Working alongside the Lung Pathway Cancer Navigator, the Lung Pathway Cancer Care Co-ordinator will proactively support the lung cancer team to provide timely, effective access to clinical assessments, diagnostics and treatments
to people who have suspected or confirmed lung cancer. This will include dynamic tracking and expedition of patient pathways against nationally mandated timelines, across a range of clinical services and across organisations.
This role is patient facing, proactively making contact to all patients on 'cancer pathways' to screen for additional needs and record required reasonable adjustments, then informing relevant support practitioners, within and outside the organisation where necessary.
The combined roles of Lung Pathway Cancer Navigator and Lung Pathway Care Co-ordinator will work to ensure that all patients referred onto the pathway are supported holistically throughout the process, to achieve timely, effective and equitable outcomes in this patient cohort. They will jointly be accountable to report to Trust Performance Teams regarding RTT, CWT and other KPIs.
Main duties of the job
The aim is to support reductions in Health Inequalities linked to the CORE20Plus5 framework, supporting people with multiple and complex needs, and ultimately contribute to improving the overall health of our community. Enabling earlier cancer diagnosis results in more treatment options and improved outcomes, and it is essential that patients have access to equitable opportunity to early diagnosis and treatment. The target populations may include but are not limited to people who are with multiple long-term health conditions, serious mental ill health, homeless/at risk of homelessness, those living in poverty, prison leavers / on probation, vulnerable migrants, Gypsy Roma and Traveller communities, people with learning disabilities or neurodivergence, people from different ethnic backgrounds or facing language or literacy barriers or digital exclusion.
The post holder must have excellent communication skills to engage and deliver support for vulnerable populations who may not already be accessing healthcare services. The post holder must have a willingness to undertake mandatory and role specific training within a specified timescale and be committed to continuously developing new skills relevant to their role.
About us
Based in the North East of England we provide a range of hospital and community health services from our leading facilities, including the Queen Elizabeth Hospital, Blaydon urgent care centre and Bensham Hospital, all within Gateshead.
Established in 2005, we were one of the first foundation trusts in the country and since then have consistently achieved the highest levels of care for patients.
We now employ around 4,800 staff and currently provide 444 hospital beds across the Gateshead region.
Our values should be the 'golden thread' which runs through everything we do - they are the core of who we are. Our five values can easily be remembered by the simple acronymICORE; Innovation, Care, Openness, Respect, Engagement.
We have a number of staff networks including the Global Ethnic Majority (GEM) network, D-Ability network, LGBTQ+ Network and the Women's Network, to challenge us and help us to constantly improve. Our Armed Forces network is one of our emerging networks.
The health and wellbeing of our staff is one of our highest priorities, and we offer a range of support and initiatives as part of our 'Balance' programme balancegateshead.com to cater for our diverse workforce, so that your individual needs can be supported, allowing you a happy and healthy working experience with us.
Job responsibilities
Follow up patient enquiries on a day-to-day basis liaising with the lung cancer clinical teams and initiating appropriate response according to protocols and individual pathways.
Support holistic needs assessments of an agreed set of patients, identifying where reasonable adjustments and more support may be required, and making appropriate referrals
Utilise excellent communication skills, ensuring pertinent information is shared with named clinical teams within an acceptable timeframe
Assist with tracking of relevant diagnostics test results and flag to lung cancer nurses/respiratory consultants/ oncologists.
Liaise with appropriate departments for patient care/treatment e.g. radiology/bookings team/administrative staff/HIVE team
Provide personalised reminders e.g. SMS or telephone calls to prompt attendance at appointments
Assist in the co-ordination of diagnostic tests (e.g. blood tests, PFTs and scans) and schedule appointments in a timely way that avoids patient care delays whilst maximising ability to attend.
Take responsibility for the maintenance of accurate digital records and electronic information capture.
Work flexibly with Lung Cancer Navigator and provide interim support for their duties during periods of leave.
Support clinical teams to identify patients requiring MDT discussion and co-ordinate necessary information availability to allow listing, discussion and decision making.
Inputs required data relevant to service delivery via appropriate systems e.g. Careflow, Dendrite.
Participate in data audit activity/surveys aimed at the evaluating the quality and provision of services
Adhere to national recommendations ensuring communications and governance are always maintained, promoting patient safety, high quality specialist clinical care and advice
Person Specification
Skills
* Motivated and enthusiastic to learn and develop
* Good IT skills and experience with a range of Microsoft office packages
* Strong communication and interpersonal skills with the ability to listen, influence, negotiate and motivate individuals
* Ability to act upon own initiative, respond to changing situations with excellent organisational and time management skills
* Ability to handle sensitive data with confidentiality
* Understanding of patient centred/personalised care
* Understanding of the wider determinants of health, including social, economic and environmental factors and their impact on an individual's ability to access healthcare
* Experience and/or understanding of cancer pathways, tracking or MDT management
Qualifications
* GCSE English Language (Grades A-C or equivalent)
* GCSE Maths (Grades A-C or equivalent)
* Evidence of continuing professional and/or educational development
Experience
* Relevant health or social care experience
* Experience in supporting people and their families/significant others (including unpaid work)
* A working knowledge of supporting clients with long term health conditions utilising a personalised care approach
* Experience of multi-sector working
* Experience of partnership/collaborative working and of building relationships across a variety of settings
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.
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