Detailed job description and main responsibilities

They need to be functioning well in a team setting as well as under their own initiative and who can respond to changing service priorities with this patient group. They will be responsible for working as an autonomous expert practitioner with support of the senior CNS team, able to make critical holistic clinical decisions through assessment, monitoring and planning.  Facilitating timely investigations, coordinating care & providing information to enable patients to make informed choices. A highly proportion of our patients diagnosed with UGI cancer have palliative diagnosis therefore the post holder will need to be prepared for the distressing nature of this role and have mechanisms in place to manage their psychological wellbeing.

The post holder will assist senior CNS with operational responsibility for the Upper GI, HPB and CUP cancer CNS workload and support the wider MDT team on group and individual activities surrounding patients and family care. They will have excellent communication skills, strong leadership, management, and interpersonal skills with the ability to drive change to ensure that the cancer service in the Trust is both safe and effective. The post holder will be a highly visible presence across the specialty, they will work to ensure the highest standards of care, setting and maintaining standards of clinical excellence and continuously improving experiences for patients, families and carers. You will deliver and support high standards and quality of clinical care both as a direct care giver and indirectly through the support and education of the wider workforce. 

This rapidly expanding modern and busy unit offers many training opportunities for their staff and, recent developments have led to opening of a new Cancer Centre which opened in early 2020 and a radiotherapy unit opened early 2025 in partnership with Oxford University Hospital. This developing service is supported by a forward thinking & supportive Management Team, Nurse Practitioners, Palliative Care Team & Macmillan Information and Support Centre. We firmly believe in holistic care, complementary therapy, clinical psychology and Citizen Advice Bureau all have clinics in the unit. We also offer carers and patient support groups.

Opportunities to develop professionally and personally. Disclosure and Barring Service Checks may be required for new employees.  Milton Keynes is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment. If you have experience in upper GI, HPB and CUP clinical nursing, we welcome your application

Nurse - Patient Relationship:

• To support and advise hospital nursing staff, medical staff and other healthcare professionals, enabling them to fulfil their role in caring for patients with Cancer whilst also recognising the needs of their families and carers.
• To establish a relationship of trust with patients, carers and families.

Management of Patient health/illness status:

• To act as a Nurse Specialist in the management of patient illness, demonstrating evidence based clinical skills and knowledge to professional staff and patients.
• To work collaboratively with other clinicians involved in the delivery of cancer care to achieve evidence based best practice.

Education: 

• Identify the ongoing training and educational needs of patients, their carers and their families in relation to the prevention, treatment and management of Cancer.
• To provide guidance and advice to promote health, reduce risk factions and prevent disease disability.

Professional role:

• To work with the ACP/CNS’ to analyse and interpret national recommendations, i.e. NICE guidance and formulate action plans to achieve compliance from a nursing perspective.
• To work with the ACP/CNS to review public health data / information in evaluating patients’ needs, pattern of disease and effectiveness of interventions / programme of care.

 Operational:

• Demonstrates clinical skills and knowledge in the assessment, planning and development of the Cancer service.
• Assist the ACP/Lead CNS in business and management strategies for the provision of quality care in Cancer and the efficient use of resources. 

Personal Development:

• To maintain own personal and professional growth through participating in annual review, with their appraiser identifying their development needs and implementing a personal development plan.
• Demonstrate evidence-based care.

Please refer to the Job Description for further details.