Job overview
As the Lead Complementary Therapist for cancer services at HHFT, you will provide expert knowledge and skills around suitable, effective and safe complementary therapies to the wider cancer team and patients. You will be required to lead and support a team of honorary and substantive complementary therapists and act as a core member of the multi-disciplinary oncology team. As a practicing therapist, you will be directly responsible for providing a range of complementary therapies to HHFT cancer patients.
You will work closely with the operational service manager for oncology and the Lead Clinical Nurse Specialist for Personalised Care to grow and develop the complementary therapy service within the Wellbeing and Supportive Care Service.
You will maintain excellent standards and support the development of future service provision.
Main duties of the job
Provide strong and effective leadership.
Delivering safe, efficient and effective patient referral system with assessment and allocation of therapeutic treatments.
Manage complementary therapists, providing regular supervision and leadership.
Ensure that the team achieve/maintain essential qualifications and relevant registrations.
Proactively pursues service development and improvement.
Create/update relevant complementary therapy SOP in line with Trust policies.
Provide at least two complementary therapies, which must include aromatherapy massage and reflexology.
Work closely with clinical teams to promote and develop integrated complementary therapy within cancer services.
Keep concise accurate records in line with data protection requirements and HHFT record keeping policies and procedures.
Initiate and chair peer-supervision meetings.
Act as a role model demonstrating exceptional high standards of care and providing leadership.
Ensure safe and efficient management, supply and storage of resources.
Promote the philosophy of personalising care, co-creating it with people affected by cancer.
Collate and record quantitative data to provide evidence of productivity, outcomes and quality
Collect and collate patient feedback through surveys and feedback forms
Educate patients on complementary therapy techniques to promote self-management.
Identify and respond to changes in patients' condition and and report to nursing/medical team for review as required.
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.
Detailed job description and main responsibilities
Further information about the Trust and this role can be found on the Job Description and Person Specification document attached.
Person specification
Qualifications
Essential criteria
1. •Professional qualification in at least two of the following therapies: Aromatherapy, Massage Therapy, Reflexology, Indian Head Massage (i.e., FHT (Federation of Holistic Therapists), CNHC (Complementary and Natural Healthcare Council) and IFPA (International Federation of Professional Aromatherapists)
2. •Evidence of continued professional development in area of specified practice
Desirable criteria
3. •Quality Improvement qualification
4. •Management or leadership qualification
Experience
Essential criteria
5. •Experience of working within a hospital or hospice setting
6. •Experience of providing complementary therapies within a cancer services setting
7. •Good understanding of research and evidence based practice in regards to complementary therapies
8. •Experience of working within an MDT environment, being an active participant in supporting patient care
9. •Experience of mentoring, supervision and providing professional leadership
Desirable criteria
10. •Experience in developing a new complementary therapies service in an NHS environment
11. •Understanding of recruitment practice and employment law
12. •Knowledge of NHS medical terminology
Skills
Essential criteria
13. •Effective written and verbal communication skills
14. •IT skills (i.e., Word, Excel, PowerPoint)
15. •Ability to work with distressed individuals/in difficult circumstances
16. •Excellent interpersonal skills
Desirable criteria
17. •Knowledge of local cancer support groups and networks