Colorectal Clinical Nurse Specialist

University Hospitals Plymouth NHS Trust
Colorectal CNS
The closing date is 13 August 2026

Job summary
Join our specialist colorectal team and make a meaningful difference at every stage of the patient journey.

We are looking for an enthusiastic and compassionate Colorectal Clinical Nurse Specialist (CNS) to help deliver a responsive, high-quality service for patients referred on the suspected colorectal cancer pathway.

In this rewarding role, you will support patients and their families from assessment and diagnosis through treatment, recovery, and follow-up. Acting as a trusted point of contact, you will provide expert clinical advice, clear information, and emotional support during what can be an uncertain and challenging time.

Working closely with the wider multidisciplinary team and with the guidance of the Lead CNS, you will assess, plan, coordinate, and evaluate individualised patient care. You will play an important part in ensuring that pathways are timely, well organised, and centred around each patient's needs.

The role will also give you the opportunity to support nurse-led clinics, coordinate treatment pathways, contribute to service development, and build specialist knowledge in colorectal cancer care.

This is an excellent opportunity for a motivated nurse who is keen to develop within a specialist field. You will receive dedicated training, mentorship, and support to grow your confidence, expertise, and career as a Colorectal CNS.

Please note that applications from temporary workers who have been engaged with the Trust for a minimum of 3 months are welcome.

Main duties of the job

• Support the development of a responsive, high-performing service that meets the challenges of increasing Suspected Cancer referrals, ensuring patients are seen swiftly and compassionately at every stage.
• Help deliver a smooth, efficient diagnostic and treatment pathway for patients with suspected colorectal cancer, ensuring they receive timely and coordinated care.
• Work autonomously within the limits of professional competence, agreed clinical pathways, protocols and Trust policies, recognising limitations and seeking advice or escalating complex, unusual or deteriorating patients to the Lead Colorectal CNS or appropriate medical practitioner.
• Provide specialist nursing advice, emotional support, and psychological reassurance to patients, their loved ones, and colleagues across the multidisciplinary team.
• Coordinate agreed elements of patients' investigation and treatment pathways, maintaining oversight of their progress and facilitating effective communication between clinical teams and services.
• Knowledge of colorectal surgery is highly desirable - support, training and mentorship within the team as well as externally will be provided.
• Use your extensive acute clinical experience and interest in colorectal care to contribute to nurse-led clinics, with opportunities to expand your scope of practice as you grow in the role.

About us
We are a people business - where every member of staff matters and can make a difference. Patients are at the heart of everything we do. Joining University Hospitals Plymouth NHS Trust means becoming part of a team of dedicated staff, who are committed to leading the way through innovation, clinical excellence and great customer care.

The Trust has great opportunities for career development in a highly progressive working environment. We offer all of this in a vibrant, modern city with a historic reputation for adventure.

PLEASE NOTE THAT ALL COMMUNICATION WILL BE ELECTRONIC, PLEASE CHECK YOUR EMAIL ACCOUNT REGULARLY. If you have any issues with applying online and need additional support including reasonable adjustments with the application process please contact the recruitment manager for this post who will put you in touch with the recruitment team.

We recognise that work life balance is important for our colleagues and so we invite requests from applicants around less than full time/flexible working for our advertised roles. Please contact the recruiting manager to discuss this prior to your application submission. We commit to giving this full consideration in each case. We encourage people from diverse backgrounds to apply for our roles, as diversity strengthens our teams. It is sometimes necessary to close vacancies before the closing date. If you have not heard from us within 4 weeks of the closing date, please assume that you have not been shortlisted.

Details
Date posted: 31 July 2026
Pay scheme: Agenda for change
Band: Band 6
Salary: £39,959 to £48,117 a year
Contract: Permanent
Working pattern: Full-time
Reference number: 216-LT-DD8165154
Job locations: University Hospitals Plymouth NHS Trust, Derriford Road, Plymouth, PL6 8DH, United Kingdom

Job responsibilities
Primary duties & areas of responsibility
1. Clinical Practice

• Manage joint CNS caseload while working as an integral member of the multidisciplinary team, ensuring seamless, highquality care.
• Communicate highly sensitive and complex information with empathy and clarity, supporting patients and families through initial referral, staging, diagnosis, treatment, terminal illness, and bereavement.
• Undertake comprehensive assessments of new patients, identifying psychological, physiological, emotional, spiritual, and cultural needs to develop individualised pathways of care.
• Act as a dedicated patient advocate, ensuring individuals understand all investigation and treatment options and empowered them to make informed choices, liaising closely with the medical team to agree optimal care plans.
• Provide continuity throughout the entire patient journey, supporting transitions across specialist areas and services.
• Interpret and act upon clinical information and investigation outcomes within agreed protocols and the limits of competence.
• Participate in nurse-led assessment, follow-up or support clinics following completion of relevant competencies and formal sign-off.
• Identify changes in patients conditions and initiate appropriate action or escalation
• Contribute to the development of specialist care programmes and deliver specialist advice, both written and verbal, to patients and their loved ones.
• Offer clinical guidance to healthcare professionals across disciplines and organisational boundaries.

For further information please see attached job description.

Person Specification
Aptitudes & abilities
Essential

• Proven ability to support and influence change
• IT literate
• Teaching/assessment and presentation skills
• Organisation and negotiation skills
• Exemplar written communication skills

Desirable

• Leadership and motivational skills

Disposition, attitude and motivation
Essential

• Proven ability to motivate self and others
• Proven ability to work autonomously and as part of a team
• Flexible attitude to working.
• Organisation and negotiation skills

Desirable

• Leadership and motivational skills

Knowledge & experience
Essential

• Evidence of continuing professional development relevant to the role.
• Proven knowledge in relevant speciality
• Demonstrable experience of teaching

Desirable

• Experience of audit and research leadership and management experience
• Demonstrable colorectal experience.

Qualifications
Essential

• Registered Nurse with current NMC registration.
• First level degree in related subject or undertaking a Degree Pathway or the equivalent demonstrable experience.

Desirable

• Post-basic qualification in cancer/palliative care or equivalent relevant subject or demonstrable experience/working towards
• Advanced Communications Skills Training or prepared to work towards
• Evidence of Master's level learning or prepared to work towards

Additional information
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.

Certificate of Sponsorship
Applications from job seekers who require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website.

From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants, applying for entry clearance into the UK, have had to present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Adult dependants (over 18 years old) are also subject to this requirement. Guidance can be found here Criminal records checks for overseas applicants.

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

Employer details
Employer name: University Hospitals Plymouth NHS Trust
Address: University Hospitals Plymouth NHS Trust, Derriford Road, Plymouth, PL6 8DH, United Kingdom
Employer's website: Apply through our website

Employer contact details
For questions about the job, contact: Lead Colorectal Clinical Nurse Specialist, Kate Aldrich
Email: View email address on meeveem.com
Phone: View phone number on meeveem.com