An exciting opportunity has opened for a compassionate, motivated individual to become part of the Cellular Therapy team at Derriford Hospital. This is a chance to be at the forefront of supporting people affected by cancer, walking alongside them at some of the most important moments in their care journey.
You’ll help deliver the Personal Care in Cancer programme, working closely with our Support Specialists/Clinical Nurse Specialist team. You’ll be a trusted guide for patients and their families offering information, emotional support and signposting to services that can make a meaningful difference in their lives.
To thrive here you’ll bring excellent communication and organisational skills enabling you to coordinate patient pathways and maintain connections between the Haematology team, Mustard Tree, GPs, patients, relatives and wider Trust colleagues.
A proven understanding of the challenges faced by people living with a cancer diagnosis will be invaluable, though full training and ongoing support will be provided. Previous demonstrable NHS experience is helpful but not essential - we’re far more interested in your empathy, initiative and commitment to high quality care.
***Preference will be given to internal Trust staff, as well as ‘Priority’ and 'At Risk' status including NHS At Risk staff throughout Devon who are able to display recent relevant experience as dictated by the Person Specification.***
This a patient facing role which involves supporting patients and carers who are undergoing cellular therapy treatments. They will require to work closely with the cellular therapy team to provide high‑quality, person‑centred support. This includes offering guidance to patients and carers through treatment and living with cancer. This could be in clinic, visiting patients on the wards or on the day case unit.
The role will include working with external organisations which provide support, supporting the Benefits Advisor by helping complete grants and applications where needed. There will also be an element of data collection and preparing statistical reports to track patient activity and outcomes throughout the pathway.
We are a people business – where every member of staff matters and can make a difference. Patients are at the heart of everything we do. Joining University Hospitals Plymouth NHS Trust means becoming part of a team of dedicated staff, who are committed to leading the way through innovation, clinical excellence and great customer care. The Trust has great opportunities for career development in a highly progressive working environment. We offer all of this in a vibrant, modern city with a historic reputation for adventure. PLEASE NOTE THAT ALL COMMUNICATION WILL BE ELECTRONIC, PLEASE CHECK YOUR EMAIL ACCOUNT REGULARLY. If you have any issues with applying online and need additional support including reasonable adjustments with the application process please contact the recruitment manager for this post who will put you in touch with the recruitment team. We recognise that work life balance is important for our colleagues and so we invite requests from applicants around less than full time/flexible working for our advertised roles. Please contact the recruiting manager to discuss this prior to your application submission. We commit to giving this full consideration in each case. We encourage people from diverse backgrounds to apply for our roles, as diversity strengthens our teams. It is sometimes necessary to close vacancies before the closing date. If you have not heard from us within 4 weeks of the closing date, please assume that you have not been shortlisted.
Coordinate care for patients living with and beyond cancer
- Work with a range of clinical and non-clinical staff in the site-specific pathways.
- Provide and receive complex information about patient care and interpret the patient plan for other clinical and non-clinical staff.
- A key aspect of this role involves daily and direct (eg face to face and telephone) communication with patients, relatives and carers and other health professionals. The information and nature of communication required is sensitive due to the nature of cancer and therefore communication in this context requires a high degree of empathy, understanding, diplomacy, honesty and integrity.
- To have a good knowledge and understanding of the Personalised Care in Cellular therapy pathways and understanding of cancer care and treatments available.
- To provide non-clinical advice and information using good communication skills to navigate patients through what may be a time of great anxiety and where patients may be highly distressed.
- Assist with organising and requesting extra tests /service as required
- Following up and tracking results and acting on results in a timely, appropriate manner.
- Support the delivery of patient education through Health and Wellbeing Events, focus and support groups.
- Provide basic advice and refer on or signpost to other sources of support.
For further information please see attached job description
