Macmillan Lung Cancer Support Worker

Job content

UCLH cancer services are currently seeking a motivated individual to work alongside our Lung Cancer Clinical Nurse Specialist (CNS) team. The aim of this post is to improve support to patients and families and support the CNS team. Your typical day will involve providing verbal and written information, signposting and supporting cancer patients and their families, both face to face and over the telephone. You will be expected to undertake some administrative duties and collating audit information, triage telephone calls and assist in coordination of the patient pathway. You will work under the direction of the clinical nurse specialists, working across a variety of inpatient and outpatient settings. You will have the opportunity to work with the CNS team to develop holistic needs assessment pathways for patients and work closely with various other multidisciplinary staff including medical staff and those in the Macmillan Support and Information Centre.

We are looking for an individual with excellent communication skills who would enjoy the challenges of working within the cancer environment. The successful applicant will be self-motivated, compassionate and willing to develop their skills and knowledge further. I.T. skills and previous administrative experience and experience in working within the health or social care setting would be advantageous.

These posts were part of a Macmillan sponsored national initiative and have been very well evaluated and seen to make a difference to the lives of cancer patients. No two days are the same so if you are looking for a change of direction or a challenge why not apply?

The successful candidate will have a passion for improving the patient experience of the lung oncology population at UCLH. We are looking for an individual with strong communication and IT skills, who has the ability to be flexible and proactive to meet the needs of the Lung CNS team and the patient caseload.

The role will involve both face-to-face patient interactions in clinics and on the wards, and also office-based work, and telephone-based interactions with both patients and their carers.

The role will also involve setting up and recording of Holistic Needs Assessments under the guidance and support of the CNS team.

The role will involve the recording of CNS caseloads and the accurate recording of CNS activity. The role will also involve some degree of patient audit and assisting the CNS team in service improvement projects.

The Macmillan support worker would also be responsible for ensuring patient information resources are kept stocked and be responsible for ordering and keeping adequate stock levels of these.

The successful candidate should value collaborative working within the CNS team and wider multidisciplinary team.

This is an exciting opportunity to join one of the largest and most successful Foundation Trusts in the UK with an international reputation and a tradition of innovation. Based in the busy West End of London, we have a lively and vibrant working atmosphere, with quick and easy transport links to all our sites. Our size and resources enable us to offer a range of attractive benefits as well as unparalleled education and development opportunities for staff at all levels. This includes an extensive portfolio of academic and clinical courses and programmes ranging from ongoing personal development through to clinical excellence and leadership skills.

UCLH prides itself on its investment in staff both in terms of developing career skills but also its commitment to staff health and wellbeing. We can offer flexible working, and we offer a wide range a staff development opportunities to help you to develop yourself and your career.

We are committed to equality and diversity recognising the unique contribution each individual can make to our team and patients. The Trust offers a number of staff benefits including season ticket loan, retail discounts, and the cycle to work scheme. The wellbeing of staff is a Trust priority and we offer wellbeing and psychological support services,

For detailed information about this role, please refer to the attached Job Description

• Attend lung cancer clinics. Show new patients and carers around the unit, where to go for procedures and treatments. Introduce patient to staff in the clinical areas.
• Provide written information about services and/or procedures including Welcome Pack.
• Assist in provision of MDT contact details for patients and guidance about who to contact for what. Introduce new and existing patients to the facilities available in the UCLH Macmillan Cancer Centre, e.g. welfare rights, drop in support, information, complimentary therapy and refer for appointments.
• Complete routine HNA on pre-identified patients and escalate concerns to CNS where appropriate.
• Develop communication skills in order to convey complex and sensitive information effectively to patients, carers and other staff, overcoming any barriers to understanding and providing support during distressing or emotional events
• Communicate with people in a form and manner that is consistent with their level of understanding and culture, and recognise barriers to effective communication
• Communicate clearly, effectively and appropriately with the multidisciplinary team, patients and their family/visitors/carers
• Respond appropriately to queries
• Understand own level of responsibility and accountability in relation to registered practitioners
• Responsible for developing and sustaining own knowledge, clinical skills and professional awareness by demonstrating self-directed learning
• Identify own learning needs and produce a personal development plan in conjunction with the CNS, reflecting service needs
• Assist in maintaining a clean environment that is conducive to safe practice
• Identify potential risks for all staff, patients and visitors and adhere to relevant incident reporting procedures taking appropriate action/advice as needed
• Undertake specifically identified administrative and clerical tasks associated with patient care which facilitate the smooth running of the service
• Assist with and undertake patient assessment (under supervision and after appropriate training and delegation from the CNS)
• Obtain requested specimens and arrange delivery to the appropriate destination – Guardant blood tests, rapid EGFR
• Work co-operatively as part of the multi-disciplinary team, assisting nursing and other clinical staff to deliver a high standard of holistic patient-centred care
• Use electronic patient records (EPR) regularly and effectively to input and retrieve information as required and develop other IT skills