Cancer Support Worker - Band 4

Job description

Job responsibilities

Clinical or technical

• To work with and cross cover single point of contact and re-entry contact number

• Coordinate the follow up investigations required post cancer diagnosis or treatment and provide a point of contact for patients post cancer treatment

• Support patients and carers to access appropriate cancer information and support

• Ability to promote patient empowerment and self-management strategies

• Deliver self-management advice, support and know when to escalate to clinical team

• Encouragement of appropriate and evidence based self-management and lifestyle choices

• Support and address cancer patients needs

• Effectively triage concerns individuals and carers affected by cancer

• Work with the Cancer Nurse specialists to manage coordination of results and appointments.

• Responsible for coordinating rapid re-entry for specialist review against a clinically approved triage model

Information and reporting

• To coordinate and organise appointments and information.

• Communicate and support the delivery of Macmillan information to patients and carers.

• To maintain up to date knowledge of all targets and processes relating to the patient pathway process.

Technology or system support

• To provide effective support to ensure smooth facilitation of treatment and care

• Maintain an accurate and validated data base

• Support remote surveillance projects

• Support and coordinate the EHNA tracking, ensuring the monitoring patient needs

• Facilitate appointments investigations and results

• Provide fast and accurate clinical correspondence administration service with proficient use of appropriate software and systems to meet the required Trust’s standard of work.

• Ensure that all results are checked by the consultant and filed appropriately.

Service improvement

• Provide a point of contact for patients following treatment

• Development of survivorship and wellbeing services

• Support the delivery of the Recovery Package in line with the Cancer Alliance

• Comment and involvement on the development of pathways, policies and guidance

• Support and participate in audit processes and service development

• To work under the guidance and supervision of clinical team

• To identify delays in the patient pathway and to follow the trust escalation policy to raise awareness to the Team Lead for Macmillan and Lead Cancer Clinician as appropriate.

Communications and Engagement

• Face to face and telephone communication and engagement with cancer patients and families

• Ability to deal with level 1 distress and recognise and escalate concerns regarding psychological wellbeing and management

• Demonstrate support and communication with patients

• Provide telephone advice and navigate to sources of support (third sector –including Macmillan)

• Responsible for dealing with enquiries from patients, (written and via telephone/email)

• Involvement in the planning / organisation and delivery of health and wellbeing events and supported management events

• Demonstrate team working and engagement

• Develop effective professional relationships with MDT clinical teams and cancer services

• Provide information to relatives, wards, GP’s and various external agencies and take appropriate action as required whilst ensuring patient confidentially at all times.

General responsibilities

• To support the department and organisation by carrying out any other duties that reasonably fit within the broad scope of a job of this grade and type of work.

• To support the team in providing basic wound care post-surgery such as dressing changes, removal of sutures/clips and drain removal following completion of required competencies

Person Specification

Qualifications

Essential

• Extensive specific administrative medical knowledge gained by education or relevant experience

Skills

Essential

• Must be able to demonstrate in relation to people who use Trust and other related services:
• Knowledge & awareness of diversity and human rights and the competencies appropriate to your role to support their diverse needs and human rights
• Communicate effectively and with other staff to ensure that their care, treatment and support are not compromised
• A good understanding of their communication, physical & emotional needs; can identify their individual needs and preferences, their changing needs and recognise and promote their independence
• Able to provide a customer focussed service
• Able to work in a team
• Ability to use own initiative
• Excellent communicator
• Able to work autonomously
• Methodical and logical approach
• Ability to work under pressure
• Excellent organisational skills
• Innovative approach to problem solving
• Able to deal sensitively and tactfully with all contacts and maintain confidentiality

Attitude, Behaviour and Values

Essential

• Always puts patients first
• Customer service focus
• Willing and able to take personal responsibility
• Demonstrates passion for excellence
• Seeks out and takes opportunities for improving the service offered
• Takes pride in their work and their team
• Flexible in their attitudes and behaviours to support team working and delivery of objectives
• Respects, values and cares for others
• Supports learning and development of self and others
• Supports and promotes equality and diversity

Experience

Essential

• Knowledge of PAS
• Experienced using computerized data systems.
• Previous experience of working within the NHS.
• Full range of administrative experience.
• Examples of service improvement

Other Requirements

Essential

• Able to demonstrate that you are honest, reliable and trustworthy
• Treat patients, visitors, colleagues with respect
• Ability to travel between Trust sites
• Ability to be flexible to meet the needs of the team, the service and the Trust

Knowledge

Essential

• Trust vision, values and strategic objectives
• Excellent IT skills (ECDL or equivalent)
• Understanding of medical terminology
• Knowledge of national cancer guidelines

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.

Employer details

Employer name

Ashford & St. Peter's Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust

Address

Guildford Road

Chertsey

Surrey

KT16 0PZ

Employer's website

https://www.ashfordstpeters.nhs.uk/ (Opens in a new tab)