Detailed job description and main responsibilities

• Ensure patients and carers are treated with dignity and respect and in keeping with the RWT behaviours and values.

• Provide dedicated and knowledgeable support to patients receiving oncological care and treatment at RWT
• Demonstrate a broad understanding of cancer treatments offered within RWT and tertiary centres.
• Co-ordinate the transfer of care between service teams, or facilitation of service provision across interfaces of care – for example primary and secondary care
• Refer to other team members when appropriate and following discussion with the Clinical Nurse Specialist.
• Develop good working relationships and liaison between other departments and Healthcare professionals within the RWT
• Assess patients using Holistic Needs Assessment Tool and document accordingly.
• Participate in initiatives to explore patient experience and service feedback
• Use computer skills to document assessments.

    Identify with the Clinical Nurse Specialist those patients requiring a Holistic Needs Assessment and support those requiring Level 1-2 psychological support within own skill base.

• Keep all assessments up to date electronically and maintain database.
• Organise own workload and be able to update Clinical Nurse Specialists of progress in line with agreed work plan.
• Ensure patients receive timely and appropriate information in regard to their treatment and signpost to appropriate supportive leaflets and literature.
• Respond to telephone queries by a model of triage and appropriate referral to CNS or other allied healthcare professional.
• Ensure accurate and timely documentation.
• Communicate directly with patients, relatives and carers demonstrating empathy, understanding and respect. Information discussed and received will often require tact or persuasive skills, to ensure safety and understanding around treatment side effects as well as an understanding of complex information around treatment options and end of life care.
• Assist in the discharge planning of patients with appropriate community follow up for their psychological needs or support.
• Assist the CNSs with the implementation of Treatment Summary Records
• Be aware of the particular physical and psychological needs of the patient, observe and listen and report on any changes to the patient’s condition or concerns, alerting the CNS or registered nursing staff so that any necessary treatment and/or reassurance can be given to maintain patient safety/well-being. This will involve prioritising a patient’s clinical and psychological symptoms and judging how best to action any concerns when there may not be a straightforward choice of options.
• Plan and organise own workload to ensure patient needs are prioritised. Plan and organise own day to day workload, which will also involve liaising with several other healthcare professionals and external agencies. Develop patient care plans, based on information discussed within an Holistic Needs Assessment.
• Help patients and relatives overcome barriers to understanding when English is not their first language.
• Reporting all complaints and untoward occurrences as per trust policy.
• Participation in training and education opportunities for self-development and shared experience.
• Participate in other duties to reflect an evolving healthcare service as appropriate.