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Job summary

Main area
Acute Oncology
Grade
NHS AfC: Band 8a
Contract
Permanent
Hours
Part time - 15 hours per week (Weekends and cross site working included)
Job ref
213-CAX-6046649-B
Employer
King's College Hospital NHS Foundation Trust
Employer type
NHS
Site
Kings College Hospital
Town
London
Salary
£58,698 - £65,095 pro rata per annum inc HCAS
Salary period
Yearly
Closing
26/05/2024 23:59

Employer heading

King's College Hospital NHS Foundation Trust logo

Acute Oncology Advanced Clinical Practitioner

NHS AfC: Band 8a

King’s College Hospital NHS Foundation Trust is one of the UK’s largest and busiest teaching Trusts with a turnover of c£1 billion, 1.5 million patient contacts a year and more than 13,500 staff based across 5 main sites in South East London. The Trust provides a full range of local hospital services across its different sites, and specialist services from King’s College Hospital (KCH) sites at Denmark Hill in Camberwell and at the Princess Royal University Hospital (PRUH) site in the London Borough of Bromley.

Job overview

The post holder will provide expertise in their area of clinical practice, professional leadership and education in the field of Acute Oncology. This includes the ability to take a history, assess and examine as necessary, synthesise information and use clinical reasoning to diagnose and formulate a shared management/personalised care/support plan. The aim of the post is to ensure quality standards for AOS is delivered consistently throughout the trust and in line with South East London Accountable Cancer Network (SEL ACN) guidance and operational policy.

The post holder will ensure that patients presenting with metastatic malignancy of unknown origin (MUO) have access to rapid expert oncology input to avoid unnecessary, inappropriate investigations; are discussed in an MUO MDT; and receive rapid treatment for their disease and/or symptom control decisions.

The post holder will be expected to monitor the impact of the Acute Oncology Service, using a number of key metrics including length of stay; and work with the Lead Acute Oncology Clinician to ensure the Acute Oncology Service meets Peer Review Quality Standards and SELCA guidance/safety measures and is of a demonstrably high standard; and will influence patient care through expert clinical practice, management, leadership, education research, audit and professional activities

Main duties of the job

  • Provide early input in to coordination of care ensuring patients access right care at the right time and deliver high quality AOS specialist nursing care
  • Support the provision of the telephone triage advice for patients and health professionals with complications of their systemic anti cancer treatment and provide high quality advice to support self-care or prevent serious consequences by directing care (early recognition, better access to treatment, early discharge)
  • Continually review and audit pathways of care to ensure that neutropenic sepsis door - to –needle time is adhered to throughout the trust; patients are flagged up and rapid referral to appropriate specialty
  • Work as part of the ambulatory clinic for all patients requiring review post ED attendance or on demand presentation of symptomatic patients to avoid ED admission
  • Review patients as a part of the oncology daily ward round and ensure delivery of the appropriate care plan (ensure appropriate investigations are requested and reviewed or unnecessary Investigations are avoided; timely referral to palliative care team)
  • Act as a resource for colleagues within the Trust, those from other hospital Trusts
  • AOS service will offer direct access for community colleagues, providing advice on investigation and treatment pathways for new and suspected cancer diagnosis.

Working for our organisation

 patient contacts a year and around 14,000 staff based across 5 main sites in South East London. The Trust provides a full range of local hospital
 services across its different sites, and specialist services from King’s College Hospital (KCH) sites at Denmark Hill in Camberwell and at the
 Princess Royal University Hospital (PRUH) site in Bromley.
 King’s is committed to delivering Sustainable Healthcare for All via our Green Plan. In line with national Greener NHS ambitions, we have set net
 zero carbon targets of 2040 for our NHS Carbon Footprint and 2045 for our NHS Carbon Footprint Plus. Everyone’s contribution is required in
 order to meet the goals set out in our Green Plan and we encourage all staff to work responsibly, minimising their contributions to the Trust’s
 carbon emissions, waste and pollution wherever possible.
 The trust-wide strategy Strong Roots, Global Reach is our Vision to be BOLD, Brilliant people, Outstanding care, Leaders in Research, Innovation
 and Education, Diversity, Equality and Inclusion at the heart of everything we do. By being person-centred, digitally-enabled, and focused on
 sustainability, we can take Team King’s to another level.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

Clinical Responsibilities

  • Work within the scope of their role, agreed and documented by their employer.
  • Work within and across multi-professional teams and draw on the expertise of all members (including health and social care) to support and meet the person’s needs and best interests to optimise the integration of their care.
  • Establish and maintain effective communication to ensure collaborative working with other professionals and agencies (e.g. members of the MDT, CNS, specialist palliative care, hospice, community palliative care teams, primary care, AHP, cancer centre, social services) to ensure seamless, streamlined patient care.
  • Manage and escalate medical emergencies appropriately.
  • Identify and act appropriately on red flags.
  • Assess, diagnose and collaboratively agree a way forward, including shared decision making and personalised care and support planning.
  • Manage medical complexity.
  • Complete episodes of care which may include referral for further assessment, treatment and care appropriately.
  • Work with people and where appropriate, carers, to access appropriate treatment, diagnostics, care and support within the context of individuals’ preferences, priorities and needs.
  • Provide continuity of care in collaboration with the person, considering all of their physical, mental and psychosocial challenges.
  • Use interactions with each person to facilitate and enable changes in behaviour that can have a positive impact on the person’s health and wellbeing.

 

Leadership, Education and Training

  • Provide leadership and vision to ensure a high quality coordinated service. This will include supporting the further development of Acute Oncology services within the hospital and community to expedite diagnosis and where possible reduce length of stay.
  • Be responsible for development and implementation of policies, procedures and guidelines for the AOS, in conjunction with the Clinical lead for AOS and Lead Nurse for Cancer.
  • Be the senior practitioner leading and line managing any additional AOS nursing staff, ensuring managerial responsibilities are fulfilled and discharged.
  • Use knowledge of national practice to develop ACP and MDT practice within the AOS service.
  • Ensuring the Acute Oncology Service communication links, pathways and methods of referral between primary, secondary and tertiary
    care and specialist services including palliative care is readily available to staff.
  • To lead on the promotion of the AOS across the trust, into primary, secondary and tertiary care working with the trusts communication departments and cancer information centres and local contacts.
  • Evaluate service delivery against agreed key performance targets, National Quality Measures, identify areas for improvement and initiate change.
  • Work with the lead clinician to support preparation of Cancer Peer Review and implementation of agreed action plans.
  • Implement new initiatives where possible to run a cost effective, timely service.
  • Attend appropriate SEL ACN AOS specific delivery groups, projects and initiatives.
  • To be core member of the local CUP MDM; work closely with GSTT CUP MDM (via tele link or in person if required).
  • Link with DH AOS delivery group and meet regularly
  • Proactively participate in the prevention and investigation of complaints and take constructive action to change practice when necessary.
  • To proactively manage risk and be familiar with risk management processes and escalation procedures.
  • Take a lead role in monitoring and reviewing of the competency based training programmes and the completion of assessment skills for all staff who require these skills and knowledge.
  • Support the AOS/CUP team and oncology cancer CNSs workforce
  • Deliver on going AOS teaching at the trust doctors induction; ED and acute assessment units medical and nursing staff
  • Participate in the cancer nurses training programme delivering AOS specific training for ward nurses; chemotherapy team and community nursing team
  • Provide expert advice and education to nurses, medical staff and AHP’s with particular focus on delivery of AOS in challenged areas or when concerns arises.
  • Lead on developing and participating in programmes of care aimed at empowering patients/carers to manage complications of treatment or disease.
  • Disseminate expert knowledge and support nursing and medical staff by providing placement experience, giving insight into specialist role.

 

Clinical Governance, Quality and Evaluation of Patient Experience

  • Work with Head of Nursing Cancer on clinical governance and quality assurance across the trust for all aspects of Acute Oncology nursing services. Link up with wider Cancer Management Team.
  • Lead on development of a programme of ongoing audits and patient evaluation surveys for the Acute Oncology Service, in line with service objectives, Trust key performance indicators, ACN, Acute Oncology Group audits and the Cancer peer review process.
  • Present findings and recommendation from audits results to relevant governance committees as requested on regular basis.
  • Collect, collate and report activity data. Produce and present regular formal reports to key stakeholders, professional groups, SEL ACN Acute Oncology Group.
  • Actively engage service users through the facilitation of user groups and open days in the planning and delivery of care and development of services.
  • Promote people’s equality, diversity and rights.
  • Undertake regular audits of his/her prescribing practice; nurse-led activities
  • Maintaining accurate patient records and effective ways of communication outside the organisation

 People Management and Performance

  • Lead, coach and manage the performance of the team in line with good people management practices. Ensuring excellence is recognised and under performance is addressed.
  • Participate in regular performance appraisal meetings and ensure each member of the team has a clear set of objectives and development plans.
  • Ensure the team is compliance with all statutory, mandatory training together with any professional training requirements, ensuring they are up to date and fully compliant.
  • Manage team absences including sickness in line with Trust policy ensuring the appropriate return to work meetings occur, e-roster is updated and productivity is at keep to the highest possible level.
  • Identify and fill any vacancies that arise within the team in line with the Trust’s recruitment policy and process.
  • Identify talent and support the internal talent management process in order attract and retain and succession plan for your people.
  • Review skills mix at regular intervals in order to identify any potential opportunities to maximise resource utilisation / allocation, ensuring job descriptions are kept up to date.
  • Ensure overall wellbeing of the team is maintained. Continuously support in improving the morale of the team and implementing a culture of zero-tolerance for bullying and harassment

Person specification

Education and Qualifications

Essential criteria
  • Professional Registration
  • Post Graduate Qualification in cancer care, acute medicine or equivalent experience
  • MSc Level qualification or equivalent CATs
Desirable criteria
  • Chemotherapy Training Qualifications
  • Advanced Clinical Practice

Knowledge and Experience

Essential criteria
  • Significant post registration experience at a senior level (Band 7 or above) in cancer or acute care
  • Experience in participation in service development and implementation of change
  • Current expert level of knowledge of Acute Oncology or Acute Medicine
Desirable criteria
  • Publication in healthcare journals

Excellent communication skills

Essential criteria
  • Excellent communication skills
  • Skills to influence and overcome resistance through application of advanced communication skills
  • Ability to develop effective interpersonal relationships with colleagues across health and social care setting

Employer certification / accreditation badges

Capital Nurse, LondonApprenticeships logoAge positiveArmed Forces Covenant (Silver Award)Mindful employer.  Being positive about mental health.Disability confident employerStep into health

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
Sheea Parkinson
Job title
Acute Oncology Lead Nurse
Email address
[email protected]
Telephone number
02032997876
Additional information

NA

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