Teenage Cancer Trust Youth Support Co-ordinator
37.5 hrs per week fixed term until March 2026 - Nottingham City Hospital, Hogarth TYA unit
We are looking for exceptional individuals who must enjoy working with Teenagers and Young Adults (TYA), be emotionally resilient and have compassion, sensitivity and a sense of humour. Working as part of the TYA Multidisciplinary team and linking into existing wide-ranging patient services, the successful candidates will be based on Teenage Cancer Trust Unit at Hogarth ward, Nottingham City Hospital Campus and when needed support at our QMC unit on ward E39.
Hogarth Teenage Cancer Trust Unit is a 4 bedded unit, that provides inpatient and day case treatments to young people aged 18-24. Ward E39 at QMC is a 4 bedded unit that support young people aged 13-18 with both inpatient and day case treatments.
The post holder will be responsible for providing both individually tailored and group support both on and off the unit for young people. Working in partnership with other YSC colleagues they will both lead and contribute to a wide range of appropriate recreational activities, to enable and encourage patients to socialise and remain active.
For more information or to arrange an informal visit please contact
Jamie Lawson (TYA Lead Nurse)
Jamie.lawson4@nhs.net
07812268501
• Taking appropriate referrals from clinical staff and identifying appropriate individual, group and peer-support activities to meet the needs of young people.
• Co-ordinating, and providing diversionary 1:1 and group activities in the hospital setting ensuring they are well-planned, appropriate and safe for all participants.
• Taking the lead on design and organisation of agreed patient group activities outside the hospital setting, with input from paediatric and TYA team colleagues as appropriate to ensure they are well-planned, appropriate and safe for all participants
• Working alongside the other members of the TYA Specialist support team and wider MDT in supporting TYA patients through their transition into and out of the service.
• Developing age-appropriate methods for involving teenagers and young adults in the evaluation and development of services, taking a key role in supporting their involvement, as well as advocating for and supporting the young person through this process.
• Contributing to the development and use of communication technologies to meet the needs of teenagers and young adults with cancer.
• Be responsible for the effective collection, management and reporting of accurate and timely data to understand the support needs of young people and how your role fits into meeting these.
• This role may include working across hospitals sites within the NHS Trust, and may require travel around the region at times.
With over 17,000 staff, we are one of the biggest employers in the city with a central role in supporting the health and wellbeing of our local population. We play a leading role in research, education and innovation.
Come and join our wonderful team at NUH. We are big believers in diversity and welcome new ideas to help develop our team in order to deliver world class healthcare to the vast patient populations we serve. With endless personal development opportunities available, at NUH we will endeavour to turn your job into a career!
We particularly welcome applications from people who identify as Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic, or Disabled, as we are striving to be better represented at NUH.
Job Description
Teenage Cancer Trust Youth Support Co-ordinator
DIVISION:Cancer and Associated Specialties
GRADE:5
REPORTS TO:Teenage Cancer Trust- TYA Lead Cancer Nurse
ACCOUNTABLE TO:Teenage Cancer Trust- TYA Lead Cancer Nurse
KEY JOB RESPONSIBILITIES
SUPPORTING YOUNG PEOPLE IN HOSPITAL
Establish effective professional relationships with teenagers and young adults, using appropriate approaches and communication skills to identify individual’s interests, strengths, areas of concern/need and help them to participate in positive activity while in hospital.
Develop a programme of 1:1 and small-group diversionary and supportive activities and enable young people to participate as appropriate to their physical health and personal preferences.
Use youth work techniques and approach to engage and empower young people in their cancer treatment plan, follow up schedule and self-care. Assist colleagues in effective communication with individual young people to achieve this aim.
Provide emotional support to young people prior to, and during medical procedures. Accompanying them to provide non-clinical support as required.
Collaborate with colleagues to identify health and wellbeing issues for the patient group and for individuals, and to provide young people with access to age-appropriate awareness and health promotion materials.
Assist in providing ward environments in which young people feel safe, welcomed, respected and encouraged, and that facilitate supportive social interaction between patients.
Ensure recreational, craft and other non-medical equipment used by TYAs is maintained for safety and cleaned in line with relevant policies e.g. infection prevention, food hygiene.
Co-ordinate agreed therapeutic hospital-based activities provided by internal or external agencies e.g. art therapy, music workshops, and liaise with the complementary therapy service.
Encourage teenagers andyoung adults in hospital to maintain their personal routines, independence, education/work and personal interests. Help them keep up their links with family, friends, school or work.
Active participation in the TYA MDT, contributing to coordinated assessment and support.
Contribute to transition programmes for teenagers in the children’s service, working under guidance of clinical staff to help young people develop their understanding of their illness, treatment and self-care needs and supporting successful transfer from child to adult services.
Where appropriate and as requested by clinical colleagues, contribute to the support available for young people attending follow up clinics to identify their concerns and signposting them to sources of appropriate information, advice and support.
PARTICIPATORY ACTIVITIES
Provide opportunities for social interaction, creative expression and informal support with other teenagers andyoung people with cancer such as social outings, ward-based activities, support groups and accompanying young people as required e.g. Teenage Cancer Trust events such as UBE at Royal Albert Hall.
Identify, organise and promote opportunities for teenagers and young adults with cancer to engage in activities that encourage positive contribution and personal development, for example, activity weekends.
Following TYA involvement in activities, provide feedback and share outcomes to relevant and appropriate management teams.
Co-ordinate and contribute to the development of communications technology to facilitate the opportunity for therapeutic support encouraging social interaction and explore options for using internet for patient involvement and feedback.
RECORD KEEPING AND ADMINISTRATION
Maintain professional records in line with Trust policies following contact with patients and completed activities. Ensure personal information or observations about individual young people are appropriately shared with colleagues to support multidisciplinary care.
Record and report all concerns relating to needs assessment or safeguarding children or vulnerable young adults to each Ward Area Manager/Lead Nurses, as directed by Trust policies.
Record any untoward incidents using Trust reporting systems.
Undertake and record structured risk assessments for all organised activities in and out of the hospital liaising with the appropriate Ward/Lead Nurses and other colleagues as appropriate to manage risk.
Ensure all necessary consents and medical information requirements are obtained for activities and maintain these records safely in collaboration with TYA management, in line with GDPR.
Keep records of the referrals, contacts, activity/interventions and outcomes for patients accessing the service and be able to analyse the data to help inform practice
Contribute to Trust data returns for Teenage Cancer Trust, and provide source data related to YSC activities as requested.
Plan for and utilise Teenage Cancer Trust purchasing card and activity funds effectively to ensure maximum benefit from expenditure, in line with Teenage Cancer Trust policies.
Provide agreed information on request to patients/families who wish to make financial or other donations to support TYA cancer services.
Ensure records of recreational and technological equipment maintenance are kept according to Trust requirements.
NETWORKING
Develop strong and collaborative professional links with the hospital teams, working particularly closely with representatives and colleagues from other organisations, including on joint activities and projects where appropriate.
Act as a contact for Teenage Cancer Trust and other organisations regarding patient participation, and liaise with TYA team to ensure each patient has made an informed choice to participate, with signed consents as required. Support individuals throughout these activities.
Act as point of contact for Teenage Cancer Trust and other organisations regarding trips, treats, holidays and other opportunities. Liaise with TYA team regarding any such activities as appropriate.
Be an active member of any TYA patient focus groups, and any other local TYA service development groups as appropriate, taking a lead on projects related to the YSC role as agreed with TYA lead Nurse.
Attend Teenage Cancer Trust Youth Support Co-ordinator peer support calls
PERSONAL AND PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT
Maintain own learning through personal study/reading and attending agreed study days or conferences. Undertake mandatory and other specific training required to fulfil the role and responsibilities
Be responsible and proactive in maintaining personal physical safety and emotional wellbeing, utilising supervision and support systems on offer via the Hospital Trust, Teenage Cancer Trust and others.
Teenage Cancer Trust Commitments
Communicate closely with the Teenage Cancer Trust on service commissioning, development, and delivery at a regional and national level
Contribute to the implementation of the Teenage Cancer Trust’s Strategy.
Contribute to the delivery of Teenage Cancer Trust metrics and reporting as required
Attend Teenage Cancer Trust events and meetings for mentorship and development as agreed with the Charity and Trust
GENERAL DUTIES
Infection Control
To maintain a clean, safe environment, ensuring adherence to the Trust’s standards of cleanliness, hygiene and infection control.
Safeguarding children, young people and vulnerable adults
Nottingham University Hospitals is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults. All staff and volunteers are therefore expected to behave in such a way that supports this commitment.
Information Governance
All staff have an individual responsibility for creating accurate records of their work and for making entries into and managing all NHS records effectively in line with the Health Record Keeping Policy and other Health Records and Corporate Records Management policies and procedures in order to meet the Trust’s legal, regulatory and accountability requirements.
Health and Safety
To take reasonable care to prevent injury to themselves or others who may be affected by their acts or omissions.
To co-operate fully in discharging the Trust policies and procedures with regard to health and safety matters.
To immediately report to their manager any shortcomings in health and safety procedures and practice.
To report any accidents or dangerous incidents to their immediate manager and safety representative as early as possible and submit a completed accident/incident form.
To use protective clothing and equipment where provided
Governance
To actively participate in governance activities to ensure that the highest standards of care and business conduct are achieved.
Health and Wellbeing
Employees are expected to take all reasonable steps to look after both their physical health and mental health. To support employees to achieve this NUH offers a wide range of health and wellbeing activities and interventions. The full programme can be viewed at on the staff intranet.
This advert closes on Monday 10 Mar 2025