Macmillan Cancer Information and Support Assistant

The Methodist Church in Britain; North Waterhouse Farm; On-site; GBP 21,000 - 25,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Annual leave allowance

Flexible working opportunities

Protected hours for health and well‑be

Competitive benefits package

Career opportunities across a large NH

Job summary

Northern Care Alliance NHS Foundation Trust is seeking an information and support assistant to help develop and deliver the Macmillan Information and Support Service. The role is non-clinical, focusing on cancer information, needs assessment, and signposting for patients, carers and relatives.

It also provides administrative and project support to the service managers and coordinator. Successful applicants will have recent healthcare support experience, cancer care knowledge, and a full driving

Qualifications

• GCSE Maths and English at grade C or above, or equivalent.
• Relevant IT training or equivalent experience.

Responsibilities

• Meet patients, carers and relatives to assess information and support needs and signpost to services.
• Provide cancer information on risk reduction, treatment options and living with cancer in suitable formats.
• Liaise with staff at all levels on identified issues and refer complex enquiries to a specialist.
• Provide administrative and project support to service managers and coordinators.

Skills

Empathy

Communication skills

IT skills

Administrative skills

Teamwork

Written communication

Organisational skills

Interpersonal skills

Education

GCSE Maths & English

IT training

Tools

Microsoft Word

Microsoft Excel

PowerPoint

Database software

Job description

This assistant post sits within the Macmillan Information and Support Service team at Northern Care Alliance NHS Foundation Trust, helping to develop and deliver the service. The work is non-clinical: giving cancer information and support to patients, carers and relatives, assessing their needs and signposting them onward. Alongside direct contact, the post provides administrative and project support to the service managers and coordinator. Fit depends on recent experience of supporting people in a healthcare setting, cancer care experience, and a full driving licence with access to a vehicle.

What the job involves

• Meet patients, carers, relatives and professionals to assess information and support needs, give verbal and written information, listen supportively, agree action plans and signpost to services
• Provide cancer information on topics such as risk reduction, healthy living, diagnosis, treatment options, side effects and living with cancer, in the most suitable format
• Liaise with staff at all levels on identified issues and complex enquiries, and refer enquiries needing specialist input promptly
• Provide administrative and project support to the Service Manager, Deputy Manager, Coordinator and others as required

What’s required

Qualifications

• GCSE Maths and English Language at grade C or above, or grade 4 or above, or Functional Skills Level 2 in both or equivalent
• Relevant IT training or equivalent experience

Experience

• Experience of supporting patients or carers in a healthcare setting within the last 2 years
• Experience of working or volunteering in an oncology or cancer care environment

Skills & knowledge

• Working knowledge of health and wellbeing issues, the NHS and support services
• Excellent administrative, organisational and prioritisation skills
• Demonstrable communication and interpersonal skills, including an excellent standard of written communication
• High levels of empathy and the ability to deal with situations compassionately
• Excellent IT skills including Word, Excel, PowerPoint, email, databases and producing materials such as posters
• Ability to work autonomously and as part of a team

Checks & eligibility

• Full driving licence and access to a vehicle to travel across sites and community locations

Other

• Ability to remain calm in stressful or distressing situations

Nice to have

• Communication skills training
• Accredited communication skills training
• Experience of information provision within a relevant setting
• Experience of working with volunteers
• Knowledge of local support services
• Knowledge of cancer, cancer treatments and cancer pathways
• Ability to present information to groups

What’s offered

• Annual leave allowance
• Flexible working opportunities
• Protected hours for health and wellbeing activities
• Competitive benefits package
• Career opportunities across a large NHS trust