Personalised Care Cancer Support Worker

Princess Alexandra Hospital NHS Trust; Harlow; On-site; GBP 25,000 - 32,000; Full time

Job summary

The Princess Alexandra Hospital NHS Trust in England is recruiting a Personalised Care Support Worker to help deliver the Recovery Package and risk stratification for cancer patients.

You will work with MDTs, support holistic needs assessments, health and well-being events, and remote surveillance, coordinating care across services and sites to ensure timely, compassionate support.

Responsibilities

• Work with MDTs to implement the Recovery Package and Risk Stratification processes.
• Be a main point of contact throughout the patient journey and help identify risk-stratified patients for the Recovery Package.
• Pro-active liaison and co-ordination to ensure smooth transition across traditional care boundaries.
• Support and coordinate the needs of patients on patient-triggered follow-up pathways, using judgement and initiative.
• Apply Macmillan Level 1-2 direct/indirect interventions to support non-complex cancer patients.
• Assist patients in completing Electronic Holistic Needs Assessments (eHNA) and develop care plans.
• Facilitate joined-up support services, information and health education to create a seamless experience of care.
• Deliver Health Education for non-complex patients in collaboration with CNSs and Macmillan Information Manager.
• Coordinate follow-up investigations required post cancer treatment and fast-track back into specialist teams.
• Maintain an accurate and validated cancer database and manage telephone communications with patients and carers.

Job description

The Princess Alexandra Hospital NHS Trust (PAHT) is proud to care for the communities of West Essex, delivering safe, compassionate, and high-quality services. We are part of the Neighbourhood Wavea national programme that’s changing how care is delivered by focusing on prevention, early support, and more joined-up services across health, social care, and the voluntary sector.

This means we’re working more closely with local partners to bring care closer to home and support people to live healthier, more independent lives.

We’re a supportive and inclusive organisation that values its people. We offer development opportunities, flexible working, and a strong focus on wellbeing. As a Disability Confident and equal opportunities employer, we welcome applicants from all backgrounds and experiences.

Join us and help shape the future of care in West Essex.

Job Overview

The Personalised Care Support Worker Role should be seen within the context of a new evolving service model which seeks to ensure that cancer patients are offered access to the Recovery Package upon completion of an acute episode of care and that follow up care is Risk Stratified to an appropriate level.

Support implementation of all Survivorship Initiatives namely The Macmillan Recovery Package and Risk Stratification Model

As part of the Recovery package, the role will assist in delivering the Holistic Needs agenda (eHNA), End of treatment Summaries, Health and Well-Being Events and Remote Surveillance tracking of patients.

Support patients to navigate through complex health and social care systems.

To be a main point of contact throughout the patients’ journey, requiring close liaison/working with the core and extended Multi-disciplinary team.

The role may involve travel between hospital sites, cross trust working to cover both Risk Stratification and Recovery Package/eHNA work streams.

• Pro-actively manage the Surveillance database in conjunction with CNS teams and the cancer information and support Manager.
• Manage own workload, being aware of own and other’s role boundaries, with a partnership working approach.
• Promote Survivorship support services in an equitable manner.
• Evaluate practice annually with data collection to produce the Macmillan Annual Report and service user feedback questionnaire.
• Deliver key agreed actions within specified timescales.
• Occasional cross site/project (i.e. eHNA and Risk Stratification) cover as per the needs of the developing service.
• Deliver day-to-day administrative support, data entry.
• Liaise with internal and external stakeholders to support service delivery.
• Maintain accurate records and ensure compliance with Trust policies.
• Participate in team meetings and contribute to service improvement initiatives.

Duties And Responsibilities

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

To work with MDTs to implement the Recovery Package and Risk stratification processes: i.e. Ensure patients receive holistic needs assessments, treatment summaries, health and well-being events and remote surveillance.

To be a main point of contact throughout the patient journey and to help identify risk stratified patients that will receive the Recovery package.

Pro-active liaison and co-ordination to ensure smooth transition across traditional care boundaries.

Support and co-ordinate the needs of patients on patient triggered follow-up pathways, using own judgement and initiative, escalating to the relevant practitioner.

Apply Macmillan Level 1-2 direct/indirect interventions to support non-complex cancer patients.

Assist patients in completing Electronic Holistic Needs Assessments (eHNA’s) and develop subsequent care plans to address concerns.

Facilitate joined up support services, information and health education to create a seamless experience of care for patients.

Deliver health education for non- complex patients in collaboration with established care providers such as CNSs, Cancer Information Manager, particularly focussing on signs and symptoms to look out for and late consequences of treatment.

Support the planning and delivery of self-managed workshops in collaboration with the relevant clinical teams, including agreed annual timetable for workshop provision, organising venues, supporting recruitment and communication with patients and supporting the delivery and evaluation of events.

To coordinate the follow-up investigations required post cancer treatment.

To coordinate a rapid re-entry into the specialist cancer team as per tumour group protocol

To coordinate the necessary assessments, appointments or investigations to fast track people back into the system if required.

To maintain an accurate and validated cancer data base eg remote monitoring & tumour specific.

To take, respond to and record accurately all telephone calls, initiating action as appropriate, relaying messages accurately, ensuring that all calls receive prompt attention and complete confidentiality in an efficient and courteous way.

To provide basic telephone advice and refer on or sign-post to other sources of support as per tumour group instruction.

To develop and maintain a good professional relationship with patients and with the specialist cancer teams.

Carry out administration duties required by the role including filing, report writing, documenting decisions made, making up information packs, ordering supplies and equipment. 3 Understand that there will be some distressing situations and when to seek appropriate support/advice.

To listen with empathy to distressed or angry patients or carers regarding sensitive matters, ensuring discretion and confidentiality.

To provide general information and support about cancer and cancer services, to enable people to navigate the health and social care system and make choices.

Act as advocate and facilitator to resolve issues that may be perceived as barriers to care.

Provide rota cover in the Cancer Information Hub in Williams Day Unit.

Support patients and carers to understand what signs and symptoms or situation to be aware of that would indicate concern.

Support patients and carers how to make contact when they feel their condition or needs have changed, including what to do out of hours.

Encourage and support active and healthy lifestyle choices.

Decisions and Judgements

Make judgements on when to elevate concerns to CNS teams or Cancer Information Support Manager (particularly when undertaking patient assessments) and knowing when to refer to other parties (eg. Cancer Information Centre)

Communications and Relationships

Cancer Clinical Nurse Specialist Team

Patients, their carers’ and relatives

Chemotherapy Nursing Team

Other Personalised Care Cancer Support Workers

Macmillan Head of Nursing for cancer Services

Haematology and Oncology Multi-disciplinary teams (MDT) Patients, Families and other visitors

Cancer, Cardiology & Clinical Support Health Care Group (CCCS HCG)

Macmillan and other external charities

Macmillan Cancer Information Support Service

Community teams and voluntary organisations

GP’s District Nurses

Local Hospice care

Most Challenging/Difficult Parts Of The Job

Dealing with distressed patients and relatives.

Managing time effectively and using computers daily.

Maintaining confidentially.

Ability to face new and exciting challenges on a daily basis.

Emotionally challenging Education and General Information

Demonstrate effective communication with patients, carers, other health professionals and stakeholders.

Deliver Health Education, in partnership with key extended team members: CNS teams, and Macmillan Information Manager.

Identify own personal education and role development needs and access Macmillan resources to address.

Demonstrate self-directed learning, actively seeking role development opportunities to enhance practice, knowledge and role progression.

Overcome barriers to effective communication.

Adhere to clear role boundaries and expectations and when to seek support of signpost to more appropriate care provider.

As this is a Macmillan Role, you will wear the Macmillan badge and use Macmillan resources to benefit patients.

You may be required to undertake ad hoc duties as per the changing demands of the service.

There will be a requirement for you to work across sites regularly, as required.

This job description may be subject to change according to the varying needs of the service. Such changes will be made after discussion between the post holder and the manager. All duties must be carried out under supervision or within Trust policy and procedure.