Acute Oncology Services Clinical Nurse Specialist

Job Overview
We are pleased to invite applications to join a well-established Nurse led Acute Oncology 7 day service (AOS).

This vacancy is for 1.0 WTE (37.5hours per week) cross site AOS CNS post to replace a 2 year fixed term secondment.

AOS supports cancer patients who attend as emergency admissions due to cancer-related or treatment-related complications. AOS CNSs play a significant role in ensuring cancer patients experience excellent care and support across Frimley Health by providing expert advice and linking with treating oncology teams.

Main duties of the job

• We are looking for an innovative nurse who is highly motivated to improve practice for acute oncology.
• You will provide specialist support and advice to patients with Primary Brain cancer and Cancer of unknown primary acting as their Keyworker.
• You will oversee and co-ordinate services and personalise the cancer pathway for these patients from pre- diagnosis to aftercare.
• You will support the AOS Lead Nurse with the Vague symptoms/Non-specific (NSS) but concerning symptoms of cancer clinic and Incidental findings clinic for early investigation and diagnosis of malignancy.
• Acute Oncology Clinical Nurse Specialists provide a cross site 7-day service for oncology patients attending hospital as an emergency admission in Frimley Park and Wexham Park hospitals.
• The AOS team also support Vague symptoms/Non-specific (NSS) by triaging referrals from GPs across the patch for patients presenting with non-specific but concerning symptoms to improve early diagnosis of cancer.
• Working independently and autonomously with support from the wider multi-disciplinary team including oncologists, cancer CNSs, acute medical physicians and HCP across A&E and in-patient wards.
• Experience of working at band 6 level.
• The post holder should have experience working with cancer patients and be willing to work towards advanced physical assessment and non-medical prescribing.
• Supporting the audit and reporting of national minimum data set for AOS/MSCC.

Working for our organisation

Frimley Health NHS Foundation Trust is committed to being an inclusive and disability confident employer and has been awarded the Gold for the Armed Forces Employment Recognition Scheme. We provide first class development opportunities for all staff and have a wide range of professional, management and leadership, and clinical skills training available.

Here at Frimley Health NHS Foundation Trust, we know how important it is to have a healthy work life balance; this benefits not only individuals but the patients we care for too.

We encourage applications from people who wish to work on a flexible basis, recognising that flexibility may mean a range of different working patterns and hours, we do our utmost to work with our staff to meet their needs and the needs of our service and its users.

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Detailed Job Description And Main Responsibilities

• The post-holder will act as Keyworker for patients admitted to the trust with an oncological emergency, a suspected cancer diagnosis, carcinoma of unknown primary or a primary brain cancer, providing a link between patients and health care professionals across primary, secondary and tertiary care and act as an advocate for patients/families
• The post-holder will continually develop, implement and evaluate the Acute Oncology Service to improve and maintain standards of patient care and promote a seamless service within a multi-professional framework
• Be a clinical expert in Acute Oncology and Carcinoma of Unknown Primary with excellent communication skills. The role requires the ability to work autonomously and independently but within an integrated collaborative team
• Ensure that the users of the service are actively involved in the development of the service and that their recommendations are disseminated to the Cancer Management Team ensuring appropriate actions are devised.
• Ensure their role reflects the core components of the clinical nurse specialist which includes: clinical practice, management/organisation, education, research and audit, taking into account the national cancer agenda and its impact on service delivery
• Puts quality at the heart of practice by delivering evidence based individualised and personalised care through holistic needs assessment, planning and evaluation of care and all care interventions.
• Applications for this post are invited from nurses who have experience at a senior level in oncology.
• You should demonstrate experience of independent working and physical assessment skills.
• You should also have a degree, a recognised oncology qualification and excellent communication skills.
• You should be committed to providing cancer related education to staff of all grades and disciplines as well as personal CPD for continued education.

Person specification

Qualifications
Essential criteria

• Registered Nurse with current NMC registration
• Degree in Nursing
• Oncology qualification
• Evidence of continuous professional training
• Teaching and assessing/mentorship
• Advanced communication skills training
• Advanced physical assessment skills or working towards
• Psychology Level 2 training

Desirable criteria

• Non Medical Prescribing or working towards
• Counselling/communication qualification
• Masters degree or working towards

Competences

Essential criteria

• Good time management and prioritisation skills
• Ability to work independently and within a team
• Good verbal and written communication, teaching and presentation skills
• IT literate, MS word, PowerPoint, Excel skills
• Ability to influence current practice and influence change
• Patient education/counselling skills
• Awareness of national cancer agenda and guidelines
• Flexible team player
• Manages responsibility, pressure and emotional circumstances
• Enthusiastic, motivated and commitment to self-development
• Advanced listening skills

Desirable criteria

• Audit and research experience
• Report writing experience
• Project management

Experience
Essential criteria

• Current experience working in cancer clinical services at band 6
• Experience in training and education of clinical staff
• Leadership and management experience
• Ability to lead and influence change

Desirable criteria

• Experience of running nurse led clinics
• Team management experience
• Previous experience working as a clinical nurse specialist
• Experience or audit and research

Frimley Health NHS Foundation Trust (FHFT) is proud of its strong reputation, record of achievement and ambition for the future. We serve a population of over 900,000 people across Berkshire, Hampshire, Surrey and South Buckinghamshire, and remain committed to improving the health and wellbeing of our communities.
Our new organisational strategy – FHFT 2030 – sets out our ambition to be the best place to receive care and the best place to work in the NHS. Underpinned by our Trust values –
Committed to Excellence, Working Together, Facing the Future
, and being a modern, compassionate, Healthcare Organisation – we are creating a culture where our people can thrive and patients always come first.
We continue to invest heavily in our services and facilities. This includes the development of a new hospital at Frimley Park, major expansion of diagnostics and inpatient capacity, and the continued transformation of services across our sites. We have already delivered a brand-new £100m state-of-the-art Heatherwood Hospital, a £49m Emergency Assessment Centre at Wexham Park, and a £10m upgrade to maternity services.
We are also committed to sustainability and the NHS Net Zero ambition. Our new hospital and estate developments are being designed to be environmentally responsible, energy efficient, and future-proofed, featuring on-site renewables energy and intelligent energy systems. Through our green plan, we are embedding sustainable practices across all areas of care and operations, ensuring we reduce our environmental impact while improving population health and wellbeing. Our staff are key to helps us deliver on our ambition and to ensure sustainability is a core component of care delivery and our operations.
Alongside estates' investments, we are embedding a strong focus on digital innovation and quality improvement. Our electronic patient record (Epic), launched in 2024, is already enabling safer, more connected, and more effective care for patients, while giving staff the tools they need to do their best work. Our electronic patient record also supports safe and effective digitised care pathways, savings time and carbon, whilst delivering excellent quality of care.
Everything we do is guided by our values, shaping how we care for patients, support colleagues, and build a sustainable future for healthcare together.
Apply online now