Colorectal Junior Clinical Nurse Specialist

Colorectal Junior Clinical Nurse Specialist NHS AfC: Band 6

Main area: Colorectal Nursing

Grade: NHS AfC: Band 6

Contract: Permanent

Hours: Full time - 37.5 hours per week (Monday to Friday)

Job ref: 293-SWNS-0428

Site: Homerton Healthcare Foundation Trust

Town: London

Salary period: Yearly

Closing: 20/02/:59

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Job overview

We are looking for a motivated and dedicated individual to join the Colorectal Cancer Nursing Team. The ideal candidate will bring experience and expertise in colorectal surgery and cancer nursing.

This role requires a proactive, self-driven individual capable of managing complex care pathways, ensuring the highest standards of care and service delivery for all patients. You should possess excellent communication skills, the ability to manage your workload efficiently, and strong problem-solving abilities. A strong team player, you should also be comfortable working autonomously.

You will provide support to patients diagnosed with bowel cancer throughout their journey, from diagnosis to treatment. You will offer nursing care in both inpatient and outpatient settings, working closely with the Band 7 Colorectal CNS to ensure the best possible care for patients and their families. On occasion, you will also assist with stoma care, particularly when the Stoma Care CNS is on leave.

This is a developmental role, with support available through a well-established framework of core cancer capabilities and formal educational opportunities. There is potential for the position to transition to a permanent Band 7 role after 18 months, pending successful completion of competencies and demonstration of proficiency at the Band 7 level.

Main duties of the job

• Effectively manage a caseload of patients following established protocols and care pathways.
• Provide specialist nursing advice, clinical assessment, and support to patients, their families, and other healthcare professionals from diagnosis, treatment, and follow-up pathways, including onward referral for end-of-life care if applicable.
• Offer cancer follow-up and surveillance services for colorectal cancer patients.
• Provide comprehensive support to patients and their families, addressing clinical, emotional, psychological, and social needs.
• Provide assistance across all Colorectal services as needed (STT, 2WW, Colorectal Cancer, Stoma care, Cancer Surveillance).
• Be an integral part of the established cancer team and specialist MDT, acting as a patient advocate and expert colorectal cancer nurse, coordinating patient care, and maintaining excellent communication for coordinated care between sites.
• Play a key role in developing nursing expertise in colorectal cancer to improve patient experiences and ensuring a high standard of evidence-based nursing care continuity.
• Develop a proactive role in health promotion to increase awareness of colorectal cancer among professionals and the public.
• Educate nursing, medical, and other staff groups about colorectal cancer management and serve as a resource for these groups.
• Conduct clinical audits and service evaluations to enhance practice.
• Develop nurse-led services as required to support service development.

Working for our organisation

Homerton Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust is a high-performing and flourishing organisation serving the population of Hackney, East London, The City and beyond. We are extremely proud of the fact that Homerton Hospital has attained the highest possible rating of "Outstanding" from the Care Quality Commission (CQC).

Our integrated Trust provides comprehensive hospital and community health services for its local population and a range of specialist services for a wider group of patients. In addition, the Trust manages services out of St Leonard's Hospital and the Mary Seacole Nursing Home.

Homerton aims to ensure equality and value diversity, and we are committed to inclusion for all of our staff. This is reflected in our policies, procedures, and People Plan. All of our staff are expected to embody our Trust values at all times.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

The full job description provides an overview of the key tasks and responsibilities of the role, and the person specification outlines the qualifications, skills, experience, and knowledge required. For both documents, please view attachments.

Person specification Education / Qualifications

• BSc Adult Nursing or equivalent.
• Ability to think and practice at first degree level.
• Foundation Course in Cancer Care.
• Relevant post-registration courses at level 6/7.

Skills/ Abilities

• Good written & verbal communications skills in the English language
• Problem solving, ability to identify problems, review options and take appropriate action without a predetermined framework.
• Ability to work autonomously and as part of a team.
• Ability to work flexibly to meet the needs of the service and support others.
• Established organisational and leadership skills.

Experience

• Minimum of 2 years post-registration experience.
• Experience in an acute surgical/colorectal setting.
• Experience of caring for people with colorectal cancer.
• Experience of supporting practice/service development in clinical areas.
• Experience of change management and/or Clinical Governance.

Knowledge

• Sound knowledge of colorectal conditions.
• Knowledge of cancer treatments/pathways.

General Guidance for Applicants

Please ensure that you read the "Guidance Notes On Submitting An Application" under "Additional Documentation" before completing your application.

Please note: we reserve the right to expire vacancies prior to the advertised closing date once a sufficient number of applications have been received.

We are committed to achieving equality and inclusion at Homerton Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust, and we respect and value the diversity and differences of our patients and our people, ensuring everyone is enabled to thrive, feels a sense of belonging, and is able to be their authentic self. We offer a range of flexible working options that enable you to balance your work and personal life, including part-time, compressed hours, remote working, and job-shares.

If you are interested in joining our team, please let us know your preferred working pattern in your application, and we will consider all requests for flexible working and try to accommodate them wherever possible.

Please note that secondment arrangements will be considered for any fixed-term positions, with the agreement of the existing line manager.

We are committed to equal opportunities and have been approved as a Disability Confident Employer.

Employer certification / accreditation badges

You must have appropriate UK professional registration.

This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975 (Amendment) (England and Wales) Order 2020 and it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service.