Clinical Nurse Specialist Non-Specific Symptom Pathway
North Bristol NHS Trust (NBT) and University Hospitals Bristol and Weston NHS Foundation Trust (UHBW) have merged as of 1st July 2026 to become Bristol NHS Foundation Trust. This will create an exciting future that brings together the best of both organisations. As a single, strong and sustainable organisation, we will not only be able to deliver better outcomes for our patients and fairer care for our population, but it will also provide greater opportunities for our people.
Bristol NHS Foundation Trust recognise the value of a healthy work-life balance. When applying, speak to us about how we might be able to accommodate flexible working, so your work life fits around your home life.
We particularly welcome applications from Black, Asian and minority ethnic candidates as they are under-represented within the Trust.
Our job adverts may close as soon as sufficient applications have been received. Considering this, if you are interested in this role, please do apply as soon as you can.
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Job overview
The Non-Specific Symptom Pathway (NSSP) offers a single point of access to a diagnostic pathway for patients with non-specific symptoms. The post holder will need to work in close collaboration with care of the elderly Consultant at North Bristol NHST Trust and, Primary and secondary care to support a tailored pathway of clinically relevant diagnostic tests towards a timely diagnosis. The post holder will utilise skills of clinical expertise, education and management to ensure a high quality service for patients, carers and staff.
The NSSP CNS will undertake a pivotal role alongside the Pathway Navigator, liaising with patients who are referred, acting as the main point of contact, offering support and keeping patients informed at each stage. Once diagnosis is known, to refer to the appropriate team or back to the GP’s for ongoing management ensuring a seamless transition of care. The post holder will work closely with the NSSP GP to support triage of referrals, liaising with colleagues within diagnostic services across Trusts to ensure that investigations and tests are timely and co-ordinated.
This post would be open to nurses with primary or secondary care experience as much of the role focuses on timely telephone triage and detailed record keeping. Whilst office based initially, WFH days could be considered for the right candidate and this role is a great step-up into a career within Oncology.
Advert
The NSSP Clinical Nurse Specialist role is varied and constantly developing to meet the speciality needs and evolving site specific referral pathways within Bristol, North Somerset and South Gloucestershire. You will be required to work autonomously at times and will need to utilise exceptional organisational and communication skills to guide patients, their families and carers through the pathway.
The role involves working with a small proportion of patients who will be diagnosed with cancer or other urgent diagnoses requiring quick and decisive treatment plans including possible urgent hospital admission. The nature of communication required is sensitive and therefore a high degree of empathy and understanding is required. Advance communication skills need to be used to deliver potentially distressing information to patients and carers, and provide them with advice and emotional support within in the community, utilising appropriate primary and secondary care services when required.
As a NSSP Clinical Nurse Specialist you will be using your expertise on cancer diagnostic pathways along with general medical knowledge to support patients, their carers and other health care professionals within an outpatient setting.
Working for our organisation
Bristol NHS Foundation Trust brings together more than 28,000 staff to deliver over 160 clinical services across thirteen hospital locations, operating from three main sites at Southmead, Bristol city centre and Weston.
With an annual turnover of £2.3 billion, we are now one of the largest NHS trusts in the United Kingdom. Our hospitals are spread across Bristol and Weston, join us and you can enjoy the very best of both worlds; city living within a stone’s throw of the countryside or beside the seaside, both with easy access to all that the South West has to offer. Bristol NHS Foundation Trust values all people as individuals. As an equal opportunities employer actively working towards a diverse workforce we aim to recruit and retain a workforce which represents the rich diversity of the local population at all levels and are committed to designing our services around the needs of individual patients and those around them. Anonymous information will be used from your application in order to ensure we’re meeting our pledge.
Detailed job description and main responsibilities
The post holder will collect and present data to evaluate and demonstrate effectiveness and value of this new service. They will also assist with the collation and review of the pre-existing patient feedback survey for NSSP. There are opportunities to assist with service development including the setting up of weekly clinics. The NSSP service intends to align the NSSP pathway alongside other cancer pathways such as the Neuro Endocrine Tumour diagnostic pathway.
The NSSP CNS will work alongside the NSSP team working closely with the NSSP Patient Navigator and two part time GPs.
For a more detailed job description, main responsibilities, and person specification, please refer to the job description document attached to this vacancy.
We hope that you will decide to join us and become part of this exciting journey, helping us to shape our future together.
· As an equal opportunities employer actively working towards a diverse workforce we aim to recruit and retain a workforce which represents the rich diversity of the local population at all levels and are committed to designing our services around the needs of individual patients and those around them. Anonymous information will be used from your application to ensure we’re meeting our pledge.
· The Trust is committed to investing in and caring for all our staff. We will support you in maintaining and improving your health and wellbeing, as well as your career development through management and training support - developing exceptional people for exceptional careers.
· BFT is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people, and vulnerable adults.
· To comply with Part 7 of the Immigration Act 2016 all applicants must be able to speak fluent English to an appropriate standard which will be assessed at Interview.
· If you require sponsorship for a visa to work in the UK, to avoid disappointment, please check to ensure you are eligible under the UKVI points based system.
· The Trust uses electronic new starter forms on Trac to collect personal details. Information collected is securely stored and used to set up the employee record on the ESR HR system.
· By applying for this post, you are agreeing to Bristol NHS Foundation Trust transferring the information contained in this application to its preferred applicant management system. If you are offered a job, information will also be transferred into the national NHS Electronic Staff Records system.
· Please be aware of scams – unless specified above, we will only communicate with you via @recruit.trac.jobs or nhs.net e-mails and we will never ask you for any payments.
IMPORTANT:
Please note that if you apply for a position with this Trust, you may be contacted via Trac or via email. This includes invites for job interviews. We therefore recommend that you regularly check your Trac account and email accounts. We may also contact you by texting the mobile number, if provided, on the application form.
Due to the high number of applications that are received for some posts we may close this vacancy before the advertised closing date. Therefore, please apply for this post as soon as you can, if you are interested and you meet the requirements of the Person Specification
Only those candidates who clearly demonstrate how they meet the person specification will be shortlisted for this job.
As a guide interviews should usually take place within 3 weeks of the closing date.
When providing employment reference details, please provide correct work-related email addresses so references can be sought promptly when we are looking to progress your application. Your referee must all be known to you in a line manager or professional lead capacity.