Job summary
The Colorectal Cancer Service triages urgent suspected cancer patients to enable booking into the most appropriate clinic, whether nurse-led or consultant-led.
Following first appointments, the Navigator ensures timely access to care for urgent patients, working with MDT coordinators and the admin team.
Key responsibilities also include managing patient tracking lists, monitoring progress against targets such as 28 day diagnosis, liaising with personnel to meet targets, and delivering high performance and patient experience.
The Navigator will coordinate care, communicate with patients, and facilitate access to optimise the colorectal cancer pathway. They will play an instrumental role in ensuring quality and timeliness of diagnosis and treatment for suspected cancer patients.
Proposed Interview date: 17th October 2025
Main duties of the job
***Please see the attached supporting document which contains more information about the role in the job description and person specification***
About us
Croydon Health Services NHS Trust provide hospital and community services from a number of community and specialist clinics throughout Croydon. The Trust was formed on 1st August 2010 through the integration of Croydon Community Health Services and Mayday Healthcare NHS Trust. Around 4,100 staff provide services for a population of over 360,000 people who are relatively young with a high level of ethnic diversity.
Our main hospital site, Croydon University Hospital is one of the busiest in London. We're also leading the way in providing more healthcare outside hospitals at clinics, specialist centres and in people's homes. Our experienced district nursing teams, Allied Health Professionals and community matrons look after people of all ages across Croydon and our Children's Hospital at Home cares for children with long-term conditions without them having to come to hospital.
Across the NHS everyone is working hard to meet growing demand and we're no exception. But with the right people on board, we are rising to this challenge, putting our people in the driving seat, encouraging innovation and transforming our services to give local people the quality of care they deserve. Croydon Health Services puts a great deal of importance on education and training throughout the careers of all of our staff. As well as offering access to a range of core skills training and professional development.
Job description
Job responsibilities
***Please see the attached supporting document which contains more information about the role in the job description and person specification***
Job description
Job responsibilities
***Please see the attached supporting document which contains more information about the role in the job description and person specification***
Person Specification
Education and Qualifications
Essential
- oGCSE Level Maths and English (Grade AC) or equivalent.
- oRelevant degree or equivalent training and/ or experience
Desirable
- oWillingness to undertake further education and training applicable to the role.
Experience
Essential
- oProven experience as a medical secretary/ clinical administrator/coordinator or clinical support worker in a health service environment with patient contact
- oExperience of working with complex and sensitive issues on a day to day basis, including contact with patients who may be distressed and/ or have complex needs.
- oExperience of problem solving in health related services, particularly patient facing
- oExperience managing patient records and database.
- oCommunicating across different care settings/ care providers.
- oExperience of writing reports
Desirable
- oExperience working in NHS acute trust and/ or multidisciplinary workforce
- oExperience of cancer services
- oProject experience: evaluating outcomes; analysing data and producing and presenting reports
Skills
Essential
- oExcellent communication skills (oral and written), confident in all communication methods and able to communicate effectively and sensitively
- oProficient in use of negotiation and motivational skills with both clients and staff
- oAbility to analyse problems and seek solutions, being diplomatic when dealing with sensitive information or managing potential conflict
- oEvidence of excellent administrative and I.T. skills with ability set up systems and processes and monitor performance
- oExcellent time management and organisational skills
- oAble to relate to and work with all professional and non-clinical staff within and outside the organisation Able to demonstrate initiative and flexibility
- oAble to work autonomously and unsupervised where appropriate
- oAble to work under pressure, prioritising and working to deadlines
Desirable
Knowledge
Essential
- oKnowledge of specialist medical terminology.
- oKnowledge and experience of office management, systems and practice
- oGood working knowledge of Word, Excel and Powerpoint
- oUse of internet systems including NHS net.
- oKnowledge of electronic patient records and systems e.g. Infoflex and CERNER.
- oKnowledge of confidentiality principles with regards to patient data.
- oUnderstanding of medical terminology and cancer pathways.
Desirable
- oKnowledge of Cancer Peer Review process.
- oKnowledge of LCA/ RMP Vanguard guidance.
- oKnowledge NHS policies.
Person Specification
Education and Qualifications
Essential
- oGCSE Level Maths and English (Grade AC) or equivalent.
- oRelevant degree or equivalent training and/ or experience
Desirable
- oWillingness to undertake further education and training applicable to the role.
Experience
Essential
- oProven experience as a medical secretary/ clinical administrator/coordinator or clinical support worker in a health service environment with patient contact
- oExperience of working with complex and sensitive issues on a day to day basis, including contact with patients who may be distressed and/ or have complex needs.
- oExperience of problem solving in health related services, particularly patient facing
- oExperience managing patient records and database.
- oCommunicating across different care settings/ care providers.
- oExperience of writing reports
Desirable
- oExperience working in NHS acute trust and/ or multidisciplinary workforce
- oExperience of cancer services
- oProject experience: evaluating outcomes; analysing data and producing and presenting reports
Skills
Essential
- oExcellent communication skills (oral and written), confident in all communication methods and able to communicate effectively and sensitively
- oProficient in use of negotiation and motivational skills with both clients and staff
- oAbility to analyse problems and seek solutions, being diplomatic when dealing with sensitive information or managing potential conflict
- oEvidence of excellent administrative and I.T. skills with ability set up systems and processes and monitor performance
- oExcellent time management and organisational skills
- oAble to relate to and work with all professional and non-clinical staff within and outside the organisation Able to demonstrate initiative and flexibility
- oAble to work autonomously and unsupervised where appropriate
- oAble to work under pressure, prioritising and working to deadlines
Desirable
Knowledge
Essential
- oKnowledge of specialist medical terminology.
- oKnowledge and experience of office management, systems and practice
- oGood working knowledge of Word, Excel and Powerpoint
- oUse of internet systems including NHS net.
- oKnowledge of electronic patient records and systems e.g. Infoflex and CERNER.
- oKnowledge of confidentiality principles with regards to patient data.
- oUnderstanding of medical terminology and cancer pathways.
Desirable
- oKnowledge of Cancer Peer Review process.
- oKnowledge of LCA/ RMP Vanguard guidance.
- oKnowledge NHS policies.
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.
