Triage Specialist Practitioner | Oxford University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust

We are looking for a band 6 Specialist Practitioner to join our small nurse led Triage Team. Our service is available 7 days a week for Oncology and Haematology patients to contact Triage for telephone advice. The team provides expert advice to oncology and haematology patients to ensure early recognition of potential emergencies, treatment complications and the provision of a follow-up structure. Triage provides a clinical area for nursing and medical staff to assess and monitor patients prior to a decision to send the patient home or admit to a ward as appropriate.

We are looking for an experienced registered nurse with excellent interpersonal and communication skills who is keen to learn and take on new clinical skills. Oncology or Haematology experience is desirable but not essential as training will be given. Telephone and video assessment skills are vital in this role so clarity of message, decision making and picking up on verbal cues are crucial. We are looking for an enthusiastic, committed and professional approach to the delivery of care, ensuring the best patient experience.

Candidates should be excellent team players with the ability to use their own initiative and judgement to resolve issues. They should also have a tactful, sensitive manner, work well under pressure, with a flexible approach and a willingness to suggest ideas for improvements. Previous experience in an acute setting, sound clinical assessment skills, demonstrable leadership along with an ability to demonstrate compassion and a commitment to learning new skills are all essential to the role.

The successful candidate can look forward to working in a professional environment with a team that is passionate about delivering outstanding care to patients and their families.

OVERALL OBJECTIVES:

The aim of this post is to provide specialist Oncological/Haematological advice and management to patients with the aim of improving patient experience and care. This will be done by:

• Providing expert telephone assessment and initiation of an initial treatment plan in response to the urgent needs of patients contacting or attending the Cancer and Haematology Centre.
• Directing the flow of emergency admissions into the Cancer and Haematology Centre, liaising with clinicians, ward co-ordinators and operational managers, developing and maintaining systems for emergency admissions.
• Working in partnership with patients providing clear information during the assessment phase to promote participation in their care planning.
• Providing effective support, training and education to junior staff and other colleagues in order to support the delivery of skilled, evidence based care to patients in response to local, trust and national initiatives which underpin the safe admission and discharge process.
• Participating in the development and review of management and prescribing protocols to identify clear processes and pathways.

KEY RESULT AREAS:

CLINICAL:

• Provide expert physical and telephone assessment to patients contacting or attending the Cancer and Haematology Centre with toxicities and symptoms caused by anti-cancer therapy or a consequence of their disease.
• Be a defined point of contact for patients/carers for defined episodes/pathways of care and provide clinical care, specialist nursing advice and psychosocial support.
• Work collaboratively and in partnership with other health care professionals, offering advice to colleagues.
• Assess health and psychosocial needs of individual patients, and provide care to meet these needs, through a process of shared decision making.
• Accept referrals to agreed criteria, and work in partnership with other professionals to deliver co-ordinated programmes of care effectively and referring patients to other practitioners as required.

DEVELOPMENTAL:

• Analyses and interprets patient histories, presenting symptoms, physical findings and diagnostic information to develop appropriate planning and implementation of treatment and care.
• Orders the appropriate clinical investigations to support the assessment and treatment of acute oncological emergencies.
• In close liaison with the specialist medical teams to organise appropriate diagnostic intervention and future care planning.

LEADERSHIP:

• Liaise closely with operational managers, ward co-ordinators and ward to effectively manage emergency patient flow into cancer services.
• Co-ordinate the admission of emergency admissions to an appropriate clinical setting.
• Co-ordinate incoming telephone referrals – alerting the appropriate clinical team and adhering to the most appropriate pathway.

Please refer to the attached job description and person specification for full details of the role and responsibilities.