Job summary
- Main area
- Surgery and cancer
- Grade
- Band 7
- Contract
- Permanent
- Hours
- Full time - 37.5 hours per week
- Job ref
- 197-R-LC7910
- 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
- 24/02/2026 23:59
Employer heading
Nurse Specialist - Upper GI /Priority Upper 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
The Upper GI (UGI) Telephone Assessment Clinic (TAC) Clinical Nurse Specialist (CNS) functions within a field of practice that focuses on the needs of the patient and encompasses interaction with others in delivering nursing, health and social care.
The CNS promotes excellence in nursing practice through the integration of expert clinical practice, education, consultancy, acting as a resource and commitment to nursing research. The post holder will work closely with the General Surgery, Gastroenterology and Endoscopy teams across the patient pathway.
The post holder will contribute to the on-going role in the development of the service for patients with suspected or confirmed UGI cancers. This will include developing protocols; setting up; and running a Telephone Assessment Clinic for patients on the 2WW pathway requiring further investigations.
The Clinical Nurse Specialist will be an experienced practitioner within their speciality. They will be responsible for the nursing leadership within the specialty and giving support and guidance within the multidisciplinary team, contributing to the high-quality care given to patients, in accordance with clinical governance. The post holder will ensure delivery and expansion of an expert and advanced nurse-led service through effective interdisciplinary care, utilising clinical and managerial expertise, which will include a review of the effectiveness of treatment.
Main duties of the job
To possess a background in upper GI or endoscopy nursing with knowledge of upper GI 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 Upper 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 gastroenterology colleagues
Work closely with the Lead TAC CNS and wider 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:
- 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
- Widening access (anchor institution) and employability
- Improving the experience of staff with disability
- Improving the EDI literacy and confidence of trust staff through training and development
- Making equalities mainstream
Detailed job description and main responsibilities
Key Result Areas & Performance:
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 provide expert nursing advice to patients with suspected UGI malignancies over the phone (could be expanded to Face-to-Face as the service develops).
To demonstrate specialist skills and knowledge through expert nursing practice.
To liaise with all relevant members of the multidisciplinary team in the care and support of individual patients including GPs.
To maintain a high profile in the clinical area, acting as a role model for other health care professionals.
To facilitate individualised patient care based upon the principles of evidence-based practice.
To hold a variety of nurse led clinics, including the development of written protocols based on national standards, triaging or following up suspected UGI cancer patients, arranging investigations, reviewing results, diagnosing and referring back to a medical team as appropriate.
To work in close collaboration with all members of the MDT.
To provide professional clinical leadership and expertise to other nursing staff.
To work as part of the UGI Cancer MDT ensuring that a thorough assessment of the patient has been carried out and appropriate diagnostic investigations requested.
To demonstrate the ability to develop new skills, to provide an expert high quality, nurse-led service.
· 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 carrying out 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 understand the diagnostics being requested and possible outcomes. Liaising with other healthcare professionals when necessary.
· To maintain accurate and legible records of all clinical and legal documentation with regard to Statutory and Trust policies.
Be aware of, understand, and act upon the Divisional Business Plan, with particular reference to nursing care, in order to participate in the re-formulation of nursing aspects of the plan.
When required, investigate the nursing 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 Upper GI Cancer/Diseases and UGI symptoms
- 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 Upper GI symptoms and triage them appropriately for investigations
- Experience of running nurse-led clinics
Knowledge
Essential criteria
- Excellent verbal, written and interpersonal communication skills
- Knowledge/Experience of UGI cancer symptoms, UGI disease and pathology
- Knowledge of UGI diagnostic procedures including endoscopy and bowel prep procedures
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
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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
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 on 07469 104230 for an informal conversation/visit
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