Assistant Lead Systemic Anti-Cancer Therapies (SACT) Nurse (Annex 21)

CLINICAL AND PROFESSIONAL

• Accountable for administration and custody of medicines according to the Trust Policy, including the safe administration of oral, subcutaneous, intramuscular and intravenous SACT.
• Provide a seamless, high-quality service from referral through to assessment, diagnosis, treatment and review, referring to other specialists as required.
• Demonstrate safe, appropriate practice and specialist nursing advice using up to date knowledge and evidence.
• Make person centred, evidence-based judgements in partnership with others involved in the care process ensuring high quality care.
• Support the Lead SACT Nurse in ensuring safe, effective SACT delivery across oncology and haematology settings.
• Undertake comprehensive holistic patient toxicity assessments, and ongoing evaluation of care needs in addition to administering SACT to maintain own competence.
• Undertake UKONS telephone triage and give appropriate evidence based clinical advice and/or direct patients to an appropriate place of assessment and care.
• Provide education and assessment in SACT administration, including venepuncture, cannulation, and management of central venous access devices (e.g., PICC and TIVAD), including extravasation.
• Recognise, support and manage treatment-related toxicities, escalating to medical/specialist nursing teams appropriately following MWL pathways.
• Work autonomously within professional guidelines, acting as a patient advocate at all times.
• Deliver difficult or sensitive information to patients and families with compassion and professionalism.
• Support the safe introduction of new SACT regimens and technologies into clinical practice.
• In keeping with the NMC Code of Professional Conduct and Standards of Proficiency for Nurse and Midwife Prescribers, keep up to date with best practice in relation to the management of conditions within his/her specialist area.
• Provide visible clinical leadership across SACT areas to support safe daily operations.
• Deputise for the Lead SACT Nurse during periods of absence within the scope of band 6 remit and capabilities by ensuring established projects and work programmes continue to move forward.
• Liaise with the Clinical Lead for SACT Services and other members of the senior Cancer Management and Clinical teams for advice and support in the absence of the Lead SACT Nurse.
• Contribute to the review of existing operational policies, pathways, and protocols and cascade information to all members of the SACT MDT.
• Participate in multidisciplinary, Trust, and network meetings related to SACT services.
• Deputise for the Lead SACT Nurse when required to ensure Clatterbridge Cancer Centre Initiatives are reviewed and disseminated to the MWL Cancer Services.
• Establish and maintain professional working relationships with the Lead SACT Nurses (or equivalent) of neighbouring Trusts within the Merseyside and Cheshire Cancer Alliance.
• Promote patient & public involvement and embed feedback into service improvements.
• Support incident investigation, complaints responses, and development of resulting action plans.
• Maintain excellent communication with patients, carers, staff, and wider MDTs.
• Engage in continual personal and professional development, including annual appraisal.
• Participate in mandatory and role-specific training programmes.
• Demonstrate commitment to the Trust's values, policies, and governance standards.
• Promote risk management, ensuring the reporting mechanisms for clinical risk, incidents, and near misses are used effectively.
• Contribute to and support the implementation of safety measures and changes in practice that arise from the learning generated following incidents.
• Recognise signs of stress and the emotional impact of care in self and others and take appropriate action, escalating to line manager as required.
• Utilise opportunities to support ongoing professional development by undertaking delegated tasks for your line manager.

ADMINISTRATIVE RESPONSIBILITIES

• Contribute to the maintenance of an up-to-date SACT register of staff competent to administer SACT across MWL.
• Ensure ESR competencies are up to date following staff annual reaccreditation.
• Ensure the up-to-date and safe storage of annual reaccreditation paper/electronic records.
• Support the roll out and onboarding of The UKONS Electronic Passport across MWL for all SACT trained staff.
• Maintenance of training logs following formal and informal teaching.
• Assist in the writing and circulation of pertinent reports/meeting minutes/action logs as directed by the Lead SACT Nurse.
• Contribute to the maintenance of the Extravasation Database to ensure ease of data retrieval for quarterly QSP reporting.

TEACHING AND TRAINING RESPONSIBILITIES

• Act as a specialist educational resource for clinical staff, patients, carers and relevant external agencies requiring advice or support on SACT-related issues.
• Support the coordination and delivery of SACT training programmes for clinical staff across the organisation, including bespoke, group, and 1:1 sessions.
• Ensure SACT delivery areas can access appropriate teaching, support and guidance, in accordance with the clinical area/departmental needs to agreed levels of skill and competence.
• Ensure staff and patients where applicable are fully trained and assessed in using the range of equipment, consumable products associated with SACT administration.
• Contribute to developing training materials, presentations, policies, and educational tools under the direction of the Lead SACT Nurse.
• Support competency-based training in clinical skills required for SACT delivery.
• Assess clinical competencies in line with established SACT frameworks, devise bespoke learning action plans for staff who are not meeting the required level of competence and escalate concerns appropriately to the Lead SACT Nurse and Unit/Ward Manager.

RESEARCH AND AUDIT

• Support established audit, research, service evaluation and quality improvement activities within SACT services.
• Assist in developing, monitoring, and evaluating clinical standards, protocols, and guidelines.
• Ensure documentation standards - electronic and written - meet Trust and professional requirements.
• Support evidence-based practice and contribute to translating research/audit findings into clinical care, disseminating relevant information to clinical staff.
• Provide and accept constructive feedback and use this to reflect on your own practice.