Job summary
We are recruiting for a Acute Oncology Nurse Specialist who shares our vision to be trusted to provide consistently outstanding care and exemplary service to our patients.

An exciting opportunity has arisen for an enthusiastic and motivated Nurse Specialist to join our dynamic and expanding Acute Oncology Service (AOS) Nursing Team.

Mount Vernon Cancer Centre (MVCC) is a renowned Tertiary Hospital at the forefront of Cancer Care in the UK, with exciting plans for the future.

This post will enable the current team to develop the AOS at MVCC, by supporting the AOS Clinical Nurse Specialists (CNS) team in providing advice and support to patients who experience acute symptoms of their cancer and/or treatment.

They will be working collaboratively with the advanced clinical practitioners (ACP) and the multi-disciplinary team (MDT) to ensure efficient patient pathways, positive patient experience and safe discharge.

This is an excellent opportunity for an experienced nurse to develop their skills and knowledge of AOS within a supportive and positive learning environment.

In addition, you will receive a High-Cost Area Supplement of 15% of your basic salary, subject to a minimum payment of £4,870 and a maximum payment of £6,137 per annum pro rata.

At the heart of everything we do are our core values:Include,Respect, andImprove. We encourage you to embrace these values throughout the recruitment process and in your role with us.

Main duties of the job
The Nurse Specialist will provide support to the AOS Clinical Nurse Specialists (CNS) team in providing advice and support to patients who experience acute symptoms of their cancer and/or treatment.

You will hold the 24-hr/7-day week telephone triage during day time shift and a being part of the 5-day week face-to-face AOS Assessment Unit.

The post holder will work collaboratively with the advanced clinical practitioners (ACP) and the multi-disciplinary team (MDT) to ensure efficient patient pathways, positive patient experience and safe discharge, as well prioritise admissions to inpatient ward according to admission criteria.

You will also be required to be flexible in the approach to the clinical area and provide cover for any MVCC area specified, acting as professional role model, providing direct and indirect clinical care, teaching and research.

About us
At East and North Hertfordshire Teaching NHS Trust, we are proud of the range of general and specialist services we provide and our 6,000 or so dedicated staff ensure our patients get the best care. Our ability to be flexible and innovative in the way in which we work and deliver our services to our catchment has never been more important than it is now.

We run the following hospitals:

• The Lister Hospital, Stevenage
• New Queen Elizabeth II (New QEII), Welwyn Garden City
• Hertford County, Hertford
• Mount Vernon Cancer Centre (MVCC), Northwood

We have ambitious plans to become an outstanding, patient-led Trust where dedicated staff provide high-quality, compassionate care to our patients. We continue to undergo significant transformation, and our staff and patients are at the heart of delivering this ambitious agenda.

We are committed to a positive work life balance for our employees. This means that any employee is entitled to seek to work flexible working patterns and we are committed to listen and consider all requests. Such requests, of course, have to be made and considered formally, and will need to be balanced against service needs, but our starting point will always be to find ways to support making them happen.

Job responsibilities
Please see the attached Job Description and Person Specification from the application pack for further detailed information regarding this role.

ENHT is seeking to maintain and expand the Mount Vernon Cancer Centre staff as we move to an exciting new future.

We welcome applications from those who would relish the opportunity to be part of new and developing cancer service, building on the excellent reputation, research and patient experience the Cancer Centre already delivers.

Qualifications/Training
Essential

• Registered Nurse Oncology related qualification
• Degree in Cancer / Palliative Care
• Completion of SACT competency training
• ILS

Desirable

• Advanced physical assessment / non-medical prescribing
• ALS
• Recognised leadership qualification

Previous Experience
Essential

• Previous ExperiencePrevious nursing experience with of Oncology / Hematology / Chemotherapy / Palliative clinical experience, and be willing to undertake additional training
• Experience of administrating cytotoxic agents within Oncology setting

Desirable

• Evidence of presentation skills and experience of public speaking at local / national levels
• Experience of audit and research process
• Evidence of service improvements and research
• Evidence of leadership / management experience

Skills
Essential

• Excellent communication skills
• Interpersonal, written and verbal
• Professional and pro-active attitude, including the ability to problem solve utilizing resources available
• Self-motivated and ability to motivate others
• Evidence of multi-disciplinary team working
• Demonstrates importance of and ability to work as part of a team
• Ability to work on own initiative and prioritize workload
• Organisational and time management skills
• Ability to remain calm when under pressure
• Understanding of the actual / potential emotional impact of working with oncology patients on self and others
• I.T. Competence in the usual applications - database, spreadsheet and presentation software, etc

Desirable

• Clinical leadership skills
• Act as specialist nursing resource / practice educator or supervisor in line with local needs
• Evidence of developing others
• Ability to represent the department at meetings of internal, local, regional and national bodies and institutions

Knowledge
Essential

• Knowledge of Oncology conditions and acute oncological emergencies
• Up to date knowledge of professional practice issues

Desirable

• Relevant knowledge of local and national audits and the ability to implement recommendations
• Ability to problem solve, evaluate risk and manage complex situations
• Experience of understanding and contributing to clinical governance policy

Other Requirements
Essential

• Understanding of, and commitment to, equality, diversity and inclusion
• Role model our Trust values every day
• Ability to travel to other locations as required
• Ability to cover shift pattern including weekends and Bank Holidays (not including nights)

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.
Applicants must have current UK professional registration.