Liverpool and Wirral Bowel cancer screening Service, Royal site LUHFT, is looking for a Bowel cancer specialist screening practitioner (SSP)who is passionate about education and development to join the team in the newly developed role of an SSP/ Nurse Educator.
They will provide advanced clinical practice as a Specialist Screening Practitioner within the Bowel Cancer Screening Programme (BCSP), while leading on the education, training, and professional development of SSPs in conjunction with the Lead/Deputy Lead Specialist Practitioner. This hybrid role ensures safe, effective, and consistent practice across the SSP workforce, particularly in response to the increased demand following the implementation of FIT80.
They will be responsible to provide a high level of education, training and support to the bowel cancer Specialist Screening Practitioner in Liverpool and Wirral Bowel Screening Service based at the Royal Hospital site.
The post holder will also be responsible for developing and managing an educational service which will aim to deliver up to date evidence-based practice focusing on individual staff need to support in the delivery of a high standard of care.
Liverpool University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust comprises Aintree University Hospital, Broadgreen Hospital & Royal Liverpool University Hospital.
We are part of NHS University Hospitals of Liverpool Group, formed on 1 Nov 2024 from the coming together of LUHFT and Liverpool Women’s NHS Foundation Trust. The Group was born from a shared aim to improve the care we provide our patients.
UHLG is one of the largest employers in the region, with over 16,800 colleagues dedicated to caring for our communities - from birth and beyond.
For the 630,000 people across Merseyside, we are their local NHS. We provide general and emergency hospital care, alongside highly specialised regional services for more than two million people in the North West.
Aintree University Hospital is the single receiving site for adult major trauma patients in Cheshire and Merseyside and hosts a number of regional services including an award-winning stroke facility. Broadgreen Hospital is home to elective surgical, diagnostic and treatment services, together with specialist patient rehabilitation. Liverpool Women’s Hospital specialises in the health of women and babies, delivering over 7,200 babies in the UK’s largest single site maternity hospital each year. The Royal Liverpool University Hospital is the largest hospital in the country to provide inpatients with 100% single bedrooms and focuses on complex planned care and specialist services.
For roles at Liverpool Women’s, visit their careers page .
Clinical Practice
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 will meet the needs of patients arising because of:
Having been called to participate in screening
Having been identified as positive on screening
Needing to be assessed as fit to undertake screening colonoscopy or alternative diagnostic investigations
Needing to be able to make informed decisions prior undergoing screening colonoscopy or alternative diagnostic interventions
Having 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 screening colonoscopy or alternative diagnostic intervention and seamless transition to agreed pathways in primary, secondary, tertiary or out-patient care settings, during all stages of the screening pathway
To establish effective links with local colorectal cancer multi-disciplinary teams to ensure that when cancer is detected, there is timely presentation and transfer of patients to the multi-disciplinary team
Populate and maintain the BCSP local database
Participate in ongoing data collection and quality assurance, service feedback and audit with 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
Work collaboratively with other professionals and organisations to ensure patient needs are met, especially in relation to referrals to local MDTs.
Leadership & Quality Improvement
- Contribute to workforce planning and succession strategies.
- Lead quality improvement initiatives to enhance patient safety and service delivery.
- Monitor and audit SSP practice, ensuring compliance with national standards.
- Support research, evaluation, and dissemination of best practice in SSP education.
- Promote equality, diversity, and inclusion in training and service delivery.
Clinical Governance / Quality
To 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 people’s equality, diversity and rights
Registered nurses have a responsibility to:
Maintain active status on NMC register Act always in accordance with NMC Code of Conduct and guiding documents Maintain to update skills and knowledge and maintain awareness of professional issues Maintain a professional portfolio
This post will be subject to a standard disclosure check with the Criminal Records Bureau (CRB). Please read the enclosed information about CRB disclosures. Further information is available on the CRB website, www.crb.gov.uk.
Effort & Working Conditions
- Frequent requirement for concentration during patient consultations and training delivery.
- Requirement to support patient care and capture live data during clinical consultations and procedures
- Exposure to distressing information when counselling patients with suspected cancer.
- Requirement to travel between screening centres and programme hubs as needed.
Education and training development
Design, deliver, and evaluate structured induction programmes for new and existing SSPs.
Ensure ongoing SSP compliance with NHS competency frameworks aligned with national BCSP standards.
Provide mentorship, clinical supervision, and ongoing CPD opportunities.
Act as a resource for complex case discussions and reflective practice.
Lead simulation, skills-based training, and assessment of SSP competencies.
Liaise with programme hubs, training providers, and national bodies to ensure alignment with national guidance.
Address specific health targets e.g. cancer waits related to own area of practice through education
Ensure team and personal compliance with regards to Trust mandatory training requirements
