Colorectal Cancer Nurse Specialist

An exciting opportunity has arisen for a motivated nurse to join our evolving Colorectal Cancer Nurse Specialist Team. As our service expands, this developmental role offers excellent potential for professional growth, including completing the Masters Advanced Practice Pathway (APP) with Non-Medical Prescribing.

The successful candidate will take on an enhanced specialist role, developing advanced clinical skills, contributing to service improvements, and delivering high-quality, patient-centred colorectal cancer care. We are seeking an enthusiastic individual confident in using clinical information systems, maintaining databases, and working within a supportive, forward-thinking team.

You must be able to prioritise your workload, communicate with compassion, and support the development of nurse-led clinics within the Suspected Cancer Pathway. Significant acute clinical experience is essential, with previous colorectal or oncology experience highly desirable.

This post offers outstanding opportunities for clinical advancement, specialist skill development, and active involvement in shaping our service.

This is a weekday position, Monday to Friday (excluding bank holidays).

Preference will be given to internal Trust staff, as well as Priority and 'At Risk' status including NHS at Risk staff throughout Devon who is able to display recent relevant experience as dictated by the Person Specification.

As a key member of our Colorectal Cancer Nurse Specialist Team, you will play an essential role in delivering a high-quality, patient-centred service. Working closely with the Lead Colorectal Clinical Nurse Specialist and Colorectal Consultant team, you will contribute to shaping and strengthening a service that is evolving to meet rising demand and improve outcomes for our patients.

Support the development of a responsive, high-performing service that meets the challenges of increasing Suspected Cancer referrals.

Help deliver a smooth, efficient diagnostic and treatment pathway for patients with suspected colorectal cancer.

Assess, plan, implement, and evaluate patient care and service processes, working under the guidance of the Lead CNS.

Coordinate patients treatment programmes, maintaining oversight throughout the entire cancer pathway and ensuring seamless communication across clinical teams and organisational boundaries.

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.

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 team on

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.

• Clinical
• Education
• Research and Audit
• Service Improvement
• Leadership

This specialist role offers the opportunity to work autonomously while contributing to a highly skilled, compassionate, and innovative colorectal cancer service. Your responsibilities will span five key domains:

• Manage your own caseload while working as an integral member of the multidisciplinary team, ensuring seamless, high-quality 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…