Peripatetic Dental Nurse Assessor

Job overview

The post holder will practice autonomously as an Advanced Clinical Practitioner (ACP) within the Acute Oncology Service (AOS), providing expert, patient-centred care. They will utilise advanced clinical assessment, history taking, and clinical reasoning to diagnose and formulate personalized management plans. As a Non-Medical Prescriber, they will initiate pharmacological interventions to ensure timely treatment within an agreed scope of practice.

A key focus will be ensuring patients with Malignancy of Unknown Origin (MUO) receive rapid oncology input, MDT discussion, and streamlined symptom management. The practitioner will monitor service impact via key metrics (e.g., length of stay) and collaborate with the Lead Clinician to meet Quality Standards and SELCA guidance. This role integrates expert practice, leadership, education, and research.

Trainee ACP (Band 7) applications will be considered for candidates who have already completed modules in Advanced Clinical Assessment and Non-Medical Prescribing.

Main duties of the job

The post holder will ensure patients access the right care at the right time through high-quality AOS specialist nursing and expert advice for SACT complications. A primary focus is the continual audit of neutropenic sepsis pathways to ensure trust-wide "door-to-needle" compliance and rapid specialty referral.

The practitioner will drive acute oncology ambulatory pathways to manage symptomatic patients and post-ED reviews, directly reducing unnecessary admissions. By participating in daily oncology ward rounds, they will ensure the delivery of appropriate care plans, streamlining investigations and facilitating timely palliative care referrals.

Acting as a trust-wide and community resource, the post holder will provide expert guidance on investigation and treatment pathways for new or suspected cancers. They will champion efficient, patient-focused service models for safe treatment, referral, and discharge of undifferentiated presentations.

Additionally, the role carries responsibility for leading clinical practice development—including the creation of multidisciplinary policies and protocols. The post holder will maintain a 90% clinical workload, with 10% dedicated to audit, teaching, research, and professional development.

Working for our organisation

The Trust provides a full range of local and specialist services across its five sites. Transforming Healthcare is the vision at the heart of the King’s Strategy – 2026 to 2031. Together, we are pursuing six strategic ambitions: delivering high-quality patient care; being a great place to work; leading pioneering research, innovation and education; building strong and successful partnerships; providing timely and efficient care; and ensuring long-term financial sustainability.  Achieving these ambitions will require all of us to work as one Team King’s, united by a shared commitment to our values of being caring, collaborative, inclusive and innovative. By living these values every day, we will transform healthcare for our patients, our communities and each other.

We are at a pivotal point in our history and we require individuals who are ready to join a highly professional team and make a real, lasting difference to our patients and our people.

King’s is committed to delivering Sustainable Healthcare for All via our Green Plan. In line with national Greener NHS ambitions, we have set net zero carbon targets of 2040 for our NHS Carbon Footprint and 2045 for our NHS Carbon Footprint Plus. Everyone’s contribution is required in order to meet the goals set out in our Green Plan and we encourage all staff to work responsibly, minimising their contributions to the Trust’s carbon emissions, waste and pollution wherever possible.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

• Work within the scope of their role, agreed and documented by their employer.
• Work within and across multi-professional teams and draw on the expertise of all members (including health and social care) to support and meet the person’s needs and best interests to optimise the integration of their care.
• Establish and maintain effective communication to ensure collaborative working with other professionals and agencies (e.g. members of the MDT, CNS, specialist palliative care, hospice, community palliative care teams, primary care, AHP, cancer centre, social services) to ensure seamless, streamlined patient care.
• Manage and escalate medical emergencies appropriately.
• Identify and act appropriately on red flags.
• Assess, diagnose and collaboratively agree a way forward, including shared decision making and personalised care and support planning.
• Manage medical complexity.
• Complete episodes of care which may include referral for further assessment, treatment and care appropriately.
• Work with people and where appropriate, carers, to access appropriate treatment, diagnostics, care and support within the context of individuals’ preferences, priorities and needs.
• Provide continuity of care in collaboration with the person, considering all of their physical, mental and psychosocial challenges.
• Use interactions with each person to facilitate and enable changes in behaviour that can have a positive impact on the person’s health and wellbeing.

Leadership, Education and Training

• Provide leadership and vision to ensure a high quality coordinated service. This will include supporting the further development of Acute Oncology services within the hospital and community to expedite diagnosis and where possible reduce length of stay.
• Be responsible for development and implementation of policies, procedures and guidelines for the AOS, in conjunction with the Clinical lead for AOS and Lead Nurse for Cancer.
• Be the senior practitioner leading and line managing any additional AOS nursing staff, ensuring managerial responsibilities are fulfilled and discharged.
• Use knowledge of national practice to develop ACP and MDT practice within the AOS service.
• Ensuring the Acute Oncology Service communication links, pathways and methods of referral between primary, secondary and tertiary
  care and specialist services including palliative care is readily available to staff.
• To lead on the promotion of the AOS across the trust, into primary, secondary and tertiary care working with the trusts communication departments and cancer information centres and local contacts.
• Evaluate service delivery against agreed key performance targets, National Quality Measures, identify areas for improvement and initiate change.
• Work with the lead clinician to support preparation of Cancer Peer Review and implementation of agreed action plans.
• Implement new initiatives where possible to run a cost effective, timely service.
• Attend appropriate SEL ACN AOS specific delivery groups, projects and initiatives.
• To be core member of the local CUP MDM; work closely with GSTT CUP MDM (via tele link or in person if required).
• Link with DH AOS delivery group and meet regularly
• Proactively participate in the prevention and investigation of complaints and take constructive action to change practice when necessary.
• To proactively manage risk and be familiar with risk management processes and escalation procedures.
• Take a lead role in monitoring and reviewing of the competency based training programmes and the completion of assessment skills for all staff who require these skills and knowledge.
• Support the AOS/CUP team and oncology cancer CNSs workforce
• Deliver on going AOS teaching at the trust doctors induction; ED and acute assessment units medical and nursing staff
• Participate in the cancer nurses training programme delivering AOS specific training for ward nurses; chemotherapy team and community nursing team
• Provide expert advice and education to nurses, medical staff and AHP’s with particular focus on delivery of AOS in challenged areas or when concerns arises.
• Lead on developing and participating in programmes of care aimed at empowering patients/carers to manage complications of treatment or disease.
• Disseminate expert knowledge and support nursing and medical staff by providing placement experience, giving insight into specialist role.

Person specification

Essential and Desirable

Essential criteria

• Professional Registration (NMC)
• Degree in Nursing
• Master’s in Advanced Clinical Practice
• SACT Training Qualifications
• Advanced Assessment Skills for Non-Medical Practitioners course
• Independent Prescribing for Non-Medical Prescribers course
• Post Graduate Qualification in cancer care, acute medicine

Desirable criteria

• Current knowledge of cancer and acute oncology
• Advanced Communication Skills training
• Level 2 Psychological Skills Training
• Leadership and presentation skills

IMPORTANT

• Check your email account regularly as this is how we will communicate with you
• If you delete the job from any of your accounts, you may be prevented from accessing further communications
• To enquire about your application or inform us of any changes in your circumstances, please contact the named person on this advert
• Please provide email addresses for referees where possible
• Please review the documentation on our recruitment microsite, particularly the Trust’s criminal records checking policy
• All staff have a responsibility for safeguarding children and vulnerable adults and for ensuring they are aware of the specific duties relating to their role.
• Please note that the closing date is given as a guide. On occasion, we might close a vacancy early due to a high number of applications being received. You are advised to submit your application as early as possible to avoid disappointment.

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