The postholder will be an integral part of the 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 Assessment’s which aim to identify and address patient’s concerns.
- Patient navigation and practical/emotional support throughout diagnosis, treatment and follow‑up.
- Proactive Holistic Needs Assessments (HNA) with personalised care plans; early identification of unmet needs and safeguarding risks.
- Information provision and signposting to hospital, community and Voluntary Community Social Enterprise (VCSE) support (including finance/welfare, psychological support, rehab/prehab, transport).
- Administrative support that releases CNS/consultant time (monitoring helpline, maintaining trackers/databases, organising health & wellbeing events and awareness events).
- Contribution to pathway improvement (2WW flow and clinic support).
We take pride in placing people at the centre of everything we do, working together as a united team. Driven by a shared ambition to continually grow, develop, and learn, we recognise and value every contribution. By combining our experience and skills, we not only support our vibrant, diverse communities, but also support one another.
With a team of over 9,000 employees, we are proud to be the largest employer in Gloucestershire and rank among the top 10 largest Trusts in the South West region. By joining our Trust, you will benefit from an excellent package that includes exclusive benefits, flexible working opportunities and the chance to gain valuable experience in one or both of our innovative hospitals.
As well as generous annual leave allowance, you will have access to the excellent NHS pension scheme, competitive bank rates, discounts at local shops and restaurants, access to two on-site nurseries, discounted public transport, reward and recognition and a range of health and wellbeing initiatives to support you.
1. Key Responsibilities
- Under the guidance and supervision of a registered practitioner:
- 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.
- A key aspect of the role involves daily and direct (e.g., face-to-face, virtual and telephone) communication with patients, relatives, carers and other health and social care professionals. The information and nature of communication required is sensitive due to the nature of cancer. Communication in this context requires a high degree of empathy, understanding, diplomacy, honesty and integrity.
- To utilise verbal and non-verbal communication skills to effectively communicate with patients, their families and carers. This will include patients/carers who may or may not have barriers to communication through cognitive or physical impairment e.g. hearing or visual impairment, confusion and depression.
- To meet the challenge of supporting patients living with the consequences of a cancer diagnosis. Encompassing patients receiving curative and palliative treatments and supportive care.
- Establish a process of Holistic Needs Assessment. Undertaking patient assessments and formulating individual Care Plans to best suit patient needs and preferences.
- To be responsible for accessing written resources to provide information for patients and carers.
- To integrate the support worker role into the existing service with the aim of maintaining personalised care, ensuring an excellent level of patient experience.
- To support the CNS team by contributing to the redesign of care pathways for patients with cancer to improve quality and patient safety.
- To undertake by negotiation, administrative tasks currently undertaken by the CNS team ie monitoring of databases, monitoring telephone helpline.
- Provide basic telephone advice and refer to / or signpost to other sources of support.
- Communicate and signpost to appropriate needs related information.
- To be actively involved in service development plans such as Prehab etc.
- Guide people using self-assessment resources.
- To strengthen the links with primary and secondary services and refer to multi-disciplinary team members as appropriate
- Be proactive and motivated; to be able to identify areas of potential future role development and demonstrate how this will contribute to an enhanced provision of patient care within the team.
- To undertake specific supervised and unsupervised work, organising and prioritising own caseload (within clearly defined boundaries).
- To directly support patients with non-complex needs, providing practical support and advice.
- To comply with Trust and Departmental policies and procedures e.g., Health and Safety at Work Act (1974), Manual Handline, clinical equipment competency, risk management, Data Protection Acts and patient confidentiality at all times. This will include demonstrating compliance with the terms of all safeguarding policies and processes relevant to the safeguarding of adults and children in the care of GHNHSFT and undergoing regular mandatory training concerned with safeguarding matters.
- Support people to access appropriate information and support, by signposting to a range of support services and taking an approach which helps people self-manage where appropriate
- Advise patients on individual self-care management principles and review/further promote this information
- Encourage and support active and healthy lifestyle choices
- Planning/inviting/organising of health and well-being events or other supported self-management
- Carry out some administration duties required by the role
- Order supplies and equipment
2. Professional Development, Education and Training
- Demonstrate self-directed learning, actively seeking role development opportunities to enhance knowledge and role progression
- Identify personal education needs and skills development with the registered practitioner
3. Communications and Working Relationships
- 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 to empower patients and carers.
- To motivate patients to enroll 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
- 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 signposting 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 enroll in prehab recommendations to optimise outcomes where appropriate
- Deliver patient-centered, self-management support and education as necessary to non-complex patients, including how to self-assess
