Specialist Screening Practitioner in Taunton

Anticipated Interview date(s) 06/10/2026

Job summary

Are you a qualified nurse looking to take a new step in your nursing career? We are seeking compassionate people to join our Bowel Cancer Screening Team. The Specialist Screening Practitioner (SSP) acts as the patients advocate through their journey in the Bowel Cancer Screening Programme. The role is to provide guidance and support throughout the participants bowel screening pathway. This opportunity is for Nurses to work at Musgrove Park Hospital and Yeovil District Hospital.

We value our nurses highly, so development and training within this role will be offered. There is an expectation that hours are worked flexibly over a rota basis and that you are able to travel independently to Musgrove Park and Yeovil District Hospital. We have full time hours available. You will require good communication skills, a team work approach as well as working autonomously and be able provide a high standard of nursing care with the support of your team.

The Screening Practitioner delivers pre-assessment clinics, cares for the patient whilst undergoing Endoscopic or radiological procedures, reviews histological outcomes and delivers pathological results to patients using defined pathways. The successful candidate will also be required to complete the mandatory structured Induction Programme and the Liverpool John Moore University/Plymouth University (Torbay) SSP Degree/Masters module which is compulsory to the role.

The Screening Practitioner will deliver a variety of clinics. These include a FIT clinic, where the post holder discusses potential reasons for an abnormal result and pre-assesses the patients suitability for colonoscopy and bowel preparations; A results clinic, where the screening practitioner will be informing of histological results and breaking bad news to patients following their colonoscopy, discussing the findings, and explaining what happens next on their pathway; Surveillance clinics and Lynch Syndrome surveillance clinics, where the screening practitioner reassesses patients who are following the surveillance pathway and assess and arrange a colonoscopy.

The Screening Practitioner attends endoscopic procedures for live data collection and to maintain standards. The Screening Practitioner is responsible for all histology sent from colonoscopy and accurate documentation of Optical Diagnosis.

The post is based at Musgrove Park Hospital with regular travel to Yeovil District Hospital to cover SSP clinics and endoscopy lists.

About us

At Somerset NHS Foundation Trust, we're committed to supporting our employees with a range of benefits designed to enhance your professional and personal life. We offer:

• Flexible working options to help you balance work and life
• NHS pension scheme for long-term financial security
• Generous annual leave allowance to recharge and relax
• A strong focus on career development to help you grow and achieve your potential

Additionally, you'll gain access to our Blue Light Card, unlocking exclusive discounts on shopping, dining, and leisure activities, as well as NHS-specific perks to support you both inside and outside of work.

We are proud to foster a diverse, skilled, and inclusive workforce, and we encourage applications from all backgrounds.

Why Somerset? Somerset offers the perfect blend of idyllic countryside, outstanding areas of natural beauty, and breathtaking coastlines, with vibrant cities like Bristol, Bath, and Exeter just a short drive away - and only two hours to London.

The region is home to excellent educational facilities, and with affordable housing compared to other parts of the country, it's a great place to build both your career and your future.

Somerset truly has it all - the peaceful countryside and cosmopolitan city life, with something for everyone to enjoy.

For the main duties and responsibilities for this role please read the attached job description and person specification. When completing your application please ensure your supporting statement reflects the criteria set out in these documents by showing how your experience and skills apply to this post.

Person specification

Qualifications

Please read the Person Specifications for essential qualifications.

Experience

Please read the Person Specifications for essential experience.

Please read the Person Specifications for desirable experience.

Additional Criteria

Please read the Person Specifications.

Please read the Person Specifications.

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.

UK Professional Registration

Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see NHS Careers website.

Band

Band 6

Contract

Permanent

Working pattern

Full-Time

Agenda for Change