Job overview

The NCA RDC was launched in June 2020 and has experienced rapid growth. We are seeking an experienced Nurse Specialist, with some awareness of cancer pathways (though this is not essential), to contribute to the further development of this innovative diagnostic service. This is an exciting opportunity for someone eager to be part of a team that is helping to revolutionise the pathway for cancer diagnosis.

The RDC aims to ensure that patients with non-specific (Vague) but concerning symptoms—potentially indicative of cancer—have access to rapid diagnosis or exclusion of cancer within a maximum of 28 days. This will be achieved through all necessary diagnostic tests, carried out and reported within a streamlined, innovative pathway. The service is nurse-led, with senior medical input where required. Patients receive comprehensive information, guidance, and support throughout their RDC journey. The service is managed as a single entity across the Northern Care Alliance, with pathways initially delivered at two sites: Oldham Community Diagnostic Centre and Salford Community Diagnostic Centre.

This role offers the opportunity to help shape the RDC service at its formative stage, as well as providing hands-on patient care. Your ability to think creatively, embrace change, and be open to new ways of working is essential for this forward-thinking role.

Main duties of the job

The RDC provides an urgent referral service for patients presenting with non-specific symptoms that could indicate cancer, complementing the existing site-specific Two Week Wait (TWW) pathways. The service offers a rapid, holistic assessment of the patient to determine the appropriate diagnostic pathway, provide management advice, signpost to relevant support services, and facilitate swift onward referral to specialist teams if cancer is diagnosed.

Main duties of this role include:

• Conducting thorough telephone triage and assessment of TWW referrals
• Developing individualised investigation pathways tailored to each patient
• Coordinating patient pathways to ensure rapid progression through the diagnostic process
• Collaborating with multiple departments to support effective multidisciplinary team (MDT) working
• Providing holistic support to patients from referral through to discharge
• Maintaining accurate patient records and communicating pathway steps to patients, GPs, and other practitioners as required
• Working alongside the RDC nursing team, navigators, consultants, and the Programme team

The post holder will be cross-site working at both the Oldham and Salford Community Diagnostic Centres, where they will be involved in delivering clinical care within the RDC.

Working for our organisation

The Northern Care Alliance NHS Foundation Trust (NCA) provides hospital and integrated health and social care services to over one million people living across Greater Manchester.  Our 20,000 colleagues care for people in hospital and in the community, working across Bury, Rochdale, Oldham and Salford, to save and improve lives.

As a large NHS trust we are committed to enhancing the health of our local population by delivering consistently high standards of care and working closely with local authorities and key partners. We believe in our power and potential to make a difference and we’re always looking for people who demonstrate our three core values - care, appreciate and inspire – to join our team.

In return, we can offer you a job role with purpose and flexibility. The size and scale of the NCA means we can provide more challenge and opportunities so your career can always be moving in the right direction. By joining us you can also access a competitive benefits package, including, a fantastic annual leave allowance, flexible working opportunities and protected hours for health and wellbeing activities, helping you to achieve more personal downtime and a better work-life balance.