Background
Wessex Cancer Alliance is piloting a 12-month Legacy Mentor Programme to strengthen and sustain the cancer nursing workforce. This initiative responds to national and regional challenges, including the early retirement of experienced cancer nurses, the evolving profile of newly appointed Cancer Clinical Nurse Specialists (CNSs), and recommendations from previous Wessex Cancer Alliance reports. It builds on learning from the national Legacy Mentor Programme and aligns with the ACCEND framework.
What is a Legacy Mentor?
Legacy Mentors are experienced nurses or regulated professionals, typically in late career, who provide coaching, mentoring, and pastoral support to newly appointed NHS staff. Their role helps retain valuable expertise within the workforce, supports career development, and enhances staff wellbeing.
Our Approach
A small pilot is funding four Legacy Mentors (0.2 WTE each) for 12 months across Wessex. These mentors offer structured support to newly appointed cancer CNSs, typically within their first year. Mentorship is prioritised in collaboration with Lead Cancer Nurses in each Trust and delivered through individual and group sessions, following a formalised framework aligned with ACCEND.
Clinical oversight is provided by our Alliance Director for Cancer Nursing and AHPs, alongside Trust Leads for Cancer Nurses. The programme is supported by the Alliance Workforce Team and reports to the WCA Workforce Programme Board.
Programme Aims
- Retain expertise within the cancer nursing workforce
- Support newly appointed CNSs in their transition
- Provide meaningful roles for experienced nurses approaching retirement
- Improve patient experience through confident, well-supported CNSs
- Support implementation of the ACCEND framework at an Enhanced level
Without mentoring intervention, I wouldn’t still be in my role.”
It has significantly boosted my sense of self-worth and value within the NHS.”
It made me feel valued.”
Programme Outputs to Date
- Developed a comprehensive Cancer CNS Mentoring Toolkit to provide standardisation of mentoring practice and support collation of data for evaluation.
- Provided mentorship to 48 novice Cancer Clinical Nurse Specialists through a four Legacy Mentors.
- Created a Cancer CNS Induction Toolkit, aligned with the national ACCEND framework, to support a consistent, positive induction process.
- Used feedback from Legacy Mentors to inform the design of a communication skills training pathway and a senior nurse leadership programme.
- Successfully retained four senior nurses and supported succession planning within the cancer nursing workforce.
- Shared learning and best practice through national forums and upcoming poster presentations at UKONS.