BANK Skin Cancer Clinical Nurse Specialist/Advanced Nurse PractitionerNHS

Job summary

Innovations in Care Ltd is recruiting on behalf of our partner company, Liberty Assessments, for an experienced Clinical Nurse Specialist (CNS) or Advanced Nurse Practitioner (ANP) to deliver mole screening and full-body mole mapping services from Liberty Assessments' private clinic in Hull.This flexible bank opportunity is particularly suited to an experienced Dermatology CNS, Skin Cancer CNS, Dermatology ANP/ACP or Dermatology Nurse Practitioner wishing to undertake additional private clinical work alongside an existing role.

The successful clinician will independently undertake full-body skin examinations, mole and skin lesion assessments, dermoscopy, dermoscopic photography and systematic mole mapping.

We are looking for a clinician with established professional experience in skin lesion assessment and dermoscopy who can confidently recognise benign lesions as well as clinical and dermoscopic features suspicious for melanoma, basal cell carcinoma (BCC), squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) and other potentially malignant or pre-malignant lesions.

This is a screening and assessment service rather than a diagnostic service. Suspicious or concerning lesions will be referred, with dermoscopic images and relevant clinical information, to a Consultant Dermatologist for specialist review.

Clinicians provide their availability for full or part clinic days, with patient appointments then arranged around their availability. There is no requirement to work a fixed number of hours or sessions.

Main duties of the job

The post holder will deliver nurse-led mole screening and full-body mole mapping clinics at Liberty Assessments Hull clinic, working autonomously within an agreed scope of practice.

Key duties include undertaking comprehensive full-body skin examinations and individual lesion assessments; performing dermoscopy; capturing high-quality clinical and dermoscopic images; and completing systematic mole mapping.

The clinician will be expected to recognise common benign lesions and identify clinical or dermoscopic features suspicious for melanoma, basal cell carcinoma (BCC), squamous cell carcinoma (SCC), pre-malignant lesions and other potentially significant skin pathology.

Suspicious, atypical or concerning lesions will be documented and referred, with relevant clinical information and dermoscopic images, to a Consultant Dermatologist for specialist review. The role does not involve providing a definitive skin cancer diagnosis, biopsy, excision or treatment.

The post holder will also maintain accurate clinical records, obtain appropriate consent, explain findings and next steps to patients, provide skin awareness and self-examination advice, maintain patient dignity and confidentiality, and follow appropriate clinical governance and escalation procedures.

Job description

Job DescriptionThe Clinical Nurse Specialist / Advanced Nurse Practitioner will be responsible for independently delivering high-quality mole screening and full-body mole mapping clinics at Liberty Assessments' Hull clinic.

The post holder will use their existing specialist dermatology knowledge, dermoscopy skills and clinical judgement to undertake systematic skin assessments, identify lesions requiring further investigation and ensure patients are appropriately referred through the service's Consultant Dermatologist review pathway.

The role requires an experienced practitioner who is comfortable working autonomously within an agreed scope of practice and understands the limitations of a screening service.

Clinical assessmentThe post holder will:

• Undertake comprehensive and systematic full-body skin examinations.
• Assess individual moles, pigmented lesions and other skin lesions presented by patients.
• Obtain relevant clinical and dermatological history, including changes in lesions and relevant risk factors.
• Perform dermoscopy confidently and competently as part of skin lesion assessment.
• Recognise common benign lesions and distinguish these from lesions displaying atypical or concerning features.
• Recognise clinical and dermoscopic features associated with melanoma, basal cell carcinoma (BCC), squamous cell carcinoma (SCC), pre-malignant lesions and other potentially significant skin pathology.
• Exercise appropriate clinical judgement when determining whether a lesion requires specialist review.
• Recognise circumstances requiring urgent escalation and follow the appropriate clinical pathway.

Mole mapping and clinical photographyThe clinician will:

• Undertake systematic full-body mole mapping in accordance with service protocols.
• Capture high-quality standardised clinical photographs.
• Obtain appropriate dermoscopic images of lesions requiring documentation or specialist review.
• Accurately record lesion location and relevant clinical characteristics to enable correlation between images, body mapping and clinical records.
• Ensure images are appropriately labelled, stored and handled in accordance with information governance and confidentiality requirements.
• Compare previous images or mapping records where available to identify relevant changes over time.

Consultant Dermatologist reviewLiberty Assessments operates a defined pathway for specialist review of lesions requiring further assessment.

The post holder will:

• Identify suspicious, atypical or otherwise concerning lesions requiring Consultant Dermatologist review.
• Capture appropriate clinical and dermoscopic images.
• Provide sufficient clinical history and assessment information to support specialist review.
• Ensure referrals are submitted accurately and through the appropriate pathway.
• Act appropriately upon recommendations or escalation arising from specialist review.

The post holder is not expected to provide a definitive diagnosis of suspected skin cancer. No biopsies, excisions or other invasive dermatological treatments are undertaken as part of this role.

Patient communication and educationThe clinician will communicate assessment findings clearly, sensitively and within the limitations of the screening service.

This will include:

• Explaining the purpose and limitations of mole screening and mole mapping.
• Discussing findings and explaining when further specialist assessment is recommended.
• Avoiding inappropriate reassurance where uncertainty remains.
• Providing advice regarding skin awareness and self-examination.
• Educating patients about changes or symptoms that should prompt further assessment.
• Providing appropriate sun-safety and skin cancer prevention advice.
• Responding professionally and sensitively to patients who may be anxious about potential skin cancer.

Consent, dignity and confidentialityFull-body skin examination and clinical photography require particularly careful attention to consent, privacy and dignity.

The post holder will:

• Obtain and document informed consent for examination, mole mapping, clinical photography and sharing relevant information/images for specialist review.
• Explain what the examination will involve before commencing.
• Maintain patient privacy and dignity throughout.
• Follow appropriate chaperone procedures.
• Ensure patients are given appropriate opportunities to ask questions or decline elements of an examination.
• Handle clinical photographs and patient information securely and confidentially.

Documentation and clinical governanceThe post holder will maintain accurate, clear and contemporaneous clinical records for each patient encounter.

They will work in accordance with Liberty Assessments' policies, procedures and clinical governance framework, including requirements relating to safeguarding, consent, information governance, infection prevention, incident reporting and clinical escalation.

The clinician will be expected to participate appropriately in clinical audit, case review, quality assurance or service evaluation where required.

Any clinical incidents, concerns, unexpected findings or safeguarding issues must be identified and escalated through the appropriate pathway.

Professional responsibilityThe post holder will practise in accordance with the NMC Code and remain professionally accountable for their own practice.

They must:

• Work only within their demonstrated competence and agreed scope of practice.
• Maintain current NMC registration.
• Maintain appropriate knowledge and competence in dermoscopy and skin lesion assessment.
• Keep relevant continuing professional development up to date.
• Recognise the limitations of their own knowledge and seek specialist advice where appropriate.
• Maintain appropriate professional boundaries.
• Engage with clinical supervision, competency review or quality assurance processes where required.
• Immediately raise any concerns that may affect patient safety or their ability to practise safely.

Working arrangementsThis is a flexible bank/zero-hours or self-employed sessional opportunity.

Clinicians provide their availability for full or part clinic days in advance. Liberty Assessments will then arrange patient appointments within the agreed availability.

There is no minimum commitment, allowing clinicians to provide as much or as little availability as suits their circumstances.

The post holder will be expected to arrive appropriately prepared for scheduled clinics, manage appointments efficiently and ensure all clinical documentation and required referrals are completed within appropriate timescales.

Scope of the roleThis position is intended for an experienced dermatology or skin cancer clinician who already possesses the knowledge and practical competence required to undertake skin lesion assessment and dermoscopy safely.

The role is not intended to provide initial training in dermoscopy or skin lesion assessment. The successful applicant will be expected to demonstrate and evidence their existing competence prior to undertaking independent clinics.

The duties outlined above are not intended to be exhaustive. The post holder may undertake other reasonable duties consistent with their professional registration, competence and the scope of the mole screening and mapping service.

About us

Liberty Assessments is a Hull-based independent healthcare provider delivering a growing range of specialist clinical assessment, screening and occupational health services to private individuals and organisations.

Our services include occupational health assessments, health screening, skin cancer and mole screening, driver medicals, Best Interest Assessments, and neurodevelopmental assessments including ADHD and autism.

We work with experienced healthcare professionals and specialist partners to provide accessible, high-quality services underpinned by robust clinical governance and clear referral pathways.

Our focus is on providing professional, evidence-based and patient-centred assessments, while developing flexible services that improve access to specialist clinical expertise for individuals and organisations.