Chemotherapy Specialist Nurse

Job overview

We have a fantastic opportunity for an experienced nurse to join the Haematology/Oncology Ambulatory Care Team, providing expert holistic nursing care, assessment, advice, education and support to patients and their carers undergoing treatment in the unit.

The Chemotherapy Specialist Practitioner Nursing team support patients with cancer, requiring systemic anti-cancer treatment (SACT) either as an in-patient in the Oncology or Haematology wards or off site within OUH (at discretion of the Lead Chemotherapy Nurse) to receive their treatment safely and on time.

The postholder will: contribute to the continuing development and growth of the service through audit, attending departmental meetings and review of national guidance; work and promote the ethos of ambulatory care, which improves patient experiences and helps to relieve pressure on in-patient beds; facilitate learning and offer support to the ward nurses in caring for patients receiving SACT; ensure patients attending for SACT are cared for to the highest possible standard; and develop practice with the support of the DTU & Ward managers, which develops the service provided.

The successful candidate can look forward to working in a professional environment with a team that is passionate about delivering outstanding care to patients and their families.

We recommend that you contact us to find out more about this exciting role and see what we can offer you:

Main duties of the job

The Chemotherapy Specialist Nurse will:

• Accept patient referrals as per the agreed criteria set out in the Ambulatory Care SOP
• Provide advice, education and support to patients, their carers/families and other health care professionals.
• Liaise with other hospital and community teams along agreed pathways to support the delivery of patient and family centred care.
• Contribute to the efficient running of the Ambulatory Care Service.
• Demonstrate adaptability and sound decision-making skills.
• Contribute to the on-going development of the Ambulatory care service
• Develop practice guidelines based upon evidence gained from audit and literature review.

Working for our organisation

Oxford University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust is one of the largest NHS teaching trusts in the country. It provides a wide range of general and specialist clinical services and is a base for medical education, training and research. The Trust comprises four hospitals - the John Radcliffe Hospital, Churchill Hospital and Nuffield Orthopaedic Centre in Headington and the Horton General Hospital in Banbury.

Our values, standards and behaviours define the quality of clinical care we offer and the professional relationships we make with our patients, colleagues and the wider community. We call this Delivering Compassionate Excellence, and its focus is on our values of compassion, respect, learning, delivery, improvement and excellence.

These values put patients at the heart of what we do and underpin the quality healthcare we would like for ourselves or a member of our family. Watch how we set out to deliver compassionate excellence via the OUH YouTube channel.

In 2023 NHS England launched its first sexual safety charter, and our Trust proudly signed it. We pledge zero tolerance for inappropriate sexual behaviour and commit to the ten core principles. Oxford University Hospital promotes a safe, respectful hiring environment.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

Please refer to the attached job description for full details of the role and responsibilities. In summary, the Chemotherapy Specialist Nurse will:

• Coordinate service activity daily ensuring appropriate use of resources.
• Liaise with clinical areas to identify patients who may be suitable for the Ambulatory Care Unit
• Support, supervise and mentor nurses completing the Care of Patient Receiving Chemotherapy module.
• Accept patient referrals to agreed criteria / patient caseload.
• Contribute to the development of the service philosophy and the therapeutic environment.
• Have a sensitive and compassionate manner with patients and relatives who are in various states of emotional distress in view of the delicate nature of the disease.
• As part of the wider department, participate in arrangements for delivery of SACT when delivery is essential and is sometimes required to be off-site.

Person specification Education/training

• Registered Adult nurse: Active entry on the NMC register
• Specialist training and experience in SACT administration, cancer care or palliative care

Skills and experience

• Demonstrable experience in ward co-ordination
• Shown ability to support and supervise others.
• Good communication skills - empathetic providing psychological and emotional support, able to break bad news and provide clear instructions and constructive feedback.

COVID-19: The COVID-19 vaccination remains the best way to protect yourself, your family, your colleagues and of course our patients from the virus when working in our healthcare settings. While COVID-19 vaccination is not a condition of employment, we do encourage our staff to get vaccinated. If you are unvaccinated there is helpful advice and information at Oxfordshire County Council Website where you can also find out more about how to access vaccination.

Vacancy Closures: Please note, this vacancy may close early if a high volume of applications are received.

Probation Period: This post is subject to a 6 month probationary period. If you currently hold a contract of employment with the Oxford University Hospitals, this will not apply. This statement does not apply to Medical staff or Executive Appointments.

Referencing: When providing employment reference details please provide correct work related email addresses so references can be sought promptly when we are looking to progress your application. Your first referee will need to be your line manager, supervisor or clinical lead from your current or most recent post or place of study. Please note that if you have previously worked for the Trust we will require a reference from your last Manager, this information is essential if your offer of employment is to be confirmed.

Next Steps: Please make sure that you read the job description and person specification, and that your supporting statement reflects this as your application will be judged against these criteria. Candidates selected for interview will be contacted after the short-listing process, usually within 2 weeks. (Please note that shortlisting times vary when applying for a Medical position within the Trust). The majority of correspondence will be via the e-recruitment system; therefore you should check your emails regularly including junk mail folders in web-based email products.

No unsolicited recruitment agency telephone calls or emails.

Employer certification / accreditation badges

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.