Job overview

An exciting opportunity has arisen for an enthusiastic and motivated Nurse to join the team at the Oncology day unit Hamwic House.  This is a purpose built unit at University Hospital Southampton which provides patients with cancer services such as SACT (Systemic Anti-Cancer Therapies) including supportive infusions and blood products, outpatient clinics, phlebotomy and PICC line insertions.  Our treatment area is open Monday to Friday from 8am to 8 pm, and we are also open on Sundays for blood tests and CVAD care. As well, as treating patients at UHS a team of nurses travel to Lymington hospital twice a week to offer treatments closer to patients home through an outreach service. 

At Hamwic House our goal is to provide all our patients who are under going cancer diagnosis, treatment and on going care with gold standard care, support and compassion, and hope to grow our wonderful team of nurses and healthcare assistants who provide that care.

Main duties of the job

Attached you will find the person specification document which provides more detail about the essential and desirable skills and experience needed for this role. We highly recommend you review this document and use it when completing your application as these criteria are used by hiring managers as guidance during shortlisting. 

For an overview of the main duties of the role please see the ‘Job Description and Main Responsibilities’ section below. To understand the day-to-day responsibilities in more detail please read the full job description document attached. 

Working for our organisation

As one of the largest acute teaching Trusts in England, we offer learning and development opportunities to help you achieve the career you aspire to. UHS is rated ‘Good’ by the CQC and in the latest national NHS Staff Survey, we were in the top 10 acute trusts for staff engagement and for staff recommending the hospital as a place to work or receive care. 

All non-clinical roles may involve a mixture of on site and remote working, Specific details and flexible working options can be discussed as part of the interview process. UHS employees are able to access a range of NHS discounts, are entitled to a minimum of 35 days paid holiday (pro rata), and we offer a generous pension scheme.

Southampton is an attractive place to live and work situated on the south coast, with an international airport and direct trains to London. The New Forest National Park and beaches of the Jurassic coast are also right on our doorstep. The city offers living costs 20% lower than London and 14 schools rated outstanding by Ofsted.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

At Hamwic house you will be responsible for caring for adult patients who are mostly undergoing anti-cancer treatments such as chemotherapy and immunotherapy in a day unit setting. To become competent in safely delivering SACT with an understanding you will attend a SACT study day provide by UHS. Through this course you will be support by a ward mentor as well as the SACT educator team. Additional skills required will be cannulation and venesection, care of CVADS, NG tube insertion and scalp cooling.

The unit supports patients by administering therapies within the hospital setting as well as providing an outreach service to treat patients closer to home.  This service takes place at Lymington hospital, with scope to develop this service further, meeting the NHS England target of treating patients closer to home.  You will become a highly skilled professional leading to opportunities for future career development from ANP, CNS and managerial roles.  

Your role will include

•    Administrating anti-cancer treatments
•    Administering supportive medications and blood products.
•    Working closely with the MDT in providing a patient centred approach for all patients attending the unit.
•    To work flexibly within the Hamwic nursing team to support all services.
•    Recognise deterioration in patients’ condition, including neutropenic patients and escalating appropriately.
•    You will be encouraged to develop your knowledge and skills in cancer nursing by attending oncology specific study days and courses. 
•    Maintaining IV skills including cannulation and phlebotomy

Person specification

Trust Values

Essential criteria

• Patients First
• Always Improving
• Working Together

Qualifications, knowledge and experience

Essential criteria

• Qualified Nurse (Degree/Diploma)
• Registered nurse on appropriate part of the register
• Knowledge of current issues within acute Health Service
• Understanding of personal accountability
• Knowledge of own role within the team
• Provide evidence of teaching and supporting learners in practice in the role of practice supervisor
• Awareness of evidence-based practice
• Awareness of responsibilities for management of infection control
• Evidence of on-going personal development
• Able to use initiative

Desirable criteria

• Evidence of recent study
• Previous experience/qualification in relevant specialty
• Teaching experience

Skills and competencies

Essential criteria

• Prioritisation
• Teamwork
• Multitasking
• Time management
• People management
• Facilitation skills
• General IT skills

Please be advised that this vacancy may close earlier than stated if large numbers of applications are received.

Due to the volume of applications we receive, we are unable to acknowledge receipt of your application. If you have not heard from us within four weeks of the closing date of this post, please presume that you have not been selected for interview.

Applicants from University Hospitals Southampton NHS Foundation Trust whose posts are considered to be ‘At Risk’ will be given prior consideration for this post

Our Trust runs the return to practice course each year for nurses who have been out of the profession and wish to return. To find out more please visit our website:

http://www.uhs.nhs.uk/WorkingHere/Typesofjob/Nurses/Returntonursing.aspx

http://www.discoversouthampton.co.uk/   Information on Southampton as a place to live and enjoy

https://www.uhs-vle.co.uk/   See what fantastic training and development we have on offer at UHS

http://www.youtube.com/user/SouthamptonHospitals learn about the Trust through visiting our YouTube channel 

Getting to Work

Application can be made for parking on site at UHS or through one of the park and ride schemes. This will be based on specific criteria to determine eligibility for site parking as this can be very limited.  UHS encourages staff to utilise other green methods of getting to work such as cycling or walking where possible. UHS is well connected through bus services to the city centre and other areas.

Please note that we will not accept any applications or queries via agencies, under any circumstances.

Our staff are positive about working at UHS and rate us above average compared to other NHS Trusts in the Staff Attitude Survey. We are rated strongly on a number of areas including teamwork, communication and engagement.

Equality remains at the centre of all Trust policy making, service delivery and employment practice with all employees being given equality of opportunity to develop, apply for promotion and have working arrangements that enable them to achieve a manageable work-life balance.

The Trust actively promotes a work environment free from harassment and discrimination and provides training for managers and staff to ensure this happens. The Trust also closely monitors recruitment activity, training and development and employment practices to ensure equality of practice with regard to race, colour, ethnic or national origin, religion or belief, gender, sexual orientation, disability, marital status and age.

As a service provider the Trust ensures equality of access and delivery of our services through the provision of interpreter services, facilities for the disabled and sensitivity for patients ethnic and religious differences and needs.

Relocating to Southampton

If you are thinking of moving to the Hampshire area, please find below a link to our website which offers guidance on finding accommodation:

http://www.uhs.nhs.uk/relocating-to-southampton

The Trust is under a duty to protect the public funds it administers, and to this end may use the information you have provided on this form for the prevention and detection of fraud. It may also share this information with other bodies responsible for auditing or administering public funds for these purposes.