University Hospitals Dorset NHS Foundation Trust

Lead Cancer Nurse
The closing date is 22 November 2026

Job summary
The post holder will work collaboratively with the Cancer Services Team, the Wessex Cancer Alliance, primary and secondary care and the voluntary sector to improve the quality of health provision for patients with cancer and their families.

The postholder will maximise the contribution that nursing and cancer support services make to Cancer Services, focusing on leadership, accountability, support and supervision ensuring that cancer nursing within UHD is of the highest standard.

Forming essential communications links with the Group Directors of Nursing for all Care Groups and the wider cancer nursing and AHP workforce.

The postholder will work to promote the integration of Cancer Services, streamline processes, optimise communication as well as promote service improvement and redesign in line with local and national priorities.

With support from GDONs, ensure the systems and processes in place comply with legislation and governance requirements.

To be highly visible, accessible and to have an authoritative nursing presence demonstrating the Trust vision and values in all behaviours.

To provide Trust wide professional leadership and coordination of all cancer nursing and cancer related AHP services

To ensure UHD has the right systems and processes in place to ensure compliance with Long Term Plan and the NHS Cancer Programme.

Main duties of the job
Leading the quality, risk and governance of cancer services, ensuring it is reported and represented at the highest level. Oversee incident reviews, risk management, audits and quality improvement.

Lead the development and implementation of a Trust-wide Cancer Nursing Strategy, aligned with the Trust strategy, national cancer strategy and the NHS 10-year Health Plan. Present the Trust Cancer Nursing Strategy to Trust Board/ICB/national bodies.

Lead strategic cancer nursing workforce planning and implementation to ensure cancer services are appropriately staffed and skilled now and in the future.

To work alongside the Head of Cancer Services, the Cancer Services Clinical Director and the Deputy Chief Nursing Officer and significantly contribute to the strategic direction and policy setting for Cancer Services, forming an essential communications link between the organisation and the wider cancer nursing and allied health professionals.

Interview: 30th November

About us
This is a very exciting time to join our hospitals in Dorset. We are in line to receive a significant national investment of £201 million to help transform our services and redevelop Poole Hospital and the Royal Bournemouth and Christchurch Hospitals, now merged as University Hospitals Dorset. We have been able to access these national funds because we have such a good plan in Dorset.

Our vision is to join up our services so they can be delivered in a more integrated way. We have a great opportunity together to improve outcomes for patients, make better use of all our resources, and ensure our services can be provided on a sustainable basis.

For developing our workforce, the aim is to establish modern, well-equipped centres of excellence with sustainable roles for staff, standardisation of education and training so that we can attract and retain skilled clinical and non-clinical staff to Dorset. This is a great opportunity for you to be part of the transformation change activity taking place following the merger of two hospital trusts to form University Hospitals Dorset NHS Foundation Trust last October.

Details
Date posted: 06 November 2026
Pay scheme: Agenda for change
Band: Band 8c
Salary: £79,504 to £91,609 a year per annum / pro rata
Contract: Permanent
Working pattern: Full-time
Reference number: 153-CO07058
Job locations: Royal Bournemouth Hospital, Castle Lane East, Bournemouth, BH7 7DW, United Kingdom

Person Specification
Qualifications

• Essential: Registered Nurse/Allied Health Professional/Health Care Scientist
• Essential: Master's degree or equivalent experience

Experience

• Essential: Minimum of 5 years' experience in the acute healthcare setting in clinical leadership/clinical management position
• Essential: Proven track record of operational management at a senior level in the acute healthcare setting managing multiple ward / services/ departments. Including staff, financial/budgetary and change management.
• Desirable: Evidence of delivering complex change at organisational level involving wide engagement including external partners.

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.

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

Employer details
Employer name: University Hospitals Dorset NHS Foundation Trust
Address: Royal Bournemouth Hospital, Castle Lane East, Bournemouth, BH7 7DW, United Kingdom
Employer's website: https://www.uhd.nhs.uk/careers

Employer contact details
For questions about the job, contact: Head of Cancer Services, Katie Lake, katie.lake5@nhs.net