Job Title: Cancer Nurse
Department: Services
Reporting to: Team Lead – Daffodil Centres - Community Hospital Services Manager, Irish Cancer Society
Contract Type: Permanent
Hours of work: 3 Days per Week (21 hours)
Shift times: 9am – 5pm
Set days: Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday
Location: Letterkenny University Hospital (LUH)
Key Relationships: Irish Cancer Society: Services Department
Hospital: Department of Nursing/Cancer Services Clinical Staff
Set Salary: €56,600 per annum FTE (Full Time Equivalent)
Set Pro Rata Salary: €33,960 Pro Rata salary for 21hrs
WHO WE ARE
Every three minutes, someone in Ireland hears the words ‘You’ve got cancer’. At the Irish Cancer Society, we understand the physical, emotional and financial impact a cancer diagnosis brings. And we are determined to do everything we can to help.
As Ireland’s leading cancer charity, we work across every area of cancer – from prevention and early detection, through to end-of-life care. We make a positive impact for people affected by cancer every day: investing in lifesaving and life-changing research; providing practical, financial and emotional supports; and driving improvements in public cancer services.
Our Services are available for anyone affected by cancer. Our team of specialist cancer nurses provide cancer related information and education on a wide range of topics, emotional support and signposting to sources of support via our Support Line and in Daffodil Centres. This empowers and enables enquirers to the service to get the information and support they need from a trusted source at a time and place that suits them.
If you are looking for an opportunity to use your cancer nursing skills and knowledge to make a positive impact on anyone affected by cancer this role is for you.
Irish Cancer Society Daffodil Centres
A cancer diagnosis impacts on all areas of a person’s life. At the Irish Cancer Society, we aim to reduce this burden of cancer and improve the quality of life for everyone affected by cancer.
Our Daffodil Centre at Letterkenny University hospital (LUH) is one of 13 Daffodil Centres across Ireland. It is a friendly and welcoming, purpose-built unit, staffed by a specialist cancer nurse and volunteers.
Main duties and responsibilities
The post holder must be a registered nurse with oncology knowledge and experience who is able to discuss and assess complex cancer needs as well as related practical and emotional matters with anyone who contacts the Daffodil Centre. They must have the leadership and organisational skills to manage and develop the centre and the people skills to interact with enquirers as well as with internal and external stakeholders.
YOU WILL
Be responsible for the leadership/management of the Daffodil Centre, including promotion and continuous development of the service and for raising awareness of its availability, both within the hospital and in the local community.
Provide specialist information, education and support to anyone affected by cancer that visits or contacts the centre – this could be a person with a diagnosis, friend/relative/carer, someone concerned about symptoms or seeking cancer prevention/health promotion material or a health care professional.
Develop and maintain information resources available within the centre for service users.
Deliver Irish Cancer Society patient education programmes.
Manage and mentor the Daffodil Centre volunteers.
Delivering person centred care and education
Be responsive in understanding and addressing the needs of service users and complete a Needs Assessment with them, if appropriate.
Provide comprehensive cancer information, advice and support to patients, carers, the public and healthcare professionals (face-to-face, telephone, email and written).
Refer enquirers to other services within the Irish Cancer Society, as well as to other relevant health care professionals and/or organisations.
Deliver the Society’s patient education programmes locally in groups and online as required.
Act as a resource to the multidisciplinary teams in the hospital on information, supports and services available to those affected by cancer.
Present to various external groups on a variety of cancer topics, including cancer prevention to cancer treatments, side-effects and follow-up care, as well as the different services available from the Irish Cancer Society.
Leadership of the Daffodil Centre and volunteer management
Work with managers in both the hospital and the Irish Cancer Society to develop and manage the Daffodil Centre, ensuring that it is open as advertised, providing an accessible and high-quality professional service.
Implement the hospital and the Irish Cancer Society policies, procedures and guidelines.
Continually seek out ways to develop our services and supports and improve the efficiency and effectiveness of the centre.
Work with the Team Lead and Services Coordination Team to prepare regular and end of year service activity reports.
Keep informed of Irish Cancer Society campaigns and events, which may impact on centre activity e.g. an increased number of calls or emails on a specific issue.
Work with the Society’s Volunteer Team and the Team Lead to recruit, interview and train volunteers.
Manage and supervise the competence of volunteers working in the Daffodil Centre.
Provide the volunteers with ongoing support and supervision.
Report any concerns regarding volunteers to the Daffodil Centre Team Leaders.
Communication, relationship management and promotion of the Daffodil Centre and the Irish Cancer Society
Establish and maintain good working relationships with the multidisciplinary teams involved in the delivery of cancer care within the hospital.
Develop and maintain close links with the Services Team and all other relevant departments of the Irish Cancer Society.
Work to expand the reach and impact of the Daffodil Centre in the community within the hospital catchment area.
Work with the Daffodil Centre Team Leaders to ensure you have the appropriate promotional materials/resources for the centre and an adequate supply.
Present to various internal and external groups on the services provided by the Irish Cancer Society.
Participate and assist with the Irish Cancer Society exhibition stands at various events /conferences for both patients and health care professionals
Take part in media relations activity on behalf of the Irish Cancer Society.
Maintain a comprehensive resource of high-quality evidence based, relevant information, encompassing all aspects of cancer, care and support.
Be responsible for maintaining stock levels of patient information materials, including Irish Cancer Society materials (booklets/factsheets), which will be displayed in the Daffodil Centre as well as online links to evidenced based patient information relating to cancer.
Work with the Society’s Education and Engagement team to develop and update information materials about cancer types, cancer treatments and other patient information resources.
Contribute to the development of the Society’s patient education programmes.
Information Development
Professional Development
Maintain a knowledge base on developments in cancer care and of resources/services for cancer patients, particularly in the hospital catchment area.
Attend and/or participate in relevant courses/workshops/conferences as appropriate to maintain own continuous professional development.
Participate in Community and Hospital Services Meetings, journal clubs and other training and education opportunities as provided by the Society and the hospital.
Participate in clinical supervision.
Governance
Comply with the need for service user confidentiality, including requirements of GDPR/Data Protection Act.
Assist in the maintenance and monitoring of an appropriate and acceptable environment for enquirers, reporting and taking necessary action on any hazards.
Record and report all incidents/complaints involving staff and/or service users and assist in any investigation as required in accordance with Irish Cancer Society’s and hospital policies.
Undertake and ensure that both you and the volunteers attend mandatory training and refresher training as required by the Irish Cancer Society and the hospital.
Use data gathered, as well as other sources such as monthly activity reports, to monitor the usage of the Daffodil Centre to identify areas for change/improvement.
General
Provide cover as and when required in other Daffodil Centres and Support Line.
Support with Irish Cancer Society events. These may be in the evenings and/or at weekends, but notice will be provided.
The list of duties in this job description is not exhaustive and is intended to outline the main activities of the post holder. Duties and responsibilities may be subject to change considering the development needs of the service.
While the post-holder will be an employee of the Irish Cancer Society he/she will work in Letterkenny University Hospital and will be located there. The post holder must adhere to general conditions as outlined by the hospital in relation to Health and Safety, Infection Control, Dress Code and adhere to guidelines/requirements in relation to Risk Management, Hygiene Services and Health and Safety. (Full details will be provided upon commencement of employment.)
WHO YOU ARE
The right candidate for this role is:
A people person:whether it’s supporting patients and enquirers, working with colleagues and volunteers, or engaging with clinicians you understand what makes people tick, and create effective relationships.
A great communicator:you can communicate effectively across multiple channels (face-to-face, written, digital) and adopt your style to meet the audience where they are.
A superb leader:you can positively lead people to meet their goals, delegate when needed and support a team in a developing service. You know the value of the people who work with you.
Wonderfully Organised: you can manage lots of different tasks at the same time, prioritise workload and take pride in running a high-quality service.
Technologically savvy:you’re comfortable using digital and technology tools for the management and delivery of programmes and identifying new ways that technology can support your work. You know your way around the Microsoft platform.
Flexibleand open to travel: you are willing to be a team player and provide cover on our Support Line, online supports and services, or community supports and services, as required and get involved with other events in the organisation such as Roadshows, Daffodil Day or training events and this may mean travelling to different locations on occasion.
YOUR QUALIFICATIONS AND EXPERIENCE
Registered General Nurse, on the active register of the Nursing and Midwifery Board of Ireland (NMBI).
Post registration qualification in cancer nursing (minimum of diploma level qualification).
Three years’ recent experience in cancer nursing.
The clinical knowledge, leadership and organisational capacity to properly discharge the functions of the role.
Demonstrated evidence of continuing professional development at the appropriate level.
The closing date for applications is Monday 24th August 2026
Please note all CVs are logged through a third-party system for processing
The Irish Cancer Society is an equal opportunity employer. We celebrate diversity and are committed to building an inclusive environment for all employees. We know that the more inclusive we are, the better our work will be.
WE DO NOT REQUIRE THE ASSISTANCE OF AGENCIES
Some of our benefits:
23 days Annual Leave a year or Pro Rata equivalent, plus public holidays, Good Friday and Christmas Eve (if it falls on a working day)
Service Days - Additional days awarded to reflect long service with the Society.
Sick Pay Scheme (following Probationary period)
Defined Contribution Pension Scheme - new starters will join the pension from the date of commencement of employment with the Society. The current contribution rate ranges from a contribution of 3%, 5% or a maximum of 8% of basic salary.
Group membership for VHI and HSF (health plans)
Bus/Rail Ticket Scheme and Cycle to Work Scheme
Death In Service Benefit (from commencement of employment)
Paid Family Leave (Maternity, Paternity, Adoptive, Force Majeure and compassionate Leave)
Learning and Development Programmes
Educational Assistance (Study and Examination Leave)
Employee Assistance Programme (EAP)
Optional Flu vaccine provided
