Senior SACT Nurses

We are currently looking for a Senior Staff Nurse to join us at Sussex Cancer Centre (SCC) & Princess Royal Hospital Systematic Anti-Cancer Treatment (SACT) Unit. The Senior Staff Nurse is a member of the multi-disciplinary team providing skilled care and specialist knowledge to cancer patients and their families/partners/friends undertaking SACT at both sites. The post holder will lead with clinical excellence in the management and support of staff, administering and caring for patients on SACT.

The post holder will have the ability to identify the particular needs of these patients and provide information, support and specialist expertise to enable nursing staff and the patients/carers to understand and cope with diagnosis and treatment. The post holder will assist the Unit Manager in maintaining the effective management of staff, safety and resources in providing a high standard of patient care and smooth running of the service.

Main duties of the job:

• Management and coordination of a clinical area on the SACT unit.
• Administer SACT and IV drugs as part of nurse led SACT service.
• Provide highly complex information to patients/carers about all aspects of the cancer disease process (diagnosis, prognosis, symptom management and when treatment fails).
• Have highly developed knowledge of the drugs administered for the treatment of cancer and the potential complications and side effects of these drugs.
• During administration of treatments provide highly skilled nursing care to ensure patient safety, including the immediate management of acute reactions and potential complications during drug administration, for example the extravasation of chemotherapy.
• Demonstrate highly developed skills in cannulation and venepuncture skills with appropriate training.

Please note that if you currently work for another NHS Trust or UHSussex and you are applying to accept this position as a secondment opportunity, before applying you must seek agreement and authorisation from your current Trust/Manager. Secondments can't be agreed without this approval. If you are unable to gain approval you should refrain from applying unless you wish to take this role as a fixed term position.

About us:

At UHSussex, diversity is our strength, and we want you to feel included to help us always put the Patient First. Your uniqueness and experiences will be part of our creative and innovative community where everyone is encouraged to succeed. We have a range of Staff Networks to help break down barriers, and can offer a buddy to help new members settle in. We’re proud to be a Disability Confident Employer (Level 2) and a Veteran Aware Trust. We treat our patients and staff with the same compassion and empathy we expect for ourselves. We’re here for them when they need us, and we go above and beyond to meet their needs. This can be seen in our Wellbeing Programme for staff which is extensive and designed to support you when you need it, including where possible, flexible working to support work life balance - because we know that to look after others we must first look after ourselves. As a university trust and a leader in healthcare research, we value learning, teaching and training so that we can be the best that we can be. From the moment you start with us and throughout your career we will help you to grow and develop. We hope that in choosing UHSussex you are choosing a long and happy career where you will be able to see the difference you make and feel valued for all that you do. We look forward to receiving your application and the start of your journey with UHSussex.

Job responsibilities:

• Work unsupervised providing nursing care as part of the multi-disciplinary team to patients on the Unit - Communicating with, and referring to other healthcare professionals as necessary.
• Deliver a high standard of individualised holistic patient care to promote and maintain all aspects of his/her physical, social, cultural and psychological well-being.
• Provide highly complex information to patients/carers about all aspects of treatment (chemotherapy, radiotherapy, venous access devices, side effects management).
• Using the highest level of communication and interpersonal skills and ensuring that the information is in easily understood language.
• Act as a role model and ensure effective staff supervision with clinical practice, working with staff and patients in an advisory, teaching and support capacity and maintaining professional competence, authority and credibility.

Person Specification:

• NMC registered
• SACT Qualification
• Experience in supervising and educating junior staff
• Evidence of service improvement
• Leadership Course
• Physical assessment course
• Advanced Communication course
• Psychological therapies L2
• Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion
• Evidence of having undertaken own development to improve understanding of equalities issues
• Evidence of having championed diversity in previous roles (as appropriate to role).

Disclosure and Barring Service Check:

This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.

Contract: Fixed term, Duration: 12 months, Working pattern: Part-time, Salary: £37,338 to £44,962 a year pro rata.

Job locations: Sussex Cancer Centre & Princess Royal Hospital.