Breast Clinical Nurse Specialist

Job summaryThe Integrated Breast Service are looking for an experienced Breast Care Nurse who is passionate about providing excellent care to all patients in both the breast screening and breast cancer pathways. The CNS will demonstrate clinical excellence and excellent communication within the nursing teams, MDT, and wider Trust staff. The post holder will work across sites in the delivery of high-quality care for patients recalled from the National Breast Screening Programme and those diagnosed with breast cancer, providing support and information throughout the cancer pathway and beyond. Advanced communication skills are essential for this post holder. The CNS will also take part in Health Promotion activities relating to Breast Screening and Breast Awareness and support in the training and development of band 6 nurses and Health Care Assistants, as well as assisting with clinical audits and working to make service changes and improvements.Main duties of the jobWork collaboratively with the MDT ensuring effective teamwork for both breast screening and breast care services at all sites.Provide sensitive and advanced communication to all patients and their significant others during all interactions.Work with nursing teams across sites and Allied Health Professionals within the Breast Screening and Imaging Service and Breast Care Services, supporting patients recalled for further assessment and patients with breast cancer.About usAt UHS Sussex, diversity is our strength, and we want you to feel included to help us always deliver Excellent Care Everywhere, as shown in our Outstanding for Caring CQC rating. Your uniqueness and experiences will be part of our creative and innovative community where everyone is encouraged to succeed. We have a range of staff networks to help break down barriers, and we can offer a buddy to help new members settle in. We’re proud to be a Disability Confident Employer (Level 3) and a Veteran Aware Trust.Candidate Packhttps://www.uhsussex.nhs.uk/resources/candidate-information-pack/DetailsDate posted: 01 December 2025Pay scheme: Agenda for changeBand: 7Salary: £47,810 to £54,710 a year per annumContract: PermanentWorking pattern: Full-time, Part-timeReference number: 279-7627964-DEC25Job locationsWorthing Hospital Breast Care Centre & Park Centre for Breast CareWorthing & BrightonBN11 2DHCommunicationAlways work collaboratively with the MDT ensuring effective teamwork for both breast screening and breast care services at all sites.Provide sensitive and advanced communication to all patients and their significant others with all interactions.Work with nurses and Allied Health Professionals within the Breast Screening and Imaging Service, Breast Care Services, supporting and developing their skills in caring for patients recalled for further assessment and patients with breast cancer, particularly when communication is complex and sensitive.Ensure the delivery of appropriate communication for patients who may have barriers to communication and specific needs such as learning disabilities or difficulties.Consult effectively with internal and external trust staff to ensure optimal care delivery for patients.Attend daily staff huddles and team meetings and raise operational, clinical, and staffing concerns.Provide clear, concise, and accurate written and digital nursing documentation.Deliver benign results to patients as locally agreed.Provide expert advice to patients and staff on breast cancer and benign breast conditions.Partake in formal and informal teaching activities on breast cancer and treatments for trust staff and patients.Service delivery and improvementContribute to risk management and health and safety in the workplace, raising concerns appropriately.Demonstrate team cohesion and collaborative working, adapting practice to the needs of the service.Use a flexible approach to working across sites to ensure service delivery optimisation.Attend team meetings and play an active role in supporting any service changes and improvements within breast screening and breast care.Support the trust and divisional cancer strategies.Work with the Matrons and Quality Improvement Manager to actively partake in Health Promotion activities relating to Breast Screening and Breast Awareness.Initiate clinical audits and patient experience surveys relating to trust standards and breast services. Support the development of nurse‑led services for service demands.Work within the West Sussex, East Sussex, Brighton and Hove Breast Screening services under the NHS England Quality Assurances guidelines for the CNS in breast screening.Contribute to the development of Standard Operating Procedures and Policies relating to the breast services. Ensure concerns are raised within the trust policy using DATIX, governance and risk frameworks. People management and development Perform duties in line with the Trust’s e‑rostering processes, including managing rosters, supporting staff allocation, and contributing to effective budget reconciliation and workforce planning. Provide support and development training for Band 6 nurses and HCAs. Perform staff annual appraisals in line with trust guidance and line management. Deputise the Matrons when asked to support the management of staff sickness and absences in line with Trust policy. Provide professional and clinical leadership to enable effective and safe team working. Actively involve in the recruitment process and retention of staff. Act as a role model for junior staff and partake in staff clinical supervision. Patient care delivery Adhere to the NMC Code – Professional standards of practice and behaviour for nurses, midwives, and nursing associates at all times. Act as Nurse‑in‑Charge to manage the clinical demands of the service and team to ensure patient care is always delivered to a high standard. Provide specialist support for patients recalled from breast screening to assessment and specialist nursing advice. Undertake an assessment of all patients’ information needs and provide appropriate support and information during the diagnostic process. Use specialist knowledge to deliver evidence‑based care to all patients during a cancer and non‑cancer diagnosis and treatment. Ensure effective and timely management and response to patients who call the helpline in conjunction with the cancer support workers. Use effective time management to prioritise and manage patient demands. Contribute to the review and updating of patient information resources used within the services. Learning and development Attend mandatory training updates as required. Undertake training as necessary in line with the development of the post and as agreed with the line manager as part of the personal development process. Achieve and demonstrate agreed standards of personal and professional development within agreed timescales. Identify own learning needs and jointly plan training requirements with your line manager. Participate in the Trust’s appraisal process to discuss how your role will help deliver the best possible care to our patients and help to deliver any changes in service. Demonstrate a commitment to the four pillars of advanced practice. This job description is an outline of the role and responsibilities. From time to time due to the needs of the service, we may ask you to flexibly undertake other duties that are consistent with your role and banding, including project work, internal job rotation and absence cover. Person Specification – Experience / Qualifications (Essential) UK registered Nurse Undergraduate degree or equivalent experience Post‑registration or equivalent experience in breast screening / breast cancer Advanced communication skills Experience at band 6/7 required in breast screening / breast care, preferably as a CNS Person Specification – Experience / Qualifications (Desirable) Experience of staff recruitment Experience of managing teams Experience of staff development and training Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion (Essential) Evidence of having championed diversity in previous roles (as appropriate to role). Evidence of having undertaken own development to improve understanding of equalities issues 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. UK Registration Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see NHS Careers website (opens in a new window). Employer details University Hospitals Sussex NHS Foundation Trust (279) Worthing Hospital Breast Care Centre & Park Centre for Breast Care Worthing & Brighton BN11 2DH Employer's website https://www.uhsussex.nhs.uk/ (Opens in a new tab) #J-18808-Ljbffr