Job summary The Macmillan Cancer Information & Support Service (MCISS) aims to provide a comprehensive Cancer Information and Support Service to Bolton residents, so that anyone who is affected by cancer has access to the information they need and are supported appropriately. An exciting opportunity has arisen for an experienced and organised Information Assistant to join the team at Bolton Macmillan Cancer Information & Support Service. Main duties of the job Working with the MCISS team and our volunteers across the three centres in Bolton, youll help to support the smooth delivery of this important service for people affected by cancer. You will meet with users of the service, assessing their needs, identifying the support required and providing the individuals with access to information and intervention. The role will communicate sensitively and compassionately with patients and their families and carers and provide them with practical and emotional support. We are looking for a highly organised individual with excellent IT and social media skills. The candidate should work well as part of a team, but also able to use their own initiative and work autonomously as required. You will need to have proven communication and interpersonal skills and ideally have experience of dealing with distressed or anxious patients. The successful candidate will have experience of working within a healthcare setting experience of working in oncology/cancer care would be an advantage. About us We offer our employees an attractive benefits package, including generous annual leave (starting at 35 days a year including bank holidays), a contributory stakeholder pension scheme, life assurance, membership of a healthcare cash plan, free parking and excellent training opportunities. We also offer continuity of service from the NHS with respect to pension and holiday allowance. Date posted 11 April 2025 Pay scheme Other Salary £23,520 a year Unsocial hours enhancements paid in addition Contract Permanent Working pattern Part-time Reference number B0057-25-0006 Job locations Queens Park Street Bolton BL1 4QT Job description Job responsibilities Job Purpose: To assist the Macmillan Cancer Information and Support Service team in developing and delivering the service in Bolton. To meet with users of the service e.g. patients/clients, carers, relatives and professionals to support access to high quality information and support in relation to cancer. This will include the assessment of service users information and support needs, provision of verbal and written information, supportive listening, action planning and signposting to available services and support. To assist with all new referrals to the Macmillan Benefits Advice Service. To gather and collate data required for reporting, monitoring and quality assurance of the services. Key Working Relationships: Macmillan Cancer Information and Support Service team Chief Executive Bolton Hospice Lead Cancer Nurse & Cancer Nurse Specialists Bolton Foundation Trust Bolton PAC Group UCAN Centre Managers Bolton Libraries Managers Volunteers Role Responsibilities: Service Assist with all administrative duties necessary to ensure smooth running of the service, including appointments, diary maintenance, filing, photocopying and letter writing. Along with the other MCISS Assistants, deal with all new referrals to the Macmillan Benefits Advice Service, contacting referrals and triage referral as per the MCISS guidance, as well as managing the advisers diary and arranging 1 to 1 appointments with clients. Where appropriate, assist service users to complete the necessary benefit application forms following advice from the Macmillan Benefits Adviser. Where necessary, assess the needs of individuals who attend/contact the service and identify the required level of intervention, seeking advice from departmental managers where required. Contacts will be reviewed with the Service Manager on a regular basis to ensure they are being dealt with appropriately. Support service users sensitively to help them understand clinical information they may have been given e.g. around diagnosis, treatment, effects of the illness and treatment, cancer terminology. Help to resolve situations where users feel they have been given conflicting information, including addressing concerns and queries and working to resolve them. Provide basic supporting information around topics such as reducing the risk of cancer, health living, diagnosis, treatment options, side effects and living with cancer, in the most appropriate format e.g. written, verbal and others as appropriate. Where appropriate, liaise with relevant staff at all levels to address identified issues and or seek advice on complex issues, directly involving others where necessary, e.g. Service Manager, Clinical Nurse Specialist etc. and ensuring that situations or enquiries requiring specialist intervention are referred appropriately and in a timely fashion. Contribute to the development and maintenance of effective relationships with stakeholders. Operational Collect and collate data regarding user contacts with the service and produce activity reports as required. Maintain accurate stock records for information provided by the service. Organise an annual user satisfaction survey and collate and present the results for inclusion in the annual service report. Run routine queries, ad hoc queries and quality checks against the database systems, notifying the Service Managers of any potential circumstances which may impact on the service. Plan and organise events and display boards, both within the service and externally, liaising with third parties when required. Assist the Service Managers in the submission of monitoring reports. Support the role of the Service Managers, Deputy Managers, other staff, volunteers and Macmillan Benefits Adviser where necessary. Manage and maintain the social media aspects of the service. This would also include monitoring the usage of social media sites by the public and report the usage to the Service Managers. Keep the service website up to date. Develop leaflets, posters and other materials to recruit volunteers, support cancer awareness and to publicise the service and other events. Complete a monthly newsletter for distribution. Information and Support Communicate sensitively and compassionately in potentially high emotive situations with clients (patients/families/carers) who may be very distressed. Provide both practical and emotional support to clients, giving them opportunity to acknowledge and express their concerns in a safe environment. Promote user participation in the development of the service, facilitate forums and or attend meetings to increase this participation. Facilitate open and effective communication with the wider multi-professional teams, both internally and externally. Document and circulate minutes of meetings, as agreed with the Service Manager. Take part in reviewing the operational policy, ensure its implementation with the team and review at an agreed frequency. Work flexibly in order to deliver the objectives of the service, including attending events and outreach sessions in other areas of Bolton borough. Occasional evening and weekend work may be required. Education and Training Administer and facilitate educational events, both internally and externally, which are relevant for Macmillan Cancer Information and Support Service users and professionals. This may include booking venues, developing and distributing flyers and registering attendees. Deliver pre-defined training to volunteers, centre users and staff from other departments, and using the system to retrieve resources for visitors to the centre. Keep up to date with current relevant issues and developments in cancer and palliative care. Assist in the co-ordination, mentoring and training of newly appointed volunteers and staff, supporting them during their induction. Demonstrate a willingness to identify own learning and development needs and be willing to undertake further study in order to address these needs. Project Support Set up and maintain project files and collect actual data and forecasts. Administer or assist the Monitoring Group Meetings. Assist with the compilation and review of reports and update plans. Maintain service records and registers with the guidance of the Service Managers. Ensure the security and preservation of the master copies of all project products. Maintain a record of all copies issued. Notify holders of any changes to their copies. Number, record, store and distribute reports. Working Conditions Lone worker for majority of patient intervention. Exposed to distressing situations on a regular basis. Frequent periods of intense concentration. Other Work within agreed hospice policies, procedures and guidelines. Work as an integral part of the team, being sensitive to the needs of the whole team and supportive of other team members. Participate in an annual appraisal and undertake training to maintain and develop knowledge and skills as required. Provide cover for the Service Managers and Deputy Managers where required. Any other duties as deemed necessary by the Service Managers. Job description Job responsibilities Job Purpose: To assist the Macmillan Cancer Information and Support Service team in developing and delivering the service in Bolton. To meet with users of the service e.g. patients/clients, carers, relatives and professionals to support access to high quality information and support in relation to cancer. This will include the assessment of service users information and support needs, provision of verbal and written information, supportive listening, action planning and signposting to available services and support. To assist with all new referrals to the Macmillan Benefits Advice Service. To gather and collate data required for reporting, monitoring and quality assurance of the services. Key Working Relationships: Macmillan Cancer Information and Support Service team Chief Executive Bolton Hospice Lead Cancer Nurse & Cancer Nurse Specialists Bolton Foundation Trust Bolton PAC Group UCAN Centre Managers Bolton Libraries Managers Volunteers Role Responsibilities: Service Assist with all administrative duties necessary to ensure smooth running of the service, including appointments, diary maintenance, filing, photocopying and letter writing. Along with the other MCISS Assistants, deal with all new referrals to the Macmillan Benefits Advice Service, contacting referrals and triage referral as per the MCISS guidance, as well as managing the advisers diary and arranging 1 to 1 appointments with clients. Where appropriate, assist service users to complete the necessary benefit application forms following advice from the Macmillan Benefits Adviser. Where necessary, assess the needs of individuals who attend/contact the service and identify the required level of intervention, seeking advice from departmental managers where required. Contacts will be reviewed with the Service Manager on a regular basis to ensure they are being dealt with appropriately. Support service users sensitively to help them understand clinical information they may have been given e.g. around diagnosis, treatment, effects of the illness and treatment, cancer terminology. Help to resolve situations where users feel they have been given conflicting information, including addressing concerns and queries and working to resolve them. Provide basic supporting information around topics such as reducing the risk of cancer, health living, diagnosis, treatment options, side effects and living with cancer, in the most appropriate format e.g. written, verbal and others as appropriate. Where appropriate, liaise with relevant staff at all levels to address identified issues and or seek advice on complex issues, directly involving others where necessary, e.g. Service Manager, Clinical Nurse Specialist etc. and ensuring that situations or enquiries requiring specialist intervention are referred appropriately and in a timely fashion. Contribute to the development and maintenance of effective relationships with stakeholders. Operational Collect and collate data regarding user contacts with the service and produce activity reports as required. Maintain accurate stock records for information provided by the service. Organise an annual user satisfaction survey and collate and present the results for inclusion in the annual service report. Run routine queries, ad hoc queries and quality checks against the database systems, notifying the Service Managers of any potential circumstances which may impact on the service. Plan and organise events and display boards, both within the service and externally, liaising with third parties when required. Assist the Service Managers in the submission of monitoring reports. Support the role of the Service Managers, Deputy Managers, other staff, volunteers and Macmillan Benefits Adviser where necessary. Manage and maintain the social media aspects of the service. This would also include monitoring the usage of social media sites by the public and report the usage to the Service Managers. Keep the service website up to date. Develop leaflets, posters and other materials to recruit volunteers, support cancer awareness and to publicise the service and other events. Complete a monthly newsletter for distribution. Information and Support Communicate sensitively and compassionately in potentially high emotive situations with clients (patients/families/carers) who may be very distressed. Provide both practical and emotional support to clients, giving them opportunity to acknowledge and express their concerns in a safe environment. Promote user participation in the development of the service, facilitate forums and or attend meetings to increase this participation. Facilitate open and effective communication with the wider multi-professional teams, both internally and externally. Document and circulate minutes of meetings, as agreed with the Service Manager. Take part in reviewing the operational policy, ensure its implementation with the team and review at an agreed frequency. Work flexibly in order to deliver the objectives of the service, including attending events and outreach sessions in other areas of Bolton borough. Occasional evening and weekend work may be required. Education and Training Administer and facilitate educational events, both internally and externally, which are relevant for Macmillan Cancer Information and Support Service users and professionals. This may include booking venues, developing and distributing flyers and registering attendees. Deliver pre-defined training to volunteers, centre users and staff from other departments, and using the system to retrieve resources for visitors to the centre. Keep up to date with current relevant issues and developments in cancer and palliative care. Assist in the co-ordination, mentoring and training of newly appointed volunteers and staff, supporting them during their induction. Demonstrate a willingness to identify own learning and development needs and be willing to undertake further study in order to address these needs. Project Support Set up and maintain project files and collect actual data and forecasts. Administer or assist the Monitoring Group Meetings. Assist with the compilation and review of reports and update plans. Maintain service records and registers with the guidance of the Service Managers. Ensure the security and preservation of the master copies of all project products. Maintain a record of all copies issued. Notify holders of any changes to their copies. Number, record, store and distribute reports. Working Conditions Lone worker for majority of patient intervention. Exposed to distressing situations on a regular basis. Frequent periods of intense concentration. Other Work within agreed hospice policies, procedures and guidelines. Work as an integral part of the team, being sensitive to the needs of the whole team and supportive of other team members. Participate in an annual appraisal and undertake training to maintain and develop knowledge and skills as required. Provide cover for the Service Managers and Deputy Managers where required. Any other duties as deemed necessary by the Service Managers. Person Specification Personal Attributes Essential Able to recognise and work within the limit of own competence and responsibility Self-motivated and able to use initiative Strong teamwork ethic Shows independent judgement, while operating within procedural guidelines Ability to remain calm in stressful situations Clean driving licence and access to a vehicle insured for business use A commitment to the vision and values of Bolton Hospice. Skills Essential Good organisational and administrative skills, including being able to concentrate on data analysis, whilst prioritising own workload and meet deadlines as necessary Able to develop effective interpersonal relationships with colleagues across a health and social care setting Excellent communication skills- able to communicate effectively at all levels Desirable Participation in service development and implementation of change Working knowledge of health and wellbeing issues, the NHS and support services Excellent IT skills in word processing, spreadsheets and production of information materials Able to present information to professional groups Excellent Social media knowledge and a high level of competence using social media platforms. Ability to produce monthly newsletters using Canva Knowledge Desirable Understanding of audit process Knowledge of quality assurance issues around patient information Qualifications Essential NVQ Level 3 in Healthcare / Customer Care or equivalent Communication Skills training e.g. Sage & Thyme GCSE Grade C or above in English & Maths Desirable Diploma or equivalent level of knowledge / experience ECDL or other relevant IT training Counselling certificate Experience Essential Experience of working with the general public Experience of information provision and data analysis Experience of working in a healthcare environment Desirable Experience of working with volunteers Experience of working in an oncology/cancer care environment. Person Specification Personal Attributes Essential Able to recognise and work within the limit of own competence and responsibility Self-motivated and able to use initiative Strong teamwork ethic Shows independent judgement, while operating within procedural guidelines Ability to remain calm in stressful situations Clean driving licence and access to a vehicle insured for business use A commitment to the vision and values of Bolton Hospice. Skills Essential Good organisational and administrative skills, including being able to concentrate on data analysis, whilst prioritising own workload and meet deadlines as necessary Able to develop effective interpersonal relationships with colleagues across a health and social care setting Excellent communication skills- able to communicate effectively at all levels Desirable Participation in service development and implementation of change Working knowledge of health and wellbeing issues, the NHS and support services Excellent IT skills in word processing, spreadsheets and production of information materials Able to present information to professional groups Excellent Social media knowledge and a high level of competence using social media platforms. Ability to produce monthly newsletters using Canva Knowledge Desirable Understanding of audit process Knowledge of quality assurance issues around patient information Qualifications Essential NVQ Level 3 in Healthcare / Customer Care or equivalent Communication Skills training e.g. Sage & Thyme GCSE Grade C or above in English & Maths Desirable Diploma or equivalent level of knowledge / experience ECDL or other relevant IT training Counselling certificate Experience Essential Experience of working with the general public Experience of information provision and data analysis Experience of working in a healthcare environment Desirable Experience of working with volunteers Experience of working in an oncology/cancer care environment. 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 details Employer name Bolton Hospice Address Queens Park Street Bolton BL1 4QT Employer's website http://www.boltonhospice.org.uk/ (Opens in a new tab)