Job overview
Hours per week - Fixed Term until March 2026
An exciting opportunity has arisen for a Band 4 Cancer Prehabilitation Assistant Practitioner to join our new cancer prehabilitation pilot service (OPTIMISE) that is at the forefront of optimising health and wellbeing for cancer patients across South Tees Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust. The post holder will be working under the guidance of the Personalised Cancer Care Prehabilitation Lead to work with and support cancer patients across South Tees to optimise their health and wellbeing ahead of treatment /surgery.
Continuous professional development will be actively encouraged and the post holder will be supported to develop their knowledge and skills with regular support and clinical supervision from the Personalised Cancer Care Prehabilitation Lead
Main duties of the job
You will need to be able to work as part of a team and on your own, frequently using your own initiative and problem-solving skills to support cancer prehabilitation. You will work within a small team and be involved with patients with who have just been diagnosed with, or are highly suspected to have, cancer. The successful applicant will have good communication and literacy skills and basic computer skills. Previous work experience within health or social care setting is essential and experience working with patients who have cancer is desirable but not essential. Participation in service developments and clinical governance is also expected.
Please note this post may close at sufficient applicants.
Working for our organisation
South Tees Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust offers leadership and improvement training to all new staff. This training programme has been designed to support our staff in developing their understanding of leadership and management skills. You will be expected to attend the following training sessions:
·Your Leadership Impact
·Leading Your Team to Success
·Service Improvement for Beginners
·Developing your Service Improvement Skills
The leadership and improvement programme aims to:
·Explore leadership within the NHS
·Promote Trust values and behaviours
·Develop your leadership effectiveness and skills
·Equip you with the necessary knowledge and skills to lead and complete service improvements within the scope of your role.
After you complete these three and a half days of training you will be able to explore further leadership and improvement training opportunities. We also offer further in-house courses and bitesize programmes through our Leadership and Improvement Team.
Detailed job description and main responsibilities
Please see the full job description and person specification document(s) attached for main responsibilities of the role.
If you have an further questions please contact Jemma Bedford.
Person specification
Qualifications
Essential criteria
1. Minimum NVQ Level 3 related qualification (or equivalent) in Physical Activity, Nutrition, Health and Wellbeing or Mental Health or a Level 2 in one of these areas, with working knowledge gained through practical delivery and a commitment to undertake further training
2. GCSE in Maths and English (A-C/4-9) or Functional Skills (level 2)
3. Knowledge of secretarial and administrative procedures and systems, the majority of which are non-routine, acquired through training and experience; plus knowledge of specialist functional/medical/legal terms, organisational policies and procedures and knowledge and experience to deal with non-routine issues such as problem solving for an area of work or developing alternative or additional procedures
Desirable criteria
4. Attendance at foundation improvement training and the new and aspiring leaders program within first year of role
5. Training in exercise or equivalent evidence of underpinning knowledge
6. Qualification in Cancer Rehab
Experience
Essential criteria
7. Excellent communication skills (written, verbal and listening) with proven experience of dealing with a wide and complex range of stakeholders and matters.
8. Experience of roles using IT systems, particularly Microsoft Word, Excel and PowerPoint.
9. Be able to interpret and follow written instructions from members of the multi-disciplinary team.
10. Able to construct clear grammatically correct correspondence including letters, emails and reports.
Desirable criteria
11. A basic knowledge of cancer and cancer treatments.
Knowledge and skills
Essential criteria
12. Knowledge of prehabilitation or rehabilitation and its benefits
13. Experience working with a multi-professional team including medical or clinical staff.
14. Experience of direct patient contact including telephone and face to face contact.
15. Experience in administration / organisational skills.
16. Experience of dealing with confidential and sensitive data and appropriate maintenance and storage of records.
17. Ability to communicate with a wide range of people in an empathetic way.
18. Experience of programme / project support work.
19. Experience of using NHS information systems
Desirable criteria
20. An awareness of behaviour change models
Disclosure and Barring Checks (DBS)
It is now the policy of South Tees Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust that all successful candidates who are new to the Trust who require DBS clearance for the post they have been offered, are required to pay the cost of their DBS. The method of payment for this is via salary deduction from your first month's pay.
Equality, Diversity and Inclusion
South Tees Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust is committed to promoting equality of opportunity, celebrating and valuing diversity and eliminating any form of unlawful discrimination across our workforce, ensuring our people are truly representative of the communities we serve. All individuals regardless of age, disability, gender reassignment, marriage and civil partnership, pregnancy and maternity, race, religion or belief, sex and sexual orientation are encouraged to apply for this post. We welcome applications from the Black and Minority Ethnic (BAME) Network; LGBT+ Network; Disability and Long-Term Health Conditions Network, Faith Network, Childless not by Choice Network and the Menopause Support Group.
As an inclusive employer, we are here to support you.
If you have any special requirements to help you with your application, email our team at
Right to Work in the UK
The Trust welcomes applications from all candidates who meet the criteria for the role. Please note that from January 2021, to work in the UK all candidates who are not UK or Republic of Ireland (RoI) nationals require sponsorship unless you have permission to work via another route. Non UK / RoI candidates wishing to apply can self-assess the likelihood of obtaining a Certificate of Sponsorship here Work in the UK - (.
Please provide full and accurate details of your current immigration status on the application form. Your current immigration status will not be considered as part of the shortlisting or interview process.
Please note that not everyone needs a Skilled Worker visa. If you are applying for a vacancy in health or adult social care, you may be eligible to apply for the Health and Care Worker visa instead.
We are able to offer sponsorship for a Health and Care Worker or Skilled Worker visa, subject to candidate and position eligibility. Please review the job eligibility guidance for skilled workers here: Skilled Worker visa: Your job - ( and for the Health and Care Worker visa here: Skilled Worker visa: eligible healthcare and education jobs - (
Please note: if the job you are applying for does not meet the eligibility criteria above, we will be unable to offer you sponsorship and you will need to explore whether you may be eligible to apply for an alternative immigration route which will secure your right to work in the UK before you apply. If you are in the UK already on a visa, please ensure you have no restrictions that would prevent you from taking this post.
The Trust encourages and supports all applicants to be fully vaccinated against both COVID19 and influenza.
Please be aware, there are occasions where some vacancies may close prior to the closing date advertised. This will only happen where sufficient applications are received AND will be made evident on the job advert.
Please note if you are successfully shortlisted, we will contact you via the email address that you have applied from so please ensure you check your emails regularly.
Existing employees of South Tees NHS Foundation Trust currently on the Redeployment Register, who meet the essential criteria for this post, will be shortlisted and interviewed prior to all other applicants.