Verified Skilled Worker sponsor

Specialist Screening Practitioner

Bedfordshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust

BEDFORD, MK429DJ £39,959 – £48,117 a year Permanent Posted 1 September 2026 Apply by 13 September 2026

Home Office register entry: Bedfordshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, Luton

Visa sponsorship

This role is listed by an employer that holds a live Home Office sponsor licence on the Skilled Worker route.

Closest occupation match: SOC 2212, Specialist medical practitioners. Pay for this occupation is set by national pay scales (NHS bands), so no single Home Office going rate applies.

This occupation falls under the Health and Care Worker route. Public reference figures for that route: the general salary minimum is £25,000 a year, and salaries set by national pay scales (NHS bands) at or above the relevant band rate typically meet the occupation's requirement. Individual eligibility depends on personal circumstances. These figures are public reference information, not advice or a verdict on this job.

Role description

Job summary

The National Bowel Cancer Screening Programme has been successfully rolled out across the UK over the past decade and is now well established. The programme is recognised for its role in reducing deaths from bowel cancer by 16%.

Due to the continued development and expansion of the service, we are seeking an enthusiastic and dynamic nurse to join this exciting and fast-paced team.

The main purpose of your role will be to assess participants' suitability for colonoscopy, provide information and support throughout the screening process, and communicate results. You will be responsible for delivering a high-quality service and maintaining accurate and comprehensive records.

You will also be required to attend Multi-Disciplinary Team (MDT) meetings and work closely with health promotion teams to improve screening uptake and promote inclusivity.

You should be able to work independently and autonomously across Bedfordshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, while benefiting from a supportive team environment.

Excellent organisational and communication skills are essential. You must also be able to work flexibly, as our screening lists may operate seven days a week.

If you are considering making an application, you are strongly encouraged to contact Jamunadevi Doraikannu, Lead Specialist Screening Practitioner, on 01582 497939 or by email at Jamunadevi.doraikannu@ldh.nhs.uk to arrange an informal visit.

Main duties of the job

This role will include the delivery of nurse-led and virtual clinics, within the community of Luton and Bedfordshire.
You will act as the individuals' advocate, supporting and empowering them and their family to make informed choices and decisions about their screening examination, care, treatment and future participation, through all stages of the screening programme.
You will be involved in assessing individuals, making decisions based on the outcomes of your assessment and managing your own caseload.
You will participate at colorectal cancer multidisciplinary team meetings (MDT's) in the participating individuals' relevant Trust.
You need to be able to work well within a team and also work autonomously as an individual.
You will be expected to communicate sensitive and bad news to individuals when required.

About us

Bedfordshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust provides hospital services to a growing population of around 700,000 people living across Bedfordshire and the surrounding areas across two busy hospital sites in Bedford and Luton. Both hospital sites offer key services such as A&E, Obstetrics-led Maternity and Paediatrics.

You will be joining a friendly, high performing Trust committed to ensuring the health and wellbeing of staff. As one of the largest NHS Trusts in our region you will have access to a programme of high quality training and development to help you grow your career.

We have state-of-the art facilities placing us at the heart of cutting edge health care. The Trust continues to be committed to delivering the best patient care using the best clinical knowledge and technology available.

Please note that vacancies may close prior to the advertised closing date when sufficient number of applications have been received. Please ensure that you make your application as soon as possible.

All new external staff will be subject to a probationary period covering their first six months in post. Travel between hospital sites may be required.

Please review all documents attached to this advert to ensure you familiarise yourself with all requirements of the job.

Date posted

01 September 2026

Pay scheme

Agenda for change

Band

Band 6

Salary

£39,959 to £48,117 a year per annum

Contract

Permanent

Working pattern

Full-time

Reference number

418-NUR1378-MR

Job locations

Bedford Hospital

Kempston Road

BEDFORD

MK429DJ

United Kingdom

Job description

Job responsibilities

The post will be based at Bedford Hospital though cross site working to Luton and Dunstable Hospital will be required.
You will be allocated a mentor who will support you through a comprehensive induction and training and you will be required to attend a 2 day virtual course to use the Bowel Cancer Screening database.
You would be expected to successfully complete a Specialist Screening Practitioner certificate within 12 months of employment at Liverpool John Moore's University.

Person Specification

Qualifications

Essential

Registered First level Nurse
Teaching and mentoring course
Evidence of continuing professional development in speciality.

Desirable

Evidence of study at degree level
Certification in Advanced Communication skills

Experience

Essential

Broad range of clinical experience with specific experience in managing own caseload/working within a speciality.
Application of teaching within the work area

Desirable

Experience of providing nurse led clinics
Participation in service development and implementation of change
Able to analyse complex patient conditions and take appropriate action within the context of Bowel Cancer Screening

Knowledge

Essential

Able to perform assessment, planning, implementation and evaluation of specialist care
Ability to communicate in a variety of settings with patients of varying levels of understanding.
Able to prioritise and manage own workload and work with minimal supervision
Basic IT skills in word processing and spreadsheets

Desirable

Specific knowledge relating to national policies and procedures relevant to the NHS bowel Cancer Screening Programme

personal

Essential

Ability to develop effective interpersonal relationships with colleagues in the health care setting
Ability to travel independently and work cross site.

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.

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.