Band 6 Specialist Screening Practitioner; SSP

About the role

As a Specialist Screening Practitioner, it is mandatory to start the SSP course within one year of appointment. The course is provided by Liverpool John Moore's University or Torbay and South Devon NHS Foundation Trust, run in partnership with the University of Plymouth. Support and mentorship will be provided during this period of study, and you will be given the time to attend study days at either allocated university, but will need to commit to self‑directed study outside of working hours.

You must successfully complete this course to continue working within the screening programme.

We are looking for an experienced, hardworking, flexible and committed individual to join our team, providing high quality care to all screening participants. You must be able to work effectively as part of a team and as an autonomous practitioner. You will be responsible for undertaking nurse‑led clinics, including patient assessment, provision of information, and preparation and support of those undergoing endoscopic or radiological investigations within the screening programme.

The role requires you to communicate and work closely with the wider multidisciplinary team across different hospital trusts. You must have excellent communication skills and be able to communicate sensitive and complex information to both patients and colleagues, including breaking significant news.

The Royal Wolverhampton NHS Trust is one of the largest NHS trusts in the West Midlands, providing primary, acute and community services. We are proud of the diversity of our staff and the communities we serve, and we strive to fulfil our values, improve the quality of care and solve tomorrow’s health‑care problems. We have been rated “Good” by the CQC and have received numerous awards, including the Nursing Times Best Diversity and Inclusion Practice and Best UK Employer of the Year for Nursing Staff in 2020.

We offer a supportive working environment and flexible working arrangements to suit your needs. We consider all requests from applicants wishing to work flexibly, and encourage you to discuss your individual circumstances with the Recruiting Manager as part of the onboarding process.

• Co‑ordinate individualized care for patients in the bowel cancer screening programme.
• Meet the emotional, physical and psychological needs of patients.
• Work with other members of the MDT to provide a quality service to patients.
• Act as the patient’s advocate, supporting them to navigate and make informed choices at all stages of the screening process.
• Travel between hospital sites to ensure equity and timeliness of service delivery.
• Participate in health‑promotion activities with local health‑promotion services to improve access to screening by all sections of society within the catchment area.
• Work collaboratively with the programme hub.
• Contribute to the smooth transition of patients through the journey identified by the National Bowel Cancer Screening Programme.
• Ensure the safety of patients undergoing screening endoscopies.
• Ensure the requirements of informed consent are achieved and recorded for every patient and identify patients with special risk‑management needs, adhering to Trust policy.
• Contribute to practitioner‑led clinics, including pre‑assessment of patients prior to screening colonoscopy and the provision of follow‑up clinics for patients not referred to the MDT.
• Support the education of all members of the healthcare team, mentoring as and when required.
• Attend the mandatory Bowel Cancer Specialist Screening Practitioner course within 12 months of starting in post. The course is run at Liverpool John Moore's University or Torbay and South Devon NHS Foundation Trust, in partnership with the University of Plymouth.
• Share the organisation and delivery of teaching to hospital and community staff, as well as students.
• With other team members contribute to the provision of health‑promotion activities to the screening population.
• Support the BCSP manager and Lead SSP in the development of performance for the National Screening Programme, strategic groups and the wider health community.
• In the absence of the Lead…