County Durham & Darlington NHS Foundation Trust
Job summary
Two exciting opportunities have arisen for two experienced and highly
motivated nurses to join our Haematology team as a Band 7 Haematology Clinical
Nurse Specialists. One full-time position at Darlington Memorial hospital and
one 30 hours position at the University Hospital of North Durham. (please note
that cross site working is required on occasions).
This is a key specialist role providing expert, evidence-based nursing care,
advice and support to patients with haematological conditions and their
families throughout their care pathway. Working closely with Consultant
Haematologists and the wider multidisciplinary team, you will act as a key
worker, coordinating care and supporting patients through diagnosis, treatment,
ongoing management and supportive care.
The post offers significant scope for autonomous practice and professional
development. You will establish and deliver nurse-led services, undertake
comprehensive patient assessment, support patients receiving systemic
anti-cancer treatment and contribute to the development of clinical pathways,
protocols and standards of care.
As a senior clinical leader within the service, you will also play an
important role in education, audit, research, service improvement and the
development of evidence-based haematology nursing practice.
Main duties of the job
The Haematology Clinical Nurse Specialist will provide expert,
evidence-based nursing care, advice and support to patients with haematological
conditions and their families, acting as a key worker throughout the patient
pathway.
Working autonomously and as part of the multidisciplinary team, the post
holder will assess and manage patients, coordinate investigations, treatment
and follow-up, and provide ongoing support to patients receiving chemotherapy,
radiotherapy and best supportive care.
The post holder will establish and maintain nurse-led clinics, including the
monitoring and management of patients requiring blood transfusion, venesection
and those with chronic haematological conditions, including myeloproliferative
neoplasms. They will utilise advanced assessment, history-taking and clinical
examination skills and, where appropriately qualified, independent and
supplementary prescribing skills.
The role includes providing specialist advice to healthcare professionals
across primary and secondary care, contributing expert nursing input to MDT
meetings and ensuring effective communication and continuity of care across
services.
The post holder will also lead and contribute to service development,
clinical audit, research, education and the development of evidence-based
protocols and pathways, supporting continuous improvement in the quality and
experience of haematology care.
Person Specification
Statutory Registration
Essential
- Registered Nurse (Adult) on Part 1 of the NMC Register with a current valid NMC PIN.
Experience
Essential
- Significant post-registration nursing experience within haematology and/or oncology.
- Significant experience of caring for patients with haematological conditions.
- Experience of supporting patients and their families through diagnosis, treatment, follow-up and ongoing management.
- Experience of multidisciplinary and multi-professional working.
- Experience of coordinating complex patient care and pathways.
- Experience of working autonomously and managing a specialist clinical workload.
- Experience of providing patient education, information and psychological support.
- Experience of clinical audit, quality improvement and/or service evaluation.
- Experience of supporting the education and development of nursing and multidisciplinary colleagues.
Desirable
- Experience within a Clinical Nurse Specialist or other specialist nursing role.
- Experience of developing and/or delivering nurse-led clinics.
- Experience of caring for patients receiving systemic anti-cancer treatment.
- Experience of developing clinical guidelines, protocols or pathways.
- Experience of research within haematology, oncology or cancer services.
- Experience of leading or contributing to service development and change.
- Experience of working across primary, secondary, tertiary and community care interfaces.
Qualifications
Essential
- Registered Nurse (Adult).
- Degree-level qualification in a relevant subject.
- Relevant post-graduate qualification in haematology, oncology, cancer care or a related clinical specialty, or evidence of working towards this.
- Evidence of relevant continuing professional development.
- Teaching/mentorship qualification or equivalent experience.
Desirable
- Masters-level qualification or evidence of working towards Masters-level study.
- Recognised specialist haematology qualification.
- Advanced clinical assessment/clinical examination qualification.
- Independent and Supplementary Prescribing qualification.
- Advanced communication skills training.
- Research, audit or quality improvement qualification/training.
- Leadership training/ qualification
Special Skills & Knowledge
Essential
- Specialist knowledge of haematology nursing and the management of patients with haematological conditions.
- Knowledge of current developments in haematology services and evidence-based practice.
- Excellent communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to communicate complex and sensitive information effectively.
- Advanced patient assessment and clinical decision-making skills.
- Ability to work autonomously and manage a specialist caseload.
- Excellent multidisciplinary and multi-professional working skills.
- Ability to coordinate complex patient pathways and promote continuity of care.
- Knowledge of clinical governance, audit, research and quality improvement.
- Ability to provide specialist advice, education and support to patients, carers and healthcare professionals.
- Leadership skills with the ability to influence practice, support change and contribute to service development.
- Ability to develop and implement evidence-based clinical guidelines, protocols and pathways.
Desirable
- Advanced clinical examination and history-taking skills.
- Independent and Supplementary Prescribing skills.
- Advanced communication skills, including managing difficult (replace with challenging) conversations/ delivering unwnated news.
- Knowledge and experience of nurse-led clinics.
- Research and clinical audit skills within haematology/oncology.
- Knowledge of clinical trials and research within haematology.
Qualifications
Essential
- Registered Nurse (Adult).
- Degree-level qualification in a relevant subject.
- Relevant post-graduate qualification in haematology, oncology, cancer care or a related clinical specialty, or evidence of working towards this.
- Evidence of relevant continuing professional development.
- Teaching/mentorship qualification or equivalent experience.
Desirable
- Masters-level qualification or evidence of working towards Masters-level study.
- Recognised specialist haematology qualification.
- Advanced clinical assessment/clinical examination qualification.
- Independent and Supplementary Prescribing qualification.
- Advanced communication skills training.
- Research, audit or quality improvement qualification/training.
- Leadership training/ qualification
Closing Date: 5 November 2026
To apply for this job please visit www.jobs.nhs.uk.