East Kent Hospitals University NHS Foundation Trust
Paediatric Oncology Clinical Nurse Specialist Lead
The closing date is 22 November 2026

Job summary
Paediatric Oncology Lead Clinical Nurse Specialist Lead the future of paediatric cancer care in East Kent.

This is a unique opportunity to join East Kent Hospitals' new POSCU Enhanced Level A service as our Paediatric Oncology Lead Clinical Nurse Specialist. Working in partnership with community and regional colleagues, including Evelina Children's Hospital, you will help shape and deliver an innovative service that supports children and young people with cancer from diagnosis through treatment and into survivorship.

As a clinical leader, you will combine expert patient care with service development, education and workforce leadership, ensuring children and families receive outstanding, coordinated and compassionate care close to home. You'll work across hospital settings, influence the future direction of the service, and play a pivotal role in developing paediatric oncology services across East Kent.

We're looking for an experienced and motivated paediatric oncology nurse who is passionate about improving outcomes, leading change and inspiring others. In return, you'll join a supportive organisation committed to professional development, innovation and making a lasting difference to the lives of children, young people and their families.

Main duties of the job
As the Paediatric Oncology Lead Clinical Nurse Specialist, you will lead and coordinate specialist cancer care for children and young people across East Kent, ensuring high-quality, compassionate and family-centred care from diagnosis through treatment and into survivorship. You will play a key role in developing East Kent's POSCU Enhanced Level A service.

You will manage a specialist caseload, provide expert advice and support to children, families and professionals, coordinate complex care pathways, and lead education, service improvement, audit and quality initiatives across the region.

We're looking for an experienced paediatric oncology nurse with the expertise, leadership skills and passion to help shape the future of paediatric cancer care in East Kent.

You will have significant paediatric oncology experience, strong clinical leadership skills, and the ability to build effective relationships with children, families and multidisciplinary teams. You will thrive in collaborative environments, be passionate about education and service improvement, and be able to work autonomously while managing complex situations. Above all, you will demonstrate compassion, resilience and a commitment to delivering outstanding care.

This is an exciting opportunity to influence the future of paediatric oncology services and make a lasting difference to children, young people and their families across East Kent.

About us
We are one of the largest hospital trusts in England, with five hospitals and community clinics serving a local population of around 800,000 people. Our vision is 'great healthcare from great people'. Everything we do is guided by our values: 'People feel cared for, safe, respected and confident that we are making a difference'. We have a new way of working at East Kent Hospitals, called 'We care'. It's about empowering frontline staff to lead improvements day-to-day. We're looking for compassionate people to be part of our improvement journey for the patients, families and carers we care for every day.

Please note that if you require a Certificate of Sponsorship to work in the UK you must declare this on your application form, even if you currently have a certificate of sponsorship or a work permit for another role and are already working in the country. Please note we are only able to sponsor candidates for a Skilled Worker Visa for roles that are eligible at the time of application.

Details
Date posted: 09 November 2026
Pay scheme: Agenda for change
Band: Band 7
Salary: £49,387 to £56,515 a year per annum
Contract: Permanent
Working pattern: Full-time, Flexible working
Reference number: 344-9104WCY-A
Job locations: William Harvey Hospital, Ashford, TN24 0LZ, United Kingdom

Job responsibilities
Please scroll down to access the full Job Description and Person Specification located in Documents to download.
If you have further queries please dont hesitate to contact the line manager using the contact details below.

Person Specification
Qualifications and training
Essential

• NMC Registered Nurse (Child) current registration.
• First degree or equivalent.
• Post-graduate accredited course in Children's Cancer Practice Assessor/Supervisor or equivalent.
• Evidence of CPD and ongoing professional development relevant to oncology specialty.

Desirable

• masters degree, Leadership qualification
• Independent/Non-Medical Prescribing.
• Advanced assessment/clinical examination module
• Good Clinical Practice (GCP) certificate

Clinical skills and experience
Essential

• Substantial recent paediatric oncology experience (at band 6) in either inpatient/outpatient/community settings
• Competent with central venous access/IV therapy and delivery of bolus and infusional SACT.
• Experience of leading/supporting audit/quality improvement projects
• Ability to provide clinical training and education
• Experience of managing teams
• Coordination of caseload.
• Leadership and change management.

Desirable

• Previous Band 7/CNS experience within oncology speciality.
• Experience in transition clinics
• Evidence of presentations at local, regional/ national level
• Research/publication involvement.

Governance
Essential

• Experience of risk management/incident reporting and information governance
• Up-to-date knowledge of the NMC Code Safeguarding Children and Young People, Equality, diversity and inclusion.

Desirable

• Experience developing clinical guidelines/protocols
• Managing incidents and complaints.

Personal/professional attributes
Essential

• Able to travel across EKHUFT sites
• Willing to support cross-cover of related services
• Able to cover five-day service delivery Monday to Friday
• Knowledge of national CYP cancer strategies/NICE guidance.
• Ability to work flexibly, autonomously and across organisational boundaries.
• Teaching/coaching
• IT literacy
• Excellent time-management

Desirable

• Presentation at regional/national forums
• People management experience e.g. sickness

Other Requirements
Essential

• Able to travel across EKHUFT sites.
• Willing to support cross-cover of related services.
• Five-day service delivery.

Desirable

• Full UK Driving License

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.
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.

UK Registration
Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see NHS Careers website.

Employer details
Employer name: East Kent Hospitals University NHS Foundation Trust
Address: William Harvey Hospital, Ashford, TN24 0LZ, United Kingdom
Employer's website: https://www.ekhuft.nhs.uk/patients-and-visitors/

Employer contact details
For questions about the job, contact: Service Improvement Matron, Natalie Oliver Hendy, natalieoliver-hendy@nhs.net, 07971177308

Supporting documents
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