Job summary
Lung Cancer Navigator
Part Time 18.75 per week, Secondment 9 months
The Lung Cancer Patient Pathway Navigator (PN) plays a key role in supporting patients throughout their diagnostic and treatment journey, ensuring timely access to care and enhancing the overall patient experience. This role works closely with the multidisciplinary team (MDT), including clinical nurse specialists (CNS), oncologists, respiratory physicians, radiologists, administrative staff, and allied health professionals.
Proposed Interview Date = 4th August 2025
Main duties of the job
Pathway Coordination:Track and monitor all suspected and confirmed lung cancer referrals. Ensure timely booking of investigations (CT scans, PET scans, bronchoscopy, biopsy) and outpatient appointments.
Liaise with diagnostic departments to avoid delays and escalate issues when needed.
Patient Support:Act as a point of contact for patients during the diagnostic phase.
Provide clear, empathetic information about appointments, tests, and next steps.
Ensure patients are informed and supported during key stages of the pathway.
MDT Support:Prepare and maintain accurate patient information for lung cancer MDT meetings.
Coordinate collection of clinical, radiological, and histological information for timely MDT discussion.
Support the CNS and clinical team with communication of MDT outcomes to patients.
Communication and Teamwork:Collaborate with CNSs, consultants, and admin staff to ensure seamless transitions through the pathway.
Attend MDT meetings and pathway review meetings.
Provide updates and pathway information to clinical teams.
Key Purpose of the Role:
To support and coordinate the lung cancer pathway from referral to diagnosis, staging, treatment, and follow-up, ensuring all patients receive efficient, streamlined, and compassionate care in line with national cancer targets (e.g. 28-day Faster Diagnosis Standard, 62-day treatment standard).
About us
Croydon Health Services NHS Trust provide hospital and community services from a number of community and specialist clinics throughout Croydon. The Trust was formed on 1st August 2010 through the integration of Croydon Community Health Services and Mayday Healthcare NHS Trust. Around 4,100 staff provide services for a population of over 360,000 people who are relatively young with a high level of ethnic diversity. Our main hospital site, Croydon University Hospital is one of the busiest in London. We're also leading the way in providing more healthcare outside hospitals at clinics, specialist centres and in people's homes.
Our experienced district nursing teams, Allied Health Professionals and community matrons look after people of all ages across Croydon. Across the NHS everyone is working hard to meet growing demand and we're no exception. But with the right people on board, we are rising to this challenge, putting our people in the driving seat, encouraging innovation and transforming our services to give local people the quality of care they deserve. Croydon Health Services puts a great deal of importance on education and training throughout the careers of all of our staff. If you want the opportunity to have a real impact, challenge yourself and be part of an NHS Trust that's making a real difference then a career at Croydon Health Services could be just what you're looking for.
Job description
Job responsibilities
***Please see the attached supporting document which contains more information about the role in job description and person specification***
Job description
Job responsibilities
***Please see the attached supporting document which contains more information about the role in job description and person specification***
Person Specification
Education and Qualifications
Essential
- oRelevant degree or equivalent training and/ or experience
- oGSCE Grades A - C/ 'O' Maths and English
Desirable
- oWillingness to undertake further education and training applicable to the role.
- oProject related qualification
Experience
Essential
- oProven experience as a medical secretary/ clinical administrator/coordinator or clinical support worker in a health service environment with patient contact
- oExperience of working with complex and sensitive issues on a day to day basis, including contact with patients who may be distressed and/ or have complex needs.
- oExperience of problem solving in health related services, particularly patient facing
- oExperience managing patient records and database. oCommunicating across
- oCommunicating across different care settings/ care providers.
- oExperience of writing reports
Desirable
- oExperience working in NHS acute trust and/ or multidisciplinary workforce
- oExperience of cancer services
- oProject experience: evaluating outcomes; analysing data and producing and presenting reports
Skills
Essential
- oExcellent communication skills (oral and written), confident in all communication methods and able to communicate effectively and sensitively
- oProficient in use of negotiation and motivational skills with both clients and staff
- oAbility to analyse problems and seek solutions, being diplomatic when dealing with sensitive information or managing potential conflict
- evidence of administrative and I.T. skills with ability set up systems and processes and monitor performance
- oExcellent time management and organisational skills
- oAble to relate to and work with all professional and non-clinical staff within and outside the organisation Able to demonstrate initiative and flexibility
- oAble to work autonomously and unsupervised where appropriate
- oAble to work under pressure, prioritising and working to deadlines
- oMethodical approach
- oSelf-motivated - possesses high work standards
- oStrong sense of commitment
- oEnthusiastic and willing to learn
Desirable
Knowledge
Essential
- oKnowledge of specialist medical terminology.
- oKnowledge and experience of office management, systems and practice
- oGood working knowledge of Word, Excel and Powerpoint
- oUse of internet systems including NHS net.
- oExtensive database / Audit management
- oKnowledge of electronic patient records and systems e.g. Infoflex and CERNER.
- oKnowledge of confidentiality principles with regards to patient data.
- oUnderstanding of medical terminology and cancer pathways.
Desirable
- oKnowledge of Cancer Peer Review process.
- oKnowledge of LCA/ RMP Vanguard guidance.
- oKnowledge NHS policies.
Person Specification
Education and Qualifications
Essential
- oRelevant degree or equivalent training and/ or experience
- oGSCE Grades A - C/ 'O' Maths and English
Desirable
- oWillingness to undertake further education and training applicable to the role.
- oProject related qualification
Experience
Essential
- oProven experience as a medical secretary/ clinical administrator/coordinator or clinical support worker in a health service environment with patient contact
- oExperience of working with complex and sensitive issues on a day to day basis, including contact with patients who may be distressed and/ or have complex needs.
- oExperience of problem solving in health related services, particularly patient facing
- oExperience managing patient records and database. oCommunicating across
- oCommunicating across different care settings/ care providers.
- oExperience of writing reports
Desirable
- oExperience working in NHS acute trust and/ or multidisciplinary workforce
- oExperience of cancer services
- oProject experience: evaluating outcomes; analysing data and producing and presenting reports
Skills
Essential
- oExcellent communication skills (oral and written), confident in all communication methods and able to communicate effectively and sensitively
- oProficient in use of negotiation and motivational skills with both clients and staff
- oAbility to analyse problems and seek solutions, being diplomatic when dealing with sensitive information or managing potential conflict
- evidence of administrative and I.T. skills with ability set up systems and processes and monitor performance
- oExcellent time management and organisational skills
- oAble to relate to and work with all professional and non-clinical staff within and outside the organisation Able to demonstrate initiative and flexibility
- oAble to work autonomously and unsupervised where appropriate
- oAble to work under pressure, prioritising and working to deadlines
- oMethodical approach
- oSelf-motivated - possesses high work standards
- oStrong sense of commitment
- oEnthusiastic and willing to learn
Desirable
Knowledge
Essential
- oKnowledge of specialist medical terminology.
- oKnowledge and experience of office management, systems and practice
- oGood working knowledge of Word, Excel and Powerpoint
- oUse of internet systems including NHS net.
- oExtensive database / Audit management
- oKnowledge of electronic patient records and systems e.g. Infoflex and CERNER.
- oKnowledge of confidentiality principles with regards to patient data.
- oUnderstanding of medical terminology and cancer pathways.
Desirable
- oKnowledge of Cancer Peer Review process.
- oKnowledge of LCA/ RMP Vanguard guidance.
- oKnowledge NHS policies.
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.
