Job overview

Join our specialist colorectal team and make a meaningful difference at every stage of the patient journey.

We are looking for an enthusiastic and compassionate Colorectal Clinical Nurse Specialist (CNS) to help deliver a responsive, high-quality service for patients referred on the suspected colorectal cancer pathway.

In this rewarding role, you will support patients and their families from assessment and diagnosis through treatment, recovery, and follow-up. Acting as a trusted point of contact, you will provide expert clinical advice, clear information, and emotional support during what can be an uncertain and challenging time.

Working closely with the wider multidisciplinary team and with the guidance of the Lead CNS, you will assess, plan, coordinate, and evaluate individualised patient care. You will play an important part in ensuring that pathways are timely, well organised, and centred around each patient’s needs.

The role will also give you the opportunity to support nurse-led clinics, coordinate treatment pathways, contribute to service development, and build specialist knowledge in colorectal cancer care.

This is an excellent opportunity for a motivated nurse who is keen to develop within a specialist field. You will receive dedicated training, mentorship, and support to grow your confidence, expertise, and career as a Colorectal CNS.

Please note that applications from temporary workers who have been engaged with the Trust for a minimum of 3 months are welcome.

Main duties of the job

• Support the development of a responsive, high‑performing service that meets the challenges of increasing Suspected Cancer referrals, ensuring patients are seen swiftly and compassionately at every stage.
• Help deliver a smooth, efficient diagnostic and treatment pathway for patients with suspected colorectal cancer, ensuring they receive timely and coordinated care.
• Work autonomously within the limits of professional competence, agreed clinical pathways, protocols and Trust policies, recognising limitations and seeking advice or escalating complex, unusual or deteriorating patients to the Lead Colorectal CNS or appropriate medical practitioner.
• Provide specialist nursing advice, emotional support, and psychological reassurance to patients, their loved ones, and colleagues across the multidisciplinary team.
• Coordinate agreed elements of patients’ investigation and treatment pathways, maintaining oversight of their progress and facilitating effective communication between clinical teams and services.
• Knowledge of colorectal surgery is highly desirable - support, training and mentorship within the team as well as externally will be provided.
• Use your extensive acute clinical experience and interest in colorectal care to contribute to nurse‑led clinics, with opportunities to expand your scope of practice as you grow in the role.

Working for our organisation

We are a people business – where every member of staff matters and can make a difference. Patients are at the heart of everything we do. Joining University Hospitals Plymouth NHS Trust means becoming part of a team of dedicated staff, who are committed to leading the way through innovation, clinical excellence and great customer care. The Trust has great opportunities for career development in a highly progressive working environment. We offer all of this in a vibrant, modern city with a historic reputation for adventure. PLEASE NOTE THAT ALL COMMUNICATION WILL BE ELECTRONIC, PLEASE CHECK YOUR EMAIL ACCOUNT REGULARLY. If you have any issues with applying online and need additional support including reasonable adjustments with the application process please contact the recruitment manager for this post who will put you in touch with the recruitment team. We recognise that work life balance is important for our colleagues and so we invite requests from applicants around less than full time/flexible working for our advertised roles. Please contact the recruiting manager to discuss this prior to your application submission. We commit to giving this full consideration in each case. We encourage people from diverse backgrounds to apply for our roles, as diversity strengthens our teams. It is sometimes necessary to close vacancies before the closing date. If you have not heard from us within 4 weeks of the closing date, please assume that you have not been shortlisted.