborate with other professionals to develop information and resource packs for patients and their caregivers.

Research and Audit

• Ensure that clinical practices are evidence-based and disseminate information to staff.
• Identify opportunities for nursing research and participate in clinical audits to enhance the effectiveness of patient care.
• Evaluate service delivery, identify areas for improvement, and initiate change.
• Contribute to the development of protocols relevant to the lung specialty.

Qualifications

Essential

• Registered General Nurse (RGN/RN) with NMC registration.
• Degree in Nursing or a health-related field.
• Post-registration qualification in oncology.
• V300 Non-Medical Prescribing Certification or willingness to pursue this qualification.
• Teaching and assessing qualification.

Desirable

• Master's degree or progress towards it.
• Leadership qualification or completion of a leadership program.
• Clinical assessment module.

Experience

Essential

• Recent clinical experience in oncology or an acute care environment.
• Clinical leadership experience.
• Involvement in service development and implementation of change.

Desirable

• Experience in audit or research.
• Experience working within resource constraints and demonstrating effective resource utilization.
• Management of patients with complex needs.

Skills

Essential

• Excellent verbal and non-verbal communication skills.
• Able to present information to professional groups.
• Confidence to adapt to an evolving and changing service.
• Proficient IT skills.
• Able to use initiative, make decisions, and prioritize workload effectively.

Desirable

• Advanced communication skills.
• Evidence of writing protocols, standards, and guidelines.
• Innovative and motivated.
• Presentation skills.

Knowledge

Essential

• Understanding of current issues related to the NHS and knowledge of Clinical Governance.
• Demonstrated evidence-based knowledge in the relevant clinical specialty.

Values

Essential

• Ability to demonstrate organizational values and behaviors.

Other

Essential

• Professional and personal credibility.
• Motivated and capable of motivating others.
• Excellent interpersonal skills.