Cancer Support Worker (Lung)

at  Maidstone and Tunbridge Wells NHS Trust

We are looking for a positive and enthusiastic person with a strong work ethic and a background in clinical or customer care to join our well-established team of Lung Cancer Clinical Nurse Specialists as a Band 4 Cancer Support Worker.
The Lung Cancer Team at Maidstone and Tunbridge Wells NHS Trust is a forward-thinking, patient-focused team, providing a high standard of care for people diagnosed with lung cancer, embracing change to improve patient experience.
The Lung Cancer CNS Team are an integral part of the Multi-Disciplinary Team (MDT) and work closely with medical/surgical colleagues, diagnostic services, inpatient and outpatient teams to provide a holistic and patient-centred service. The CNS Team have strong links with Kent Oncology Centre to ensure a streamlined pathway of care for patients. The Lung Cancer Support Worker provides a valuable contribution to the patient pathway and supports the Lung Cancer CNS Team with the daily management of patient care.
The role will involve supporting the CNS Team to continue to practice at an advanced level, providing administrative and communication support and assisting with the day-to-day running of the service. You will have direct patient contact and will develop in the role to enable you to identify when patients require urgent CNS support and assisting to complete assessments and make onward referrals as directed by the CNS Team.
You will also develop in the role to work with patients and carers to complete Holistic Needs Assessments.
You will receive ongoing support from senior members of the team including receiving annual appraisals and performance reviews.
To work at Band 4 level you will need to have achieved qualifications at NVQ 3/4 or equivalent, have good literacy skills, be able to input data, communicate empathically and evidence a compassionate approach and a good understanding of the impact of a cancer diagnosis on a patient and family.
The post will involve cross-site working and a degree of flexibility to meet the needs of the service. We currently operate a Monday to Friday service and are happy to consider a flexible working pattern providing the needs of the service are met.
Maidstone and Tunbridge Wells NHS Trust is a large acute hospital Trust in the county of Kent.
The Trust provides a full range of general hospital services and some areas of specialist complex care to around 760,000 people living in the south part of West Kent and the north part of East Sussex.
The Trust’s core catchment areas are Maidstone and Tunbridge Wells and their surrounding boroughs. We work from two main clinical sites: Maidstone Hospital and Tunbridge Wells Hospital at Pembury. Tunbridge Wells Hospital opened in 2011 and provides single rooms with en-suites for all in-patients – the first of its kind in the country.
We employ more than 7,000 full and part-time staff in a huge range of clinical and non-clinical roles across both of our hospital sites.
Would you like to work flexibly? In the NHS, we are reminded every day of how important life is. As a flexible working friendly organisation, we want to be sure that you can work in a way that is best for us, for our patients and for you. Speak to us about how we might be able to accommodate a flexible working arrangement.
Once your pre-employment checks have been completed you will be contacted by Recruitment to arrange your start date which will be in line with one of our Corporate Inductions.
You will be expected to attend the Trust’s Clinical Induction Programme for Clinical Support Workers (which starts on the first day of employment). The programme is full-time (please contact the CSW Induction Programme Lead if this is going to be problematic: rallen@nhs.net ), lasts for two weeks and will involve travelling to both Trust sites. The programme includes 2 supernumerary shifts in the clinical area (an early and a late shift), all of the other days are classroom-based and run from 9am to 5pm
Please note that appointment to this post will be subject to a satisfactory Disclosure & Barring Service Check at Enhanced level. (Enhanced level now includes regulated checks against vulnerable adults and children).
At MTW, we seek to develop a culture where everyone can reach their full potential with opportunities to grow and develop their career. We recognise and value the unique contributions that each of our staff bring, delivering the best quality care and service to our patients. We are committed to being a diverse employer and strive to reflect everyone in our local communities. We welcome applications from people of diverse backgrounds, perspectives and experiences and celebrate the diversity of thought, viewpoints and ideas that will make our Trust the best place to work.
Interview Date: To be confirmed

Please refer the Job description for details