Here at Portsmouth Hospitals University NHS Trust, we are proud to provide expert, compassionate care for our local population. We are ranked as the third in the country for research, embedding education and training across the organisation. Our main hub is the Queen Alexandra Hospital, which is one of the largest hospitals on the south coast employing over 8,700 staff.

Our patients come from all walks of life and so do we. We hire great people from a wide variety of backgrounds because it makes our hospital stronger. If you share our values and our enthusiasm for getting it right for patients, colleagues, and our community, you will find a home at Portsmouth Hospitals University NHS Trust.

An exciting opportunity has arisen for someone interested in bowel cancer to expand their nursing role. It will be a permanent position. 

Portsmouth Hospitals Trust (PHT) is the lead provider for the Solent Bowel Cancer Screening programme serving a population cohort of approximately 746,000. PHT hosts the centralised administrative and specialist nursing support for the service.  Specialist clinics and colonoscopy lists are undertaken across multiple sites: 

• Queen Alexandra Hospital, Cosham
• St Mary’s Hospital, Newport, Isle Of Wight

The programme offers two patient pathways; Lynch Surveillance Pathway and Bowel Screening for 54 -74 year olds. The Specialist Screening Practitioner is to play a pivotal role in supporting the Bowel Cancer Screening Programme by working collaboratively with the programme hub as part of the team, co-ordinating and providing care from the screening centre to address the needs of individuals arising as a consequence of the screening programme. As part of the screening team the role will involve the co-ordination of health promotion activities for all sections of society.

Work collaboratively with other professionals and organisations to ensure patient needs are met, especially in relation to referrals to Trust MDTs.

The Host: Portsmouth Health Trust is looking to ensure that we provide equity of services across seven days of the week. This post may be reviewed in line with this plan and in some cases an element of weekend working may be required.

Ability to travel across Solent Site Trusts to deliver service needs of the programme.

The Specialist Screening Practitioner (SSP) plays a pivotal role in supporting the Bowel Cancer Screening Programme. The role of the SSP is multifaceted. They apply advanced expert clinical knowledge and experience along side evidence based decision making skills to support participants who have received a positive Fecal Immunochemical Test (FIT). SSPs are expected to enrol on a university accredited academic module specifically for SSP in the BCSP and should begin study within  a year of starting the SSP role.

The SSP 

• Provide advice, information and support for those making direct contact with the screening centre
• Be responsible for care delivery to patients identified by the screening programme and meet the needs of patients arising as a result of having been called to participate in screening, having been identified as positive on screening, needing to be assessed as fit to undertake screening or alternative investigations, needing to be able to make informed decisions prior to undertaking screening and patients who have been identified as requiring further intervention, treatment, surveillance follow-up or discharge.
• To use specialist knowledge and advanced communication skills with patients and carers when breaking bad news and providing psychological support on diagnosis, treatment and symptom management.
• Ensure timely access to the screening colonoscopy or alternative diagnostic intervention and seamless transition to agreed pathways in primary, secondary, tertiary or outpatient care settings, during all stages of the screening pathway.
• To establish links with Trust colorectal cancer multi-disciplinary team (MDT) in order to ensure that when cancer is detected, there is timely presentation and transfer of patients within the MDT.
• Populate and maintain the BCSP local 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
• Maintain a professional/personal portfolio
• Act in accordance with the Trusts values and behaviours
• Adhere to all Trust policy, procedures and guidelines
• Act in accordance with the NMC Code of Conduct

Qualifications
Essential

• NMC registered (RGN/RN Adult)
• Willing to undertake the Specialist Screening Practitioner Course, Bowel Cancer Screening System Training and Advanced Communication Course

Desirable

• Evidence of continued learning and mandatory training
• Basic Counselling Skills

Experience
Essential

• Clinical expertise across a range of specialties

Desirable

• Experience in Endoscopy or Pre-operative assessment
• Recent experience as Specialist Nurse
• Experience in Health promotion; research and audit

Skills & Knowledge
Essential

• Articulate with advanced written and oral communication skills and the ability to respond to different communication needs of patients in a variety of settings.
• Ability to present information and deal with questions.
• Comprehensive applied Anatomy and Physiology for relevant area.
• Knowledge of the Bowel Cancer screening Programme
• Awareness of the Trust Policies and Procedures
• Knowledge of professional accountability and NHS issues
• Always act in accordance with the NMC Code of Conduct

Desirable

• Evidence of management and leadership skills
• Ability to contribute to policy development.
• IT skills

The health and wellbeing of our staff is at the forefront of everything we do. We are proud to be able to offer our staff some fantastic benefits including our on-site Nursery, access to our free Beach Hut for those long summer days, our on-site Wellness Centre including a gym and a swimming pool, access to our fantastic staff networks including LGBTQ, Race Equality and DisAbility, and awards ceremonies to recognise your achievements. We believe we can offer support to all of our staff when they need it the most.

We welcome the unique contributions that you can bring in terms of your education, opinions, culture, ethnicity, race, sex, gender identity and expression, nation of origin, age, languages spoken, veteran’s status, colour, religion, disability, sexual orientation, and beliefs

We welcome the unique contributions that you can bring in terms of your education, opinions, culture, ethnicity, race, sex, gender identity and expression, nation of origin, age, languages spoken, veteran’s status, colour, religion, disability, sexual orientation, and beliefs.