Colorectal Cancer Care Navigator

Job description

Job overview

We are seeking a compassionate and proactive Colorectal Cancer Navigator (Band 4) to join our Colorectal Nursing Department. Working closely with the Colorectal Clinical Nurse Specialists and wider multidisciplinary team, you will play a key role in supporting patients throughout their cancer journey, from diagnosis and treatment through to follow-up and survivorship care. The role focuses on providing coordinated, patient-centred support that addresses the physical, emotional and practical needs of patients and their carers.

Main duties of the job

As a Cancer Navigator, you will act as a key point of contact for patients, helping them navigate their treatment pathway and access the support and information they need. You will coordinate appointments, investigations and follow-up care, undertake holistic needs assessments, provide basic psychological support within agreed competencies, and respond to patient queries through effective telephone triage and signposting. You will also work collaboratively with healthcare professionals across primary, secondary and community care services to ensure seamless patient care.

Working for our organisation

The Royal Wolverhampton NHS Trust is one of the largest NHS trusts in the West Midlands providing primary, acute and community services and we are incredibly proud of the diversity of both our staff and the communities we serve. We are building a workforce that can help us to fulfil our values, improve the quality of care for patients, and solve the health care problems of tomorrow. We're passionate about the value that diversity of thinking and lived experience brings in enabling us to become a learning organisation and leader in delivering compassionate care for our patients.

We are delighted that we have been rated as "Good" by CQC.

The Trust is a supportive working environment committed to creating flexible working arrangements that suit your needs and as such will consider all requests from applicants who wish to work flexibly.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

The successful candidate will support the delivery of high-quality cancer care by facilitating communication between patients, carers and healthcare teams. You will maintain accurate patient records and databases, monitor follow-up pathways, support patients on self-managed follow-up programmes, and contribute to health and wellbeing initiatives that empower patients to self-manage their condition. The role requires excellent organisational, communication and interpersonal skills, together with a commitment to improving patient experience and outcomes.

You will be responsible for coordinating patient pathways, assisting with multidisciplinary team processes, monitoring diagnostic tests and appointments, providing information and education to patients and carers, and supporting remote surveillance programmes. The role involves maintaining accurate documentation, contributing to patient satisfaction and service improvement initiatives, and ensuring patients receive timely, compassionate and personalised care. Working both independently and alongside Clinical Nurse Specialists, you will help deliver a responsive and supportive service for colorectal cancer patients and their families

Person specification

Qualifications

Essential criteria

• GCSE or equivalent level including Maths and English (C/Level 4 )

Desirable criteria

• Educated to diploma level or relevant experience

Experience

Essential criteria

• Experience working with patients with cancer
• Relevant experience in a clinical setting and basic medical terminology
• Experience of multi- professional working
• Ability to show empathy and understand the difficulties faced by people with cancer
• Experience of managing emotionally distressing and complex situations

Communication

Essential criteria

• Excellent communicator both face-to-face, telephone and email.
• Good observational skills
• Ability to use tact and empathy

Flexibility

Essential criteria

• Required to work flexibly to meet unpredictable demands of service

Flexible Working - As a major employer in the Black Country and West Birmingham region we are committed to supporting all employees to achieve a healthy work life balance. We want the Black Country and West Birmingham region to be the best place to work and as such will consider all requests to work flexibly taking into account personal and individual circumstances alongside the needs of the service. We encourage all prospective applicants to discuss their individual circumstances with the Recruiting Manager as part of the on-boarding process.

Qualifications - Please be advised that if the post that you are applying for requires any level of qualification (e.g. A-Levels, Degree etc) or Professional Registration (e.g. Nursing and Midwifery Council, General Medical Council etc) you will be required to provide proof as part of the pre-employment process. By submitting your application you are giving the Trust permission to check the qualification certificates provided back to the source provider. Please note that a sample of all applicant's qualifications will be checked with the educational institution or provider. Furthermore, a sample of all applicants' qualifications will be checked back to the educational institution or provider to interview letters to further deter fraud.

Visa/Sponsorship Information

In line with UKVI requirements, the Trust is unable to sponsor any applicants for Skilled Woker Visas who do not meet the minimum eligibility requirements including applicable salary thresholds and concessions. Before applying, please ensure that you have the right to work in the UK, or that the role is eligible for sponsorship. For more information, please visit: