Macmillan Cancer Information & Support Assistant - Band 4

Job description

Job summary

We are looking for a compassionate, organised and proactive individual who is committed to delivering high quality information and support to people affected by cancer. A Macmillan Cancer Information & Support Assistant, is a patient facing role, providing direct support to people affected by cancer, offering personalised information and guidance. The post holder will also act as an expert resource for health and social care professionals.

The post holder will work predominantly at our Macmillan Cancer Information & Support Centre in Grantham Hospital, however they will be required to work pan trust to meet the needs of the service. As part of the Macmillan Cancer Information & Support Service team, they will work closely Clinical Nurse Specialists and members of the Multi-disciplinary team.

We are a small team of health care professionals who provide information and support to people affected by cancer in Lincolnshire. We are looking for an enthusiastic, compassionate and proactive individual to work predominantly at our Macmillan Cancer Information & Support Centre at Grantham Hospital.

Main duties of the job

Provide comprehensive, high quality person centred support to individuals contacting the Macmillan Cancer Information & Support Service by assessing their practical, emotional and information needs along with signposting/referring to the most appropriate service.

In conjunction with the other team members of the Macmillan Cancer Information & Support Service assist in providing a comprehensive information service to ensure accessibility and equality of information and support for all people affected by cancer living in Lincolnshire.

To provide day to day running of the Cancer Information Centre. Assisting the Macmillan Cancer Information & Support Team in the planning, operational delivery and evaluation of the service

About us

Lincoln Hospital is a thriving university city and with the opening of the medical school, it provides all major specialties and a 24-hour major accident and emergency service.

United Lincolnshire Hospitals NHS Trust has been granted teaching hospital status, after demonstrating evidence to significant teaching commitment. From now on it will be known as United Lincolnshire Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust.

Pilgrim Hospital is situated in beautiful countryside and serves the communities in the South Lincolnshire area. It provides all major specialties and a 24-hour major accident and emergency service.

Grantham and District Hospital serves the communities of Grantham and the local area. It provides ambulatory paediatric and accident and emergency services.

Lincolnshire Community Health Services NHS Trust (LCHS) and United Lincolnshire Hospitals NHS Trust (ULHT) have come together in a Group arrangement, with the goal of improving the care provided to patients across the county.

This will not constitute a formal merger of the two organisations, but will bring the Trusts together under a single Board and Executive Leadership Team, with the goal of improving the care that is provided to patients both in the community and in hospitals across Lincolnshire. Both Trusts will retain their separate statutory names and legal obligations.

The Group will be known as Lincolnshire Community and Hospitals NHS Group (LCHG).

Job description

Job responsibilities

1. To assist in meeting the information, emotional, practical and financial needs of any individual affected by cancer that attends or is referred to the Macmillan Cancer Information & Support Centre

1. Perform holistic needs assessments, and the development of individual care plans, choosing the most appropriate approach to establishing the individual information and support needs of each service user.

1. Provide individualised information and support (Macmillan Levels of Intervention 1,2 and 3) to clients face to face, written or by phone, in a format appropriate to their needs

1. In appropriate cases, to plan and implement a relevant package of information and support, including written/verbal advice and supportive listening. This may include basic clinical information around diagnosis, treatments options and side effects in both written and verbal formats and may also involve advice on other issues such as benefits & travel

1. To signpost individuals to services to assist them in coping with diagnosis, treatment, living with and beyond cancer and palliative disease

1. Complete welfare benefit referrals for service users when appropriate

1. Recognise when to seek help in meeting the individuals information and support needs and refer appropriately to the Macmillan Cancer Information & Support Facilitators

1. Handle sensitive queries from service users, colleagues, other Trust employees and outside agencies in an effective and sensitive manner.

1. Develop and maintain good working relationships with members of multi-disciplinary teams and local support groups.

1. Supervise and contribute to the collection of visitor statistics, maintaining accurate records on the data collection database and producing reports as required

1. Arrange health promotion & patient welfare events

1. Be responsible for supporting of the centre volunteer team

1. Maintain accurate stock records and order information materials for the centres

14. Be responsible for ensuring information displays both in the centre and information points throughout the hospital are adequately stocked with appropriate information sources.

1. Produce information leaflets, posters and promotional material specific to the service

16. To contribute to the overall development of the Macmillan Cancer Information & Support Service

1. Maintain accurate records/documentation of enquiries while respecting the right to patient confidentiality. Any matters of a confidential nature including particular information relating to patients, their treatment and diagnosis, individual staff records must under no circumstances be divulged or made available to any unauthorised person(s). It is the responsibility of all staff to be aware of their obligations in respect of the Data Protection Act 1998

1. To ensure a 'team-working' environment and maintain an open, two-way communication network with the other team members of the Macmillan Cancer Information & Support Service

1. Work on their own initiative & as part of a team whilst bearing the overall departments aims and responsibilities

1. Identify/suggest new ways of working the Service

Job description
Job responsibilities

1. To assist in meeting the information, emotional, practical and financial needs of any individual affected by cancer that attends or is referred to the Macmillan Cancer Information & Support Centre

1. Perform holistic needs assessments, and the development of individual care plans, choosing the most appropriate approach to establishing the individual information and support needs of each service user.

1. Provide individualised information and support (Macmillan Levels of Intervention 1,2 and 3) to clients face to face, written or by phone, in a format appropriate to their needs

1. In appropriate cases, to plan and implement a relevant package of information and support, including written/verbal advice and supportive listening. This may include basic clinical information around diagnosis, treatments options and side effects in both written and verbal formats and may also involve advice on other issues such as benefits & travel

1. To signpost individuals to services to assist them in coping with diagnosis, treatment, living with and beyond cancer and palliative disease

1. Complete welfare benefit referrals for service users when appropriate

1. Recognise when to seek help in meeting the individuals information and support needs and refer appropriately to the Macmillan Cancer Information & Support Facilitators

1. Handle sensitive queries from service users, colleagues, other Trust employees and outside agencies in an effective and sensitive manner.

1. Develop and maintain good working relationships with members of multi-disciplinary teams and local support groups.

1. Supervise and contribute to the collection of visitor statistics, maintaining accurate records on the data collection database and producing reports as required

1. Arrange health promotion & patient welfare events

1. Be responsible for supporting of the centre volunteer team

1. Maintain accurate stock records and order information materials for the centres

14. Be responsible for ensuring information displays both in the centre and information points throughout the hospital are adequately stocked with appropriate information sources.

1. Produce information leaflets, posters and promotional material specific to the service

16. To contribute to the overall development of the Macmillan Cancer Information & Support Service

1. Maintain accurate records/documentation of enquiries while respecting the right to patient confidentiality. Any matters of a confidential nature including particular information relating to patients, their treatment and diagnosis, individual staff records must under no circumstances be divulged or made available to any unauthorised person(s). It is the responsibility of all staff to be aware of their obligations in respect of the Data Protection Act 1998

1. To ensure a 'team-working' environment and maintain an open, two-way communication network with the other team members of the Macmillan Cancer Information & Support Service

1. Work on their own initiative & as part of a team whilst bearing the overall departments aims and responsibilities

1. Identify/suggest new ways of working the Service

Person Specification

Specific requirement

Essential

• Full UK driving licence with access to a vehicle.
• This role is pan trust working so travelling to Lincoln and Boston centres will be required

Qualifications

Essential

• NVQ Level 3 or equivalent level of demonstrable experience, plus additional short courses or training to diploma level or equivalent
• Communication skills training

Desirable

• Cancer Specific Training/Courses

Previous Experience

Essential

• Previous experience of interaction with patients and their representatives.
• Experience of multi-disciplinary working
• Experience of managing own workload within a team setting.

Desirable

• Previous experience of contact with individuals affected by a cancer diagnosis
• Previous experience of managing volunteers
• Experience of delivering health promotion activities.
• Experience of using ULHT IT systems
• Experience of providing information & support to patients

Knowledge & Skills

Essential

• Knowledge of cancer and its impact on the individual and their families/carers
• An understanding of the importance of providing clear accessible information for people affected by a life limiting disease
• Fully conversant with word processing, spreadsheet and database software packages
• Understanding the NHS infrastructure and terminology
• Understanding the roles and skills of the members of the multi-disciplinary team.
• Ability to work collaboratively with health and social care professionals.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills.
• Ability to engage with members of the public to provide appropriate and relevant information.
• Ability to work with emotional resilience, honesty, integrity and empathy toward others.
• Ability to work with constant interruptions from telephone calls and visitors coming into the Centre
• Ability to work flexibly to meet the demands of the service
• Ability to work unsupervised for long periods of time using a high level of initiative
• Ability to evidence/demonstrate key values and excellent behaviors in line with the Trust framework: oCompassionate oCollaborative oInnovative

Desirable

• Knowledge of Holistic Needs Assessment
• Knowledge of signposting to appropriate services
• Understanding of user involvement in developing services
• A willingness to undertake personal development.
• Evidence of speaking to groups

Person Specification
Specific requirement

Essential

• Full UK driving licence with access to a vehicle.
• This role is pan trust working so travelling to Lincoln and Boston centres will be required

Qualifications

Essential

• NVQ Level 3 or equivalent level of demonstrable experience, plus additional short courses or training to diploma level or equivalent
• Communication skills training

Desirable

• Cancer Specific Training/Courses

Previous Experience

Essential

• Previous experience of interaction with patients and their representatives.
• Experience of multi-disciplinary working
• Experience of managing own workload within a team setting.

Desirable

• Previous experience of contact with individuals affected by a cancer diagnosis
• Previous experience of managing volunteers
• Experience of delivering health promotion activities.
• Experience of using ULHT IT systems
• Experience of providing information & support to patients

Knowledge & Skills

Essential

• Knowledge of cancer and its impact on the individual and their families/carers
• An understanding of the importance of providing clear accessible information for people affected by a life limiting disease
• Fully conversant with word processing, spreadsheet and database software packages
• Understanding the NHS infrastructure and terminology
• Understanding the roles and skills of the members of the multi-disciplinary team.
• Ability to work collaboratively with health and social care professionals.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills.
• Ability to engage with members of the public to provide appropriate and relevant information.
• Ability to work with emotional resilience, honesty, integrity and empathy toward others.
• Ability to work with constant interruptions from telephone calls and visitors coming into the Centre
• Ability to work flexibly to meet the demands of the service
• Ability to work unsupervised for long periods of time using a high level of initiative
• Ability to evidence/demonstrate key values and excellent behaviors in line with the Trust framework: oCompassionate oCollaborative oInnovative

Desirable

• Knowledge of Holistic Needs Assessment
• Knowledge of signposting to appropriate services
• Understanding of user involvement in developing services
• A willingness to undertake personal development.
• Evidence of speaking to groups

Disclosure and Barring Service Check

This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.

Employer details

Employer name

United Lincolnshire Hospitals NHS Trust
Address

Pan Trust

Macmillan Cancer Information & Support Centre, Grantham Hospital

Grantham

NG31 8DG

United Kingdom

Employer's website