Detailed job description and main responsibilities

Principal Duties & Responsibilities

• Manage the care of patients Chemotherapy care, including the assessment, examination, education, treatment and review of the patients in accordance with agreed guidelines, within the Chemotherapy unit / nurse led  clinic 
• Ensure provision of information is available to support informed consent and enable patient to make informed choices on treatment and clinical management options.
• Ensure provision of information and support is available at key stages of the Chemotherapy pathway ensuring timely and appropriate onward referral to living with and beyond cancer programmes, to include signposting to national and local support groups, benefits advice agencies and psychological services as necessary.
• Undertake regular review and revision of all patient information relevant to the Chemotherapy site to ensure that it is up-to-date, and evidence based.
• Where necessary, liaise with other lead Chemotherapy CNS’s and ACP’s to ensure effective patient clinical management.
• Attend local and Specialist Cancer MDT’S share information whilst acting as patient advocate, and share information and promote effective communication with patients, carers and across the multi-professional team. 
• To provide advice and keyworker support for patients and carers throughout their pathway.
• To access and liaise with the other members of the multi-disciplinary team (MDT) for advice where necessary to be able to address patient information and support needs. 
• Co-ordinate with other care providers to ensure patients investigations, MDT discussions are undertaken in a timely manner.
• To co-ordinate care between hospitals where required, outside of Walsall to ensure that referrals and appointments.
• To liaise with the patient GP where required to ensure adequate support for

the patient within the community.

• Develop and run clinical nurse specialist led clinics for patient assessment, treatment reviews and holistic assessment of patients care needs.    

• Act as a resource for all disciplines within acute and primary care seeking advice regarding the management of patients care and treatment.
• Ensure professional development and education reflects and aligns to Nationally agreed Education and competency frameworks. 
• Have high-level communication skills and contribute to wider development of practice by publicising and disseminating work through presentations at conferences and publication.
• Attend professional forums and disseminate information within the Trust.

Service Development

• Ensure a culture of continuous quality improvement through the use of audit, patient feedback and reflection on practice by self and other members of the team.
• In agreement with Lead cancer nurse and Matron attend relevant cancer advisory groups and relevant national forums to ensure appropriate Health Care Professionals within the Trust are informed of key external influences that may impact the development and delivery of local services.

• In collaboration with Consultants, Ward Manager and Matron Contribute to service improvement and development of Chemotherapy service.
• Develop strategies to seek feedback on user issues through co-ordinating patient experience.
• Develop robust clinical patient pathways.
• Participate in Quality surveillance programme– Cancer peer review

Management

• Act as a visible positive role model, creating a supportive ethos to empower staff to contribute to the delivery of high-quality person-centred care.
• Participate in individual personal appraisal to ensure personal, departmental, and corporate objectives are met.
• Maintain patient records to ensure that relevant information is documented
• Support Chemotherapy unit team to ensure the best patient experience
• Organise time effectively to ensure effective management of workload,

prioritising work as necessary.

• Attend Trust, Cancer steering group, Cancer Alliance and Expert Advisory group meetings as required and appropriate. 

Governance, Audit and Research

• Critically appraise and synthesise the outcomes of relevant research, evaluations and audits and apply the information when seeking to improve practice
• Support chemotherapy services within the Division of Surgery governance framework by ensuring any areas of clinical risk are reported appropriately and communicated to the relevant healthcare professionals accordingly.
• Develop and review chemotherapy specific protocols and guidelines relevant to practice and ensure these are accessible to staff in clinical areas.