Greater Preston Primary Care Network Early Diagnosis Cancer Navigators

The Methodist Church in Britain; Preston; On-site; GBP 24,000 - 32,000; Full time

Job summary

Park Medical Practice in Preston is recruiting a non-clinical Cancer Navigator for a 12-month fixed-term post. The role focuses on increasing screening uptake and guiding patients through the first steps of referrals.

You will work with GP practices, Cancer Alliance and Community partners, handling patient data, coordinating follow-ups, and promoting Cancer Awareness Months. Experience in NHS admin and confident use of patient systems are essential.

Qualifications

• Previous admin or clerical experience within the NHS or a similar field.
• Knowledge of medical terminology, anatomy and physiology.
• Detailed knowledge of bowel, breast and cervical screening programmes.

Responsibilities

• Contact patients not taking up cervical, bowel or breast screening and encourage and support them.
• Identify low screening rates, non-responders and low participation groups across the practices.
• Support urgent suspected cancer referrals by explaining expectations and safety netting the pathway to the first appointment or test.
• Arrange follow-up GP appointments and provide information and leaflets for safety netting.
• Track and resolve delays in the patient pathway, including diagnostic test dates and outpatient appointments.
• Collect and maintain up-to-date cancer data from medical records and build a library of PCN data packs and resources.
• Act as conduit between the PCN, the ICB GP Cancer Lead and the Cancer Alliance, and communicate planned pathway changes to practices.
• Attend quarterly communities of practice with other PCN nonclinical cancer champions.
• Support breast screening rounds when active.
• Promote Cancer Awareness Months and act as contact for Community Cancer Ambassadors and voluntary organisations.
• Monitor completion of the FIT pilot and audit the PCN safety netting process.
• Review practice coding and templates, and liaise with Ardens on coding anomalies.

Skills

Communication

IT literacy

Data analysis

Medical terminology

Screening knowledge

Organisational skills

Tools

EMIS

Job description

A 12-month fixed-term post with the Greater Preston Primary Care Network, which covers nine GP practices, employed through Park Medical Practice. The navigator works to raise participation in cervical, bowel and breast screening and guides patients with suspected cancer referrals through the first stages of their pathway. The role is non-clinical and focuses on underserved communities, with quarterly peer sessions alongside other practice cancer champions and close work with GP practices and the Cancer Alliance. Fit depends on NHS or similar admin experience and confident use of patient systems and data.

What the job involves

• Contact patients not taking up cervical, bowel or breast screening and encourage and support them
• Identify low screening rates, non-responders and low participation groups across the practices
• Support urgent suspected cancer referrals by explaining expectations and safety netting the pathway to the first appointment or test
• Arrange follow-up GP appointments and provide information and leaflets for safety netting
• Track and resolve delays in the patient pathway, including diagnostic test dates and outpatient appointments
• Collect and maintain up-to-date cancer data from medical records and build a library of PCN data packs and resources
• Act as conduit between the PCN, the ICB GP Cancer Lead and the Cancer Alliance, and communicate planned pathway changes to practices
• Attend quarterly communities of practice with other PCN nonclinical cancer champions
• Support breast screening rounds when active
• Promote Cancer Awareness Months and act as contact for Community Cancer Ambassadors and voluntary organisations
• Monitor completion of the FIT pilot and audit the PCN safety netting process
• Review practice coding and templates, and liaise with Ardens on coding anomalies

What’s required

Experience

• Previous admin or clerical experience within the NHS or a similar field

Skills & knowledge

• Communicating effectively with patients from diverse groups and with healthcare professionals
• IT literacy and data analysis using patient information systems or databases
• Knowledge of medical terminology, anatomy and physiology
• Detailed knowledge of bowel, breast and cervical screening programmes
• Excellent organisational skills and accurate, timely data entry under tight deadlines
• Building network links with external organisations

Other

• Maintaining patient confidentiality at all times
• Using tact and diplomacy daily
• Flexibility across differing practice operational frameworks and patient needs
• Attending practice or PCN meetings as required

Nice to have

• Knowledge of primary care EMIS system