Cancer Support Worker

TN United Kingdom; Dorchester; Hybrid; GBP 25,000 - 35,000; Full time

Job summary

An established healthcare provider is seeking compassionate cancer support workers to join their dedicated team. This role offers a unique opportunity to work directly with patients affected by cancer, providing essential support and guidance throughout their treatment journey. The position includes collaboration with clinical specialists, conducting assessments, and facilitating health events. Ideal candidates will have relevant healthcare experience and a commitment to patient-centered care. Join a supportive environment that values teamwork and excellence in patient care, making a real difference in the lives of those affected by cancer.

Qualifications

• Minimum of 2 years recent experience in healthcare or social care.
• NVQ Level 3 or equivalent in health or social care subject.

Responsibilities

• Support patients diagnosed with cancer and coordinate their needs.
• Conduct holistic needs assessments and care planning.

Skills

Communication Skills

Patient Care

Health and Social Care Experience

Multi-professional Working

IT Data Management

Education

GCSE Level Education

NVQ Level 3 in Health or Social Care

Healthcare Assistant or Social Care Worker

Job description

Social network you want to login/join with:

Dorset County Hospital NHS Foundation Trust

Location:

Dorchester, United Kingdom

Job Category:

Other

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EU work permit required:

Yes

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Job Reference:

1b2f86d23bb3

Job Views:

4

Posted:

02.05.2025

Expiry Date:

16.06.2025

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Job Description:

Job overview

An opportunity has arisen to appoint 3 full time cancer support workers at Dorset County Hospital, working with patients affected by cancer. These posts are for a fixed term of 12 months and offer a great opportunity for interested and suitably qualified people to experience working in the field of cancer care.

The support worker will work with the CNS's and other members of the MDT to support patients affected by cancer. The role will include direct communication with patients, their families and other healthcare professionals .

A fundamental part of the role will be to help deliver core elements of the personalised care agenda, including undertaking holistic needs assessments, care planning, collating treatment summaries and facilitating health and wellbeing events. The role will involve supporting patients on a remote monitoring pathway.

Recent clinical experience in a health or social care setting is necessary along with knowledge and experience of caring for adults with acute or chronic illness. Ideally the post holder will have experience working with cancer although this is not essential.

The post holder will be based at DCH but will be expected to work from home up to 2 days a week to fit with the needs of the service.

Main duties of the job

• In collaboration with Clinical Nurse Specialists, support and coordinate the needs of patients diagnosed with cancer, during and after completion of treatment.
• Coordinate the necessary assessments, investigations and appointments required prior to patients starting treatment.
• Co-ordinate the transfer of care between service teams, or facilitation of service provision across interfaces of care – for example primary and secondary care.
• Refer and sign post to the clinical team as appropriate for higher level decisions.
• Triage incoming calls from patients and initiate appropriate responses based on clear protocols and frameworks.
• Monitor, audit and report response times to inbound telephone calls.
• Contribute to the holistic needs assessment, care plan and review of patients in line with practitioner guidance, protocols and procedures.
• Evaluate outcomes of care & support with a registered nurse.
• Make pre planned outbound telephone calls to patients under the guidance of the registered healthcare professional.
• Contribute to the clinical / quality management team reviews of any issues in relation to the patient pathway.
• Support the clinical teams to produce timely treatment summaries for patients and GP’s.
• Take a pivotal role in delivering health and wellbeing clinics and activities for people affected by cancer.

Working for our organisation

DCH prides itself on ensuring a safe, friendly, inclusive and comfortable environment where new employees are welcomed.

The organisation prioritises staff welfare and patient care, and supports employees to work to the trusts core values of excellence, respect, integrity and teamwork.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

Responsibility for Patients

• Provide support to patients diagnosed with cancer.
• Identify and maintain databases of all patients stratified as low risk
• Once deemed competent in terms of knowledge, provide advice and information for patients and their relatives/carers.
• Working collaboratively with colleagues to ensure relevant cancer targets are met, including holistic needs assessments, treatment summaries and necessary surveillance plans for low risk patients.
• Communication with patients to ensure they are kept up to date and informed as appropriate of their diagnosis, treatment and follow-up plan.

Responsibility for Policy and Service Development

• With the support of the clinical nurse specialist, plan and organise workload and activities – ability to adapt and re-prioritise at short notice.
• Once deemed competent in terms of specialist knowledge and skills, take an active role in the delivery of health and wellbeing events for patients affected by cancer.
• Keep comprehensive and accurate documentation in line with trust policy.

Responsibility for Financial and Physical Resources

• The post-holder is responsible to ensure that all areas of work give consideration to the financial impact and to keep this at a minimum.
• Personal duty of care to ensure any equipment used is used appropriately.

Responsibility for Staff

The post-holder is responsible to ensure any staff allocated to work with them, are given comprehensive and high quality information regarding all aspects of the service being provided by the post holder.

• To work closely with all members of the multidisciplinary team, but especially the cancer nurse specialists to promote seamless, supportive care pathways for people affected by cancer.

Responsibility for Information Resources

• Conversant with Trust wide systems to enable data input and retrieval (ie SCR, PAS, PACS, ICE)
• Conversant with systems outside the trust such as EPR (Poole).
• Complies at all times with the Trust and National data protection and Confidentiality policies.

Responsibility for Research and Development

• To collect necessary data for audit purposes as agreed by the clinical nurse specialist.
• As soon as it is known by the post holder, to inform the research department if patients on clinical trials are admitted to hospital.

Person specification

Education and qualifications,

• Healthcare Assistant or Social Care Worker
• GCSE level education
• Evidence of study in the last 5 years in courses related to health or social care
• NVQ Level 3 or equivalent in health or social care subject
• NVQ Level 4 or equivalent in health or social care subject
• Willingness to undertake training days and educational programmes
• Understanding the Cancer recovery package
• Teaching qualification

knowledge, abilities and skills

• Relevant health or social care experience at AFC Band 3 or equivalent
• Minimum of 2 years recent working within a healthcare / social care setting
• Understanding of person-centred care
• Evidence of effective communications skills
• Experience of multi-professional working
• Experience of giving and receiving information to/from service users.
• Experience in the use of IT data management systems
• Experience of working with patients with cancer
• Aware of DCH trust values
• Understanding of key referral pathways to Allied Health Professionals to support plans of care
• Previous participation in patient care planning
• Knowledge of relevant cancer treatments and terminology
• Experience in coordinating a patient workload
• Teaching experience in a workplace setting
• Experience of discussing patient concerns and needs
• Experience working within a cancer setting

Our Mission

Outstanding care for people in ways which matter to them.

Our Vision

Dorset County Hospital, working with our health and social care partners, will be at the heart of improving the well-being of our communities.

Our Values

We are a Trust that celebrates diversity and we are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees. We would welcome applications from people in all under-represented groups.

PLEASE READ THE FOLLOWING IMPORTANT INFORMATION CAREFULLY BEFORE YOU SUBMIT YOUR APPLICATION

Please read the job description and person specification carefully to ensure your application reflects the knowledge, skills and experience required.

The closing date/interview date is subject to amendment; this vacancy may therefore expire at short notice, so we recommend that you submit an application at your earliest convenience.

Shortlisted applicants will be contacted via email; therefore it is important that you check your personal email account regularly.

Unfortunately we are unable to respond to every application; if we do not contact you within 4 weeks of the closing date, please be advised that you not have been shortlisted on this occasion.

You can contact us on 01305 254655 to find out whether you have been shortlisted or if you would like feedback.