Head and Neck Oncology Support Nurse

Our mission is: Providing high-quality, compassionate care for our communities

Our vision to 2030 is: To be trusted to provide consistently outstanding care and exemplary service

Our values - We want our staff to believe in, demonstrate and live our values in everything we do. Our values are:

Include We value the diversity and experience of our community colleagues and partners, creating relationships and climates that provide an opportunity to share, collaborate, and grow together.

Respect We create a safe environment where we are curious of the lived experience of others, seek out best practice and are open to listening and hearing new ideas.

Improve We are committed to consistently delivering excellent services and continuously looking to improve through a creative workforce that feels empowered to act in service of our shared purpose.

Job overview

We are recruiting for a Head and Neck Oncology Support Nurse who shares our vision to be trusted to provide consistently outstanding care and exemplary service to our patients. This will be a 12 month fixed term maternity leave cover.

The Support Nurse will be motivated, proactive, and an excellent communicator who works well within a team, whilst also autonomously managing their own case load. You will work with patients being investigated and having a confirmed diagnosis of Head and Neck cancers. At the heart of everything we do are our core values: Include, Respect and Improve. We encourage you to embrace these values throughout the recruitment process and in your role with us.

Main duties of the job

• You will be working alongside and supporting the Head and Neck Clinical Nurse Specialist, caring for ENT, Maxillo-Facial and Thyroid patients.
• You will attend the weekly Head and Neck MDT meeting and be a core member of the team.
• You will be caring and supporting Head and Neck cancer patients and their families. This will mainly be in our clinics or the ward or over the telephone.
• You will work closely with the team and especially the Speech and Swallowing Therapy Team and the Macmillan Dietitian.
• You will provide advice to other health care professionals regarding complex symptoms and concerns.
• We facilitate support groups for our patients and carers, which you will be helping with.

Working for our organisation

East and North Hertfordshire Teaching NHS Trust offers a range of general and specialist services, with 6,000 dedicated staff ensuring the best care. We run the following hospitals:

• The Lister Hospital, Stevenage
• New Queen Elizabeth II (New QEII), Welwyn Garden City
• Hertford County, Hertford

We are committed to a positive work life balance, flexible working patterns and supportive management.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

Please see the attached Job Description and Person Specification applicant pack for further detailed information regarding this role.

Qualifications / Training

• Evidence of continuous professional development
• Teaching or mentoring qualification
• Post registration qualification in speciality or willingness to complete
• Degree
• Research module

Previous Experience

• Evidence of mentorship/preceptorship roles
• Able to accept personal accountability for own practice
• Experience of formal/informal teaching
• Understanding of evidence-based practice
• Understanding of Clinical Governance
• Understanding and knowledge of specialist field

Skills

• Good verbal and written communication skills
• Capable of working as an integral member of a small team
• Flexible and adaptable to changing situations due to both workload and colleague needs
• Ability to undertake teaching of staff and patients
• Ability to work unsupervised and manage own workload; effective time management; effective interpersonal skills
• Commitment to multidisciplinary working
• Counselling skills

Other Requirements

• Experience and evidence of engagement around equality, diversity and inclusion issues in relation to policy, service development and service delivery in respect of both services to users and the management of staff
• Role model our Trust values every day
• To act in a professional manner at all times in accordance with the NMC Code of Conduct
• Capable of developing liaisons with other practice areas/academic institutions.
• Knowledge of broader issues related to specialty - political and Trust.

When you apply

We do not offer visa sponsorship for roles unless clearly stated in our adverts. If you have the right to work currently but will require a new sponsorship to work for our Trust your application will not be considered.

Vacancies may close earlier than the advertised closing date where a high volume of applications are received. Please submit your application as soon as possible to avoid missing out.

While we recognise that AI can support in drafting an application, you are encouraged to clearly demonstrate your personal skills, experience and behaviours that align with the role, and this is usually best done in your own words.

All correspondence relating to vacancies will be via the e mail address you have provided on your application form.

Committed to our Community

East and North Hertfordshire Teaching NHS Trust is committed to equality, diversity and inclusion for all job applicants, staff, patients and the wider community. We encourage applications from candidates with disabilities, BAME backgrounds and under-represented groups.

We are a Disability Confident employer and proud to support our UK armed forces, reservists, cadet instructors, veterans, and family members through supportive policies.

We are committed to a carer friendly environment.

King's Trust Support

If you're aged between 16 and 30, you can get free employability support from The King's Trust. Contact Enquiries.H& for support.

Employer certification / accreditation badges

You must have appropriate UK professional registration. This post will require a submission for Disclosure to be made to check for any unspent criminal convictions.