Job summary
An exciting opportunity has arisen for a Cancer Support Workers (CSW) to join our Head and Neck team and be part of improving the service we deliver to our patients on a suspected cancer pathway.
CSW's operate as part of the cancer care team to improve care for people who have a suspected or confirmed cancer diagnosis.
The CSW will work under the direct supervision of the Head and Neck nursing team at MCHFT.
Main duties of the job
The post holder will work both directly and indirectly with patients and their carers to assist in coordinating the care of patients through their hospital care journey, providing the patient with the relevant information, and facilitating any test preparations that need to be sent or collected by the patient.
The postholder will work directly under the Clinical Nurse Specialists and will require the collaboration of appropriate services to maximise the delivery of streamlined diagnostic pathways, thereby improving quality of care and experience for patients and their carers.
The purpose of this role is to support patients referred to the Head and Neck service with suspected cancer. This role will complement the Rapid Diagnostic Service and will require the post holder to support the pathway as it continues to be refined over time.
The post holder will be responsible for ensuring that all relevant information is present before the clinical triage takes place. You will liaise with GP practices and any other services as required to ensure that all relevant information is collated.
About us
Mid Cheshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust (MCHFT) provides good quality, safe and effective healthcare to the people of Cheshire and beyond. The Trust, which manages Leighton Hospital in Crewe, Victoria Infirmary in Northwich, and Elmhurst Intermediate Care Centre in Winsford, was established as an NHS Trust in April 1991 and became a Foundation Trust in April 2008.
We employ almost 5,000 members of staff, provide around 540 hospital beds, with a range of services including accident and emergency, maternity, outpatients, therapies, and children's health.
The Trust is also part of Central Cheshire Integrated Care Partnership (CCICP), a unique local health partnership that provides a range of community services for people across South Cheshire and Vale Royal.
During the Coronavirus pandemic, the Trust was recognised nationally for its 'Be Safe Be EquiPPEd' campaign, which aimed to make the Trust as safe as possible for staff and patients, through supporting the correct use of PPE.
The results in the 2020 national NHS Staff Survey showed improvements in all elements of the safety culture theme, with 92% of respondents feeling their role made a difference to our patients. We were also recognised nationally for our workforce health and wellbeing initiatives.
At Mid Cheshire, we value our staff and appreciate that in order to give our patients the best quality, compassionate care, we also need to look after our colleagues.
Job description
Job responsibilities
Full job description and responsibilities can be found within the attached job description.
Please note this is not an exhaustive list of roles and responsibilities
Job description
Job responsibilities
Full job description and responsibilities can be found within the attached job description.
Please note this is not an exhaustive list of roles and responsibilities
Person Specification
Qualifications/ Knowledge
Essential
- Good General Education with GCSE English and Mathematics
- ECDL or equivalent experience
- Level 3 Health or social care qualification (e.g. NVQ or similar)
- Relevant Health or Social Care experience including face to face patient contacts
- Advanced knowledge of medical terminology.
- Experience of coaching/teaching patients and carers.
Desirable
- Level 4 Health or social care qualification (e.g. foundation degree)
- Basic counselling
- Experience coordinating a patient workload
- Knowledge of relevant cancer treatments, interventions and terminology.
Skills
Essential
- Able to use own initiative and work without supervision.
- Able to prioritize work
- Effective organization skills.
- Ability to communicate both verbally and non-verbally on a daily basis with people at all levels.
- Good observation skills.
- Ability to retrieve information from a wide range of sources and in different formats.
Desirable
- Ability to solve problems & make decisions under pressure.
Values
Essential
- A recognition of the importance of showing respect, dignity and compassion to patients and colleagues.
- A commitment to work together to create the best outcomes.
- Must demonstrate the Trust's values around both raising concerns at work, and how to treat others who raise concerns.Must demonstrate the Trust's values around both raising concerns at work, and how to treat others who raise concerns.Must demonstrate the Trust's values around both raising concerns at work, and how to treat others who raise concerns.
Person Specification
Qualifications/ Knowledge
Essential
- Good General Education with GCSE English and Mathematics
- ECDL or equivalent experience
- Level 3 Health or social care qualification (e.g. NVQ or similar)
- Relevant Health or Social Care experience including face to face patient contacts
- Advanced knowledge of medical terminology.
- Experience of coaching/teaching patients and carers.
Desirable
- Level 4 Health or social care qualification (e.g. foundation degree)
- Basic counselling
- Experience coordinating a patient workload
- Knowledge of relevant cancer treatments, interventions and terminology.
Skills
Essential
- Able to use own initiative and work without supervision.
- Able to prioritize work
- Effective organization skills.
- Ability to communicate both verbally and non-verbally on a daily basis with people at all levels.
- Good observation skills.
- Ability to retrieve information from a wide range of sources and in different formats.
Desirable
- Ability to solve problems & make decisions under pressure.
Values
Essential
- A recognition of the importance of showing respect, dignity and compassion to patients and colleagues.
- A commitment to work together to create the best outcomes.
- Must demonstrate the Trust's values around both raising concerns at work, and how to treat others who raise concerns.Must demonstrate the Trust's values around both raising concerns at work, and how to treat others who raise concerns.Must demonstrate the Trust's values around both raising concerns at work, and how to treat others who raise concerns.
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.
Applications from job seekers who require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website (Opens in a new tab).
From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants, applying for entry clearance into the UK, have had to present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Adult dependants (over 18 years old) are also subject to this requirement. Guidance can be found here Criminal records checks for overseas applicants (Opens in a new tab).
Additional information
Applications from job seekers who require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website (Opens in a new tab).
From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants, applying for entry clearance into the UK, have had to present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Adult dependants (over 18 years old) are also subject to this requirement. Guidance can be found here Criminal records checks for overseas applicants (Opens in a new tab).
