We are looking for a knowledgeable, dedicated, and forward-thinking individual for this exciting role in Paediatric Radiation Oncology.
The role includes the direct Clinical Management of Paediatric patients treated with Photon and Proton Radiotherapy and any other Paediatric patients attending the trust for treatments such as total body irradiation and radioiodine. The postholder will carry the Paediatric crash bleep which could also involve responding to emergencies with Paediatric visitors on site.
You will be supported by Consultant Clinical Oncologists and Royal Manchester Children Hospital (RMCH) Paediatric Oncology team
Alongside your clinical responsibilities, you will be involved in a variety of research and service improvement projects, with the flexibility to shape these to align with your professional goals
Applicants will be working as part of a national service which offers PBT and radiotherapy to patients across the UK.
Clinical responsibilities will include management of Paediatric patients attending The Christie. This will include managing any children that become unwell at the Christie in addition to on- treatment reviews for Paediatric Proton and Photon patients, managing toxicities of Radiotherapy.
You will participate in the Paediatric MDT meetings and develop close working relationships with other members of the multi-disciplinary team including Clinical Oncologists, Advanced Nurse Practitioners, Nursing Staff, Anesthetists, Play Specialists, Radiographers and Keyworkers. You will work in collaboration with RMCH oncology department, liaise with relevant professionals and make appropriate and timely referrals when necessary.
In addition to MDTs, you will have the opportunity to join and participate in wide variety of educational, research, leadership and management activities like Proton Seminars, Proton Research Community, PBT Journal Clubs, Paediatric outpatient clinics.
The Christie is one of Europe’s leading cancer centres and the PBT centre is one of two high-energy NHS proton centres in the UK offering proton therapy to patients that would previously have travelled abroad for treatment. As such this is a role, working in a highly specialised service alongside an extensive multi-professional team able to treat a complex clinical case mix including a high proportion of paediatric and young adult patients.
The PBT centre is a day case, outpatient service and operates routinely Monday – Friday with occasional planned weekend working. Individuals are required to work shift patterns to ensure adequate cover of the service across the day which operates from early morning - evenings. The PBT service is committed in supporting staff to find ways in which they can work flexibly in order to find an appropriate work life balance.
As a novel and highly specialised service there is extensive opportunity to continually develop within this role and ample funding is available for ongoing professional development of all post holders as well as opportunities to attend relevant conferences as a representative of the profession, department and Trust. Interested candidates are encouraged to contact the service to discuss the benefits and opportunities of working within the service.
Clinical
- To participate in the direct clinical management of Paediatric and TYA patients. This includes history taking, systematic physical examination, formulating clinical management plans, and prescribing appropriate treatment.
- Manage medical care of Paediatric patients receiving radiotherapy including post Anaesthetic patients.
- Plan and manage own workload, in a flexible manner and manage patient caseload, ensuring that service provision meets patient need.
- To perform complex clinical procedures as required with the scope of the role, as documented in relevant AP competencies for advanced practice.
- Maintain and continuously develop expertise and competence within the field of oncology collaborating with other ACP’s, specialist radiographers, medical staff, and other professionals to facilitate the management of patients.
- To consent patients for treatment and procedures as per Trust policy.
- Prescribe medicines, in capacity of an independent non-medical prescriber as per Trust policy.
- Develop a close working relationship with Royal Manchester Children’s Hospital (RMCH) liaising with relevant professionals and making appropriate and timely referrals when necessary.
- Develop and maintain a close working relationship with the Paediatric Anaesthetic team for patients undergoing General Anaesthesia for radiotherapy.
- Arrange or refer the patient for appropriate diagnostic tests and investigations, interpret these and act as indicated.
- Communicate highly complex, sensitive, or contentious information to patients and carers. This may include results of scans, management options and details of prognosis and impending death.
- Educate patients and their carers on issues surrounding health promotion and illness prevention. Promote and facilitate changes to lifestyle where appropriate.
- Communicate with the patient’s referring specialist, general practitioner and other community-based services at regular intervals, both verbally and in writing.
- Collaborate within the Cancer Network and offer clinical support to colleagues within cancer units, relating to individual patient management, health care delivery and strategic policy initiatives. Assist in the development of integrated patient pathways (such as NICE Guidance on Cancer Services).
- Act as an expert resource in providing advice and support to ward/departmental areas, and the wider community, on the management of specific oncological diseases.
- To support, educate and provide exceptional standards of care as an independent practitioner for all radiotherapy patients and their carers during treatment and beyond. Develop patient information specific to own area of expertise.
- Communicate effectively and sensitively with patients who have cancer and their families/carers by offering support, treatment, and side effects information.
- Participate in weekly clinics to review patients on treatment.
- To participate in discussion of current and future patient management at MDT (multi-disciplinary team) meetings. Communicate the outcome of these meetings to patients and carers, ensuring they fully understand.
- To liaise with other departments involved in providing a high standard of service to patients (i.e. specialist/research nurses, surgeons, clinical oncologists) and provide timely and evidence-based information as appropriate.
- Attend and contribute to inter-departmental management and clinical multi-disciplinary meetings as required.
- Work with the radiotherapy quality system and lead the production, review and auditing of relevant work instructions and standard operating procedures.
- Develop and maintain advanced Paediatric life support skills and provide a presence within the emergency team as required. Carry the bleep for Paediatric crash calls. Train others in basic Paediatric resuscitation.
- Participate in the extended shift system, bank holidays, weekend working.
- To undertake any other reasonable duties as necessary
Patient care and communication
- Be flexible, adaptable, and always communicate positively.
- Provide information at an appropriate level of understanding to ensure a patient and/or carer is fully informed at all stages of the pathway.
- Liaise with members of the multidisciplinary team as appropriate
- Communicate with patients, families and carers with empathy and reassurance.
- Responsibility to safeguard and promote the welfare of children and young people. To co- operate with other agencies to protect individual children and young people from harm.
Supervisory and Managerial Responsibilities
- Assist with the supervision and line management of staff within the Paediatric team.
- Ensure that the relevant Services Manager is kept informed of any issues affecting the delivery and safety of the service.
- Ensure compliance with radiotherapy quality system and Trust system for policies and procedures
- Ensure that performance of staff within the review team is monitored and. If necessary, take appropriate action in accordance with Trust Policies.
- To lead on clinical governance and risk management within the proton pre-treatment section.
- Use professional judgement and experience to give direction and advice to other staff members.
- Make independent judgements and take any appropriate actions concerning cancellation, alteration, or suspension of a patient’s pathway.
- To investigate complaints and concerns from patients and other healthcare professionals as per the Trust policy.
- To investigate errors and incidents as per the Trust policy
- Assist in the ongoing development of Paediatric pathway in proton therapy at The Christie.
- Develop appropriate competencies and training for medical and non-medical health care professionals who may assist the review team.
- Assist in development of relevant standard operating procedures and protocols/work instructions for Paediatric care in the Trust.
Teaching and Training
- Participate in the development and delivery of specialist teaching programmes both within the Trust and at local and national level.
- To assist with induction sessions for new Trust staff and visiting health care professionals.
- To supervise medical, nursing and AHP students and support staff.
- Act as an expert resource and provide advice, information, and support to nursing and medical staff caring for critically ill children.
- Develop education programmes and material relating to Paediatric and TYA patients and their carers.
Professional and Personal Development
- Accountable for own professional conduct.
- Act in accordance with the NMC/professional body code of professional conduct: standards for conduct and ethics.
- Provide evidence of continued professional development in the form of a professional practice portfolio to meet the revalidation requirements of the NMC/professional body.
- Always ensure patient confidentiality.
- Maintain patient safety and dignity.
- Take responsibility for own professional supervision needs.
- As a reviewee, participate in annual performance review and identify own training and development needs.
- Keep up to date on essential training and maintenance of clinical competencies.
- Lead and contribute to the development of relevant departmental, directorate and Trust service and quality objectives.
- Provide clinical and professional leadership and act as a role model for other staff.
Responsibilities for human resources
- Assist with the recruitment of relevant staff within area.
- As a reviewer participate in annual performance review and identify training and development needs of those staff.
- To act upon any disciplinary and/or capability issues within area and investigate and manage as per the Trust Disciplinary and/or Capability policy.
- Manage absence within area as per the Trust Management of Attendance policy.
Responsibility for resources
- Ensure that all equipment is in a safe condition and complies with the relevant Health and Safety Legislation and that appropriate action is taken in the event of equipment failure.
- Ensure all staff within area with instructions / policies.
- Ensure that relevant risk assessments are carried out and reviewed at regular intervals and the Risk Register updated.
Research, Audit and Quality Improvement
- Facilitate clinical audit or research through development of ideas and strategies to answer research questions, with the aim of achieving evidence-based practice to provide the best possible quality of care.
- Have a sound knowledge of research governance, clinical governance, research ethics, and work within and comply with the principles of ‘ICH GCP’.
- To support and initiate clinical audits, report results and where necessary, to implement change.
- To encourage and facilitate the development of treatments by participation in and initiation of specific clinical research projects.
- Disseminate relevant research findings to colleagues and members of the health professions via presentation and publication
- Identify and engage with small tests of change to continually improve the quality and efficiency of care provide to patients
- Show flexibility and adaptability to learn new skills that may be associated with new clinical trials.
- Contribute to the Trust’s governance processes and framework.
This job description is not exhaustive and will be reviewed periodically to consider changes and developments in service requirements. Any changes will be discussed fully with the post holder.
