Job summary
An exciting opportunity has arisen to join the urology cancer nurse specialist and cancer support worker team. The team will be moving this year to a newly designated Urology Unit at Cheltenham General Hospital We are a very busy, but also a really positive team to work with.
We are looking for a highly motivated individual, to join us, who will work with us providing support and guidance for our patients. The work that you undertake will involve communicating with patients and carers and you can make an enormous difference to them at a difficult, emotional and life changing time. You will be an advocate for them alongside the cancer nurse specialists and will be central to assessing, advising and signposting them with their day to day living needs, this will include communicating with other agencies as well as health care professionals in the community.
The successful candidate, will be an integral part of the Urology Cancer Team, who works under the supervision of the Clinical Nurse Specialist (CNS). The main purpose of the role is to support people, to navigate the complex health and social care system during and/or following completion of cancer treatment. The post holder will coordinate care by delivering emotional and practical support to patients with a diagnosis of cancer. You will specifically lead in the delivery of Holistic Needs Assessments to an identified group of patients, identify and addressing their concerns.
Main duties of the job
o To provide general information and support about cancer services, to enable people to navigate the health and social care system and make choices that are best for their cancer and their life.
o Establish a process of Holistic Needs Assessment. Undertaking patient assessments and formulating individual Care Plans to best suit patient needs and preferences
o To integrate the support worker role into the existing service with the aim of maintaining personalised care, ensuring an excellent level of patient experience.
o To undertake by negotiation, administrative tasks currently undertaken by the CNS team ie monitoring of database, monitoring telephone helpline
o Provide basic telephone advice and refer on or signpost to other sources of support.
o Encourage and support active and healthy lifestyle choices
o Planning/inviting/organising of health and well-being events or other supported self-management
About us
Gloucestershire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust is the largest employer in the county and with over 8,000 staff, we are one of the largest NHS trusts in the UK. The Urology department is the 2nd largest within the South West of England. We offer a generous annual leave allowance, excellent bank rates, access to the excellent NHS Pension Scheme, discounts for local shops, restaurants and services, access to our health and well-being hub, access to our two on-site nurseries, flexible working options, discounted public transport, reward and recognition schemes, exercise and activity classes and membership to our popular hospital choir.
Job description
Job responsibilities
To utilise verbal and nonverbal communication skills to effectively communicate with patients, their families and carers. This may include patients/carers who may or may not have barriers to communication e.g., language, through cognitive or physical impairment
To co-ordinate access to the right information and education resources to support people in making decisions about aspects of their own care, enable independence and support self-management as appropriate. Develop a partnership approach to working in order to empower the patient and carers.
To motivate patients to enrol in rehabilitation, where there may be reluctance or communication difficulties
Comment on proposed changes to policies and procedures
Support and contribute to audit processes and service development
To support the CNS team by contributing to the redesign of care pathways for patients with cancer in order to improve quality and patient safety
Make sure that people affected by cancer are aware that they are interacting with a healthcare professional and know about the full range of resources and services available
Understand that there will be frequent exposure to distressing/highly distressing situations and when to seek appropriate support/advice
Take an active part in team meetings and audits as required
Support people to access appropriate information and support, by sign-posting to a range of support services and take an approach which helps people to self-manage where appropriate
Encourage and support active and healthy lifestyle choices
To form a link with all health and well-being events, referring patients as appropriate
To encourage patients to enrol in prehab recommendations to optimise outcomes
Deliver patient-centred, self-management support and education as necessary to non-complex patients, including how to self-assess
Additional contact details:
Name: Dawn Branch
Job Title: Urology Cancer Support Worker
Phone No: 07741331393
Email: dawn.branch@nhs.net
Job description
Job responsibilities
To utilise verbal and nonverbal communication skills to effectively communicate with patients, their families and carers. This may include patients/carers who may or may not have barriers to communication e.g., language, through cognitive or physical impairment
To co-ordinate access to the right information and education resources to support people in making decisions about aspects of their own care, enable independence and support self-management as appropriate. Develop a partnership approach to working in order to empower the patient and carers.
To motivate patients to enrol in rehabilitation, where there may be reluctance or communication difficulties
Comment on proposed changes to policies and procedures
Support and contribute to audit processes and service development
To support the CNS team by contributing to the redesign of care pathways for patients with cancer in order to improve quality and patient safety
Make sure that people affected by cancer are aware that they are interacting with a healthcare professional and know about the full range of resources and services available
Understand that there will be frequent exposure to distressing/highly distressing situations and when to seek appropriate support/advice
Take an active part in team meetings and audits as required
Support people to access appropriate information and support, by sign-posting to a range of support services and take an approach which helps people to self-manage where appropriate
Encourage and support active and healthy lifestyle choices
To form a link with all health and well-being events, referring patients as appropriate
To encourage patients to enrol in prehab recommendations to optimise outcomes
Deliver patient-centred, self-management support and education as necessary to non-complex patients, including how to self-assess
Additional contact details:
Name: Dawn Branch
Job Title: Urology Cancer Support Worker
Phone No: 07741331393
Email: dawn.branch@nhs.net
Person Specification
Qualifications
Essential
Desirable
Experience
Essential
- Experience of multi professional working
- Experience in the use of data management
Desirable
- Relevant health & Social care experience
Knowledge / Skills
Essential
- Evidence of good and accurate communication skills both verbal and in writing
- IT Skills
- Organisational Skills & ability to prioritise own workload
- Ability to be aware of the limits of own practice and knowledge and when to seek appropriate support/advice
Desirable
- Demonstrates ability to work flexibly
Person Specification
Qualifications
Essential
Desirable
Experience
Essential
- Experience of multi professional working
- Experience in the use of data management
Desirable
- Relevant health & Social care experience
Knowledge / Skills
Essential
- Evidence of good and accurate communication skills both verbal and in writing
- IT Skills
- Organisational Skills & ability to prioritise own workload
- Ability to be aware of the limits of own practice and knowledge and when to seek appropriate support/advice
Desirable
- Demonstrates ability to work flexibly
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.
