Cancer Support Worker - Macmillan Cancer Information and Support
The Princess Alexandra Hospital NHS Trust
A great opportunity is available in the Cancer Services team for a Macmillan Cancer Information & Support Cancer Support Worker, which is a newly created role within the establishment as a two year fixed term, full-time post. It is a patient-facing role with no clinical responsibilities. In this role, you will become an integral part of the new, evolving service model, which seeks to ensure that cancer patients are provided with access to high quality information relevant to their needs to support living with and beyond their cancer diagnosis.
Main duties of the job
The post holder will work primarily with the Macmillan Cancer Information Manager. The individual should be able to work as part of a team and yet be able to work autonomously to ensure that a high quality service is delivered across all sites including Herts and Essex and St Margaret's Hospitals. Based at the Macmillan Cancer Information & Support Centre in the Williams Day Unit, we are seeking an enthusiastic individual with excellent communications skills able to provide cancer information and support in a variety of circumstances. The role will work in collaboration with site-specific cancer teams and will signpost patients to external agencies in order to meet patient's information needs. The post holder will be expected to support the delivery of patient's holistic needs assessments and care plans, provision of verbal and written information, supportive listening and refer on to appropriate services where the needs of the patient are more complex.
Job responsibilities
Please see the attached job description and person specification, available to download at any time.
Person Specification
Education
* Educated to A level or NVQ level 3, level 3 BTEC with knowledge of Health & Social Care
* Good standard of general education to GCSE level or equivalent
* Evidence of continual personal development
* Coaching or teaching qualification
Experience
* Recent experience of working in the NHS or a Healthcare setting
* Prioritising, planning and organising own tasks to meet competing deadlines
* Experience of working as part of a team and individually
* Experience of working with cancer patients, their families and carers
* Insight into cancer and related issues
* Proven experience in data entry and associated documentation
* Experience of working within guidelines, policies and protocols
* Experience of IT packages - Microsoft Office, Excel and IT equipment e.g. iPads and tablets
* Experience of providing and receiving complex and sensitive information and data management
* Knowledge / experience of Audit
* Experience of project administration, NHS or public sector experience
Skills and Knowledge
* Understanding of patient-centred care
* Excellent interpersonal and communication skills including telephone, email, face to face with both colleagues and patients
* Understanding of the health and social care environment
* Understanding of Macmillan Cancer Support and its role across the UK
* Awareness of Improving Outcomes: A strategy for Cancer and other national cancer policies including the living with and beyond cancer agenda
* IT Skills
* Ability to communicate both verbally and non-verbally on a daily basis with people at all levels
* Knowledge of health and well being issues and services
* An understanding of the importance of providing clear accessible information and support for cancer patients
* Knowledge of when to seek advice and escalate to the appropriate professional for expert advice and support
* A basic knowledge of cancer types, treatments and terminology
* Experience in delivering health education sessions to groups
Personal Qualities
* Ability to motivate self and others
* Flexible attitude to working
* Accurate written communication of information
* Ability to prioritise own workload
* Ability to show empathy and understand the difficulties faced by people affected by cancer
* Ability to ask sensitively about information needs
* Ability to retrieve information from a wide range of sources and in different formats
* Recognition of own limitations
* Able to travel between sites
* Ability to deal with complex and difficult emotional situations
* Must be able to demonstrate an understanding of equality and diversity
Disclosure and Barring Service Check
This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.
Employer name
The Princess Alexandra Hospital NHS Trust
£26,530 to £29,114 a year per annum plus 5% higher cost area supplement
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