Cancer Support Worker

University Hospitals Sussex NHS Foundation Trust; Brighton; On-site; GBP 26,000 - 30,000; Full time

Job summary

Join a leading NHS Trust as a Cancer Support Worker at Royal Sussex County Hospital. This role involves supporting patients diagnosed with cancer and assisting the Clinical Nurse Specialist team. You will provide essential care and guidance, ensuring patients receive the support they need throughout their treatment journey.

Benefits

Wellbeing Programme

Flexible working options

Qualifications

• Good general education, English and Math GCSE A-C.
• Relevant health or social care experience.

Responsibilities

• Support Clinical Nurse Specialist in patient care.
• Triage incoming calls to the CNS Helpline.

Skills

Communication

Flexibility

Education

Level 4 qualification

Level 3 Health & Social care qualification

Job description

View all our vacancies across our hospitals in Sussex. Search, find and apply for a job with us today.

Main area Cancer Services Grade Band 4 Contract Fixed term: 2 years (N/A) Hours Full time - 37.5 hours per week (Monday - Friday. 8:30 - 16:30) Job ref 279-7117700-MAY25

Employer 279 University Hospitals Sussex NHS Foundation Trust Employer type NHS Site Royal Sussex County Hospital, The Horizon Centre Town Brighton Salary £26,530 - £29,114 per annum Salary period Yearly Closing 25/05/2025 23:59

About our Trust

At UHSussex we’re proud to be at the heart of the NHS. As one of the UK’s largest acute Trusts , we’re a leading example of the excellence, the ambition and the values that have embodied the NHS for over 70 years.

Our hard-working, talented and dedicated people work together towards a common goal – to always put our Patient First . In fact our mission is summed up by our ‘where better never stops’ motto and you will play a part in driving us forwards and in improving the lives of patients across Sussex.

At UHSussex, diversity is our strength, and we want you to feel included to help us always put the Patient First. Your uniqueness and experiences will be part of our creative and innovative community where everyone is encouraged to succeed. We have a range of Staff Networks to help break down barriers, and can offer a buddy to help new members settle in. We’re proud to be a Disability Confident Employer (Level 2) and a Veteran Aware Trust.

We treat our patients and staff with the same compassion and empathy we expect for ourselves. We’re here for them when they need us, and we go above and beyond to meet their needs. This can be seen in ourWellbeing Programme for staff which is extensive and designed to support you when you need it, including where possible, flexible working to support work life balance - because we know that to look after others we must first look after ourselves.

As a university trust and a leader in healthcare research, we value learning, teaching and training so that we can be the best that we can be. From the moment you start with us and throughout your career we will help you to grow and develop. We hope that in choosing UHSussex you are choosing a long and happy career where you will be able to see the difference you make and feel valued for all that you do.

We look forward to receiving your application and the start of your journey with UHSussex.

Job overview

We have an exciting opportunity to join our team as a Cancer Support Worker position based at The Royal Sussex County Hospital, with occasional travel to other UHSussex sites.

This role supports our clinical nurse specialist team to care for patients diagnosedwith cancer. They will join an existing team of Band 4 support workers within cancer services.

It will be important that the individual is motivated and enthusiastic about providing outstanding care to patients across their whole pathway. Is able to work autonomously and as part of the multi-disciplinary team.

Main duties of the job

The Cancer Support Worker (CSW) will support the site specific Clinical Nurse Specialist in filling their complex role under the line management of the the Cancer Support Worker Team Leader. A large part of the role involves assisting the Clinical Nurse Specialist and Cancer Support Worker Team Leader in key elements of the Personalised Care programme.

• Holistic Needs Assessment
• End of treatment Summaries
• Health and Well-being events and resources.

They will develop a network of contacts across all care settings within Health and Social Care to enable them to help patients resolve any non-clinical issues they may be facing.

This may often require onward referral to other professionals and discussion with the clinical team in relation to clinical issues.

The other main duty of this role is to support the Clinical Nurse Specialists by triaging incoming calls to the CNS Helpline. This will involve advice and guidance, referral onwards and supporting patients needs where appropriate to do so and within clearly set boundaries.

Working for our organisation

At UHSussex, diversity is our strength, and we want you to feel included to help us always put the Patient First, as shown in our Outstanding for Caring CQC rating. Your uniqueness and experiences will be part of our creative and innovative community where everyone is encouraged to succeed. We have a range of Staff Networks to help break down barriers, and can offer a buddy to help new members settle in. We’re proud to be a Disability Confident Employer (Level 2) and a Veteran Aware Trust.

We treat our patients and staff with the same compassion and empathy we expect for ourselves. We’re here for them when they need us, and we go above and beyond to meet their needs. This can be seen in ourWellbeing Programme for staff which is extensive and designed to support you when you need it - because we know that to look after others we must first look after ourselves.

As a university trust and a leader in healthcare research, we value learning, teaching and training so that we can be the best that we can be. From the moment you start with us and throughout your career we will help you to grow and develop. We hope that in choosing UHSussex you are choosing a long and happy career where you will be able to see the difference you make and feel valued for all that you do.

We look forward to receiving your application and the start of your journey with UHSussex.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

• Co-ordinate care by providing a single point of access, including rapid re-entry into the system for those people identified as having urgent or specialist needs.
• 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.
• Triage telephone calls for CNS – when CNS unavailable
• Provide basic telephone advice and refer on or sign-post to other sources of support
• Guide people through the use of self-assessment resources
• Pro-actively identify patient and carer needs using, approved tools, protocols and procedures to ensure that people get the right support to meet their needs.
• Working with the CNS, coordinate holistic needs assessment and the development of an individual care plan including attending and holding face to face clinics
• Make visits to wards and The Sussex Cancer Centre as required
• Attend outpatient clinics to support patient information needs as directed
• Act as advocate and facilitator to resolve issues that may be perceived as barriers to care
• 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
• Encourage and support active and healthy lifestyle choices
• Coach patients and carers to understand what signs, symptoms or situations to be aware of that would indicate concern, using agreed protocols
• Coach patients and carers on how to make contact when they feel that their condition or needs have changed, including what to do out of hours
• Make sure that people affected by cancer are aware that they are interacting with a Macmillan professional and know about the full range of resources and services available through Macmillan
• Actively engage with Macmillan Cancer Support to contribute expertise and experience and support the Macmillan Corporate Strategy
• Carry out some administration duties required by the role and that may release time from specialist CNS

For further information, please see the Job Description and Person Specification.

Person specification

Education

• good general education, English and Math GCSE A-C
• shows willingness to undertake further training
• Level 4 qualification or Level 3 Health & Social care qualification with experience

Experience

• Relevant health or social care experience or equivalent
• Demonstrates good communication skills and values
• Experience of multi professional team working
• Administration experience with good IT skills

Skills

• Demonstrates accurate written communication of information
• Demonstrates ability to work flexibly and autonomously

Equality, Diversity and Inclusion

• Evidence of having undertaken own development to improve understanding of equalities issues
• Evidence of having championed diversity in previous roles (as appropriate to role).

Important information for applicants:

Please note, the use of AI generated applications will be closely monitored. It is at the managers discretion to reject your application if they feel the majority has been created through the use of AI tools.

Closing Adverts Early: In the event of exceptional interest, we may close adverts earlier than specified.

Some of our adverts are capped for a limited number of applications; therefore, the advert will close once the cap has been reached. We therefore encourage you to submit your application as soon as possible if you are interested in the position to prevent you from missing out on applying for the opportunity.

Flexible Working: If you would like to explore potential options regarding flexible working please speak with the appropriate recruiting/line manager.

DBS Checks: As part of our commitment to a safe working environment, we undertake a Disclosure and Barring Service check on all new employees where the role is eligible for a criminal record check . We make offers in line with the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1975.

Skilled Worker Visa: Applications for Skilled Worker sponsorship are welcome for the roles that meet the Visa and Immigrations eligibility criteria. For further information please visit the gov.uk website searching for Skilled Worker. It is your responsibility as the applicant to ensure that you meet this criteria.

UHSussex reserves the right to close the role early if we receive a high volume of applications

Further Information

For help with the application process for Nursing vacancies, please email [e-mail].

For help with the application process for Non-Nursing vacancies, please email [e-mail].

Employer certification / accreditation badges

This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975 (Amendment) (England and Wales) Order 2020 and it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service.

Application numbers

This advert has been capped for a limited number of applications; therefore, it will close once the cap has been reached. We therefore encourage you to submit your application as soon as possible if you are interested in this post to prevent you from missing out on applying for this opportunity.

Name Miranda Jose Job title Macmillan Information & Support Manager Email address [e-mail] Telephone number 07979701403 Additional information

Please call or email Miranda Jose for further information; 07979701403, [e-mail]