Job summary

The [Employer hidden — sign up to reveal] is currently recruiting a Cancer Care Navigator on behalf of the Hyndburn Central PCN.

Main duties of the job

The Cancer Care Navigator will have responsibility for supporting and developing co-ordination and management of the Early Detection & Prevention of Cancer across the Primary Care Network and ensuring that the early part of the patients cancer journey is as seamless as possible. You are to work within our Primary Care Network (PCN) multidisciplinary healthcare team. This role gives the exciting opportunity to work with a committed team and to help shape the delivery of services, and projects to the patient population. The candidate will need a flexible approach to change and be instrumental in the delivery of the PCNs aims for patient centred care.

About us

The [Employer hidden — sign up to reveal] is a network of 9 PCNs covering 48 GP practices covering a population of over 390,000 patients across East Lancashire. Patients are at the heart of everything we do and we pride ourselves in ensuring our patients feel safe, supported, communicated with and respected at a time when they may be feeling vulnerable. The Alliance are proud to represent our member practices and to champion our Primary Care Partners, by working with local general practice and other system partners in the provision of patient centred, local healthcare services. Each practice has a close-knit team of staff who collectively seek to improve the health of their patient populations. East Lancashire is one of the world's most innovative, original and exciting places to live and work. From the beauty of the surrounding countryside, to the heart of the vibrant inner Towns and Villages with great shopping, entertainment and dining options. Wherever you go you will experience a great northern welcome with people famed for their warmth, humour and generosity.

Job responsibilities

• Assist the PCN in delivering improvements to patient care in relation to national cancer screening programmes.
• Ensure robust and supportive referral practices for patients suspected of having cancer; including use of guidelines, professional development, and safety netting.
• Run reports from clinical systems such as Emis (training provided).
• Form productive relationships with practice staff including GP practice non clinical cancer champions, social prescribers, pharmacists, secretaries etc.
• Assist PCN practices to evaluate screening uptake and engage hard to reach populations to reduce health inequalities.
• Proactively monitor and track patients suspected or confirmed of having a cancer diagnosis, ensuring timely processing in line with Cancer Waiting Time Targets.
• Provide advice and support on cancer audit/referral review; collate learning from case reviews.
• Develop consistent safety netting approaches across the PCN for patients referred urgently with suspected cancer.
• Source resources and training from organisations such as Cancer Alliance, Cancer Research UK, Macmillan, and local authority partners.
• Be a point of contact for PCN member Practices to develop and implement cancer screening improvement action plans.
• Create a library of data packs and resources in various formats to meet patient needs, including those with Learning Disabilities and non-English speakers.
• Review practice coding and templates to ensure consistency and accuracy; liaise with Ardens.
• Support peer-to-peer learning events across the PCN.
• Provide support and guidance to ARRS staff; book patient appointments; code clinician and administration contacts; generate reports to analyse capacity and demand.
• Help patients manage their needs by answering queries, making appointments, and providing written/verbal information to support choices about their care.
• Support or manage clinics, including rotas and service monitoring.
• Help patients access self-management education courses and peer support.
• Coordinate and deliver multi-disciplinary meetings.
• Adhere to organisational policies and procedures; work without supervision, plan own workload.
• Provide administrative support as required.
• Understand what a Primary Care Network is and how support is provided through improved collaboration.
• Work with key people in the PCN to develop and support collective general practice projects.
• Demonstrate good organisation and time management skills; maintain confidentiality.
• Support the process of personalised care and support plans (PCSP) based on what matters to the person.
• Work directly and indirectly with patients and carers to navigate the early part of the cancer diagnostic pathway, improving patient compliance and experience.
• Ensure patients are monitored and supported post treatment completion, including rehabilitation where necessary.
• Perform Cancer Care reviews at 3 and 12 months according to Quality & Outcomes Framework.
• Input information accurately and timely; work to tight deadlines.
• Develop systems to ensure high quality patient referrals are completed with pre-work such as blood tests or scans actioned in advance.
• Identify and resolve delays in the patient pathway; discuss with practice/PCN when necessary.
• Adapt to differing operational frameworks of individual practices and patient needs.
• Support patients to manage their needs through queries, appointments, and information provision.
• Support patients to take up training, employment, and access benefits where eligible.
• Assist patients to access self-management education courses, peer support, or interventions.
• Support patients to access personal health budgets where appropriate.
• Provide coordination and navigation for patients and carers across health and care services, working with Social Prescribing Link Workers, Health & Wellbeing Partnership Coaches, and other professionals.
• Effectively communicate and manage barriers to communication.
• Provide information to patients, carers, and relatives on behalf of the team.
• Liaise with service users and all health and social care professionals; keep everyone informed and updated.
• Receive and collate information in connection with PCN work streams.
• Use risk stratification tools and support presentation of information in review meetings.
• Follow through actions identified in PCN work streams including arranging tests, referrals, signposting, etc.

Person Specification

Qualifications

Essential: Good standard of education GCSE or equivalent in English and Mathematics.

Desirable: A-level / NVQ level 3 or equivalent experience; Degree level education or equivalent.

Experience

Essential: Experience of office procedures in an administration team; setting up and implementing internal processes; dealing with sensitive/confidential information; working in reception/telephone environments; proven administrative experience.

Desirable: Project support/management; working within Multidisciplinary teams.

Knowledge

Essential: Understanding of Clinical Governance; Confidentiality and Data Protection Act.

Desirable: Working knowledge of database management; knowledge of local guidelines; health and social care legislation and initiatives.

Other

Essential: Driver with sole use of vehicle.

Autonomy

Essential: Demonstrated capabilities to manage own workload and make informed decisions in the absence of required information, working to tight and often changing timescales.

Skills & Abilities

Essential: Understanding and dealing with confidential and sensitive issues; ability to prioritise and organise workload; work under pressure with constant interruptions; problem solve; work in partnership; manage conflicting issues assertively.

Desirable: Ability to use electronic patient record / Emis.

Personal Qualities

Essential: Adaptable and flexible; ability to use own initiative; build and maintain effective working relationships; challenge and be challenged; motivate self and others; work as part of a team; work flexibly; communicate effectively verbally and in writing.

Employer details

Employer name: [Employer hidden — sign up to reveal]

Address: Acorn Centre, 421 Blackburn Road, Accrington, Lancashire BB5 1RT

Employer's website: https://eastlancashirealliance.co.uk/

Contact details

HR Advisor: Ruth Law

Email: [Employer hidden — sign up to reveal]