Staff Nurse

Role overview

University College London Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust is seeking an energetic and committed Band 5 Staff Nurse, registered in either adult or paediatric nursing, to join its Teenage Cancer Trust Unit. The role focuses on caring for young people aged 13 to 19 who are receiving specialist cancer treatment.

This opportunity is aimed at nurses who are genuinely interested in adolescent haematology and oncology and want to build their knowledge across a broad mix of solid tumours and blood cancers. The post involves delivering care to patients receiving treatments such as chemotherapy, radiotherapy and bone marrow transplantation.

The unit is centred on providing compassionate, age-appropriate support to young people during a challenging period of their lives. The team works closely with the Teenage Cancer Trust and places equal importance on the person and their wellbeing, not only on the diagnosis. Nurses in the unit are expected to contribute to a positive environment and strong team culture.

About the service and trust

UCLH was the first hospital in the UK to establish a teenage cancer unit in 1990 and is now the largest inpatient teenage cancer unit in Europe. Over time, the TYA service has expanded in scale, activity and complexity and is recognised internationally.

The UCLH TYA primary treatment centre delivers high-quality cancer care in modern, age-appropriate facilities, with each patient’s holistic needs placed at the centre of care. The service is supported by a highly experienced multidisciplinary team and is also the leading centre for adolescent bone marrow transplantation.

University College London Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust is one of the most complex NHS trusts in the UK, serving a broad and diverse population across the local area, the wider UK and overseas. Its work combines acute and specialist services with a strong focus on education and research.

The trust delivers first-class services across eight sites: University College Hospital, including the Elizabeth Garrett Anderson Wing; National Hospital for Neurology and Neurosurgery; Royal National ENT and Eastman Dental Hospitals; University College Hospital Grafton Way Building; Royal London Hospital for Integrated Medicine; University College Hospital Macmillan Cancer Centre; The Hospital for Tropical Diseases; and University College Hospital at Westmoreland Street.

The organisation provides diagnosis and treatment for a wide range of complex conditions, with specialist expertise in women’s health, cancer, infection, neurological, gastrointestinal and oral disease. Support services include critical care, imaging, nuclear medicine and pathology.

UCLH is also committed to sustainability and has pledged to become a carbon net zero health service, building sustainable practice into everyday operations. The trust’s target is net zero for direct emissions by 2031 and indirect emissions by 2040.

What you will do

• Provide efficient and compassionate nursing care to young people aged 13 to 19 in the Teenage Cancer Trust Unit.
• Support patients receiving treatment for solid tumours and haematology cancers.
• Care for patients undergoing chemotherapy, radiotherapy and bone marrow transplant treatment.
• Work collaboratively within a dedicated team to maintain a supportive and welcoming environment.
• Contribute to the delivery of holistic, age-appropriate care in partnership with the Teenage Cancer Trust and the wider multidisciplinary team.
• Show a strong commitment to adolescent cancer care and to improving the experience of young patients.

What we are looking for

• A Band 5 nurse with either adult or paediatric registration.
• Clear interest in teenage cancer care, especially adolescent haematology and oncology.
• Willingness to learn and develop specialist knowledge across a range of cancer treatments and conditions.
• Ability to deliver care efficiently and sensitively to this patient group.
• A team-focused approach and enthusiasm for working in a close-knit unit.

Further information

Informal enquiries and visits are encouraged. Interested candidates can contact Tacy Clarke, Ward Sister, on 07984 183266 or 0203 44 71213/71202, or by email at tacy.clarke@nhs.net. Philippa Cullen, Deputy Ward Sister, can also be contacted at philippa.cullen@nhs.net.