Assistant Cancer Pathway Coordinator
Job overview
An exciting opportunity has arisen for a keen and motivated individual to join the Cancer Services Team as an Assistant Cancer Pathway Coordinator. This role will require you to assist Cancer Pathway Coordinators in undertaking the tracking and escalation of all suspected and diagnosed cancer patients through their pathway, to attend and present at MDT meetings, and to collect data on the patients and their pathways.
The successful applicant should be competent with a variety of computer packages particularly Excel and must have demonstrable experience of iPM. The applicant must be able to manage and prioritise their own workload, have excellent communication skills and enjoy working as part of a team.
Applicants who are shortlisted are encouraged to attend an MDT meeting prior to attending their interview. For further details and for all other queries regarding this vacancy please email Victoria Kennington via ([email protected]).
***Preference will be given to internal Trust staff, as well as ‘Priority’ and 'At Risk' status including NHS At Risk staff throughout Devon who are able to display recent relevant experience as dictated by the Person Specification.***
Main duties of the job- To assist in the daily tracking of patients through their cancer pathway, escalating any barriers preventing patients from reaching the next stage of their pathway.
- To provide administrative support to Cancer MDT meetings, this includes generating the agenda, taking minutes, presenting and distributing outcomes.
- To collect a lot of data and upload it into the Somerset Cancer Register (SCR), including Cancer Outcomes and Services Dataset (COSD), which takes up a large proportion of the role.
- To provide cover and as necessary for Cancer Pathway Coordinators and other members of the Cancer Services Team.
- This is not a patient-facing role so you will spend a lot of time working at your desk on a computer.
Working for our organisation
We are a people business – where every member of staff matters and can make a difference. Patients are at the heart of everything we do. Joining University Hospitals Plymouth NHS Trust means becoming part of a team of dedicated staff, who are committed to leading the way through innovation, clinical excellence and great customer care.The Trust has great opportunities for career development in a highly progressive working environment. We offer all of this in a vibrant, modern city with a historic reputation for adventure. If you have any issues with applying online and need additional support including reasonable adjustments with the application process please contact the recruitment team on 01752 432100.
We recognise that work life balance is important for our colleagues and so we invite requests from applicants around less than full time/flexible working for our advertised roles. Please contact the recruiting manager to discuss this prior to your application submission.
We commit to giving this full consideration in each case. It is sometimes necessary to close vacancies before the closing date. If you have not heard from us within 4 weeks of the closing date, please assume that you have not been shortlisted.
Detailed job description and main responsibilities
Tracking Patients:
- To assist in the daily tracking of patients along their cancer journey and to identify and escalate any delays or barriers.
- To work cohesively with the administrative and managerial teams to ensure staff aware of patient delays.
- To assist in the preparation of breach analysis reports.
MDT Meetings:
- Ensure all patients are discussed at MDT meetings in line with the National Cancer Standards.
- Ensure that all MDT decisions relating to the individual patient’s management plan are recorded on the MDT proforma and filed in the patients’ medical record and distributed to appropriate persons.
- Liaise with relevant teams to ensure that all patient information is available for the effective functioning of the MDTs, including relevant medical records, radiology reports and histopathology results.
- Liaise with Tertiary referring hospitals to ensure all information is available to allow discussion of Tertiary patients at the MDT.
- Produce an agenda for each MDT meeting, collating a list of patients to be discussed and ensuring the agenda is distributed by the deadline.
- Serve as a focal point for core and extended MDT members to refer patients to MDT meetings.
- Effectively manage and operate the video conferencing equipment within an MDT.
Data Collection:
- Ensure accurate data is rapidly captured and recorded to meet the standards for the management of patients, and to fulfil the cancer information requirements, e.g. COSD (Cancer Outcomes and Services Dataset), Cancer Waiting Times and National Audits.
- To be proficient in the use of CRIS, iLab and Somerset Cancer Register Systems.
- To understand medical terminology relating to cancer patients.
- Facilitate collection of clinical data by:
- Collating information from proformas, case notes, clinics and MDT meetings
- Discussion with clinicians, secretaries and clinical nurse specialists
- Electronic retrieval of prospective and retrospective data from iPM, pathology and radiology
- Provide support to the MDT in the collation of information for the evidence folder required for the Peer Review visits.
- Provides cover and support to the Cancer Pathway Coordinator
- Works closely with the Cancer Admin Manager to assist in projects to improve the patient’s care pathway.
- To provide administrative support to the Cancer Multidisciplinary Teams (MDTs) as required.
- To ensure that a clear understanding is obtained surrounding data quality, data protection, patient information management systems (iPM) and be able to always work within these guidelines.
- Train and assist in the support of any staff (either Locum Bank or permanent) employed within the Cancer Services Team.
- Develop appropriate systems to manage their own workload.
- Identify / suggest new ways of working both within the Cancer Services Team and the Cancer MDT Teams.
- Work on their own initiative whilst bearing in mind the overall department aims and responsibilities.
- Develop good working relationships with both the Cancer MDTs and other key personnel within the trust together with other members of the Cancer Services Team.
- Develop good working relationships with Cancer Services Teams in other Trusts that refer patients to the Cancer MDTs.
- Ensure all administrative processes are dealt with in accordance with the Trusts APNs (Administrative Procedure Note) and/or the Cancer Services SOPs (Standard Operating Procedure).
- Understand the Trust’s Cancer Operational Policy and own responsibilities.
- Maintains and monitors registers for MDTs and ensure all core and extended MDT members sign and date the MDT attendance register
For further details please see the attached JD & PS
Person specification
Knowledge & Experience
Essential criteria- Proven knowledge of Microsoft Office – to include Word, Excel, Access & Outlook
- Medical terminology
- Previous demonstrable experience within a large clinical setting
- Understanding of Cancer Waiting Times guidance
- Proven knowledge of Somerset Cancer Register database
- Interest in cancer speciality
Qualifications
Essential criteria- NVQ Level 3 in Business and Administration or equivalent relevant demonstrable experience
- ORC Level II or equivalent
- Or equivalent demonstrable experience
- Willing to complete training courses appropriate for the development of the role
Aptitude & Abilities
Essential criteria- Good written and verbal communication skills
- Good telephone manner
- Ability to work on own without close supervision and as part of a large team
PLEASE NOTE THAT ALL COMMUNICATION WILL BE ELECTRONIC, PLEASE CHECK YOUR EMAIL ACCOUNT REGULARLY INCLUDING YOUR JUNK FOLDER.
If you need support with the online application process or require reasonable adjustments with the application and/or interview process please contact the Recruiting Manager for this post.
We recognise that work life balance is important for our colleagues and so we invite requests from applicants about less than full time/flexible working for our advertised roles. We recommend contacting the manager of the role prior to applying and we commit to giving requests full consideration.
We welcome and encourage applicants who identify with all protected characteristics to apply for our roles. We believe that diversity strengthens our teams and improves our patients' experience. At UHP we aim to create an inclusive workplace and hospital where everyone feels they belong and included.
It is sometimes necessary to close vacancies before the closing date. If you have not heard from us within 4 weeks of the closing date, please assume that you have not been shortlisted.
Providing false information is an offence & could result in the application being rejected or summary dismissal/police action if an applicant is successful.
Please note that if you are successful in your application & accept the position you agree that the Staff Health and Wellbeing Department can access your health records from your current/previous employer in order to check the status of your inoculations & screening tests.This is an automated process & the information will only be used for these purposes prior to your taking up the position with us.
For Doctors Roles:
Unsolicited CVs and Candidate Profiles/Details
University Hospitals Plymouth has a commitment to sourcing candidates directly and as such we do not accept speculative CVs from agencies.
We do, however, work with a defined list of preferred HTE Framework suppliers who may be invited to support us in sourcing candidates for particular roles.
In line with our preferred supplier list, we only pay agency fees where we have a signed agreement in place and an agency has been instructed by a member of the Trust’s Medical Workforce team.
We do not pay agency fees where speculative and unsolicited CVs are submitted to the Trust or Trust employees by any other means than the official route above. Where this is not observed the Trust reserves the right to contact these candidates directly and initiate discussions without payment of any agency fee.
Any candidate details (whether written or spoken) or CVs that are referred directly will not constitute an introduction. The Trust will under no circumstances be responsible for any recruitment fees in relation to these contacts.
Submission of any unsolicited CVs, candidate’s details and/or proposals to the Trust will not be considered further and will be deemed evidence of full and unlimited acceptance of this Agency Protocol.
In order to establish and maintain good working relationships with the Trust’s agency suppliers, we ask that this Protocol is adhered to and thank you for your co-operation.