Job summary
We are looking for an enthusiastic, highly motivated, organised individual with a calm and methodical approach to join our Upper GI team within General Surgery at the Royal Surrey NHS Foundation Trust. This will be a fixed term post until the end of September 2025 but is likely to be extended and made substantive.
The successful applicant will ensure that patient pathways are coordinated efficiently with an aim to improve cancer performance and experience of care for our patients. The Cancer Navigator will support the clinical teams in achieving early diagnosis where applicable for patients with suspected cancer. They will track all patients to ensure as they move through the pathway as seamlessly as possible and take all necessary steps to avoid delays which will ultimately lead to a quicker diagnosis and treatment.
The post holder will collate any information required by the department for the Upper GI MDT, taking minutes and ensuring actions are recorded, disseminated and acted upon. The Upper GI Coordinator will also support the production of evidence for national and local audit
Main duties of the job
The successful applicant will have excellent interpersonal skills in order to work in collaboration with all members of both internal and external healthcare teams and have a flexible approach to the role. Knowledge of medical terminology especially relating to cancer is essential as well as an understanding of cancer targets and patient pathways. Previous Upper GI knowledge and experience would be an advantage.
- To co-ordinate NHS and private patient pathways for the Trust, requiring highly functioning planning and organisational skills.
- To track and expedite patients' care pathways to ensure cancer waiting times are effectively met alongside the Clinical Nurse Specialist and the Support Worker.
- Be responsible for all administrative tasks involved in the management cancer patient pathways.
- Be responsible for day to day management, organisation and delegation of relevant tasks and roles to others as required.
- Be responsible for data management.
A significant level of liaison with different departments is required and the successful candidate needs to have highly developed diplomatic and influencing skills. Attention to detail, excellent communication and organisational skills are key components to the position. Knowledge of medical terminology especially relating to cancer is desirable. Previous knowledge and experience in cancer services would be an advantage.
About us
Royal Surrey is a compassionate and collaborative acute and community Trust. Recognising that our 5000 colleagues are our greatest strength, we offer a comprehensive health and wellbeing program along with a commitment to developing and advancing your career. Our diverse and welcoming Royal Surrey family will ensure you that you feel valued from your initial interview through your entire tenure.
We are clinically led and provide joined up care by bridging the gap between hospital and community services alongside regional specialist cancer care. Our main acute hospital site is in Guildford with community hospital sites at Milford, Haslemere and Cranleigh. We provide adult community health services in homes across Guildford and Waverley.
The Care Quality Commission (CQC) have given us an overall rating of Outstanding.
Royal Surrey has a strong reputation and history to build on. We are proud of our achievements and we are investing in our colleagues through our commitment to supporting professional development as well as investing more than £45 million in our physical environment and new equipment in the next few years. There has never been a better time to join us.
Although it isn't the Trusts normal practice, adverts may close early, so you are encouraged to submit an application as soon as possible.
A video about the Royal Surrey - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R96pMboIYdo
Job description
Job responsibilities
Please refer to the full job description & person specification for further details
When receiving Two Week Rule referrals, will quickly establish a professional rapport with patients to ensure patients are aware of the timeframes to which they should expect to receive investigations and treatment. Will be a key part in making sure the organisation meets all access and performance targets associated with patients on a cancer pathway.
Ensure investigation reports are available for clinicians at Two Week wait appointment and at any subsequent follow up.
On receipt of each external referral, obtain patient letters, demographics, reports from radiology and pathology in a timely manner.
Work closely with the admissions coordinators to establish appropriate dates for diagnostic and treatment procedures.
Liaise with the MDT coordinators/Clinical Nurse Specialists for patient outcomes.
Organise radiology or pathology review via the MDT as required.
Escalate pathology delays that could extend a patients pathway.
Ensure Nurse Specialists and MDT co-ordinators have relevant information to enable discussion at weekly MDT meetings.
Send out any relevant trust leaflets and introduction packs where appropriate.
Patients with a new diagnosis should be booked with the relevant teams for discussion of treatment and should be telephoned with an appointment date to ensure they can attend in collaboration with the Clinical Nurse Specialists. Document any reasons for declining appointments to assist with Cancer Wait Targets. Facilitate detailed tracking of these patients to ensure seamless pathway and adherence to 62 day targets.
Facilitate transition of private patients onto the hospitals systems with the creation of a local identifier number and medical record.
Liaise with Cancer tracking team to accurately document patients clock start and breach dates.
Following each assessment visit, liaise closely with the appropriate team regarding each patients individual requirements, such as prior chemotherapy, chase any referral needed to progress this in order to organise their personal treatment pathway.
Liaise with patients, admissions team and the wards to offer the patient a choice of dates for treatment or diagnostic. Be mindful of capacity and ensure full utilisation of theatre lists. Negotiate with wards with regards to bed entitlement when necessary
Job description
Job responsibilities
Please refer to the full job description & person specification for further details
When receiving Two Week Rule referrals, will quickly establish a professional rapport with patients to ensure patients are aware of the timeframes to which they should expect to receive investigations and treatment. Will be a key part in making sure the organisation meets all access and performance targets associated with patients on a cancer pathway.
Ensure investigation reports are available for clinicians at Two Week wait appointment and at any subsequent follow up.
On receipt of each external referral, obtain patient letters, demographics, reports from radiology and pathology in a timely manner.
Work closely with the admissions coordinators to establish appropriate dates for diagnostic and treatment procedures.
Liaise with the MDT coordinators/Clinical Nurse Specialists for patient outcomes.
Organise radiology or pathology review via the MDT as required.
Escalate pathology delays that could extend a patients pathway.
Ensure Nurse Specialists and MDT co-ordinators have relevant information to enable discussion at weekly MDT meetings.
Send out any relevant trust leaflets and introduction packs where appropriate.
Patients with a new diagnosis should be booked with the relevant teams for discussion of treatment and should be telephoned with an appointment date to ensure they can attend in collaboration with the Clinical Nurse Specialists. Document any reasons for declining appointments to assist with Cancer Wait Targets. Facilitate detailed tracking of these patients to ensure seamless pathway and adherence to 62 day targets.
Facilitate transition of private patients onto the hospitals systems with the creation of a local identifier number and medical record.
Liaise with Cancer tracking team to accurately document patients clock start and breach dates.
Following each assessment visit, liaise closely with the appropriate team regarding each patients individual requirements, such as prior chemotherapy, chase any referral needed to progress this in order to organise their personal treatment pathway.
Liaise with patients, admissions team and the wards to offer the patient a choice of dates for treatment or diagnostic. Be mindful of capacity and ensure full utilisation of theatre lists. Negotiate with wards with regards to bed entitlement when necessary
Person Specification
Qualifications
Essential
- Educated to degree level or demonstrable equivalent level of appropriate work experience
- IT - word, email, excel, power point
- Clean driving license
Desirable
- Nursing/medical background
- Advanced Excel
- Database management
Knowledge and Experience
Essential
- Knowledge of medical terminology, especially relating to cancer
- Knowledge of the NHS with an understanding of NHS process and patient pathways
- Experience of communicating with, influencing and relating to different professional groups and managers at all levels of seniority
- Experience of developing specialist training programmes, training new staff and providing ongoing training and support to existing staff.
- Experience of "process review" to maximise efficiency
- Experience of organising meetings, including minute taking
- Experience of developing processes and systems for the collection and collation of information
- Experience of data quality and confidentiality issues
- Working within a busy environment with multiple departments
- Demonstrate experience of working with office based electronic systems (for example Microsoft office, email)
- Experience of working within the NHS
- Experience of computer databases in health environment , PAS, pathology and radiology
Person Specification
Qualifications
Essential
- Educated to degree level or demonstrable equivalent level of appropriate work experience
- IT - word, email, excel, power point
- Clean driving license
Desirable
- Nursing/medical background
- Advanced Excel
- Database management
Knowledge and Experience
Essential
- Knowledge of medical terminology, especially relating to cancer
- Knowledge of the NHS with an understanding of NHS process and patient pathways
- Experience of communicating with, influencing and relating to different professional groups and managers at all levels of seniority
- Experience of developing specialist training programmes, training new staff and providing ongoing training and support to existing staff.
- Experience of "process review" to maximise efficiency
- Experience of organising meetings, including minute taking
- Experience of developing processes and systems for the collection and collation of information
- Experience of data quality and confidentiality issues
- Working within a busy environment with multiple departments
- Demonstrate experience of working with office based electronic systems (for example Microsoft office, email)
- Experience of working within the NHS
- Experience of computer databases in health environment , PAS, pathology and radiology
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.
