Detailed job description and main responsibilities

To undertake a Holistic Needs Assessment at key stages in the patients’ pathway in line with national directives, using a recognised tool, ensuring their physical, emotional, social, financial and spiritual needs are identified.

Use supportive conversations to develop and implement plans of care to meet the individual needs of patients/carers, ensuring they are reviewed and updated in response to the changing situations. 

To attend the weekly breast cancer multidisciplinary team meeting, contributing to the multidisciplinary discussion and patient assessment/care planning decisions and co-ordinate actions from the MDT.

To provide advice on the management of symptoms, referring those with complex needs to the Macmillan Specialist Palliative Care Team

To demonstrate enhanced practice in planning, implementing and evaluating nursing care, documenting the outcomes of consultations in the hospital notes and on the Somerset Cancer Register

To provide Level 2 psychological support for patients/carers, referring patient with complex needs to the Macmillan Clinical Psychologists.

To lead on patient and carer communication issues and co-ordinate the patient’s pathway, acting as the main point of contact or responsible for nominating the main point of contact for the patient depending on their individual needs. 

To identify and met patient/carers specialist informational needs utilising the local Macmillan Information Centre, referring patients to the dedicated Cancer You Tube Channel to support self-management strategies

To become acquainted with the local and regional care pathways for patients living with breast cancer, including knowledge of contact points for referral and advice.

To identify and meet the educational needs of those affected by secondary breast cancer

To demonstrate knowledge of the clinical trials appropriate to secondary breast cancer

Ensure the palliative care needs of patients and their families are identified and met, referring patients with complex needs to the Macmillan Specialist Palliative Care Team

To identify the patient’s Preferred Place of Care at the appropriate point in the illness experience, ensuing patients are able to be discharged to their place of choice where possible

To identify patients suitable for the AMBER Care Bundle

To respond to EAU alerts for patients with secondary breast cancer providing specialist information and support, co-ordinating their pathway from the point of admission

To ensure patients/carers are supported during significant consultations, acting as the patients advocate

Promotes a culture that supports and enables self-management 

Support the generation of an “End of Treatment Summary” for patients following each modality of treatment, ensuring their ongoing needs are identified and addressed.

To work in line with the NMC Code of Professional Conduct 

To promote collaborative working relationships and effective communication between all members of the cancer multidisciplinary team and across different boundaries of care 

To provide nursing advice and support to other health professionals related to secondary breast cancer 

To identity own personal development needs to work at specialist level and take appropriate action to ensure that these are met, actively engaging with the learning and development opportunities offered by Macmillan

To maintain a personal professional profile clearly demonstrating evidence for revalidation

To participate in the formal review process and plan future personal development and competencies to be achieved

Make sure that people affected by cancer are aware that they are interacting with a Macmillan Professional and know the full range of resources and services available through Macmillan 

To record nursing interventions in the hospital notes and on the Somerset Cancer Register 

To record data to demonstrate the effectiveness of the Macmillan Secondary Breast Cancer service 

To deputise for the Macmillan Secondary Breast Cancer CNS’s at local, regional and national meetings. 

To participate in Macmillan Service Reviews in order to drive service improvements 

Implement the personalised care and support agenda for patients living with secondary breast cancer 

To support the Macmillan Secondary Breast Cancer CNS in the development of policies/clinical guidelines to enhance the nursing service. 

To participate in informal/formal education initiatives related to secondary breast cancer. 

To participate in clinical audit and research initiatives 

To promote best practice ensuring care in evidence based