Lead Clinical Nurse Specialist

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Sheffield Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust Lead Clinical Nurse Specialist

The closing date is 11 November 2026

Apply for this job

Job summary

The Lead Clinical Nurse Specialist (CNS) for Head and Neck Cancer is a senior autonomous practitioner responsible for providing expert clinical leadership and management of the Head and Neck CNS service across Sheffield Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust. The post holder will ensure the delivery of high-quality, patient-centred care for patients diagnosed with head and neck malignancies throughout their cancer pathway, from diagnosis through treatment, rehabilitation, survivorship and palliative care.

The Lead CNS will manage and support a team of three Band 6 Clinical Nurse Specialists, providing professional leadership, supervision, appraisal, performance management and workforce development. The post holder will work as an integral member of the multidisciplinary team (MDT), acting as a key worker for patients with complex needs and contributing to service development, quality improvement, audit, research and governance activities.

Working closely with Consultants, Allied Health Professionals, Cancer Services and operational teams, the Lead CNS will ensure patients receive coordinated, timely and evidence-based care in line with national cancer standards, NHS Long Term Plan priorities and Trust objectives. The post holder will lead on service evaluation and innovation, supporting continuous improvement in patient experience and clinical outcomes.

Main duties of the job

The Lead Head & Neck Cancer Clinical Nurse Specialist will provide expert clinical leadership and specialist nursing care for patients diagnosed with head and neck cancer throughout their cancer pathway. Acting as an autonomous practitioner, the post holder will deliver holistic, patient-centred care from diagnosis through treatment, rehabilitation, survivorship and end-of-life care, ensuring patients and their families receive timely information, psychological support and coordinated care.

The post holder will lead and manage a team of three Band 6 Clinical Nurse Specialists, providing professional leadership, supervision, appraisal, performance management and development support to ensure the delivery of a high-quality service. They will act as a role model for clinical excellence and support service improvement, innovation and workforce development.

The post holder will be accountable for maintaining high standards of clinical practice, governance and patient safety whilst contributing to the strategic development of Head and Neck Cancer services within Sheffield Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust.

About us

You will be working for an organisation which values and respects all of its staff and the community it serves. The Trust is a leader in the NHS and research sectors and provides excellent benefits for its staff. This includes commitments to professional development but also many policies to support employees in balancing their personal and professional lives.

At Sheffield Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, we are proud to provide outstanding care for our patients and communities across our five hospitals and a range of community services. We are one of the UK's largest NHS Foundation Trusts, delivering specialist and tertiary services locally, regionally and nationally.

We are looking for an inspirational nurse leader who is passionate about delivering personalised care, service improvement and clinical excellence. In return, we offer a supportive working environment, access to ongoing professional development opportunities and the chance to make a real difference to the lives of people affected by cancer.

At Sheffield Teaching Hospitals, our values are at the heart of everything we do. We are committed to delivering care with compassion, working together, striving for excellence and continuously improving the services we provide for our patients, carers and communities.

Details

Date posted

29 October 2026

Pay scheme

Agenda for change

Band

Band 7

Salary

£49,387 to £56,515 a year Per annum pro rata for part time staff

Contract

Permanent

Working pattern

Full-time

Reference number

190-3258-DIR

Job locations

Royal Hallamshire Hospital

Glossop Road

Sheffield

S10 2JF

United Kingdom

Job description

Job responsibilities

Please view the attached Job Description and Person Specification documents for full details regarding this post.

When completing your application, please ensure you clearly demonstrate how you meet the role criteria.

Job description

Job responsibilities

Please view the attached Job Description and Person Specification documents for full details regarding this post.

When completing your application, please ensure you clearly demonstrate how you meet the role criteria.

Person Specification

Educatioin and Qualifications

Essential

• Registered General Nurse
• Nursing Degree
• Advanced communication certificate
• To have completed the national practice assessor training or equivalent teaching and assessing qualification for those with ENB998.
• Evidence of post registration academic development
• Evidence of working at Masters level or willing to undertake study at Masters level

Desirable

• Leadership skills course / management experience with HR issues
• APACS
• Non-medical Prescribing

Experience

Essential

• Substantial post registered experience
• Experience of head & neck cancer care management and in-depth knowledge of the disease processes
• Advanced analytical and clinical reasoning skills to support judgement and decision-making skills to deal with differential diagnoses during the dynamic pathways
• Evidence of autonomous practice/running nurse led clinics
• Excellent organisational and communication skills.
• Evidence of a flexible approach to service development.
• Ability to manage change effectively.
• Evidence of academic and managerial achievement.
• Ability to work independently and across disciplines as a member of a multidisciplinary team.

Desirable

• External working including GPs and CCGs'
• Experience of patient examination and history taking
• Counselling skills
• Experience in health promotion
• Knowledge of national agenda on improving cancer services

Skills and Knowledge

Essential

• Expert knowledge and understanding of head & neck cancer and treatments
• Up to date knowledge of current clinical and professional issues
• An understanding of audit and research-based nursing practice
• Ability to lead and influence change across professional groups
• An understanding of resource management
• Organise and manage a diverse group of staff
• Ability to consult and liaise with a range of professionals
• Commitment to equal opportunities and can demonstrate knowledge of the national and local equity and diversity agenda

Desirable

• Evidence of autonomous practice and running nurse led clinics

Personal Qualities

Essential

• Excellent verbal and written communication skills, including specialist skills to communicate with staff/patients in relation to complex and sensitive issues
• Demonstrates high motivational skills
• Non-judgemental and able to adapt to different working environments
• Strategic thinking
• Able to demonstrate excellent leadership skills
• Excellent organisational skills
• Innovation
• Motivational team worker
• Demonstrates and role models Trust values and behaviours

Person Specification

Educatioin and Qualifications

Essential

• Registered General Nurse
• Nursing Degree
• Advanced communication certificate
• To have completed the national practice assessor training or equivalent teaching and assessing qualification for those with ENB998.
• Evidence of post registration academic development
• Evidence of working at Masters level or willing to undertake study at Masters level

Desirable

• Leadership skills course / management experience with HR issues
• APACS
• Non-medical Prescribing

Experience

Essential

• Substantial post registered experience
• Experience of head & neck cancer care management and in-depth knowledge of the disease processes
• Advanced analytical and clinical reasoning skills to support judgement and decision-making skills to deal with differential diagnoses during the dynamic pathways
• Evidence of autonomous practice/running nurse led clinics
• Excellent organisational and communication skills.
• Evidence of a flexible approach to service development.
• Ability to manage change effectively.
• Evidence of academic and managerial achievement.
• Ability to work independently and across disciplines as a member of a multidisciplinary team.

Desirable

• External working including GPs and CCGs'
• Experience of patient examination and history taking
• Counselling skills
• Experience in health promotion
• Knowledge of national agenda on improving cancer services

Skills and Knowledge

Essential

• Expert knowledge and understanding of head & neck cancer and treatments
• Up to date knowledge of current clinical and professional issues
• An understanding of audit and research-based nursing practice
• Ability to lead and influence change across professional groups
• An understanding of resource management
• Organise and manage a diverse group of staff
• Ability to consult and liaise with a range of professionals
• Commitment to equal opportunities and can demonstrate knowledge of the national and local equity and diversity agenda

Desirable

• Evidence of autonomous practice and running nurse led clinics

Personal Qualities

Essential

• Excellent verbal and written communication skills, including specialist skills to communicate with staff/patients in relation to complex and sensitive issues
• Demonstrates high motivational skills
• Non-judgemental and able to adapt to different working environments
• Strategic thinking
• Able to demonstrate excellent leadership skills
• Excellent organisational skills
• Innovation
• Motivational team worker
• Demonstrates and role models Trust values and behaviours

Disclosure and Barring Service Check

This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.

Certificate of Sponsorship

Applications from job seekers who require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website (Opens in a new tab).

From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants, applying for entry clearance into the UK, have had to present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Adult dependants (over 18 years old) are also subject to this requirement. Guidance can be found here Criminal records checks for overseas applicants (Opens in a new tab).

UK Registration

Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see NHS Careers website (opens in a new window).

Additional information

Disclosure and Barring Service Check

This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.

Certificate of Sponsorship

Applications from job seekers who require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website (Opens in a new tab).

From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants, applying for entry clearance into the UK, have had to present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Adult dependants (over 18 years old) are also subject to this requirement. Guidance can be found here Criminal records checks for overseas applicants (Opens in a new tab).

UK Registration

Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see NHS Careers website (opens in a new window).

Employer details

Employer name

Sheffield Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust

Address

Royal Hallamshire Hospital

Glossop Road

Sheffield

S10 2JF

United Kingdom

Employer's website

https://www.sth.nhs.uk (Opens in a new tab)

Employer details

Employer name

Sheffield Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust

Address

Royal Hallamshire Hospital

Glossop Road

Sheffield

S10 2JF

United Kingdom

Employer's website

https://www.sth.nhs.uk (Opens in a new tab)

Employer contact details

For questions about the job, contact:

Matron

Catherine Clay

[email protected]

01142712177

Details

Date posted

29 October 2026

Pay scheme

Agenda for change

Band

Band 7

Salary

£49,387 to £56,515 a year Per annum pro rata for part time staff

Contract

Permanent

Working pattern

Full-time

Reference number

190-3258-DIR

Job locations

Royal Hallamshire Hospital

Glossop Road

Sheffield

S10 2JF

United Kingdom

Supporting documents

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Sheffield Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust's privacy notice (opens in a new tab)

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