Patient Pathway Navigator

University Hospital Southampton NHS FT; Southampton; On-site; GBP 24,000 - 30,000; Full time

Job summary

University Hospital Southampton NHS Foundation Trust is seeking a Patient Pathway Navigator to support cancer pathways by coordinating investigations and appointments and by acting as a first point of contact for patient queries. You will work within the cancer team to monitor waiting times, prepare and facilitate MDT meetings, and provide empathy and signposting to onward services.

This fixed term role supports timely patient care and requires good knowledge of NHS processes and patient data

Qualifications

• Essential criteria include administrative experience at vocational level 3 or equivalent.
• Diploma level 4 or equivalent knowledge in medical terminology.
• Experience in NHS settings with broad specialty knowledge.
• Experience in pathway coordination/navigation role or similar.
• Proficient use of hospital computerised patient systems.
• Experience in patient or customer facing roles with rapport building.

Responsibilities

• Navigate and chase diagnostic investigations and appointments for cancer patients within timeframes.
• Act as first point of contact for patient queries related to cancer pathways.
• Communicate with patients and families regarding upcoming appointments and next steps.
• Be knowledgeable on cancer waiting time standards and ensure timed pathways.
• Work with MDT coordinator as required.
• Prepare and facilitate weekly cancer PTL meetings and record outcomes in the Somerset cancer database.
• Attend weekly MDT meeting and take necessary actions.
• Develop and maintain office and administrative systems to support the cancer team.
• Review waiting times, escalate delays and breaches as needed.
• Coordinate with MDT staff, booking teams, and clinical staff for pathway issues.
• Access results and information using electronic hospital systems.
• Promote patient-centered care and build good relations with patients and carers.
• Provide empathy and signpost to further services and CNS teams as appropriate.
• Support transfers of patient care to other organisations or teams following IPT processes.
• Ensure minimum data set is received from external trusts for MDT discussion and treatment.
• Escalate bottlenecks to cancer services manager and/or services.
• Cross-cover colleagues during annual leave or sickness.
• Identify patients who DNA’d tests or appointments and manage accordingly.

Skills

Administrative experience

Medical terminology

NHS experience

Pathway coordination/navigation

Hospital information systems

Customer facing

Education

Diploma level 4 or equivalent

Job description

Job Overview

University Hospital Southampton NHS Foundation Trust is delighted to offer a fantastic opportunity to work with us.

University Hospital Southampton NHS Foundation Trust is delighted to offer a fantastic opportunity to work with us.

Job Title: Patient Pathway Navigator

Contract Type: Fixed Term

Purpose for Fixed Term: Short term funding

Under current Home Office rules, this role is not eligible for Skilled Worker visa sponsorship.

Please be advised that this vacancy may close earlier than stated if we receive a large number of applications.

Main duties of the job

• Navigating and chase diagnostic investigations and appointments for all patients on the cancer pathway within the appropriate time frames.
• To act as a first point of contact for patients queries in relation to the cancer pathways and next steps.
• To proactively communicate with patients and families in relation to upcoming appointments and provide guidance around next steps and what to expect.
• To be knowledgeable on all cancer waiting time standards and ensured the implementation of timed pathways.
• Working closely with the relevant MDT coordinator as required.
• Being responsible for supplying weekly cancer PTL meetings which they will help to prepare and facilitate and record outcomes of each patient via the Somerset cancer database.
• Attend the weekly MDT meeting, taking actions where required.
• Helping to develop and maintain office and administrative systems and processes to support the work of the cancer team.
• Regularly review and analyse individual patients’ waiting times across cancer pathways, escalating delays and breaching issues where necessary
• Working closely with the relevant MDT coordinator to act as a point of contact for the clinical staff, managers and booking teams for issues related to the relevant cancer pathway.
• Use electronic hospital systems to access results or information as required.
• Promoting patient centred care and establish good relationships with patients and relatives/carers.
• Providing empathy and support to the patient's, carers and relatives whilst signposting them to further services an onward referral to the CNS team as appropriate.
• Supporting the co-ordination of transfers of patient care to other organisations or teams following local, pan Wessex and national Inter Provider Transfer (IPT) processes as appropriate.
• Ensuring the minimum data set is received from external trusts on patients referred for MDT discussion and/or treatment.
• Escalating any bottleneck on the patient's pathway to the cancer services manager and/or services.
• To cross cover colleagues when they are annual leave and throughout periods of sickness
• To identify patients who have DNA'd their diagnostic tests or outpatient appointments and manage appropriately.

Person specification

Qualifications, Knowledge And Experience

Essential criteria

• Training and experience in administrative roles to vocational level 3 or equivalent
• Good knowledge across a range of administrative work procedures including non-routine elements to Diploma level 4 or equivalent
• Good grounding in medical terminology.
• Relevant experience in an NHS setting with a wide breadth of speciality knowledge.
• Experience of working in a pathway coordination/navigation role or similar.
• Proficient in the use of all hospital computerised patient systems.
• Experience of working in a patient or customer facing role with ability to establish report.

Desirable criteria

• Service improvement training.
• Experience of working in an operational environment
• Experience of working in a patient or customer facing role with ability to establish rapport.
• Knowledge and understanding of cancer pathways
• Knowledge of relevant cancer treatments, interventions and terminology

Trust Values

Essential criteria

• Patients First
• Always Improving
• Working Together