About The Organisation
Here at NHS Lanarkshire, we put the patient at the heart of everything we do. Each colleague within the organisation plays a key role in how we deliver our healthcare services.
We proudly serve a population of 655,000 across rural and urban communities in both North and South Lanarkshire. NHS Lanarkshire is comprised of Acute Services (which currently provide hospital based services over 3 main sites), Corporate & Property & Support Services, North and South Lanarkshire Health and Social Care Partnerships which provide integrated primary healthcare and social care services to local communities and surrounding areas.
The Role
The Advanced Clinical Nurse Specialist (CNS) in the Rapid Cancer Diagnostic Service provides expert clinical leadership, advanced assessment, and coordinated diagnostic pathways for patients directly referred with non-specific but concerning symptoms suggestive of cancer. The role ensures timely vetting, investigation, holistic support, and seamless navigation through the diagnostic journey, improving patient experience and reducing time to diagnosis.
Please note this is a fixed term post for 12 months. Where a post only has temporary funding and an existing member of NHS Lanarkshire staff wishes to apply, this will be treated as a secondment. The employee MUST already have written agreement from their line manager to be released on a secondment before applying for the post.
In this key role, you will:
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Develop advanced competence, innovation and leadership in the management and delivery of safe, effective person-centred care within own area of practice
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Role model exemplary facilitation and teaching skills and develop those skills in others
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Provide strong and effective leadership across professional and organisational teams/boundaries
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Acts as a role model for the wider team by promoting a positive research culture
What You'll Bring:
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Registered with UK NMC OR HCPC
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Commitment to work within the national competency framework for cancer clinical nurse specialists; ACCEND framework; NHS Scotland NMAHP development framework.
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Undertake nurse led clinics for patients referred under the Urgent Suspicion of Cancer pathway for suspected cancer (both face-to-face and by telephone)
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Undertake nurse led vetting of GP referrals.
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Undertake specialist clinical consultations within the inpatient setting for patients referred with a suspected cancer.
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Play a pivotal role in co-ordinating diagnostic investigations such as CT scans, CT/Ultrasound biopsies, upper GI endoscopy and colonoscopy / CT colonoscopy. Offering clear explanations of diagnostic investigations and possible outcomes
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Interpret the outcomes of diagnostic investigations
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Participate in nurse led clinics providing expert advice and support to families, including breaking bad news and making direct referrals for patients as appropriate onto a specialist cancer treatment team
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Work collaboratively with the RCDS Cancer Multidisciplinary Team (MDT). The Lead Clinician, Radiologists, Pathologists, Cancer Clinical Nurse Specialists and Cancer Navigators and Patient Pathway Trackers
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Participate in, and present at the RCDS MDT ensuring decisions are documented and enacted in line with the RCDS pathways
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Support early diagnosis and staging, meeting the Scottish 62-day and 31-day cancer waiting times
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Contribute to the ongoing delivery and development of equitable and standardised cancer patient care aligned with the RCDS pathways
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Provide advanced clinical expertise and clinical leadership in cancer care to meet the service needs.
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A driving licence is required; this must be a full UK/EU/EEA licence.
What we Offer
As a valued employee of NHS Lanarkshire, you can enjoy an extensive range of benefits including:
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Annual Leave - 35 days including public holidays
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Generous NHS pension scheme
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Annual incremental salary progression
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Paid sick leave increasing with length of service
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NHS discounts and more.
NHS Lanarkshire is dedicated to building a diverse workforce where everyone can thrive, develop, and succeed based on their skills, knowledge, and talent - regardless of race, disability, gender, sexual orientation, or care experience* or any other dimension that can be used to differentiate people from one another.
- Care experienced applicants include those who have lived with foster parents, kinship carers, or in residential/secure children’s settings.
For informal discussion, please contact Jacqueline Douglas, Advanced Clinical Nurse Specialist on [email protected]
If you have any questions about the recruitment process or require support with your application, contact Nicole Hetherington, Recruitment Administrator on [email protected]
