Senior Clinical Nurse Specialist

Overview

Working Full time: 37.5 hours per week. This specialist nursing post will provide clinical support, expert care and clinical leadership to support patients with suspected cancer, provide improved care and support for patients on a cancer pathway (TWR / 28 day pathway) support the faster diagnosis and improved outcomes for patients with colorectal cancer, work with the Colorectal Team, the Clinical Nurse Specialists, and positively impact on the experience of patients and carers by providing high standards of clinical practice and care as appropriate across the trust.

The senior CNS possesses expertise in clinical risk evaluation, change management and the provision of educational support to patients, carers and colleagues across organisational and professional boundaries.

The post holder will be expected to demonstrate a higher level of practice in both her/his direct care of patients and in her/his ability to plan and develop services to support patient care. Utilising the skills of leadership, clinical expertise, evidence based practice and innovation the post holder will facilitate and deliver care which is patient centred, safe, and effective.

The post holder may be required to work on other wards/ departments within the Trust at short notice in the event of hospital pressures/major civilian disaster.

• To plan/organise/manage a defined patient caseload, be accountable for professional actions, and to work on own initiative without direct supervision.
• To work as a specialist, autonomous practitioner and use expert clinical decision-making skills.
• To provide nurse-led clinics according to service requirements
• To follow existing guidelines/policies for assessment and delivery of care, and develop, with the team, new guidelines/policies as required.
• To ensure effective communication is maintained both written and verbally, regarding patients, through close liaison with professional colleagues, both in primary and secondary care, and to develop working relationships with consultants, general practitioners and other support services.
• To demonstrate the ability to manage stressful and conflicting situations professionally, as they arise.
• To ensure that all requirements for continuing professional development are met and to keep abreast of new advances in the field of Colorectal as appropriate.

• The Countess of Chester Hospital: providing 473 general and acute beds.
• Ellesmere Port Hospital: providing 60 beds as a rehabilitation, intermediate and outpatient facility.
• Tarporley War Memorial Hospital: a base for community services which serve the local rural population.

The Countess of Chester Hospital NHS Foundation Trust employs 5,964 staff (headcount) to provide care and treatment to a population of over 400,000 people living in Chester and West Cheshire which includes Ellesmere Port and Neston as well as the Deeside area of Flintshire.

The Trust works collaboratively within the wider Cheshire and Merseyside Integrated Care System. Due to its location on the border with North Wales, the Trust also works closely with the Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board.

The Trust treats patients from England and some parts of Wales. During 2024/2025, there were approximately 643,000 patient attendances (inpatient, A&E, outpatient and diagnostic) ranging from a simple outpatient appointment to major cancer surgery.

See Job Description For Further Details.

Recruitment selection processes are based on competence (see Person specification) and values.

Please note applicants will be required to pay for their DBS check. Costs will be deducted from their salary over the first three months of employment.

You are encouraged to enrol for the DBS Update Service. A small annual fee of £16 per year applies.

New entrants to the NHS will commence on the minimum of the scale stated above.

Applicants are advised to apply early as if a large number of applications are received for this post, we reserve the right to close the vacancy prior to the advertised date.

Good luck with your application.