Acute Oncology Team Leader - Patient Flow

Acute Oncology Team Leader - Patient Flow About the RoleThe Hotline Team plays a vital role in delivering 24/7 telephone triage assessments for patients with a cancer diagnosis. Acting as the first point of contact for urgent cancer-related concerns, the team provides specialist advice and support to patients and carers, particularly those experiencing complications following systemic anti-cancer therapy. The service works in collaboration with the wider healthcare system including The Christie, regional hospitals, and community services to ensure seamless and safe care. The hotline enables a secure pathway for emergency admissions and helps support the delivery of care in the community where appropriate.

Acute Oncology Team LeaderWe are seeking an experienced and dynamic Acute Oncology Team Leader to oversee the safe coordination and ongoing development of the hotline service. This role involves the leadership and management of the Acute Oncology Nurse Advisors, ensuring timely, appropriate, and effective triage of acutely unwell patients. The team leader will work in close partnership with the Patient Flow Team to ensure safe patient admissions and optimal use of inpatient capacity.

Main duties of the job A collaborative approach is essential, as cross-cover between Acute Oncology Team Leaders for both the Hotline and Patient Flow services is expected. All Acute Oncology Team Leaders across the division are required to maintain a thorough understanding of each other's roles to ensure mutual support and operational continuity.

The successful candidate will possess significant oncology experience and demonstrate both clinical and managerial expertise. You will be expected to provide high-level clinical guidance to the Acute Oncology Nurse Advisors and lead the operational delivery of this critical service, maintaining the highest standards of patient safety and service effectiveness.

About us The Christie is one of Europe's leading cancer centres, treating over 60,000 patients a year. We are based in Manchester and serve a population of 3.2 million across Greater Manchester & Cheshire, but as a national specialist around 15% patients are referred to us from other parts of the country. We provide radiotherapy through one of the largest radiotherapy departments in the world; chemotherapy on site and through 14 other hospitals; highly specialist surgery for complex and rare cancer; and a wide range of support and diagnostic services. We are also an international leader in research, with world first breakthroughs for over 100 years. We run one of the largest early clinical trial units in Europe with over 300 trials every year. Cancer research in Manchester, most of which is undertaken on the Christie site, has been officially ranked the best in the UK.

Job responsibilities MANAGEMENT AND OPERATIONAL

A motivated and dynamic leader, striving for improvement in care and practice, and acting as positive role model to all staff.

Demonstrate christie behaviours and values maintains a high visibility within the clinical areas, providing support and advice to all staff.

Provide management support for the Patient Flow Team and Hotline Team

Liaise closely with all ward managers/nursing teams and matrons across all inpatient and out patient settings to ensure accurate up to date knowledge of patient placements is achieved.

Work closely with the infection prevention and control team to reduce patient risk of infection and ensure appropriate use of isolation and early identification of potential infection risks. Also liaise closely with domestic supervisors to organise deep clean team daily time table in line with trust needs.

Liaise closely with critical care team to understand needs and prioritise care of acutely unwell patients across the trust.

- Provide 24/7 telephone helpline service to enable patients to access expert advice and management with the side effects of their disease or treatments

• Utilise the UKONS 24 hour triage tool to safely manage patients

Be the first point of call for acute oncology management service escalation policy to ensure safe waiting times for calls to the hotline.

Work closely with the discharge team and community services to facilitate effective fast track and rapid discharge in line with palliative care Trust and National goals and initiatives.

Liaise with consultant colleagues from all clinical specialities, to advise and escalate where necessary, of the site bed position to allow a strategy for overcoming shortfalls in capacity and demand.

Foster and demonstrate creativity, energy and inspiration into ward teams toward efficient patient flows and pathways.

Assess, plan and implement clinical care and maintain associated patient records.

Be aware of Health and Safety issues and ensure relevant risk assessments are undertaken.

Report and record all accidents and complaints according to the agreed policy, investigating speedily and compassionately

Ensure all trust policies and procedures are adhered to and new ones implemented as necessary

Ensure each designated staff member participates in a personal development plan and act to maximise the potential of others

Assist in nursing recruitment process when required

Take a progressive approach to the management of short and long-term sickness/absence in collaboration with the Department manager/Senior Nursing team

• Continuously review the service and implement change to the service to support ongoing improvements in bed management reflecting capacity and demand issues as well as all aspects of patient flow to ensure best possible patient experience from begging to end of their patient journey.

Participate and lead, where appropriate, the daily meetings, gathering appropriate concise information.

Ensure the patient flow team communicate the bed status clearly and to Trust manages both verbally and in report form

Ensure effective communication between patients, their families and the healthcare team in order to maintain continuity in care and that appropriate and consistent information is conveyed to patients and their families.

Ensure the Hotline team communicate effectively and timely with Acute Oncology Management teams at local hospitals

Maintain links with specialist nurses, GPs and nursing teams in the community to ensure continuity of care

Be innovative in approach to move the service forward in line with Trust and National frameworks including inpatient and primary care initiatives to improve inpatient capacity challenges.

Liaise with consultant colleagues from all clinical specialities, to advise and escalate where necessary

Liaise with other hospitals and trusts to understand pressures and appropriately support patients on and off site through effective clinical judgement, assessment and communication to appropriately repatriate and transfer patients.

• Work as a professional role model, providing leadership at all times and work as the patient advocate when necessary
• Initiate the escalation plan when the hospital is at or nearing capacity.

Be fully aware of the patient flow responsibilities within the major incident plan and its specific role within the Trust wide plan.

To co-ordinate and where necessary take responsibility for care of patients in the transfer lounge

Communicate with patients and/or cares regarding their care management dealing with highly sensitive information requiring empathy and reassurance

Be aware of possible barriers to understanding and use exceptional communication skills and specialist knowledge to overcome this

Clinically assess patient provided information and provide appropriate safe advice on a range of clinical issues

Recognise and escalate appropriately patients who are critically ill

Make clinical judgements from caller information, evaluating multiple options and courses of action to find the most appropriate route for the patient

Work collaboratively with community services and the patient flow team to overcome capacity issues with patient safety at the forefront of decision making

Liaise within clinicians and arrange prescriptions and treatment plans for patients in the community to avoid urgent admission or onsite assessment

TRAINING & EDUCATION

Complete appropriate clinical skills and mandatory training as directed by management

Supervise clinical staff and disseminate knowledge and current developments. Ensure all staff have an appropriate level of training and are offered relevant support

Present at training days and conference

Supervise and appraise nominated staff by establishing performance objectives and facilitating individual development opportunities through personal development plans.

Participate and undertake research and audit which will influence practice

To be up to date in all IV training programs including annual updates and competent in all areas of clinical practice including medicines management, moving and handling, assessment of critically ill patient and competent in performing ECGs

Attend all mandatory study days

Maintain awareness and competency within the role against national and regional initiatives and subsequently implement these initiatives into practice.

Take responsibility for training and education of the team and ensure equal opportunities for develop

Maintain professional accountability

PROFESSIONAL LEADERSHIP
. click apply for full job details