Personalised Care Cancer Support Worker

• To work with MDTs to implement the Recovery Package and Risk stratification processes: i.e. Ensure patients receive holistic needs assessments, treatment summaries, health and well-being events and remote surveillance.
• To be a main point of contact throughout the patient journey and to help identify risk stratified patients that will receive the Recovery package.
• Pro-active liaison and co-ordination to ensure smooth transition across traditional care boundaries.
• Support and co-ordinate the needs of patients on patient triggered follow-up pathways, using own judgement and initiative, escalating to the relevant practitioner.
• Apply Macmillan Level 1-2 direct/indirect interventions to support non-complex cancer patients.
• Assist patients in completing Electronic Holistic Needs Assessments (eHNA’s) and develop subsequent care plans to address concerns.
• Facilitate joined up support services, information and health education to create a seamless experience of care for patients.
• Deliver health education for non- complex patients in collaboration with established care providers such as CNSs, Cancer Information Manager, particularly focussing on signs and symptoms to look out for and late consequences of treatment.
• Support the planning and delivery of self-managed workshops in collaboration with the relevant clinical teams, including agreed annual timetable for workshop provision, organising venues, supporting recruitment and communication with patients and supporting the delivery and evaluation of events.
• To coordinate the follow-up investigations required post cancer treatment.
• To coordinate a rapid re-entry into the specialist cancer team as per tumour group protocol
• To coordinate the necessary assessments, appointments or investigations to fast track people back into the system if required.
• To maintain an accurate and validated cancer data base eg remote monitoring & tumour specific.
• To take, respond to and record accurately all telephone calls, initiating action as appropriate, relaying messages accurately, ensuring that all calls receive prompt attention and complete confidentiality in an efficient and courteous way.
• To provide basic telephone advice and refer on or sign-post to other sources of support as per tumour group instruction.
• To develop and maintain a good professional relationship with patients and with the specialist cancer teams.
• Carry out administration duties required by the role including filing, report writing, documenting decisions made, making up information packs, ordering supplies and equipment.
• Understand that there will be some distressing situations and when to seek appropriate support/advice.
• To listen with empathy to distressed or angry patients or carers regarding sensitive matters, ensuring discretion and confidentiality.
• 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.
• Act as advocate and facilitator to resolve issues that may be perceived as barriers to care.
• Provide rota cover in the Cancer Information Hub in Williams Day Unit.
• Support patients and carers to understand what signs and symptoms or situation to be aware of that would indicate concern.
• Support patients and carers how to make contact when they feel their condition or needs have changed, including what to do out of hours.
• Encourage and support active and healthy lifestyle choices.

Decisions and Judgements

• Make judgements on when to escalate concerns to CNS teams or Cancer Information Support Manager (particularly when undertaking patient assessments) and knowing when to refer to other parties (eg. Cancer Information Centre)

Communications and Relationships

• Cancer Clinical Nurse Specialist Team
• Patients, their carers’ and relatives
• Chemotherapy Nursing Team
• Other Personalised Care Cancer Support Workers
• Macmillan Head of Nursing for cancer Services
• Haematology and Oncology Multi-disciplinary teams (MDT)
• Patients, Families and other visitors
• Cancer, Cardiology & Clinical Support Health Care Group (CCCS HCG)
• Macmillan and other external charities
• Macmillan Cancer Information Support Service
• Community teams and voluntary organisations
• GP’s District Nurses
• Local Hospice care

Most Challenging/Difficult Parts Of The Job

• Dealing with distressed patients and relatives.
• Managing time effectively and using computers daily.
• Maintaining confidentiality.
• Ability to face new and exciting challenges on a daily basis.
• Emotionally challenging

Education and General Information

• Demonstrate effective communication with patients, carers, other health professionals and stakeholders.
• Deliver Health Education, in partnership with key extended team members: CNS teams, and Macmillan Information Manager.
• Identify own personal education and role development needs and access Macmillan resources to address.
• Demonstrate self-directed learning, actively seeking role development opportunities to enhance practice, knowledge and role progression.
• Overcome barriers to effective communication.
• Adhere to clear role boundaries and expectations and when to seek support of signpost to more appropriate care provider.
• As this is a Macmillan Role, you will wear the Macmillan badge and use Macmillan resources to benefit patients.
• You may be required to undertake ad hoc duties as per the changing demands of the service.
• There will be a requirement for you to work across sites regularly, as required.
• This job description may be subject to change according to the varying needs of the service. Such changes will be made after discussion between the post holder and the manager. All duties must be carried out under supervision or within Trust policy and procedure.