Job summary
Are you passionate about supporting patients affected by head and neck cancer?

An exciting opportunity has arisen for a motivated and compassionate registered nurse to join the Head and Neck Cancer Clinical Nurse Specialist Team at Bristol Dental Hospital.

As a Band 6 Clinical Nurse Specialist, you will provide expert advice, support and education to patients and their families throughout the head and neck cancer pathway, from diagnosis and treatment through to survivorship, palliative and end-of-life care.

Working within a specialist multidisciplinary team, you will develop expertise in complex head and neck cancer care, including reconstructive surgery, wound management, tracheostomy and laryngectomy care, and oncology treatments such as chemo-radiotherapy.

This is an excellent opportunity for a nurse with an interest in cancer care to develop specialist clinical skills, contribute to education, audit and service improvement, and make a meaningful difference to patients facing a life-changing diagnosis.

Why Join Us?

• Develop specialist expertise in head and neck cancer care.
• Work within an experienced and supportive multidisciplinary team.
• Gain experience in complex surgical, airway and oncology care.
• Contribute to education, research and service improvement.
• Make a lasting difference to patients and families throughout their cancer journey.

Main duties of the job
The successful candidate will:

• Provide specialist nursing advice, education and support to patients diagnosed with head and neck cancer and their families throughout their cancer journey.
• Coordinate and support care pathways from diagnosis through treatment, recovery, survivorship, palliative care and end-of-life care.
• Act as a key worker and patient advocate, ensuring patients understand their treatment options and can make informed decisions about their care.
• Support patients undergoing major head and neck surgery, complex reconstruction, skin grafting and specialist wound management.
• Develop expertise in the management of complex airways including tracheostomies and laryngectomies.
• Support patients receiving curative and palliative chemotherapy, radiotherapy and systemic anti-cancer treatments.
• Work closely with consultants, allied health professionals, ward teams, community teams and primary care colleagues to ensure seamless and coordinated care.
• Provide specialist advice regarding symptom control, supportive care and rehabilitation needs.
• Contribute to multidisciplinary team meetings, service development, audit, research and quality improvement initiatives.
• Deliver education and training to patients, carers and healthcare professionals across the organisation.

About us
Bristol NHS Foundation Trust brings together more than 28,000 staff to deliver over 160 clinical services across thirteen hospital locations, operating from three main sites at Southmead, Bristol city centre and Weston.

With an annual turnover of £2.3 billion, we are now one of the largest NHS trusts in the United Kingdom. Our hospitals are spread across Bristol and Weston, join us and you can enjoy the very best of both worlds; city living within a stone's throw of the countryside or beside the seaside, both with easy access to all that the South West has to offer.

Bristol NHS Foundation Trust values all people as individuals. As an equal opportunities employer actively working towards a diverse workforce we aim to recruit and retain a workforce which represents the rich diversity of the local population at all levels and are committed to designing our services around the needs of individual patients and those around them. Anonymous information will be used from your application in order to ensure we're meeting our pledge.

Details
Date posted: 16 September 2026
Pay scheme: Agenda for change
Band: Band 6
Salary: £39,959 to £48,117 a year
PA pro rata
Contract: Permanent
Working pattern: Full-time, Part-time, Job share
Reference number: 387-S1346-LGG
Job locations: Bristol Dental Hospital, Level 2 Chapter House, Bristol, BS1 2LY, United Kingdom

Job responsibilities
For full details of the role, responsibilities and person specification, please see the attached Job Description.

Person Specification
Education and qualifications
Essential

• First-level registered nurse
• Current NMC registration
• Relevant post-registration qualification at Level 6/7, or willingness to work towards
• Teaching and assessing qualification, or willingness to work towards

Knowledge, skills and abilities
Essential

• Strong organisation and time-management skills
• Ability to teach, support and develop others
• Able to work effectively under pressure and solve problems
• Flexible and adaptable to changing service needs
• Able to work independently and as part of a team
• Able to manage emotionally challenging situations and support others
• Knowledge of national and local issues relevant to the specialty
• Confident IT skills, including email and Microsoft Office
• Able to act as a role model, mentor and assessor
• Supports innovation, practice development and policy change
• Understands professional responsibilities to self, patients and colleagues
• Committed to delivering and improving high-quality nursing care
• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills
• Awareness of current national nursing and NHS developments

Experience
Essential

• Relevant post-registration experience in head and neck cancer care
• Leadership and management experience
• Experience of teaching or supporting staff development
• Experience of audit, research or quality improvement activity
• Evidence of commitment to evidence-based practice or project work
• Experience as a preceptor or mentor

Disclosure and Barring Service Check
This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.

Certificate of Sponsorship
Applications from job seekers who require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website (Opens in a new tab).

From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants, applying for entry clearance into the UK, have had to present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Adult dependants (over 18 years old) are also subject to this requirement. Guidance can be found here Criminal records checks for overseas applicants (Opens in a new tab).

UK Registration
Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see NHS Careers website (opens in a new window).

This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.

Applications from job seekers who require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website (Opens in a new tab).

From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants, applying for entry clearance into the UK, have had to present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Adult dependants (over 18 years old) are also subject to this requirement. Guidance can be found here Criminal records checks for overseas applicants (Opens in a new tab).

Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see NHS Careers website (opens in a new window).

Employer details
Employer name: Bristol NHS Foundation Trust
Address: Bristol Dental Hospital, Level 2 Chapter House, Bristol, BS1 2LY, United Kingdom
Employer's website: https://www.uhbw.nhs.uk/ (Opens in a new tab)

Employer contact details
For questions about the job, contact: Head and Neck CNS
Donna Graham or Tamsin Marsh
Head&NeckCNS@uhbw.nhs.uk
01173427495

Supporting documents
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