Secondary Breast Support Worker

Job description

Job responsibilities

Provide sensitive support and guidance to individuals who contact Secondary Breast Nursing Service Support via multiple mediums i.e. face to face, telephone and MS teams.

Communicate all information and advice using a range of advanced communication skills including use of reassurance, tact, and empathy.

Assist in the triage of incoming phone calls and drop ins. This will include consideration of callers information and support needs, provision of verbal and written information, supportive listening, action planning and signposting to available services and support.

Maintain accurate records using a wide range of trust systems

Escalating complex decisions/queries to the Clinical Nurse specialists for assessment and review.

Ensure that situations or enquiries requiring specialist intervention are referred appropriately and in a timely fashion.

Demonstrate the ability to recognise and respond appropriately when faced with an individual in crisis and to act as appropriate, knowing when to signpost or refer onwards.

Support information delivery to patients and carers on a wide range of matters within your field of expertise and recognise when onward referral is required.

Support the Cancer Nurses in co-ordinating the day to day running of the information and support services.

To support data collection to facilitate service improvements, quality and audit.

To proactively identify patient and carer needs using the appropriate assessment and process to ensure that people get the right support to meet their needs. The role requires use of judgment in responding to the needs of individuals. The level of judgment required relates to identifying the complexity of the situation, providing appropriate advice and escalating to the Cancer Nurses, clinical team, community team where appropriate.

Organise and prioritise the designated workload in relation to identified needs.

Organise appointments as required.

Make pre-planned outbound calls to patients to assess on going needs to enable a proactive prevention approach.

Identify indicators of need or changes in need through telephone contact and respond appropriately.

To signpost patients/carers directly to information resources to support people in making decisions about aspects of their own care, enable independence and support self-management as appropriate.

Support the delivery of patient and carer information around topics such as reducing the risk of cancer and living with cancer and beyond treatment.

Encourage and support active and healthy lifestyle choices.

Support patients and carers to understand what signs, symptoms or situations to be aware of that would indicate concern.

Support and inform patients and carers to understand how to make contact when they feel that their condition or needs have changed, including what to do out of hours.

Additional elements for the role:

Support and contribute to annual report and service review of this innovative new model of care and service provision.

Demonstrate self-directed learning, actively seeking role development opportunities to enhance practice, knowledge and role progression.

Identify personal education needs and skills development. .

Support the team with day-to-day running of the service and support clinical teams when required i.e. by providing information, responding to queries and attending meetings.

Contribute to the continuous improvement and development of the service, identifying areas for change / improvement, suggesting new approaches and implementing changes in practice identified through other routes, such as surveys.

Deputise at meetings where appropriate

Person Specification

Qualifications and Experience

Essential

• oDiploma or equivalent appropriate qualification, e.g. foundation degree assistant practitioner/nurse associate
• oDirect patient care. Experience of working in clinics and/or outpatient or inpatient setting
• oKnowledge and/or experience of working directly with people with cancer
• oAdministrative and organisational experience
• oAbility to support and communicate virtually
• oExperience of dealing with routine and complex problems and escalation
• oExcellent communication skills
• oAble to learn and assimilate information quickly
• oProven ability to work to deadlines, prioritise and multi-task
• oTo have awareness of limitations and boundaries
• oAbility to collect data and input electronically

Desirable

• oCourses/further study attended to demonstrate evidence of personal development
• oProficient in the use of hospital computerised patient systems
• oEvidence of using Microsoft Teams by way of supporting patients
• oKnowledge and/or experience of the Holistic Needs Assessment
• oBusiness and Admin
• oExperience in systems such as Microsoft office
• oAdvanced communication skills

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

Torbay and South Devon NHS Foundation Trust

Address

South Devon Health Care Trust

Lowes Bridge

Torquay

TQ2 7AA

Employer's website

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