Job summary
This is a 12 months fixed term post, which could also be a secondment opportunity.
We are currently seeking an enthusiastic and dynamic Cancer Pathway Navigator to join the Cancer Services team at South Tyneside and Sunderland
Foundation Trust. The post will be office based during training then option of agile / home
working or office based thereafter.
The post holder will support patients
referred on suspicion of cancer through their diagnostic journey to minimise
delays and ensure they receive timely diagnosis or exclusion of cancer. The
role provides patient support by monitoring & coordinating their diagnostic
pathway, acting as a single point of contact for patients for any queries they
may have, and providing information, support and signposting to other services
and sources of support according to patients needs.
The post holder will communicate with
patients up to the point of diagnosis or all clear of cancer, and will work
closely with clinicians, managers, secretaries and other admin teams to
identify and resolve delays throughout the whole pathway from referral to
treatment.
The Pathway Navigator will act as a patient advocate to overcome
barriers to timely access to cancer services and other health and wellbeing
support, using interpersonal skills and resources across the health service,
third sector and local authorities.
Main duties of the job
The post-holder will require a robust understanding of cancer pathways and be responsible for ensuring patients receive appointments and MDT discussion within agreed timeframes. They will be pivotal in minimising delays and escalating operational issues by providing feedback to both clinical and non-clinical staff working towards achievement of Cancer Waiting Times and Timed Pathway Standards.
In addition to patient support and pathway monitoring, the role will involve the regular capture of cancer related data and information to support performance monitoring, service improvement, submission of mandated national cancer datasets and the National Quality Surveillance program.
The post holder will communicate with patients up to the point of diagnosis or all clear of cancer, and will work closely with clinicians, managers, secretaries and other admin teams to identify and resolve delays throughout the whole pathway from referral to treatment.
The Pathway Navigator will act as a patient advocate to overcome barriers to timely access to cancer services and other health and wellbeing support, using interpersonal skills and resources across the health service, third sector and local authorities.
Please note the Trust are not able to offer Skilled Worker Sponsorship for this role as it does not meet the UKVI threshold requirements. Applicants are requested to consider this when making their application. Please visit Gov.UK for further information.
About us
Please add your telephone number to your application form so we can contact you quickly if required.
One Team One Trust - There are many reasons to work at our Trust. From our commitment to putting people first to our accessible services and award winning teams. We have a passion for research, innovation and tackling inequalities. We are committed to respect, fairness and civility and promote a compassionate, caring and positive culture / working environment.
We welcome all applications irrespective of peoples race, disability, gender, sexual orientation, religion/belief, age, gender identity, marriage and civil partnership, pregnancy/maternity and in particular those from under- represented groups. Looking after our workforces health and wellbeing is a priority for us. We also provide access to high quality education, training, career progression and support. Flexible working is supported via our Flexible Working Policy.
The Trust employs around 8,600 people and provides a range of hospital services to a local community of around 430,000 residents. We also provide a range of more specialised services outside this area. We offer our staff outstanding benefits - Fitness Centre (SRH), libraries at both hospital sites, chaplaincy support and access to a Care Co-ordinator to help staff with childcare arrangements.If you use AI,
and it poses a risk to the integrity of your individual recruitment process, we
may withdraw your application at any stage of the process.
Job description
Job responsibilities
PLEASE REFER TO THE ATTACHED JOB DESCRIPTION FOR FULL DUTIES OF THE ROLE.
To support
patients referred on suspicion of cancer through their diagnostic journey to
minimise delays and ensure they receive timely diagnosis or exclusion of
cancer. The role provides patient support by monitoring & coordinating
their diagnostic pathway, acting as a single point of contact for patients for
any queries they may have, and providing information, support and signposting
to other services and sources of support according to patients needs.
The post
holder will communicate with patients up to the point of diagnosis or all clear
of cancer, and will work closely with clinicians, managers, secretaries and
other admin teams to identify and resolve delays throughout the whole pathway
from referral to treatment.
The
Pathway Navigator will act as a patient advocate to overcome barriers to timely
access to cancer services and other health and wellbeing support, using
interpersonal skills and resources across the health service, third sector and
local authorities.
The
post-holder will have a robust understanding of cancer pathways and be
responsible for ensuring patients receive appointments and MDT discussion
within agreed timeframes. They will be pivotal in minimising delays and escalating
operational issues by providing feedback to both clinical and non-clinical
staff working towards achievement of Cancer Waiting Times and Timed Pathway
Standards.
In addition to patient support and pathway monitoring, the role
will involve the regular capture of cancer related data and information to
support performance monitoring, service improvement, submission of mandated
national cancer datasets and the National Quality Surveillance program.
Job description
Job responsibilities
PLEASE REFER TO THE ATTACHED JOB DESCRIPTION FOR FULL DUTIES OF THE ROLE.
To support
patients referred on suspicion of cancer through their diagnostic journey to
minimise delays and ensure they receive timely diagnosis or exclusion of
cancer. The role provides patient support by monitoring & coordinating
their diagnostic pathway, acting as a single point of contact for patients for
any queries they may have, and providing information, support and signposting
to other services and sources of support according to patients needs.
The post
holder will communicate with patients up to the point of diagnosis or all clear
of cancer, and will work closely with clinicians, managers, secretaries and
other admin teams to identify and resolve delays throughout the whole pathway
from referral to treatment.
The
Pathway Navigator will act as a patient advocate to overcome barriers to timely
access to cancer services and other health and wellbeing support, using
interpersonal skills and resources across the health service, third sector and
local authorities.
The
post-holder will have a robust understanding of cancer pathways and be
responsible for ensuring patients receive appointments and MDT discussion
within agreed timeframes. They will be pivotal in minimising delays and escalating
operational issues by providing feedback to both clinical and non-clinical
staff working towards achievement of Cancer Waiting Times and Timed Pathway
Standards.
In addition to patient support and pathway monitoring, the role
will involve the regular capture of cancer related data and information to
support performance monitoring, service improvement, submission of mandated
national cancer datasets and the National Quality Surveillance program.
Person Specification
Physical Skills
Essential
- Requirement to sit at a VDU for the majority of the day.
- Ability to concentrate for long periods and sometimes on complex issues, to identify problems and propose solutions.
- Ability to adapt to new working practices, learn new software systems and acquire new knowledge.
- Ability to cope with occasional distressing circumstances.
Personal Qualities
Essential
- Ability to work under pressure to set deadlines.
- Ability to present work with a high level of accuracy.
- Ability to concentrate for long periods.
- Flexible approach to working with team working attitude.
Qualifications
Essential
- Minimum of NVQ level 3, or equivalent qualification plus significant experience in administration setting.
- Educated to GCSE level education (4 or more A-C) including GCSE Maths and English.
- Knowledge of full range of administrative systems, hospital systems, Tracking principles, PACs; databases with excellent IT skills.
Desirable
- Trained in Sage and Thyme/ equivalent communication skills/ or be willing to undertake training.
- Management qualification e.g. ILM level 3.
Attitude
Essential
- Excellent interpersonal skills.
- Proactive team member.
- Strong self-motivation and able to work unsupervised.
- Positive attitude.
- Willingness to develop new skills.
- Well presented.
Experience
Essential
- Significant experience in administration setting.
- At least 1 years experience in cancer information or business information setting (through employment or education).
- Experience of working with a wide range of multi-disciplinary professionals.
- Experience of Microsoft office packages
- Experience of booking cancer appointments and waiting lists.
- Experience of communication with patients, primary care and other service users.
Desirable
- Experience of assisting clinical professionals with data collection and interpretation.
- Experience of supervisory management.
- Experience of acting as, or enthusiastic to act as an advocate for patients/carers.
Skills and Knowledge
Essential
- Excellent communication skills (verbal, written and listening) and ability to communicate with patients and staff at all levels, in various formats, and sometimes in difficult circumstances.
- Understanding of the information and support needs of cancer patients and their carers and ability to demonstrate integrity and discretion when working with confidential matters.
- Proactive and self-motivated with good interpersonal, administration, organisation and coordination skills.
- Ability to work with minimal supervision and manage own workload, including ability to work under pressure and prioritise effectively using own initiative to meet deadlines.
- Good IT and keyboard skills with attention to accuracy and ability to input and derive data for reports.
- Knowledge of cancer standards and performance targets and of medical terminology & data protection.
Desirable
- Understanding of cancer pathways, cancer tracking requirements and the Faster Diagnosis Framework.
- Knowledge of cancer related datasets including CWT, COSD, audits & SACT.
- Supervisory experience.
- Insight into roles and responsibilities of wider health and social care, community and voluntary sectors.
- Knowledge of Trust administrative & hospital systems, e.g. Meditech, Soliton, Somerset, PACS.
Person Specification
Physical Skills
Essential
- Requirement to sit at a VDU for the majority of the day.
- Ability to concentrate for long periods and sometimes on complex issues, to identify problems and propose solutions.
- Ability to adapt to new working practices, learn new software systems and acquire new knowledge.
- Ability to cope with occasional distressing circumstances.
Personal Qualities
Essential
- Ability to work under pressure to set deadlines.
- Ability to present work with a high level of accuracy.
- Ability to concentrate for long periods.
- Flexible approach to working with team working attitude.
Qualifications
Essential
- Minimum of NVQ level 3, or equivalent qualification plus significant experience in administration setting.
- Educated to GCSE level education (4 or more A-C) including GCSE Maths and English.
- Knowledge of full range of administrative systems, hospital systems, Tracking principles, PACs; databases with excellent IT skills.
Desirable
- Trained in Sage and Thyme/ equivalent communication skills/ or be willing to undertake training.
- Management qualification e.g. ILM level 3.
Attitude
Essential
- Excellent interpersonal skills.
- Proactive team member.
- Strong self-motivation and able to work unsupervised.
- Positive attitude.
- Willingness to develop new skills.
- Well presented.
Experience
Essential
- Significant experience in administration setting.
- At least 1 years experience in cancer information or business information setting (through employment or education).
- Experience of working with a wide range of multi-disciplinary professionals.
- Experience of Microsoft office packages
- Experience of booking cancer appointments and waiting lists.
- Experience of communication with patients, primary care and other service users.
Desirable
- Experience of assisting clinical professionals with data collection and interpretation.
- Experience of supervisory management.
- Experience of acting as, or enthusiastic to act as an advocate for patients/carers.
Skills and Knowledge
Essential
- Excellent communication skills (verbal, written and listening) and ability to communicate with patients and staff at all levels, in various formats, and sometimes in difficult circumstances.
- Understanding of the information and support needs of cancer patients and their carers and ability to demonstrate integrity and discretion when working with confidential matters.
- Proactive and self-motivated with good interpersonal, administration, organisation and coordination skills.
- Ability to work with minimal supervision and manage own workload, including ability to work under pressure and prioritise effectively using own initiative to meet deadlines.
- Good IT and keyboard skills with attention to accuracy and ability to input and derive data for reports.
- Knowledge of cancer standards and performance targets and of medical terminology & data protection.
Desirable
- Understanding of cancer pathways, cancer tracking requirements and the Faster Diagnosis Framework.
- Knowledge of cancer related datasets including CWT, COSD, audits & SACT.
- Supervisory experience.
- Insight into roles and responsibilities of wider health and social care, community and voluntary sectors.
- Knowledge of Trust administrative & hospital systems, e.g. Meditech, Soliton, Somerset, PACS.
Employer details
Employer name
South Tyneside and Sunderland NHS Foundation Trust
Address
Sunderland Children's Centre
Durham Road
Sunderland
Tyne and Wear
SR3 4AG
Employer's website
https://www.stsft.nhs.uk (Opens in a new tab)
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