Job overview
This is an exciting opportunity to join the Cancer Services team following organisational change to support more streamlined and efficient working practices.
You will be working with a team of experienced Cancer Services Pathway Trackers to support the efficient tracking and escalation of patients through their suspected cancer pathway to diagnosis and treatment; ensuring that they are being informed of their diagnosis within 28 days of referral and receiving their treatment within 62 days of referral (and 31 days of decision treat).
You will have the opportunity work with a wide range of stakeholders at the trust, including Consultants, Nursing teams, Operations Managers and Booking teams etc. giving you the opportunity to network with a wide variety of people and utilise excellent communication skills.
Main duties of the job
You will be required to provide full administrative and pathway co-ordination for patients on cancer pathways, including 28 day faster diagnosis, 62 day referral to treatment and 31 day decision to treat to treatment. Undertaking proactive monitoring and tracking of patients on pathways to ensure they are meeting the relevant targets; you will do this by working with a wide range of people to identify and escalate delays in pathways; as well as working with clinicians and ops teams to ensure that clock stops are identified and made in line with cancer waiting times targets.
It is imperative that the post holder has a full understanding of cancer waiting times standards and their impact on both the patient and trust.
Working for our organisation
When you walk through the door, one of the first things you’ll notice is that this Trust is full of talented people. Not just in the fields of medicine, nursing or diagnostics but in every part of the organisation. We are professional and passionate people who are all working together in an open and supportive culture.
We are committed to offering you a rewarding career and ensuring you feel a part of a flexible workforce that constantly seeks fresh ways of delivering the best care for our patients.
We don’t just look at you for who you are now; we look at you for who you could be in the future. We take training seriously, and encourage you to do the same. As a Trust we want to recruit, develop and retain skilled and motivated people to maintain a high performance culture.
Come and be a part of it!
Detailed job description and main responsibilities
MAIN DUTIES
* Work closely with Directorate Managers, Deputy Directorate Managers, The Outpatient Booking Office, Diagnostic test booking office (including Endoscopy), and Clinical Teams across all specialties within the trust to ensure patients are actively managed through patient pathways.
* Monitor patient’s administrative pathways from referral, through to diagnostics, treatment planning and treatment, highlighting any potential delays in the pathway and ensuring accurate data collection to support the process, reporting any discrepancies to the Trust Cancer Manager and the Associate/ Deputy Directorate managers and Directorate managers.
* Co-ordinate a range of appointments, diagnostic results, and reports from a range of different departments, including external trusts and other agencies, to ensure that all required information is ready in time for MDTs, further appointments and treatment planning to occur in line with cancer waiting times pathways.
* Ensure that appropriate requests for investigations are monitored following the clinician’s instructions. If diagnostic delays occur or appear imminent liaise with the diagnostic booking team manager for action.
* Ensure all information relating to the patient’s pathway clearly identifies all relevant target dates to ensure accuracy and to aid other users of the relevant systems, such as Cerner
* To support the division in implementation of robust follow-up tracking, ensuring no patient is ever ‘lost in the system’
* To prevent any patient breaching the pathway over 28/ 31/ 62 days, ensuring robust plans are in place and any significant delays are promptly escalated to the Associate, Deputy and Directorate manager.
* Maintain up to date knowledge of all Cancer standards, targets and processes relating to the patient pathway process and to be a point of reference for administrative teams across the Trust
* Use persuasive and influencing communications skills to communicate the need for patient pathways to progress in line cancer waiting times standards, sometimes with clinicians who do not understand the CWT rules, or people who are working under pressure to deliver services for a wide range of patients and service users.
* When speaking to patients, the job holder will need to show compassion and empathy whilst dealing with sensitive information of patient diagnosis. The role would include giving non-clinical advice and guidance which should be communicated appropriately.
* Provide local training and support to other staff within the Trust regarding Cancer Waiting Times rules, processes and procedures.
* Adhere to the Trust’s Joint Access Policy and related national RTT Frameworks.
* Provide reports and attend relevant meetings as requested by the Divisional and Directorate management teams.
* Prepare summary reports for the Directorate teams weekly.
* Lead weekly PTL meetings with Directorate Managers to ensure all patient pathways and reviewed and appropriate escalations made.
* Ensure all data related to the patient journey is input onto the Somerset Cancer Register (SCR) in line with audit requirements.
* Liaise with other NHS organisations to ensure the smooth transfer of patients referred to other trusts for investigation and treatment, as well as continuing to track and escalate these patients with support from the other organisation.
* Review complex information from a range of sources in order to compile timelines of any patient that breaches the 62-day cancer waiting times targets, determining the reason for non-compliance and highlighting any opportunities for learning for both the Cancer team and Directorates.
* Supporting the Directorate Manager and Clinical Lead to review their breaches using the timeline compiled; and in the case of 104-day breaches, assess for any harm.
Person specification
Qualifications
Essential criteria
* A Level at Grade C or above ( or equivalent qualification or relevant experience)
* GCSE English & Math’s at level 4 or above or equivalent
Desirable criteria
* Business or Leadership Qualification
Experience
Essential criteria
* Experience of working both within a Team and independently
* Experience and Understanding of National Cancer Waiting Times Standards (referral to treatment) target
Knowledge and Skills
Essential criteria
* Ability to use own initiative and prioritise and organise own workload
* IT Skills- Competent and Competent in using Microsoft Office including Word and Excel
* Demonstrate effective communication and negotiation skills
* Able to adapt to the changing needs of the service
Personal Attributes
Essential criteria
* Always displays trust values & professionalism
* Self-Motivated
* Positive, can-do attitude
Other
Essential criteria
* Able to work flexibly across sites as requested – although will be allocated main base