Job overviewThe LGI Cancer band 7 Clinical Nurse Specialist (CNS) will be an integral part of the LGI CNS team, looking after patients with a high suspicion of / confirmed diagnosis ofColorectal Cancer. The post holder will work closely with the Lead LGI oncology CNS, Enhanced Recovery team, Faster diagnosis triage CNS team, stoma nursing team and Cancer Support team.
The post holder will be a highly competent, credible, and experienced autonomous practitioner who uses their breadth and specialist knowledge and professional visibility and advanced clinical skills of practice to support patients on the LGI pathway.
The LGI Cancer CNS will specifically manage the surgical part of the Patient Pathway, supervising the band 6 LGI CNS and managing the Band 4 CEA navigator, managing the patient through from Endoscopy (probable cancer) diagnosis and up to the first adjuvant oncology appointment. The CNS will also ensure an improved service for patients who are diagnosed through the emergency pathway.
The post holder will be expected to exercise a high degree of personal professional autonomy and make critical judgements to satisfy the expectations and demands of the role, within a defined framework.
Main duties of the job- The CNS will demonstrate a higher level of practice through the provision of specialist nursing knowledge and expertise in the management of patients having surgery and other cancer therapies, liaising with colleagues across care settings to expedite specialist assessment, providing holistic packages of care to ensure patients receive prompt and evidence-based care.
- The CNS role is divided into four general areas - clinical excellence, leadership, education and research/ clinical audit.
About usWhy Work With Us
About your new team and departmentThe Lower GI Oncology Multidisciplinary Team (MDT) comprises a group of expert doctors, nurses and other health care professionals with a special interest in the diagnosis, treatment and management of people with LGI cancer diagnosis.
This MDT approach across all services ensures that all necessary investigations are carried out as quickly as possible and an agreed programme of treatment is planned which is specific to the patient's needs. Treatment options are then discussed with the patient and their family and started without delay. The Oncology MDT's link into other health care professionals in primary and secondary care as appropriate, to ensure a seamless service is provided which meets the patient's needs.
We are a dedicated group of enthusiastic and lifelong learners, who work well together in an expanding team to deliver high quality, individualised care to patients with Colorectal Cancer. We work as part of the Cancer Support team based within the Acute trust.
DetailsDate posted: 14 August 2026
Pay scheme: Agenda for change
Band: Band 7
Salary: £49,387 to £56,515 a year
Contract: Fixed term
Duration: 12 months
Working pattern: Full-time
Reference number: 388-8030730-PC&S
Job locations: Torbay hospital, lowes bridge, Torquay, TQ27AA, United Kingdom
Job responsibilitiesDetailed job description and responsibilitiesCommunication and working relationshipsCo-ordinate multidisciplinary practice to implement colorectal cancer pathways in specified clinical areas as defined by the Lead LGI CNS.
Participate as a key member of the multi professional team within colorectal cancer pathways, ensuring appropriate referral and discussion with other members of the team to optimise patient care.
To ensure a clear meeting structure exists within areas of responsibility and that both formal and informal lines of communication exist with the multi-disciplinary team (MDT).
Plan and organise own and associated team workload in conjunction with Trust requirements.
Ensure implementation of agreed systems and processes to provide safe, effective, high quality patient care and embed a culture of improvement, focusing on the Trusts harm free indicators.
To be a visible, accessible and approachable leader to staff, patients, carers, families, and the public ensuring that open channels of communication are created and sustained.
Promote a learning environment for the professional development of staff interacting with the colorectal cancer team, leading by example and mindful of the effect of change upon all bands of staff.
Ensure all complaints both formal and informal are dealt with promptly and courteously in accordance with Trust policy.
To respond in writing to complaints by interviewing staff, collating information and writing statements to provide evidence, reviewing practice where appropriate in response.
Lead and contribute to developments that are relevant to colorectal cancer as dictated by local and national initiatives and undertake benchmarking.
Identify and co-ordinate opportunities for patient and public involvement and engagement in service development, leading where appropriate.
Act as a role model, demonstrating high standards of care and providing clinical leadership
Analytical and judgement- Actively participate and contribute to departmental clinical supervision groups to ensure a regular evaluation of practice through peer review.
- Regularlyparticipate in the departmental Clinical Governance programme including presenting research findings, evidence-based practice workshops, clinical audit, and reporting of clinical risks.
To develop knowledge and skills within the LGI specialty, consulting with clinical supervisors as appropriate.
Planning and organisation- Plan and organise complex activities, programmes and those requiring adjustments.
- Generate and implement new solutions that will best suit the needs of patients and carers, through thinking laterally about practice.
- Act as a positive role model and provide highly specialist advice and consultancy for multidisciplinary colleagues including colleagues working in the Acute Trust, Primary Care, Social Care, charitable sector and other external agencies.
- Work with colleagues in the development of regional and national guidance in Oncology service.
- Review and monitor standards for best practice contributing towards preparation for performance evaluations.
- Overcome barriers to understanding using leadership and management skills.
- Provide expert advice and information to other professionals and agencies to ensure appropriate referral to the service.
Physical skillsDue to the hospital layout and requirement of patient facing support, a degree of physical fitness is important as well as having good dexterity for administrative tasks.
The ability to work under pressure both in terms of time and at a time when emotions for patients/those affected by cancer are escalated.
Patient and client careBe responsible for a clinical caseload, providing specialist LGI assessment and intervention to patients with a LGI diagnosis
To monitor and review the progress of clients against the targets set and agreed and to modify these as appropriate to meet individual patient circumstances
Maintaining high levels of evidence base LGI practice, contributing to and facilitating care processes and pathways. Demonstrate understanding of LGI underpinned by theoretical knowledge and relevant clinical experience and competence.
Display specialist knowledge of individuals physical and mental health needs and appropriate evidence informed interventions
Show awareness of national and local policies impacting LGI practice
Comply with TSDFT and professional codes and standards in demonstrating personal and professional commitment to equality and diversity.
Search, review, analyse, critically appraise and apply relevant literature effectively to influence policy and practice development.
To reflect on clinical practice both individually and with peers identifying strengths and needs and providing evidence of sound clinical judgements based on research and evidence-based practice.
Policy and service developmentRecognise and develop opportunities to expand own and others scope of practice within the specialist field of practice.
Identify own personal objectives and development opportunities through education, research and audit.
Ensure that members of the multidisciplinary team receive appropriate training, education and professional development to promote safer patient care and successful implementation of the colorectal cancer patient pathways including treatment summaries, holistic needs assessment, enhanced recovery and stratified follow up.
Act as a facilitator/mentor/preceptor for junior staff and students.
Encourage practice development and adoption of evidence-based practice at ward level and throughout the colorectal cancer pathway.
Audit and monitor self and service quality to ensure resource effectiveness and impact of specialist nursing input.
Facilitate evidence-based practice in the service by utilising extensive knowledge, both academic and experiential.
Act as patient advocate, ensuring ethical and legal issues are adhered to in all clinical practice.
Initiate and complete nursing research in the specialist field.
Conduct annual patient satisfaction survey and develop an action plan from the results.
To clinically audit the nursing work undertaken and to participate in Trust and department audits as required.
Using Trust harm free indicators, measure practice and using variations in the data to develop local improvement projects are in place on the ward.
Provide representation on committees/working groups as required (Peninsula Colorectal site-specific group)
Responsibility for Finance, equipment and other resources- Ensure there are systems in place for teams to maximise use of clinical capacity.
- Assist in the formulation of business cases to ensure adequate, appropriate equipment and staffing.
To have a professional degree of budgetary awareness and support the LGI team/service the management of the budget and resources.
To be responsible for the effective, efficient and safe use, maintenance and storage of resources and equipment used in the performance of the role
People management and trainingTo ensure a clear meeting structure exists within areas of responsibility and that both formal and informal lines of communication exist with the multi-disciplinary team (MDT).
Plan and organise own and associated team workload in conjunction with Trust requirements.
Ensure implementation of agreed systems and processes to provide safe, effective, high quality patient care and embed a culture of improvement, focusing on the Trusts harm free indicators.
To be a highly visible, accessible and approachable leader to staff, patients, carers, families, and the public ensuring that open channels of communication are created and sustained.
Promote a learning environment for the professional development of staff interacting with the colorectal cancer team, leading by example and mindful of the effect of change upon all bands of staff.
To support and help develop the Trust culture of collaborative, flexible cross-team working and commitment to delivering high quality service and outcomes
Set and maintain the highest personal and professional standards
To have a flexible, friendly approach and positive outlook
Information technology and administrative dutiesEPIC/Beacon
Allocate
ICE
Blood Matters
Outlook/Windows10
HIVE
Computer literate, able to use databases and other relevant programmes
Flexibility, adaptability to meet needs of a changing service
Support the management function of the department by provision of reports and information as required
To share information with others, observing data protection guidelines
Research and developmentAudit and monitor self and service quality to ensure resource effectiveness and impact of specialist nursing input.
Facilitate evidence-based practice in the service by utilising extensive knowledge, both academic and experiential.
Seek out, evaluate and disseminate new knowledge, implementing evidence-based practice
Actively engaging in evidence-based practise
To participate in departmental research and clinical governance/audit projects demonstrating basic knowledge of research approaches.
To collect and provide research data as required
Freedom to actWork autonomously making highly complex clinical decisions with minimal supervision, working within local and national policies and being responsible for how these policies are interpreted.
Autonomously assess patients; receive and make referrals; assess, order, interpret and act upon investigative tests; consider differential diagnosis; evaluate, treat, plan, refer and discharge patients/clients within the Trust.
Person SpecificationEducationEssential- Degree Level qualification in Adult Nursing 4 years post reg
- Evidence of continuing personal/professional development
- Cancer Role/experience
Desirable- Non medical prescribing qualification or the ability to undertake
- management/leadership qualification
- Post graduate study in Colorectal cancer
knowledge and experienceEssential- Experience in the management of patients with colorectal cancer
- Experience of giving psychosocial support to patients with complex needs
Desirable- Advanced communications skills training
- Level 4 advance communications skills training
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). 
