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Detailed job description and main responsibilities

MAIN DUTIES:

Clinical

1. To be professionally and legally responsible and accountable for all aspects of own work including the management of patient care. To ensure a high standard of clinical care for the patients working within a competency framework for Advanced Practice.

• To develop and maintain skills required to practice at an advanced level including the use of an extended scope of practice (referral for further investigations, x-rays, MRI’s and CT’s and blood tests.

• To maintain high levels of clinical skill including administration of medications e.g. Denosumab.

• To communicate with and provide highly specialist advice and training to health care professionals on the management of sarcoma patients to ensure a co-ordinated and seamless service.

• To accept clinical responsibility for a designated caseload, and to organise this effectively and efficiently with regard to clinical priorities and use of time. 

• To undertake nurse led diagnostic clinics for urgent referrals to the Sarcoma Service for patients with suspected cancer referred on a two week wait pathway by their GP.

• To undertake nurse led follow up clinics, reviewing patients on sarcoma surveillance and post-surgery and oncology treatment

• Undertake an autonomous comprehensive advanced assessment and triage of highly complex patients referred. Perform physical examination, interpret clinical findings, impart sensitive information/bad news to patients &/or relatives, and refer onto and liaise with appropriate members of Multidisciplinary Teams (MDT) in the Trust, and to clinicians in other Trusts or Community as necessary.

• Deal with highly complex and sensitive information and be able to communicate this information in a kind and caring, sensitive manner to patients and their family. This will require skills of explanation, motivation and persuasion to overcome physical, emotional, mental and cultural barriers.

• Be able to demonstrate advanced empathetic interpersonal and communication skills when dealing with patients and carers throughout the patient pathway.

• Maintain and promote effective communication with all members of the multi-disciplinary team and other wards and departments. Actively work towards improving communication through role modelling within members of the multi-disciplinary team.

• To liaise with members of the Primary Care Trust when relevant.

• Act as an advocate for the patient and their family enabling them to express their needs effectively when dealing with the multi-disciplinary team.

• Demonstrate a high level of written report writing, face to face speaking and use of electronic systems including ICE, NoteOn, iCS, PACS and Insight to enhance the advance practitioner’s skills in all forms of documentation

• To maintain accurate, comprehensive, timely and up-to-date documentation in line with departmental and professional standards, including communication of assessment and investigation results to appropriate disciplines in the form of reports and letters.

• To provide spontaneous and planned advice, teaching and instruction to patients, relatives, carers and other professionals from the multidisciplinary team to ensure a consistent approach to patient care.
• Act as a resource to all members of multi-professional teams across the region in the acute and primary care settings giving advice and guidance on the management of sarcoma ensuring a seamless, high-quality service

Professional

1. To maintain own continued professional development (CPD) and portfolio, by keeping abreast of any new trends and developments, incorporating them into current clinical practice as necessary. To support CPD for other members of the Multidisciplinary tea
2. Remain up to date with, and attend mandatory training provided, in line with Trust policies
3. To be an active member of the MDT teaching programme by organising, attending and teaching at tutorials, training sessions and external courses.
4. Work in collaboration with the Lead Cancer Nurse to ensure the integration of education, research and practice development
5. To undertake evaluation of work and current practices within sarcoma involving the use of evidence based practice, audit, research, and outcome measures
6. To demonstrate a sound understanding of risk management and apply to work situation, following department and Trust policy.
7. To provide clinical experience and supervision for postgraduate and undergraduate medical and nursing students as required
8. Identify, assess and demonstrate specialist educational strategies. Convey complicated plans of care and treatment to patients and relatives by using an honest, assertive and empathetic approach, when describing
9. Work collaboratively on educational tools for patients, carers and other health care professionals, ensuring these are up to date and evidence based
10. Promote patient autonomy through education and support to enable the individual to make informed choices about their own care
11. Provide clinical supervision for colleagues on request and receive clinical supervision.
12. In collaboration with the Lead Cancer Nurse contribute to educational programmes provided within the trust and teach on graduate and undergraduate programmes in local universities.

Organisational and Managerial

1. Provide leadership and act as a role model within the clinical setting, demonstrating expert knowledge and high standards of clinical practice
2. Act as a clinical resource for the development of the Sarcoma Service
3. Act as a role model and clinical expert, providing evidence based practice for staff and members of the multidisciplinary team in relation to Sarcoma Care
4. Develop evidence based clinical guidelines, protocols and policies liaising with the MDT as needed
5. Contribute to the development of service standards with the Lead Clinician and Clinical Director and audit performance against these standards
6. Participate fully as a team member, sharing knowledge at presentations, audit meetings and Schwartz rounds and supporting colleagues, including support staff, to promote a cohesive team across departments to allow the achievement of team objectives
7. Be aware of the Health and Safety at Work Act and its implementation including equipment and prompt reporting of incidents and accidents in line with trust procedure
8. Lead on, and effectively investigate, complaints, incidents, root cause analysis and serious incidents in line with Trust policy and procedure on request
9. Contribute to the development and maintenance of a positive learning environment for colleagues, patients and visitors
10. Participate in the development and co-ordination of operational and strategic planning for the delivery of the Sarcoma Service within the Trust in conjunction with the Service Clinical Director and lead cancer nurse
11. Represent the Trust by attending relevant meetings and other events at local, Network and National Level
12. In collaboration with the Lead Cancer Nurse support the peer review process
13. Play a key role in enabling the Trust to meet its strategic objectives for cancer services and National Service Frameworks
14. Work strategically and across traditional boundaries to produce effective patient-focused services and manage demands on the service.
15. To network with other CNS within the specialist service throughout the UK, joining the appropriate organisations in order to collaborate, share and benchmark practices and initiatives
16. Participate in raising the profile of the unit and the Trust by means of networking, publication and conference presentation.

This job profile is not a definitive or exhaustive list of responsibilities but identifies the key responsibilities and tasks of the post holder.  The specific objectives of the post holder will be subject to review as part of the Appraisal and Development Plan process.