Macmillan Information and Support Worker

Job description

Job responsibilities

WORCESTERSHIRE ACUTE HOSPITALS NHS TRUST

JOB DESCRIPTION

Worcestershire Macmillan Information and Support Worker

Pay Band 4

Hours Full time 37.5

Contract Permanent

Location Alexandra Hospital & Kidderminster Treatment Centre

Department Cancer Services

NB. The post holders would be expected to travel across all sites within Worcestershire Acute Hospitals Trust on occasion to meet service needs

Accountable to Macmillan and Trust Lead Cancer Nurse

Reports to Macmillan and Trust Lead Cancer Nurse

Key Working Relationships

Internal

Macmillan Information and Support Services Managers

Macmillan Information and Support Volunteers

Lead Cancer Clinician

Lead Cancer Nurse

Cancer Management Team

Cancer Services Team

Cancer Quality Assurance Manager

Living With and Beyond Cancer Project Manager

Macmillan Worcestershire Clinical Nurse Specialist

Clinical Nurse Specialists across all tumour sites & other members of the supportive MDT

Medical Secretaries and Outpatients regarding patient appointments

Palliative Care Teams

Psychology Team

Information Management and Technology staff

Directorate Managers & Directorate Support Managers

Patient Safety & Governance Teams

External

Patients and their family/friends/visitors

Colleagues from other external services

Worcestershire Macmillan Citizens Advice Service

Worcestershire Macmillan Buddy Service

Macmillan Cancer Support

Local Charities Sector

Partner organisations e.g. Citizens Advice, Macmillan Benefits Service, Social Services and other local support organisations

Oncology Secretaries at the Cancer Centres

Staff from tertiary centres and GP practices

West Midlands Strategic Clinical Network

Clinical Commissioning Groups

Risk Assessment

This post involves daily use of display screen equipment for prolonged periods

This post may involve manual handling associated with general office duties

May deal with emotional circumstances involving distressed individuals, patients, carers, clients, relatives, friends and vulnerable groups

May deal with situations of potential confrontation with verbally aggressive and emotive or distressed patients, relatives or carers

May involve travelling between Trust sites.

Job Purpose

The post-holder will work as part of the Macmillan Person Centred follow up team to underpin the delivery of cancer information, education and support to people affected by cancer as well as staff and volunteers. They will support clinical staff and other health care professionals to deliver the Personalised Care Agenda.

Key Duties

To support the Macmillan Person Centred follow up team and volunteers in providing appropriate information and support for cancer patients, their families, friends and carers throughout the pathway of care

To support the development and implementation of a recruitment and training programme for volunteers within the service

To work autonomously within defined parameters, under the supervision of the Macmillan Lead Cancer Nurse or Macmillan Information Services Manager

To ensure that the service operates in partnership with and is supportive of the aims and values of Macmillan Cancer Support

To maintain links with key stakeholders to ensure services are appropriate for the users, including diverse groups e.g. age, disability, ethnicity

To maintain the credibility of the service ensuring confidentiality of all who access the service

To help to develop sustainability and capacity to deliver support services into the future

To demonstrate an understanding of and contribute to the delivery of the Personalised Care Agenda and Holistic Needs Assessments for patients, liaising and collaborating with other services and partner organisations as needed.

Contribute to improving the patient experience through the delivery of high-quality information and support at the appropriate point of the pathway

Significantly enhance and aid the embedding of the Holistic Needs Assessment as routine practice, ensuring documentation is completed on the Trusts electronic systems and accurate data collection is recorded

Support the Macmillan Information Services Managers to provide the daily supervision, training and support for volunteers. This will also include administration of the volunteer database and volunteer recruitment

To encourage and help the volunteers to deliver appropriate support for anyone dealing with cancer

With the support of volunteers, ensure that information materials are correctly catalogued and displayed and that the service is kept well stocked with a uniform system of ordering stock and materials across the Trust

Collaborate and communicate with other departments within the hospital to facilitate high quality, timely and joined up care

Work autonomously within the policies of the Trust, under the supervision of the Macmillan Lead Cancer Nurse or Macmillan Information Services Manager

Organise and prioritise time effectively.

Demonstrate a strong commitment to the active involvement of users in the development of the service and ensure that the voice and needs of patients and carers are at the heart of all activity

Assist the Macmillan Lead Cancer Nurse and Macmillan Information Services Managers with the development of appropriate outreach services, whilst ensuring core services are not compromised

Communicate appropriately and sensitively in different settings, using a range of methods and styles, supported by existing knowledge and experience

Anticipate how people may feel in a given situation, responding with kindness and empathy

Ensure that patient and staff confidentiality is maintained at all times

Actively promote the centres and encourage their use and liaise with partner organisations to expand the service to make it more accessible to patients and carers as well as the general public

Assist the Macmillan Lead Cancer Nurse and Macmillan Team to ensure the

website is regularly updated and that social media is used regularly to promote the service

Ensure that the centres operate in a professional and responsible manner and follow the systems and procedures of Worcestershire Acute Hospitals NHS Trust.

Participate in the evaluation of the services provided by the centres, for example by carrying out staff and patient surveys, and by contributing to quality assessments

Maintain and develop your own professional development by undertaking appropriate training and education

Develop effective working relationships with clinical teams and support them to make service improvements which can be monitored and their effectiveness evaluated

General Duties

Participate in the Trusts Performance and Development Review and to undertake any identified training and development related to the post.

Undertake statutory and mandatory training as deemed appropriate by the Trust.

Develop and maintain effective working relationships with colleagues.

Adhere to all Trust policies and procedures. Ensuring confidentiality at all times.

Undertake such other tasks as requested by the Macmillan Lead Cancer Nurse and Cancer Services Managerin accordance with the grade and nature of the post.

Maintain a smart and professional appearance at all times.

Maintain a professional manner including practising respectful office etiquette at all times.

Person Specification

Experience

Essential

• Experience working within an NHS environment

Desirable

• Previous experience of working in the NHS in a role relating to cancer patient pathways
• Previous experience of supervising volunteers
• Previous experience of training / coaching

Other Job Requirements

Essential

• Ability to concentrate on tasks whilst managing frequent interruptions
• Ability to cope with exposure to details regarding patients that may be distressing
• Ability and willingness to travel across trust sites as required
• Professional appearance and demeanour
• Positive attitude towards change
• Flexible and adaptable

Knowledge and skills

Essential

• Ability to support and develop a team of volunteers
• Ability to work independently without direct supervision
• An understanding of the importance of providing clear accessible information and support for people dealing with cancer
• Awareness for the need for confidentiality at all times
• Computer literacy ability to use a wide variety of systems including MS office packages
• Demonstrate ability to work to specific deadlines
• Demonstrate the ability to work on own initiative and solve problems and take appropriate action
• Ability to organise and prioritise own workload and that of a small team
• Ability to communicate and work with a wide range of clinical and administrative staff
• Willingness to undertake new skills appropriate to the service need
• Demonstrate ability to utilise digital platforms to communicate with people affected by cancer and key stakeholders
• Ability to analyse and present data

Desirable

• Knowledge of appropriate legislation with regards to sharing patient and staff data and protecting confidentiality.
• A basic knowledge of cancer and cancer treatments

Qualifications

Essential

• GCSE English and Mathematics or equivalent
• Knowledge of health and wellbeing issues and services acquired through training and experience to NVQ level 3 or equivalent

Desirable

• Qualified to NVQ 4 or Equivalent
• Effective communication training/qualification
• Administrative training and / or experience
• Experience with working with people affected by cancer

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

Worcestershire Acute Hospitals NHS Trust

Address

The Alexandra Hospital

Woodrow Drive

Redditch

Worcestershire

B98 7UB

Employer's website

https://www.worcsacute.nhs.uk/ (Opens in a new tab)