Job overview
The Cancer Support Worker will form an integral part of the multidisciplinary team caring for the holistic needs of patients, and their carers, under the guidance of the wider team. The role of the Cancer Support Worker is the joining up of services, co-ordination, information and communication between care givers, treatment providers, those living with and beyond cancer, and their families that create a seamless experience of care.
The main purpose of the Cancer Support Worker role is to support patients deemed able to self-manage and support them to navigate the complex health and social care system during and following completion of cancer treatment (Patient Initiated Follow Up - PIFU).
The post holder will be part of a wider network of Cancer Support Workers at HHFT but will work independently within the remit of the role, under the guidance of the Clinical Nurse Specialist within the breast specific tumour group.
Main duties of the job
• To assist with the coordination and management of patients undergoing treatment
• To support the breast clinical nurse specialists in the development of nurse led services.
• Provide information to patients related to treatment/follow-up and signposting to appropriate healthcare providers
• Support the team to develop/grow the PIFU pathway and associated electronic systems (i.e. MMR)
• Provide telephone advice and triage where appropriate, working within defined protocols and guidelines. Document and communicate outcomes
• Provide first line psychological support within boundaries following appropriate training
• Support patients to complete Holistic Needs Assessments (HNA)
• Be involved in surveys and audits
• Support the development and delivery of health and wellbeing sessions (121 or group), i.e., health promotion, disease prevention and supporting self-management
• Document all interactions both verbally and written with accuracy and in line with Trust policy and procedure
• Demonstrate excellent verbal and written communication skills
Working for our organisation
Our vision is to provide outstanding care for every patient. Patient care is at the heart of what we do at our three sites: Basingstoke and North Hampshire Hospital, Royal Hampshire County Hospital in Winchester and Andover War Memorial Hospital. Hampshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust provides medical and surgical services to a population of approximately 600,000 people across Hampshire and parts of West Berkshire.
Our cultural ambition is to have a culture that places people at the heart of all we do, where we all belong, and where learning, improvement and excellence thrive.
We provide specialist services to people across the UK and internationally. We are one of only two centres in the UK treating pseudomyxoma peritonei (a rare form of abdominal cancer) and we are leaders in the field of tertiary liver cancer and colorectal cancer.
The trust employs more than 9,000 staff and has a turnover of over £500 million a year. As a Foundation Trust, we are directly accountable to our members through the governors. The Council of Governors represent the interests of their constituencies and influence the future plans of the Foundation Trust.
Tackling Climate Change: Hampshire Hospitals aims to embed sustainability and net zero carbon principles into the delivery of care across all its services. To find out more, search or .
Detailed job description and main responsibilities
Please see attached job description and person specifications.
Informal visits and enquiries about the role are welcomed.
Person specification
Training and Qualifications
Essential criteria
1. NVQ Level 3 or similar
2. GCSE English Language and Mathematics or equivalent
3. IT skills
Desirable criteria
4. Experience of IT systems (excel, word)
Experience and Knowledge
Essential criteria
5. Demonstration of communication skills / training
6. Understanding of health and social care
7. Experience of working within a team and working independently
Desirable criteria
8. Experience of working within a cancer setting
9. Experience of working as a healthcare assistant or similar
10. Experience of coordinating a patient workload
Skills and abilities
Essential criteria
11. Good IT skills / data base knowledge
12. Ability to plan and organise workload
13. Ability to show empathy and understanding
Desirable criteria
14. Willingness to attend courses or workshops relevant to role
15. Demonstrate self awareness and coping strategies