Macmillan Cancer support worker

Chelsea and Westminster Hospital NHS Foundation Trust; City of Westminster; On-site; GBP 30,000 - 40,000; Full time

Job summary

A prominent healthcare organization is seeking an individual to support cancer patients by participating in holistic assessments, developing care plans, and providing emotional support. The ideal candidate will have strong communication skills and experience in personal care. This role focuses on ensuring that cancer patients receive comprehensive information and support throughout their treatment journey.

Qualifications

• Experience in providing personal care and support to cancer patients.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills.
• Ability to work collaboratively with healthcare professionals.

Responsibilities

• Participate in holistic assessments of cancer patients and their families.
• Develop care plans for approval by Clinical Nurse Specialists.
• Provide emotional and wellbeing support to patients and families.

Job description

Working alongside and closely with the Cancer Clinical Nurse Specialists (CNS), this role would be involved in supporting provision of personalised care and support planning, health and wellbeing information and support, and end of treatment summaries for cancer patients and their families/friends.

Responsibilities

• Participate in the holistic assessment of cancer patients and their family/carers, undertaking electronic HNA's at designated points in the patient pathway in a structured clinic.
• Develop a care plan at designated points in the patients' pathway for the CNS to approve and validate.
• Take appropriate action pertaining to identified needs, be it information and support provision or signposting/referrals to other services.
• Ensure patient and their GP is in receipt of the agreed care plan.
• Practice a good level of communication skills, empowering the user to make informed choices concerning their care and self-management.
• Provide confidential wellbeing support to patients/families and carers (telephone and face to face).
• Provide appropriate emotional support to patients/families and carers (face to face and telephone).
• Utilise effective verbal and non-verbal communication and interpersonal skills with patients, carers and other health care professionals and the general public.
• Health and Wellbeing Information and Support – provide accessible information about emotional support, coping with side effects, financial advice, getting back to work and making healthy lifestyle choices, available before, during and after cancer treatment.
• Work alongside the cancer team, facilitating health and wellbeing events/workshops for cancer patients and their families/carers.
• Support, develop and maintain the provision of high‑quality cancer information.
• Utilise innovative methods of giving information to ensure equitable access, including reaching seldom‑heard groups.
• Signpost/referral patients to complementary therapy, psychology and welfare benefit services.
• Support patients with provision of headwear for cancer treatment‑induced alopecia.
• Where appropriate provide accurate promotion/awareness information for patients, carers, staff and the general public.
• End of Treatment Summaries providing both the person and their GP with a detailed summary of treatment completed, potential side effects, signs and symptoms of recurrence and contact details to address any concerns.