An exciting opportunity has arisen for a motivated and pro-active nurse to join our growing cancer research team at South Warwickshire University NHS Foundation Trust. The successful candidate will work alongside a dedicated cancer research team to deliver a growing portfolio of oncology and haematology clinical trials.
We are looking for a highly motivated individual to work autonomously to coordinate the patient pathway to ensure the rights, safety and well-being of trial participants are protected. They will ensure that the requirements of the trial protocol are met at all times according to ICH Good Clinical Practice guidelines. They will need to have excellent communication, organisational and time management skills. Nurses who have experience in haematology or oncology are encouraged to apply. Research experience is not essential but desirable as full training will be provided.
The post holder will be a clinically based practitioner who will take a supportive role in strengthening the nursing contribution to patients and service users within the speciality across the organisation.
In partnership with the multi-disciplinary team (MDT) the post holder will assist develop, implement and evaluate a seamless specialist service.
Using specialist nursing skills; contributes to the management of a caseload of patients recruited to both observational and interventional research studies and provide continued care and support throughout the study.
The post holder will contribute to the ongoing development of innovative practice, standards of care and strategies to ensure practice development and education for other professionals caring for patients within this speciality.
Job description
Job responsibilities
Expertise & Excellence in Clinical Practice
Contribute to the delivery of evidence-based personalised and compassionate care which places quality at the heart of specialist practice. Care will respond to individual needs and reflect current local protocols and national guidelines.
Act as an accessible professional for the multi-disciplinary team (MDT) supporting the management of a clinical caseload for at least 80% of the role. This will necessitate a degree of autonomy and advocacy to ensure the delivery of appropriate care.
Contribute to the management of a caseload of patients within speciality and prioritise workload to meet patient and service need.
Use knowledge of the speciality and treatment to support the development of personalised care pathways for individuals and assist with holistic needs assessment, planning and evaluation of care and all care interventions.
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.
Advise on disease and symptom management for patients within the speciality in both inpatient and outpatient settings. Evaluate response to interventions and cascade to relevant colleagues.
Support patients to self-manage their condition where deemed appropriate. Provide education for those who will need guided support to self-manage and those who will need ongoing face to face support.
Assist in the development and delivery of nurse led or parallel clinics in line with National guidance and local service need.
Act as a resource providing specialist advice and support across service boundaries to ensure optimum liaison and co-ordination of care.
Undertake clinical competencies relevant to this specialist service to demonstrate expertise in extended nursing roles. Assess and assist in managing individual psychological reactions to diagnosis, treatment and associated side effects including working to Good Clinical Practice (GCP) standards, adhering to the Study Protocol, maintenance of an Investigator Site File to GCP standards and the reporting of Serious Adverse Events, Adverse Events and breaches to protocol in a timely manner as per the requirements of both the Study Team and Trust.
There will be a requirement to utilise specialist clinical skills, (e.g. the ability to take and spin bloods) as a regular duty within the role.
Act as a role model demonstrating high standards of holistic care and provide clinical leadership to others across the organisation.
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.
Participate in operational and strategic planning for the development and delivery of the specialist service. Support service improvement activities.
Attend Trust Research Nurse meetings and contribute to the agenda and strategic nursing vision.
Represent the Trust by contributing to and participating in meetings locally, regional and nationally relating to the speciality.
Contribute to an annual service review, gathering information to support the annual report.
Communication
Take personal responsibility for ensuring effective communication between all service providers.
Act as a role model for excellent communication skills. Demonstrate empathetic interpersonal and communication skills in supporting, informing and advising patients and carers through diagnosis, treatment, disease progression, prognosis and supportive and palliative care where applicable. This will involve occasionally imparting significant news or supporting patients and carers during and following such consultations.
Effectively and sensitively communicate complex and sensitive information to emotionally distressed patients and family/carers at key points along the care pathway on a frequent basis.
As a core member of the MDT provide professional advice to Principle Investigators, Junior Doctors, Nurses and other staff within the Trust and liaise with Study Teams, Pharmacy, Pathology and Radiology as appropriate to the study.
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.
Maintain links with local and national organisations, which support the care of patients within this speciality.
Education
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 the development of other professionals by contributing to Trust wide specialist education and training.
Support the delivery of formal and informal teaching initiatives as part of the Trusts education strategy as agreed with the appropriate senior nurse to ensure practice development, staff empowerment and improved care for patients.
Act as a mentor/clinical supervisor as appropriate.
Take personal responsibility for life-long learning and personal development through clinical supervision and appraisal. Actively engages with learning and development opportunities needed to work as an advancing practitioner and take appropriate action to ensure these needs are met.
Contribute to promoting educational links with local providers of higher education and deliver lectures on a range of courses.
Quality, Audit, Innovation and Research
Assist in the development of written patient information and use existing appropriate resources to inform users, according to individually assessed need.
Work within the NMC code of professional conduct.
Contribute to the development of policies and clinical guidelines to support the specialist service.
Collaborate with other MDT members to develop and update multi-professional Trust operational policies and guidelines.
Maintain patient records and ensure an effective documentation system to reflect the activity and delivery of specialist nursing care.
Promote the service were applicable.
Use creative reasoning, experience and vision to support advancement of care.
Develop new skills in response to emerging knowledge and techniques.
Supports management of change as required.
Maintain membership and attendance at national and local forums to network and debate issues to inform the specialist nursing role and service delivery where applicable.
Assist with the collation of data to provide evidence of productivity, outcomes and quality through audit and research.
Contribute to the identification of patients eligible for trial entry. Provide support to patients considering entry to clinical trials in relation to informed consent and advocacy.
Participate in clinical research relevant to practice area.
Assist in the development of links and system to seek the views of patient and carers to ensure service development is in line with user need.
Additional Responsibilities
Participate in clinical research in the delivery of the clinical trials portfolio at South Warwickshire NHS Foundation Trust. Monitor, record and present recruitment numbers to ensure national and locally agreed recruitment and delivery targets are met.
Ensure that the delivery of studies meet the requirements with regards to the Department of healths research Governance framework for health and social care by implementing quality systems.
Manage own portfolio of studies.
Participate in good clinical practice training (GCP) and updates as per National Institute of Health Research guidelines.
Contribute to the process of gaining local regulatory approvals.
Assist in the review of study protocols and contribute to the feasibility/study selection process, advising on safety, regulatory and logistical issues.
Reporting of Serious Adverse Events, Adverse Events and breaches to protocol in a timely manner as per the requirements of both the Study Team and Trust.
Work with the trials teams and investigators to develop strategies to overcome barriers to recruitment and solve other problems relating to specific studies.
Contribute to the study set up, recruitment planning and study delivery planning.
Facilitate and assist in the informed consent process ensuring that consent forms are completed accurately and filed as required and participants are fully aware of the nature of the study.
Following appropriate training and competence assessment obtain written informed consent for allocated research studies in accordance with study protocol and Trust guidance.
Randomise / enrol patients into clinical trials or other research studies according to study protocols.
Provide on-going advice and information to patients/volunteers about their participation in clinical research in order to facilitate effective informed consent.
Provide clinical interventions as per the study and Trust protocols.
Ensure clear, concise and accurate records are kept for research projects in accordance with all regulatory requirements including the data protection act.
Ensure that all GCP required documentation is kept in a clearly traceable system and is stored in an appropriate manner for the appropriate length of time.
Where required, data is transcribed accurately into the Investigator Site File and maintain in accordance with GCP.
For full details of the duties associated with this role please see attached Job Description.