HealthJobsUK

Key Result Areas:

Knowledge, Skills and Experience

To provide holistic care to all patients, assessing the wider implications of their cancer diagnosis and supporting patients accordingly.

Advise on cancer diagnosis and symptom management for patients within the speciality, in an outpatient setting and via telephone consultations. Evaluate response to interventions and cascade to relevant colleagues to assess if adaptation of management is required.

Undertake nurse led surgical procedures including punch biopsies, curettage and cautery, incisional and excisional biopsy.

To be able to provide a seamless, high quality service from referral to diagnosis, treatment and review for patients with skin cancer.

To liaise and refer patients to other members of the multidisciplinary team as required and actively participate in the Specialist MDT.

Utilise and ensure others utilise IT systems to secure accurate and timely patient, data. Input patient information on relevant databases including Mosaiq and Somerset.

Identify and use educational strategies to deliver information to patients and carers. Participate in the development of patient focused education including training to support self-management and health promotion activities.

Assist in supporting the delivery of formal and informal teaching initiatives as part of the Trust’s education strategy as agreed with the appropriate Lead nurse to ensure practice development, staff empowerment and improved care for patients.

Have a specialist understanding of national, strategic and local guidelines and referral to treatment standards that support the management of Dermatology/Oncology patients

Act as a mentor/clinical supervisor as appropriate.

Measurable Result Areas

 Organise and manage a caseload of patients with a new and existing diagnosis of skin cancer.

Maintain patient records and ensure an effective documentation system to reflect the activity and delivery of specialist nursing care

To work as an integral member of the Dermatology/ Oncology multidisciplinary team to  participate in the development of  the service and provide effective co-ordinated care for patients in line with national Cancer Waiting Times Standards

To monitor and evaluate National Cancer Quality Standards for Skin Cancer

Contribute to the delivery of evidence-based personalised and compassionate care which places quality at the heart of specialist practice.  Care will be responsive to individual needs.

Act as an accessible professional for the team supporting and contributing to the management of a clinical caseload. 

Use knowledge of the speciality and treatment to support the development of personalised care pathways for individuals to assist with holistic needs assessment, planning and evaluation of care and all care interventions

To maintain a robust and comprehensive database of patients

To undertake regular patient and service audits.

Assist in managing risk by ensuring compliance with NICE guidelines.

Contribute to the development of clinical guidelines to support the specialist service.

Participate in clinical research relevant to practice area.

Take personal responsibility for life-long learning and personal development through clinical supervision and appraisal.  Actively engage in accredited learning and development opportunities needed to work within specialist area and take appropriate action to ensure these needs are met.

Assist in completion of the I Want Great Care patient survey form to promote feedback from patients and carers to ensure service development is in line with user need.

Communications and Working Relationships

Act as a patient advocate to facilitate the process of shared decision making in respect to health, choice of treatment and care.  Use interpersonal and communication skills where there may be significant barriers in order to build confidence.  Ensure that patients’ individual needs are expressed and valued and individual care plans are understood.

Using advanced communication skills  support patients, carers and staff during difficult situations arising in the clinical area, e.g. breaking bad news or following an unexpected event

Act as an effective key worker for all patients and their families, providing advice, support and signposting when necessary

Ensure that the patients holistic needs are taken into consideration in the decision making process.

Attend weekly multidisciplinary team meetings, and represent the MDT at local/regional business meetings and the West Midlands Expert Advisory Group meetings

Utilise highly developed communication skills enabling maintenance of high quality service and ensuring timely management and resolution of unexpected events and situations.

Responsible for identifying and assessing complex clinical and non-clinical issues, implementing resolutions and monitoring/auditing outcomes

Link with the Lead Cancer Nurse and other cancer CNSs/AHPs with the Trust

Act as a role model demonstrating high standards of holistic care and provide clinical support to other junior staff across the organisation.

Act as a resource providing Dermatology/ Oncology advice and support across the service boundaries to ensure optimum liaison and co-ordination of care.

Provide support to ensure public and patient involvement is embedded within the sphere of practice.

Assist in setting measurable outcomes for the service and continuous evaluation of practice supporting changes where necessary.

Contribute to the clinical governance agenda and participate in service improvement activities.

Contribute to an annual service review, gathering information to support the annual report.

Demonstrate empathetic interpersonal and communication skills in supporting, informing and advising patients where applicable.  Effectively and sensitively communicate information to patients and family/carers at key points along the care pathway on a frequent basis.

Refer to other health professionals and outside agencies to ensure optimum care and ongoing support for individual patients/carers, and to ensure the seamless transition from primary to secondary care appropriate to patients’ individual needs and circumstance.