Job Summary
An exciting opportunity has arisen for an experienced and dynamic Deputy Cross-Site Clinical Nurse Specialist (Band 8a) to join the Breast Screening Services at the Royal Free London NHS Foundation Trust.

We are seeking an innovative and compassionate clinical leader with a strong commitment to delivering high-quality, patient-centred care and improving outcomes while reducing health inequalities.

This pivotal role supports the Lead CNS in providing clinical, operational, and strategic leadership across four services: North London, Central and East London, West of London, and Outer North East London Breast Screening Services. The post-holder will play a key role in strengthening nurse-led pathways and ensuring a consistent, high-quality service in line with NHSBSP standards.

Working closely with multidisciplinary teams, the role will support service development, enhance patient experience, and improve access across a diverse population. There is a strong focus on integration, standardisation, and continuous improvement across the screening pathway.

The successful candidate will bring extensive breast cancer experience, strong leadership skills, and the ability to drive improvement across a complex multi-site service.

Main Duties of the Job

• Support the Lead CNS in providing strategic and operational leadership across multiple breast screening services
• Deliver expert clinical advice and leadership in complex patient care and breast screening pathways
• Ensure the delivery of safe, high-quality, and patient-centred care in line with NHSBSP standards
• Lead, support, and develop the CNS workforce, including supervision, appraisal, and performance management
• Contribute to service improvement, transformation, and quality assurance initiatives across all sites
• Work collaboratively with multidisciplinary teams to ensure effective, seamless patient pathways
• Support clinical governance, including audit, incident management, risk management, and complaints handling
• Promote equity of access and lead initiatives to reduce health inequalities across the service population
• Deputise for the Lead CNS, providing leadership, oversight, and decision-making as required

About Us
The Royal Free London NHS Foundation Trust is one of the UK's biggest and most innovative trusts. Across three main hospitals, our dedicated army of staff care for over 1.6 million patients, treat more than 200,000 in A&E, deliver over 8,000 babies and carry out more than 17 million tests.

Our size, scale and influence offer you unrivalled career opportunities and a forward-thinking approach to working that works around your lifestyle. From flexible hours and generous benefits, to next level training, we make it easier to take your career to the top.

For more information please follow link https://www.royalfreelondonjobs.co.uk/

Person Specification
Royal Free World Class Values
Essential

• Demonstrable ability to meet the Trust Values

Education & Professional Qualifications
Essential

• Registered Nurse (RN) with current NMC registration
• Degree in Nursing or relevant healthcare discipline (or equivalent experience)
• Postgraduate qualification in cancer care / breast care or equivalent
• Evidence of continuing professional development (CPD)
• Teaching, mentorship or leadership qualification (or willingness to work towards)

Desirable

• Have/Working towards a Master's level qualification

Experience
Essential

• Significant post-registration experience in breast cancer care at senior CNS level
• Experience of managing complex patient pathways across screening, diagnosis, and treatment
• Experience of leading or contributing to service development and quality improvement initiatives
• Experience of clinical leadership, including supervision, mentorship, and line management of staff
• Experience of managing complaints, incidents, and contributing to investigations
• Experience of multidisciplinary team (MDT) working and collaboration across organisations
• Experience of audit, governance, and performance monitoring

Desirable

• Experience of working within the NHS Breast Screening Programme (NHSBSP)

Knowledge
Essential

• In-depth knowledge of breast cancer care pathways and treatment options
• Knowledge of clinical governance, risk management, and patient safety frameworks
• Understanding of current national policies, strategic priorities, and health inequalities within cancer services
• Knowledge of safeguarding principles and responsibilities
• Understanding of workforce planning, service delivery, and performance management

Desirable

• Comprehensive understanding of NHSBSP standards, targets, and quality assurance processes

Skills and Aptitudes
Desirable

• Excellent leadership and team management skills
• Highly developed communication skills, including the ability to convey complex and sensitive information
• Ability to provide expert clinical advice and support in complex situations
• Strong organisational and prioritisation skills with the ability to manage competing demands
• Ability to analyse and interpret complex data and use it to inform decision-making
• Ability to influence, negotiate, and work collaboratively across multidisciplinary and organisational boundaries
• Ability to manage and resolve conflict and challenging situations effectively
• Strong problem-solving and decision-making skills
• Ability to lead change and support service transformation initiatives

Personal Qualities & Attributes
Essential

• Excellent leadership and team management skills
• Highly developed communication skills, including the ability to convey complex and sensitive information
• Ability to provide expert clinical advice and support in complex situations
• Strong organisational and prioritisation skills with the ability to manage competing demands
• Ability to manage and resolve conflict and challenging situations effectively
• Strong problem-solving and decision-making skills

Desirable

• Ability to analyse and interpret complex data and use it to inform decision-making
• Ability to influence, negotiate, and work collaboratively across multidisciplinary and organisational boundaries
• Ability to lead change and support service transformation initiatives

Others
Essential

• Professional integrity and credibility as a senior clinical leader
• Compassionate, patient-centred approach to care
• Commitment to continuous improvement and high-quality care
• Ability to work autonomously and as part of a senior leadership team
• Commitment to equality, diversity, and inclusion
• Ability to travel across multiple sites as required

Desirable

• Resilient and adaptable in a complex, fast-paced environment
• Experience of working across multiple sites or services
• Experience of leading largescale service change or transformation
• Experience of working at system or regional level
• Awareness of research methodologies and evidence based practice development
• Understanding of digital systems used within breast screening (e.g. NBSS)
• Experience in presenting at regional or national forums
• Involvement in research or publication

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).