Lead Navigator for Suspected Cancer PathwayNHS

Job summary

We are looking for an experienced Registered Healthcare Professional (e.g. Nurse, Radiographer, Physician Associate or equivalent) to work as the Lead Navigator of the Suspected Cancer Pathway (SCAN), based in the Radiology Department at the Churchill Hospital.

You will have significant post-registration NHS experience, advanced communication and patient assessment skills, and the ability to work autonomously within a complex multidisciplinary environment. As the clinical and operational lead for the SCAN pathway, you will provide leadership to a team of registered healthcare professionals (including radiographers, nurses and physician associates), supporting patients through the diagnostic process, overseeing pathway delivery, coordinating care across multiple services and contributing to ongoing service improvement and development.

This is an exciting opportunity for a registered healthcare professional seeking a senior patient-focused leadership role within an innovative diagnostic pathway service.

Main duties of the job

The SCAN (Suspected CANcer) Pathway:

Many patients visit their GP with symptoms such as unexplained weight loss or tiredness. These are often described as 'non-specific' symptoms because they do not clearly point to a particular condition.

Whilst many patients are found to have a benign cause for their symptoms, a small proportion may have a serious underlying illness, including cancer. The SCAN pathway provides GPs with rapid access to investigations for patients with these 'low-risk but not no-risk' symptoms, helping to achieve earlier diagnosis and avoid unnecessary delays in treatment.

Depending on the results of these investigations, patients may be referred to a clinician working within the Multi-Diagnostic Clinic (MDC). The aim is to reach a diagnosis and begin any necessary treatment as quickly as possible.

The SCAN team coordinates all aspects of the pathway, both face-to-face and virtually. The SCAN Pathway Lead provides clinical and operational leadership for the service, acting as an expert resource for patients and professionals, overseeing pathway performance, supporting staff, coordinating care and undertaking clinical duties to ensure high-quality, patient-centred care.

Job description

Key aspects of the role (please see Job Description for full details)

• Lead the delivery and ongoing development of the SCAN pathway, ensuring patients receive timely, coordinated and compassionate care from referral through diagnosis and onward care.
• Act as the primary point of contact for patients referred to the pathway, providing expert advice, information and support.
• Liaise with GPs, Multi-Diagnostic Clinic teams and other healthcare professionals to coordinate investigations, appointments and clinical review.
• Vet and assess referrals within agreed guidelines and advise referrers on appropriate diagnostic investigations.
• Undertake clinical duties including venepuncture, cannulation and specimen collection, ensuring safe handling and transfer of samples in accordance with Trust policy.
• Monitor pathway performance and contribute to data collection, audit, service evaluation and reporting requirements.
• Provide professional leadership, support and supervision to members of the SCAN team and other colleagues.
• Contribute to staff training, competency development and service improvement initiatives.
• Communicate complex and sensitive information effectively to patients, carers, colleagues and external stakeholders.
• Promote best clinical practice and ensure care is delivered with dignity, compassion and respect.
• Use specialist systems including EPR, CRIS/PACS and other pathway management systems to support effective patient care and service delivery.
• Manage and prioritise workload independently whilst supporting the coordination of pathway activities across the multidisciplinary team.

About us

Oxford University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust is one of the largest NHS teaching trusts in the country. It provides a wide range of general and specialist clinical services and is a base for medical education, training and research. The Trust comprises four hospitals - the John Radcliffe Hospital, Churchill Hospital and Nuffield Orthopaedic Centre in Headington and the Horton General Hospital in Banbury.

Our values, standards and behaviours define the quality of clinical care we offer and the professional relationships we make with our patients, colleagues and the wider community.We call this Delivering Compassionate Excellence, and its focus is on our values of compassion, respect, learning, delivery, improvement and excellence.These values put patients at the heart of what we do and underpin the quality healthcare we would like for ourselves or a member of our family. Watch how we set out to deliver compassionate excellence via the OUH YouTube channel.