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Job summary

Main area
Surgery and cancer
Grade
Band 7
Contract
Permanent
Hours
Full time - 37.5 hours per week
Job ref
197-R-LC7453
Employer
Lewisham and Greenwich NHS Trust
Employer type
NHS
Site
Queen Elizabeth Hospital
Town
Woolwich
Salary
£47,810 - £54,710 per annum
Salary period
Yearly
Closing
02/11/2025 23:59

Employer heading

Lewisham and Greenwich NHS Trust logo

Colorectal Nurse Specialist - Priority Lower GI Telephone Clinic

Band 7

Lewisham and Greenwich NHS Trust, (LGT), is a community-focused provider of local and acute care, delivering high-quality services to over one million people living across the London boroughs of Lewisham, Greenwich, and Bexley. We provide whole-life care and are here to support our communities to live healthier lives as well as taking care of them when they need us the most.

Employing almost 7,500 colleagues, affectionately known as Team LGT, we provide services at Queen Elizabeth Hospital in Woolwich, University Hospital Lewisham, and at over a dozen community settings in Lewisham. We also provide some services at Queen Mary’s Hospital in Sidcup.

We have recently launched our new vision and values to mark the LGT10 – the tenth anniversary of our Trust forming in 2013. Our trust vision is to be exceptional. In the quality of our patient care; our support for colleagues; and in the difference we make through our partnerships and in our communities.

To achieve this we value Respect, Compassion, and Inclusion; Being accountable over  staying comfortable; Listening  over always knowing best; and Succeeding together over achieving alone. You can read more about our visions and values here

Our hospitals and community sites provide a wide range of inpatient and outpatient services, as well as emergency and planned care. The Trust is rated as “good” or “outstanding” in over three-quarters of the services inspected by the Care Quality Commission.

Every year our work includes performing 10,000 procedures in our theatres; bringing seven and a half thousand new lives into the world; carrying out 570,000 visits to patients in their homes or communities and providing emergency care for more than 300,000 patients arriving in our busy Urgent and Emergency Departments.

LGT is a centre for the education and training of medical students enrolled with King’s College London’s GKT School of Medical Education. We are a training centre for nurses, midwives and allied health professionals. We are pioneering new roles that will support the changing needs of our patients and are one of the largest employers of physician associates in the country.

We are committed to working with our partners to deliver the best outcomes for our local communities. This means playing an active role in the South East London Integrated Care System (ICS), and in formal partnerships including the South East London Acute Provider Collaborative, provider partnerships with our local mental health trusts and borough-based boards of the ICS in Bexley, Greenwich and Lewisham.

Job overview

In line with the Trust’s Annual Business Plan you will provide a high quality advanced expert nursing/midwifery practice and cost-effective service to patients referred on the Priority Lower GI Suspected Cancer Pathway undertaking telephone assessments, referring them for investigations and supporting them throughout the process whilst ensuring that cancer waiting time targets are met.
The Division aims to provide an environment conducive to the on-going development of all staff and advancements in the quality of the service by ensuring provision of a high standard of training, teaching and clinical care within the acute/community setting.
The Clinical Nurse Specialist will be an advanced and experienced practitioner within their speciality. 
The role of Clinical Nurse Specialist requires a high degree of personal professional autonomy and making clinical judgements. Taking sole and joint responsibility for the patient and clinical decisions relating to their care based on assessment, planning and implementation of care to ensure a successful patient based outcome within the acute/community setting.

Main duties of the job

To possess a background in colorectal or endoscopy nursing with knowledge of colorectal conditions
To possess excellent communication skills both verbal and written
To have good knowledge of the Faster Diagnosis Standards Pathway, how this works and the benefits for patients referred
Triage referrals to the Priority Lower GI Pathway to ensure they are appropriate for booking into a telephone assessment clinic
Independently undertake telephone assessment clinics reviewing patient's referrals, taking a detailed clinical history
Make a clinical decision regarding investigations based on the patient's presenting symptoms and a holistic assessment 
Discuss appropriate investigations with the patient, giving the rationale for recommending these whilst taking into account the patients holistic needs
Provide support to patients, their families and carers addressing any concerns and queries with empathy and compassion
Liaise with the wider multi-disciplinary team / primary care regarding the care of the patient on the pathway
Review results of investigations and escalate findings accordingly
Action indications for further investigations as directed by Lead TAC CNS, Colorectal Nurse Consultant and Colorectal consultants
Work closely with the Priority Lower GI Lead Nurse and TAC CNS team to improve delivery of the service

Working for our organisation

Our people are our greatest asset. When we feel supported and happy at work, this positivity reaches those very people we are here for, the patients. Engaged employees perform at their best and our Equality, Diversity & Inclusion (EDI) initiatives contribute to cultivate a culture of engagement. We have four staff networks, a corporate EDI Team and a suite of programmes and events which aim to insert the 5 aspirations:

  1. Improving representation at senior levels of staff with disabilities, from black, Asian, and ethnic minorities background, identify as LGBTQ+ and women, through improved recruitment and leadership development
  2. Widening access (anchor institution) and employability
  3. Improving the experience of staff with disability
  4. Improving the EDI literacy and confidence of trust staff through training and development
  5. Making equalities mainstream

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

All the following are to be carried out while working in close collaboration with members of the multi-disciplinary team led by a Consultant.  To demonstrate clinical expertise within the speciality and work autonomously, managing own allocated clinics independently and seeking guidance/support when necessary.
To co-ordinate the specialty care within the Trust.
To become an essential member, and point of contact and resource for the multi-disciplinary team and patients and carers.
To demonstrate the ability to develop new skills, to provide an expert high quality, nurse-led service/midwifery-led service.
To provide ongoing care and support for patients and their carers within the Colorectal TAC CNS team
To develop the service in a structured interdisciplinary way, initiating on-going change and progression in the expanding role of a Clinical Nurse Specialist.
To develop interdisciplinary clinical management protocols and work within them.
Autonomously or in collaboration with the multidisciplinary team, manage the care of patients undergoing relevant interventions, within agreed clinical protocols and in line with current practice/trends.
To offer a supportive service to patients and their carers, disseminating specialist knowledge enabling individuals to try and adapt to any changes to their body image and life experiences. Liaising with other healthcare professionals when necessary.
To provide, promote and maintain a support and advice service to patients and their carers, to include provision of information given from their point of referral to the Priority Lower GI Suspected Cancer Pathway through to investigation and follow-up working in conjunction with relevant healthcare professionals.
To maintain accurate and legible records of all clinical and legal documentation with regard to Statutory and Trust policies.
To control patient admission via direct referral and with consultant guidance and supervision.
Be aware of, understand, and act upon the Divisional Business Plan, with particular reference to nursing/midwifery care, in order to participate in the re-formulation of nursing/midwifery aspects of the plan.
When required, investigate the nursing/midwifery aspects of incidents/complaints and initiate corrective action.

Person specification

Qualifications and Training

Essential criteria
  • RN / RM – Part 1
  • Relevant specialist course or similar
  • Knowledge of conditions, management and treatment.
  • Ability to manage a case load effectively ensuring investigations are requested and undertaken within the cancer pathway.
Desirable criteria
  • Counselling course
  • Advanced communication skills course
  • Advanced assessment skills course

Experience

Essential criteria
  • Clinical experience within colorectal cancer and benign disease
  • Evidence of clinical leadership qualities
  • Ability to prioritise and organise workload
  • Ability to work autonomously and as a member of a multi-professional team
Desirable criteria
  • The ability to undertake telephone assessment of patients with colorectal symptoms and triage them appropriately for investigations

Knowledge

Essential criteria
  • Excellent verbal, written and interpersonal communication skills
  • Computer Skills
Desirable criteria
  • Change management
  • Statistics and report writing

Personal Qualities

Essential criteria
  • Maturity and self-awareness
  • Sensitivity based on knowledge
  • Flexible and positive approach to work
  • Enthusiasm and motivation

Employer certification / accreditation badges

Trust IDCapital Nurse, LondonVeteran AwareApprenticeships logoTimewise helps businesses to attract and develop the best talent through flexible working.No smoking policyLondon Living Wage is a voluntary commitment made by employers, who can become accredited with the Living Wage FoundationAge positiveDisability confident leaderArmed Forces Covenant (Silver Award)We offer Wagestream - A financial wellbeing benefit which lets you access your pay as you earn it.NHS Rainbow badgePrince's Trust - Proud to support the Prince's trust - Youth can do itStep into healthHappy to Talk Flexible WorkingArmed Forces Covenant

Applicant requirements

You must have appropriate UK professional registration.

This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975 (Amendment) (England and Wales) Order 2020 and it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service.

Documents to download

Apply online now

Further details / informal visits contact

Name
Cat King
Job title
Colorectal CNS - Lead Nurse - 2WW LGI Pathway
Email address
[email protected]
Telephone number
07469104230
Additional information

Interested candidates are strongly encouraged to contact Cat King for an informal conversation/visit

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