POSITION: LEVEL: GROUP: SYNOPSIS: REPORTS TO: McGrath Clinical Nurse Educator Equivalent to Clinical Nurse Consultant Grade 3 or Nursing Educator Grade 3 Co-located at Head Office and Westmead Breast Cancer Institute (BCI) Responsible for the implementation and development of a professional support and development strategy for breast care nurses McGrath Foundation s Nurse & Funding Manager and Westmead Breast Cancer Institute s Director of Research, Education & Practice Development About McGrath Foundation Established in 2005 by Jane McGrath and her cricketing legend husband Glenn, the McGrath Foundation aims to both raise money to place McGrath Breast Care Nurses in rural and regional Australia, while at the same time educating young women about the importance of being breast aware. As of September 2009, there are 53 McGrath Breast Care Nurses located across the country in areas as diverse as Bundaberg in Queensland and Whyalla in South Australia. McGrath Breast Care Nurses are specially trained nurses who act as patient advocates, coordinating care for women with breast cancer and their families and carers. In doing so, they work to ensure the physical, psychological and basic support needs of these women, and their families, are met. The Foundation needs to raise approximately $350,000 to place a breast care nurse in a community for a three year period. There were over 12,000 new breast cancer cases diagnosed in 2005 and a projected incidence of 14,000 in 2011. One in nine Australian women will be diagnosed with breast cancer by the age of 85 but not all of them will be fortunate enough to have access to a breast care nurse.
The McGrath Foundation s Vision, Mission, Values The McGrath Foundation s vision is to provide and promote breast cancer knowledge, education and support for women of all ages. Our mission is to engage the community in fundraising and philanthropy in the pursuit of education of younger women about breast cancer, and for the ongoing sponsorship and funding of special breast care nurses. We do this by: Helping women aged 16 to 45 become breast aware through innovative and fun methods Promoting the benefits of early detection Sharing the knowledge and importance of self examination Focusing on providing the breast care nurse services to rural and remote communities Australia wide Advocating the benefits of multidisciplinary care McGrath Foundation values Integrity Respect: Responsible, trustworthy partners respected by all stakeholders Positive relationships with our colleagues, partners, and the communities in which we do business Friendship: Care and support between people with the Foundation and among all partners Fun: An environment where we never lose sight of the lighter side of life and the importance of not taking ourselves too seriously Mutual Benefits: Passion: Financial success that rewards our charity, our employees, and our partners First-class staff with the drive to take charge and make a difference for people with breast cancer and their family
About McGrath Foundation, Head Office, Sydney The McGrath Foundation shifted its head office function from Tracy Bevan s home to the current offices in Northbridge at the end of October 2007. These offices now constitute the national headquarters for the Foundation. It is from these offices that the following functions are driven: o Strategy, business planning and management for the overall Foundation o Strategy, business planning and management for the McGrath Breast Care Nurse program o All financial management o All media relations o All community relations o All merchandising Our team members (known as family), come from diverse backgrounds, and work to both engage and deliver results for our corporate, business and government supporters, while at the same time maintaining close ties to the grass roots community that supports us. In this capacity we all work to support those people within the community who reach out to us with offers to coordinate events or other fundraising activities. At all times we all work to continue to deliver a high degree of intimacy with the Foundation that is the people that contact us know, without doubt, how grateful we are for their support and appreciate that it is their actions that ultimately enable us to continue to do our work. In addition to the above we all also seek to support and promote the invaluable role of a McGrath Breast Care Nurse within the communities in which they live and this context we maintain close links with our nurses helping foster a strong sense of family within their ranks. With just eight full time employees (as at September 2009), we have a small team who is dedicated to and passionate about working together to make a difference to people living with breast cancer and their families. It is hoped that in the longer term this national team will be supported by Groups of Friends and Fundraising Coordinators in the major states (aside from NSW) who will be responsible for working within their immediate geographies to drive fundraising and profile raising initiatives locally.
About the Westmead Breast Cancer Institute Since the inception of the Westmead Breast Cancer Institute (BCI) Australia in 1995, our vision has been to be a leader in the provision of breast cancer care for women, their families and the community. Our vision and mission is: Supporting Women with Breast Cancer Today and Every Day Providing screening, diagnosis, treatment and care by expert teams With world-class research, education and innovation Engaging the help of our community and supporters To shine a Ray of Hope The need for a multidisciplinary, patient-focused approach in the diagnosis and treatment of breast cancer underpins our vision and five programs: BreastScreen NSW Sydney West, Clinical Care, Research, Education & the Ray of Hope fundraising. With funding from NSW Health, The Cancer Institute of NSW, SWAHS, and the support of the community, the BCI is part of the Sydney West Area Health Service, with its head office at Westmead Hospital. The BCI offers a comprehensive range of screening, diagnostic and treatment clinics including benign disease, multidisciplinary breast cancer care, family history, surgery, plastic surgery, metastatic breast cancer care and follow up after treatment. As a one-stop shop, the BCI s Westmead Breast Centre provides mammography, ultrasound and pathology services for patients with a symptom such as a breast lump and for women detected with an abnormality following a BreastScreen mammogram. The Westmead Breast Centre and adjacent Cancer Centre have been designed to accommodate a multidisciplinary team approach to health care. All new and post-operative patients are seen by a team of surgeons, radiation oncologists, medical oncologists, breast care nurses and health support staff. The centre also provides vital support services for patients and their families such as education, lymphoedema support, counselling, relaxation classes and the BCI Mates group for women s partners. The BCI also regularly provides training and ongoing education for health professionals such as the Breast Care Nurse Practicum Program, a clinically focused practical program for nurses caring for women with breast cancer, multidisciplinary workshops and an International multidisciplinary breast cancer conference, known as Leura.
About the Role The McGrath Clinical Nurse Educator (MCNE) is responsible for coordinating the development, implementation and management of a professional development and support strategy for breast care nurses in alignment with the McGrath Foundation s and the BCI s objectives. In this context this role is responsible for meeting the following key objectives: i) Developing and implementing a professional support, networking and mentoring strategy for all McGrath Breast Care Nurses (including formal and informal strategies and the strengthening of links with established state and national Breast Care Nursing networks) ii) iii) iv) Facilitating the Westmead Breast Cancer Institute s well established Breast Care Nurse Practicum (BCNP) and the Metastatic Breast Care Nurse Practicum (MBCNP) programs Delivering a mentoring program, including formal and informal strategies, for all non-mcgrath Foundation funded breast care nurses that complete the BCNP and MBCNP Acting as a technical spokesperson for the McGrath Foundation regarding breast care nurses as directed by the McGrath Foundation s Managing Director and/or Nurse & Funding Manager v) Assisting with the implementation of the Westmead Breast Cancer Institute s Multidisciplinary Clinical Education Program. This includes working collaboratively with the multidisciplinary teams at the BCI to assist in delivering clinical education to Breast Care Nurses and other educational projects offered to the wider community such as the BCI Public Forum, Conferences, Workshops and GP Forums The McGrath Clinical Nurse Educator may also be responsible for general research and coordination of specific Foundation-related activities as requested from time to time by the McGrath Foundation s Managing Director (MD) and/or the Nurse and Funding Manager (NFM). The McGrath Clinical Nurse Educator works in collaboration with the McGrath Foundation s Nurse and Funding Manager and the Westmead Breast Cancer Institute s Director of Research, Education & Practice Development (DRE&PD). Performance is based on the ability to successfully develop, coordinate and implement a sustainable and efficient breast care nurse professional development and support strategy.
Key Deliverables: Professional Support for McGrath Breast Care Nurses o Within the first three months, carry out a needs assessment amongst the McGrath BCNs, and an analysis of the outcomes of previous activities undertaken by other organisations, in order to shape the development of the professional support strategy. In particular, consideration should be given to periodic teleconferencing (relating to McGrath Foundation issues and technical updates) and the development of statewide sub-groups. Present the proposed strategy to the Foundation s Board of Directors and implement all activities as directed o Investigate the feasibility and associated costs of implementing a clinical supervision and mentoring programme for McGrath BCNs, including providing access to psychological support Present the proposed strategy to the Foundation s Board of Directors and implement all activities as directed o Collate current pathways, tools and forms utilised by McGrath BCNs and identify opportunities for standardisation of all or part of such documents, where appropriate o With the NFM and the Breast Care Nurse Programme Officer, facilitate communications between the McGrath BCNs to ensure a sense of team is created, including the provision of up to date research as available o Develop any technical input, and/or presentations regarding the professional development and support programme, as required for the annual breast care nurse conference and/or other BCN related workshops/conferences Breast Care Nurse Practicum & Metastatic Practicum o Facilitate and support the BCI s Education programs such as the BCNP and MBCNP through the provision of best-practice, standardised information and advice to clients, their families, the community and other health professionals, by working in conjunction with the Director of R,E&PD the BCI s multidisciplinary teams, external partners and stakeholders o Critically appraise and integrate relevant research findings into current breast care practice and education programs and provide leadership in the ongoing review of current breast care models of care o In conjunction with the Director of R,E & PD and the BCI s Clinical Nurse Consultant for Breast Care deliver a minimum of 4 BCN education programs per year (including one metastatic
breast care nurse practicum), identifying breast care clinical education needs of the participants in those programs and develop evidence- based education resources for nurses and other health professionals o Continuously monitor, evaluate and review BCN education programs and prepare annual report of same o Provide expert clinical care demonstrations, as required, whilst delivering the education programs across the five core domains of specialist breast care nurse practice: Collaborative care Co-ordinated care Supportive care Information provision and education Clinical leadership (N.B.This would not incorporate regular clinic time as a practising BCN). Mentoring Programme for Non-McGrath Foundation Funded Breast Care Nurses o Provide ongoing professional support and informal mentoring for BCN s that have completed the BCNP and MBCNP o In collaboration with the Director of R,E & PD and the BCI s Clinical Nurse Consultant for Breast Care implement a formal mentoring programme for BCNs at the BCI and promote same o Evaluate both formal and informal programs annually Westmead Breast Cancer Institute s Multidisciplinary Clinical Education Program o In conjunction with the Director of R,E&PD at the BC, contribute to the Institute s Multidisciplinary Education Program including assisting the implementation of : The Public Forum Multidisciplinary Workshops GP Forums International Multidisciplinary Breast Cancer Conference known as Leura Relationship Management o Work with the NFM to ensure that, at all times, the Foundation s Managing Director and Board of Directors is happy and comfortable with the way in which the professional development and support programme is being realised by the Foundation
o Work with the NFM and Corporate Relationships Manager to foster and develop relationships with those partners supporting, or wishing to support, the professional development and support programme o Work with the Director of R,E&PD at the BCI to foster, develop and enhance a collaborative partnership with the BCI s multidisciplinary teams, external partners and stakeholders to strengthen the professional development and support programme for Breast Care Nurses o Work with the NFM and Director of R,E&PD at the BCI to promote the professional development and support programme for Breast Care Nurses to nurses and key stakeholders for both organisations o Where appropriate, work with, and strengthen links with established state and national breast care nursing networks Reporting and Evaluation o Take primary responsibility for managing the compilation and production of regular reports for those funding partners that contribute directly to the McGrath Breast Care Nurse professional development and support programme. o Work to ensure that the NFM, MD and the Westmead Breast Cancer Institute are always alerted in a timely fashion to any barriers or challenges facing the professional development and support programme o Provide monthly input to the NFM & Director of R,E&PD regarding the professional development and support programme for inclusion in reports for the McGrath Foundation s Board of Directors and the Westmead BCI Executive and Clinical Advisory Board o Provide an annual evaluation of the program to the NFM and Director R,EP&D Foundation Communications o Act as a McGrath Foundation technical spokesperson with regard to the role of the breast care nurse and the profession in general, as required by the MD and NFM o Work with the NFM, the Media and Community Liaison Officer and the Director of R,E&PD to develop technical & evidence-based resources for breast care nurses, health care professionals and the public, as required o Assist the NFM and MD in the consideration of applications for scholarship funding for post-graduate qualifications in breast care nursing
Corporate Partnerships o Work with the NFM to ensure any corporate partnership that exists to support the McGrath BCN professional development and support strategy is adequately informed People Development o Contribute to performance appraisal process for peers and managers, by providing appropriate comments. o Implement own development plan, created as part of an annual appraisal process. o Identify and attend training and development programs that support the development of your career Financial Planning and Management o Ensure all costs associated with any activities undertaken during normal work processes are accurately recorded and monitored o Ensure all project disbursements are approved and lodged with finance, according to finance timeframes, to be claimed in the next project/ corporate partners invoice Leadership o Ensure the Foundation s values are understood and lived at all times o Assume a leadership role, in collaboration with the Director of R,E&PD at the BCI and nominated members of the Institutes Clinical Advisory Board to promote broader advancement of breast clinical practice e.g. breast care standards, guidelines and protocols o Supervise and mentor Breast Care Nurses participating in the BCNP and MBCNP programs at the BCI and act as an expert breast care clinician in the multidisciplinary clinical setting, provide expert advice and mentorship to nursing colleagues and others involved in breast care, to promote optimal standards o Recognise the need for and engage in continuing professional development to ensure practice incorporates best available evidence and emerging developments in specialist breast nursing and breast cancer care
Remuneration This position is graded at the Clinical Nurse Consultant Grade 3 or Nurse Educator Grade 3 position, therefore the starting salary for a full-time position is $92,121.27 per annum. Superannuation will be paid to a nominated recognised superannuation provider at a rate of 9% of the starting salary. Costs of a mobile phone and travel between the McGrath Foundation and Westmead will be covered.
Selection Criteria Skills: Current NSW nurses registration Relevant post-graduate qualifications in breast care nursing, or related discipline Demonstrated understanding of the breast care nurse role, and professional support required for such positions, particularly those located in rural and regional areas Demonstrated project management, organisation and planning skills Demonstrated knowledge of research methodology Proven excellent communication and interpersonal skills, both written and oral Demonstrated experience in the provision and delivery of training and education programs to health care professionals Current NSW driver s licence Knowledge: Demonstrated knowledge of health care education and experience in the development and delivery of education programmes for other health professionals Experience: A minimum of 7 years full time equivalent post registration experience, with at least 5 years full time equivalent experience in breast care, or related discipline Relevant experience in advanced practice with respect to the management of women with breast cancer (and / or oncology nursing experience) Together, we can make a difference!