Rapid Diagnostic

Job summary

An exciting opportunity has arisen to implement a new Rapid Diagnostic Service Lung Cancer Clinical Nurse Specialist role within the respiratory and cancer services team.

This will be a supported 12-month development role supporting the successful post holder to gain clinical skills, knowledge of the pathway and embedding a new service within respiratory for the suspected lung cancer pathway.

As the post holder you will be responsible for embedding this new role within the clinical team, streamlining and improving the experience of the triage process for suspected lung cancer patients and helping to improve the performance against the 28-day Faster Diagnosis Standard (FDS) and Best Practice Timed Pathways (BPTP).

To be responsible for providing high standards of holistic nursing to all suspected lung cancer patients and their family/carers across East Lancashire NHS Trust ensuring ongoing provision of support, education and guidance.

To work autonomously as well as part of the wider Multi-Disciplinary Team (MDT) being accountable for own professional practice.

Work as a resourceful member of the Lung Cancer CNS team; supporting in ongoing service development, liaising effectively with all members of the MDT.

Work closely with the Lung Cancer Navigator to minimise delays and ensure that all suspected lung cancer patients experience the same level of care and have the same chance of receiving a definitive diagnosis or exclusion of lung cancer.

Main duties of the job

To triage all Urgent Suspected Cancer referrals into the Respiratory service and conduct telephone assessments or face to face as appropriate to determine further investigations required in collaboration with the clinical team.

Deliver nurse-led 2 week rule clinics delivering results to patients who have a confirmed cancer diagnosis.

The role requires the nurse to support medical staff and act as patient advocate to ensure the delivery of care is focused on the definitive diagnosis of lung cancer

The post holder will support the close monitoring of non-cancer patients ensuring they are stepped down from the pathway at the earliest opportunity

They will be actively involved with MDT planning, implementation and outcomes.

To actively seek to reduce the time and steps on the pathway to facilitate patients rapidly moving through to diagnosis and treatment

Work with the cancer alliance and Primary Care to improve referral quality.

They must be aware of resources/ referral criteria which enhance the patient/carer experiences.

The post holder will assess people's information needs and provides relevant information to meet those needs.

They will enable people to access, identify, appraise, and interpret information, to determine their own future and promote a culture that supports self-management where appropriate.

About us

Leads the nursing contribution to service development, ensuring the pursuit of excellence in care.

Able to work autonomy, prioritise and organise own workload, recognising when to escalate concerns regarding workload/cover in a timely and solution focused manner.

Able to work as part of a large multi-disciplinary team (MDT) and adapt to the role of mediator/ protagonist to improve service provision.

Be flexible and aware of the need to cover clinics/colleagues/ services within Respiratory Services across East Lancashire Hospitals Trust flexible working across ELHT sites.

Influences, develops and implements clinical and operational guidelines and policies internally and externally. Monitors adherence and ensures regular reviews.

Constructively use role to improve services and identify areas for service or policy change. Support others effectively during times of change.

Report incidents and risks using the Trust governance process.

Be able to work autonomously, prioritise and organise own workload, recognising when to escalate concerns regarding workload/cover in a timely and solution-focused manner.

Participates in Cancer Alliance Service Reviews to drive service improvement through the task & finish group.

Job description

Job responsibilities

Acts as a role model for excellent advanced communication skills and expertise.

Demonstrates skills in conflict resolution and competent negotiation skills when dealing with difficult or challenging situations.

Takes personal responsibility for ensuring effective communication between all service providers.

Actively participates in multi-professional meetings, acting as patient advocate and representing nursing views.

Communicate effectively with wide range of people in a manner consistent with their level of understanding, culture and background and preferred ways of understanding.

Communicate sensitive and complex information to patients and relatives/carers with empathy and compassion considering, and overcoming, barriers to effective communication.

Maintain comprehensive and accurate assessment and treatment records in line with legal requirements and ensure adherence to information governance.

Able to communicate concise, accurate and clear information to the MDT, patients, families and carers and others, respecting the requirement for confidentiality and sharing only what is necessary.

Defines a clear care pathway, refers to other professionals and sign-posts to other agencies as appropriate.

Represent at relevant internal and alliance directorate meetings and be prepared to take the lead in terms of preparing and presenting meetings.

Aware of legislation/NICE/NHSE/BPTP/local and national cancer strategies and their effect on service provision for lung cancer patients and their families.

Person Specification

Role Specific

Essential

Minimum 2 years post registration experience, including experience at Band 6 - preferably in respiratory or cancer Advanced Communication Skills or willing to cundertake Registered General Nurse Leadership and motivational skills Ability to develop effective interpersonal relationships with colleagues across health and social care settings Ability to work autonomously and as part of a team Intermediate IT skills in word processing and spreadsheets

Desirable

Understanding of National Cancer Agenda Able to influence and overcome resistance through application of advanced communication skills Motivational Interviewing experience Experience delivering nurse-led clinics Participation in service development and implementation of change

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