Secondary Breast - Cancer Support Worker, Band 4 (18.45 hours a week)
The postholder will be an integral part of the cancer team, working 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 Assessments which aim to identify and address patient’s concerns.
The postholder will work closely with the Cancer CNS team both under supervision and independently as patient interaction/intervention or practice dictates.
They will work as part of the wider Cancer Support Worker Team and have support from the Lead Cancer Support Worker.
The post holder will demonstrate excellent organisational skills, must be flexible in approach, able to exercise initiative and demonstrate a consistently high standard of professionalism, being aware of the need for confidentiality and integrity.
The post holder will have excellent communication skills and be willing to undertake ongoing training and development. In addition, they will be able to signpost patients and carers to the relevant sources of support and information appropriate to their needs.
Additional working pattern details: Core office hours
Proposed interview date: 4th March
This role will provide general information and support about cancer and cancer services to patients living with secondary breast cancer. It will involve direct contact with patients, relatives, carers, as well as other health and social care professionals and voluntary care sector partners.
The role will be challenging due to the nature of working within cancer but will be hugely rewarding. The role aims to support patients with any additional health and social care needs that will allow them to feel supported while on a cancer pathway.
The role will also involve some basic administrative tasks and will link in with other Cancer Support Workers in the Trust to collaborate on cancer awareness campaigns and community engagement initiatives.
Our values are at the heart of everything we do. You can expect to see them in the way we act and the way we treat each other. Our values make us who we are.
We are a small friendly team who pride ourselves on excellent patient care. We work as part of the cancer team to provide care and support to secondary breast cancer patients.
The duties and responsibilities listed below should be undertaken in accordance with levels of competence. In addition, all staff are expected to act in accordance with the values and behaviours of the Trust.
Under the guidance and supervision of a registered practitioner:
1. 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.
2. 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 the 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.
3. 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.
4. To meet the challenge of supporting patients living with the consequences of a cancer diagnosis. Encompassing patients for palliative treatments and supportive care.
5. Establish a process of Holistic Needs Assessment. Undertaking patient assessments and formulating individual Care Plans to best suit patient needs and preferences.
6. To be responsible for accessing written resources to provide information for patients and carers.
7. To integrate the support worker role into the existing service with the aim of maintaining personalised care, ensuring an excellent level of patient experience.
8. To support the CNS team by contributing to the redesign of care pathways for patients with cancer in order to improve quality and patient safety.
9. To undertake by negotiation, administrative tasks currently undertaken by the CNS team i.e. monitoring of database, monitoring telephone helpline.
10. Provide basic telephone advice and refer on or signpost to other sources of support.
11. Communicate and signpost to appropriate needs related information.
12. To be actively involved in service development plans such as Prehab etc.
13. Guide people through the use of self-assessment resources.
14. To strengthen the links with primary and secondary services and refer to multi-disciplinary team members as appropriate.
15. 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.
16. To undertake specific supervised and unsupervised work, organising and prioritising own caseload (within clearly defined boundaries).
17. To comply with Trust and Departmental policies and procedures e.g., Health and Safety at Work Act (1974), Manual Handling, 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 to undergo regular mandatory training concerned with safeguarding matters.
18. Advise patients on individual self-care management principles and review/further promote this information.
19. Encourage and support active and healthy lifestyle choices.
20. Planning/inviting/organising of health and well-being events or other supported self-management.
Contact Details:
We would encourage applicants to contact the team for an informal introduction or an informal visit.
Justine Crewe or Alice Smith - Secondary Breast Cancer Clinical Nurse Specialists. ghn-tr.secondarybreastcancerref@nhs.net or Telephone 0300 422 4038
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