Bowel Cancer Screening Specialist Practitioner

at  University Hospitals Sussex NHS Foundation Trust 279

Clinical To work autonomously using specialist skills and knowledge to determine best pathway of care for bowel screening patients. To provide specialist information to assist patients in managing their treatment options. Ensure timely access to screening flexible sigmoidoscopy, colonoscopy or alternative diagnostic intervention and seamless transition to agreed pathways in primary, secondary, tertiary or out-patient settings, during all stages of the screening pathway. To utilise highly specialist knowledge in assistant patients in managing treatment side effects.
To develop an information standard and embed in practice. Maintain accountability and responsibility in all areas of practice, including excellent documentation and recording of information. Provide specialist, expert clinical knowledge to clinical colleagues, patients and carers/relatives. Delivering Specialist pre-assessment clinics following a patient positive Faecal Immunochemical Test (FIT) using their specialist knowledge.

During pre-assessment clinic post holder will discuss potential reasons for abnormal result and assess patients suitability for colonoscopy and bowel preparations. Discuss complex facts and prepare the patient for a possible cancer diagnosis, informing them of the potential benefits and risks involved in colonoscopy screening. Post holder will need to ensure: - Timely access to screening colonoscopy or radiological diagnostics and seamless transition to agreed pathways. - Liaison with local colorectal cancer MDT in order to ensure that when cancer is detected, there is timely presentation and transfer of patients to the MDT following Trust protocol.

• Perform comprehensive assessment of patient needs, plan, implement and evaluate care according to BCSP. - Patient records are completed (electronic and paper) to include data on treatment, staging and outcomes which will be provided by the multi-disciplinary care teams Establish effective links with local colorectal cancer multi-disciplinary teams in order to ensure that when cancer is detected, there is timely presentation and transfer of patients to the multi-disciplinary team. Breaking bad news to patients following their colonoscopy, discussing the findings and explaining what happens next on their pathway. Present during each colonoscopy procedure to provide reassurance to the patient and collect an extensive pre-defined dataset, inputting information onto the Bowel Cancer Screening System (BCSS) Populate and maintain the BCSP National database.

Participate in ongoing data collection and quality assurance, service feedback and audit with particular responsibility for the follow-up of patients at 30 days. Perform comprehensive assessment of patient needs, plan, implement and evaluate care according to BCSP. Collect, collate, evaluate and report information, maintaining accurate patient records. Act as a key participant in the health promotion programme adopted by the BCS team People Management and Development Support the provision of helpline services run from the Hub by resolving queries referred by them to the screening centre.
Ensure patient records for the screening services are completed to include data on treatment, staging and outcomes provided by the multi-disciplinary team. Maintain professional competence and support that of other staff within the BCSP. Support the Lead Specialist Screening Practitioner and Programme Manager in the development of performance to the National Screening Programme, strategic groups and the wider health community. Contribute to the business and strategic planning for the BCSP.
Provide specialist, expert knowledge to clinical colleagues, patients and carers/relatives. Work collaboratively with other health professionals and organisations. Evaluate service delivery, identify areas for improvement and initiate change. Travel between all clinic and endoscopy sites to ensure equity and timeliness of service delivery.
Service Delivery and Improvement In addition to SSP duties the post holder will assist the Lead SSP and Programme Manager in the planning, organisation and maintenance for delivery of the programme ensuring waiting list targets are met, where necessary. Ensure that clinical risks are identified, reported and managed within the department and adhere to local clinical governance policies. Identify need for, and undertake, research, clinical audit and benchmarking in order to improve effectiveness of patient care. Disseminate research and audit findings through presentation to professional groups and publication.
Responsible for the development and implementation of policies, procedures and guidelines relevant to own area of work. Promote patient and public involvement activities in the BCSP, leading to service improvement. Promote peoples equality, diversity and rights. Communication To work independently across organisations to improve the communication regarding patients and the treatment they received.
Provide face to face contact with GPs and community nurses to challenge current ways of working and embrace change. To work collaboratively with GPs and community nurses to improve the patients pathway of care. To utilise specialist skills and advance communication techniques to manage difficult conversations with patients. To work with different members of the hospital MDT to ensure the patient is given the right information.
To keep NHS Cancer Screening up to date with improvements in the patient pathway and developments with the project. To work with lead cancer nurse in ensuring project outcomes are delivered. To set up focus groups to gain patient ideas to ensure alterations in care are patient focused. Please see Job Description for further information

Please refer the Job description for details