Specialist Screening Practitioner

The South of Tyne Bowel Cancer Screening Centre is looking to recruit an enthusiastic committed individual to their Specialist Screening Practitioner (SSP) team. The centre has been successfully providing the screening service in South of Tyne to all 60 - 74 years olds since February 2007, we have recently implemented extension to age 56 and 58 years and will continue to extend during the next 2 years to age 50.

To support the Lead Specialist Screening Practitioner in delivering the Bowel Cancer Screening Programme across the South of Tyne Bowel Cancer Screening Centre (South Tyneside & Sunderland, and Gateshead NHS Foundation Trusts) as part of a SSP team by:

- Working collaboratively with the Hub
- Co-ordinating and providing care from the screening centre to address the needs of individuals, arising as a consequent of the Screening Programme
- Acting as the patient’s advocate, supporting them to navigate and make informed choices at all stages of the screening programme
- To assist the Health Improvement Practitioner in the co-ordination of health promotion activities with local health promotion services to improve access to screening across all sections of the population.

We aim to attract and retain a talented and committed workforce, who are caring and compassionate, and therefore able to meet the demands of the modern NHS now and in the future. In return we can offer a dynamic working environment in which to build a career.

The post holder would be part of a multi-disciplinary team taking a patient centered approach to delivery a high standard of care. The post holder would be expected to;
- Successfully undertake and complete a course of recognised study as determined by NHS Cancer Screening Programme.
- Undertake 3 days residential training course for BCSS (or Microsoft teams as directed)
- Work in capacity aligned to national screening standards for SSP
- Assist and support professionals from the multi-disciplinary team with agreed clinical, administrative activities
- Have the ability to concentrate and manage multiple tasks within a busy environment, managing interruptions and queries during clinic sessions.
- Work without direct supervision in the detailed and accurate capture of clinical information during bowel scope examinations, to uphold screening service reputation.
- Advise clinical staff of examination criteria as mandated by the NHS Cancer Screening Programme
- Will take responsibility for managing own usage of supplied equipment
- Adhere to good practice and Trust policy when assessing and implementing manual handling techniques
- Work unsupervised and plan ahead in the preparation of examination rooms when assisting during varied work lists
- Use initiative to maintain work flow and ensure minimum waiting times, liaising with senior staff if problems/ potential problems arise
- Provide support to patients pre, during and post endoscopic examinations
- Ensure all areas and equipment are kept clean and tidy in accordance with Trust infection control policy
- Safely handle pathology specimens in the appropriate manner, observing Trust infection control procedures and ensuring specimens are correctly identified and transported to pathology department
- Will ensure that all bowel specimens are checked with a qualified nurse prior to transportation
- Will work with BCSS ensuring all data is correctly inputted and presented correctly to progress the patient pathway
- Must audit own work according to NHSBCSP standards
- Will have the knowledge to provide patients/clients with accurate basic information on benign bowel conditions.
- Adhere to code of practice for safe administration of medicines.
- Restock bowel preparation supplies from pharmacy, ensuring rotation of stock including monitoring of expiry dates
- Participate in BCSP Quality Assurance duties and maintenance of CQC evidence under supervision of a Screening Practitioner
- Ensure efficient and timely workflow in the endoscopy procedure room
- Have good IT skills to enable them to work with BCSS and Microsoft Office packages

Must work in accordance with Gateshead Health NHS FT and departmental policies and protocols