Job summary
An exciting opportunity has arisen to join our well-established Haematology Service in a newly developed combined cancer support worker and pathway navigator position. This role will be split into 3 days a week Cancer Support Worker, based with CNS team, and 2 days a week Cancer Navigator focus, based in the Haeamtology administration office.
Under the guidance and supervision of the CNS team and the management team, this combined role will facilitate and support:
1. Care Delivery
2. Communication and co-ordination
3. Information and education
4. Administration duties for the Haematology service
They will be part of the wider Haematology team, working closely with Haematology clinical nurse specialists, Haematology clinicians, diagnostic teams, Cancer Services, Haematology administration team and allied health care professionals.
The main purpose of the Cancer Support Worker/Navigator role is to work is to be an integral supporting part of the Haematology Specialist Nursing team, administration team and link with Cancer Services.
Main duties of the job
Working alongside the Cancer Clinical Nurse Specialists
Coordinating care by providing a single point of access
Triaging patients, using a risk assessment framework and initiate appropriate response according to protocols
Undertaking individual holistic needs assessments and care planning
Providing basic telephone and face to face advice and refer on or sign-post to other sources of support
Coordinating any necessary assessments
5. Ensuring the management of patients is efficient and effective, taking into account the individual needs of the patients and the requirements of the service.
6. Contribute to the achievement of the National Cancer Waiting Times targets, National Audits and Cancer Registry.
7. Support tracking 2WW and urgent patients on weekly Patient Tracking Lists by ensuring all steps in care are tracked and completed in a timely manner
8. Support the Haematology administration team in booking cancer patients to support urgent pathways, and typing letters for cancer patients to ensure timely communications to patients/GPs
9. Excellent organisational communication skills together with high levels of accuracy are therefore a key requirement for this post.
About us
This is also a great opportunity for you to live and work in or around the historic port city of Bristol: gateway to the South West England. Bristol has its own thriving art, music and cultural scene hosting several exciting annual festivals such as the Bristol International Balloon Fiesta and the Bristol Harbour Festival.
Bristol is also ideally located for the outdoors, being within easy range of the Wye Valley, Forest of Dean, Mendip and Cotswold Hills. Getting around the city is easy with Bristol being named asBritain's first cycling cityin 2014. Consistently ranked as having thehighest quality of life in England and Wales, it's easy to see why Bristol has the highest retention rate of students post-graduation than any other UK city.
Job description
Job responsibilities
Under the guidance and supervision of the Cancer Clinical Nurse Specialists and Haematology Support/Specialty Managers, a ssist in the coordination of patient care throughout the pathway:
To provide general information and support about cancer and 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 ( face to face 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.
Triage patients, using a risk assessment framework and initiate appropriate response according to protocols and individual pathways, using good communication skills, basic clinical awareness and appropriate tools and procedures, liaising as appropriate when non routine and refer complex decisions to the team for assessment and review
Provide basic telephone and face to face advice and refer on or sign-post to other sources of support
Provide support to patients in the clinic setting when required
Coordinate the necessary assessments, appointments or investigations to fast track people back into the system if required
Demonstrate the ability to recognise and respond appropriately when faced with a sudden deterioration or an emergency situation, alerting the team or enabling rapid response as appropriate
Support information provision and signpost as appropriate
Guide people through the use of self-assessment resources
Document and monitor all aspects of care coordination and service delivery, supporting data collection for audit
To proactively identify patient and carer needs using approved tools and procedures to ensure that people get the right support to meet their needs. The role requires use of good judgment in responding to the needs of individuals. The level of judgment required relates to identifying the complexity of the situation, providing appropriate advice and escalating to the registered practitioner where appropriate
Coordinate the care for a defined group of patients assessed by the clinical nurse specialist regarded as having needs best met by supported self-management
Organise and prioritise the designated workload in relation to identified needs
Contribute to and undertake where appropriate holistic needs assessments and the development of an individual care plans
Implement, monitor and review the care plan with the patient and carer, in line with standard operating procedures and protocols and modify as appropriate
Coordinate and organise appointments and assessments as required
Identify indicators of need or changes in need through telephone contact and respond appropriately
Coordinate the handover with other teams to facilitate safe and effective transition of care between services in order to provide seamless support for people
Act as advocate and facilitator to resolve issues that may be perceived as barriers to care
To coordinate 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 in order to empower the patient and carers.
Support people to access appropriate information and support, by sign-posting to a range of support services and take an approach which helps people to self-manage where appropriate
Advise patients on individual self-care management principles and provide consistent planned aftercare to reinforce and further promote this information
Participate in the organisation, delivery and administration of the Living Well days and courses and other patient education days
Collection of data and evaluations of all Living Well events and courses to ensure accurate record of attendees and evaluation by patients of programme
Encourage and support active and healthy lifestyle choices
Help patients and carers in the understanding of signs, symptoms or situations that would cause concern
Explain to patients and carers how they can make contact when they feel that their condition or needs have changed, including what to do out of hours
To administratively coordinate patient pathways to ensure patients have timely review, and the service is compliant with national cancer targets.
10. Develop an in depth knowledge and understanding of the pathway for Haematology patients; including an understanding of medical terminology relating to Haematology and Cancer.
11. Where necessary to liaise with Clinicians and MDT coordinators/administrators both internally and outside of the Trust
Work closely with the clinical nurse specialists to track patients throughout their cancer pathway and flag up any delays in the cancer patients journey. Ensure all outcomes of the MDT meetings, tests, investigations, and referrals are recorded and acted upon.
To be proficient in the use of multiple hospital IT systems, including CRIS, CareFlow, ICE and Somerset Cancer Register.
12. Support the Haematology administration team with typing and booking to ensure cancer patients are not delayed due to administration delays.
13. Carry out some clerical duties to support the Clinical Nurse Specialists.
Person Specification
Essential and Desirable
Essential
14. GCSE English Language and Mathematics (Grades A-C) or equivalent
15. Experience in an administrative role and data management
16. Experience of supporting/teaching patients and carers
17. Evidence of good communications skills and the ability to communicate sensitively with patients
18. Knowledge of NHS IT systems
Desirable
19. NVQ level 4 or NVQ level 3 plus additional training to diploma level in health and social care
20. Relevant health or social care experience at AFC Band 3