Support Nurse
Title: Support Nurse
Responsible To: Support Services Manager
Salary: £14.09 per hour, Band 5 equivalent
Hours: Sessional, can be 1 or 2 half or full days per week
Location: May be home based, with contact and future option of working from Glasgow office or Liverpool office
Line manager: Support Services Manager
You will work as part of a small team responding to enquiries from people concerned about lung cancer, with a diagnosis or caring for someone affected. Our service offers helpline, email and online contact. Contact may require phone, or digital communication, researching information and referring to relevant services when appropriate. The team monitor activity on our online community and nurture supportive relationships with community members. You may be the 1st point of contact between a patient or relative and the charity and will promote awareness and access to all relevant support and information services.
Overall Objectives
- To provide information and support to those affected by lung cancer
- To provide support and information to those concerned about lung cancer symptoms, or seeking access to screening or early diagnosis
- To enhance the quality and profile of our Ask the Nurse service
- To increase access to information and support by enhancing our on line community
- To ensure IT records of Ask the Nurse contacts are maintained and relevant evaluation of the service completed.
Key Responsibilities
- To listen and support callers who have personal or family experience of lung cancer
- To provide accurate information to those who call the helpline or send online support and information requests to the charity
- To support and provide accurate information in response to posts and responses on our online community
- To provide empathetic and accurate feedback to patients/ carers by phone or email
- To provide accurate and current IT records of all patient interactions delivered in the service
- To complete the database entry for relevant service contacts
- To encourage service evaluation by contacts
- To share knowledge on current clinical practice and evidence with the Information & Support team, informing relevant publications and web content
- To keep up to date knowledge of other lung cancer treatments and developments
- To maintain knowledge in relation to developments in health and social policy and NHS provision
- To signpost appropriately to relevant resources and agencies
Person Specification
Key Qualifications, Skills and Abilities
- Registered Nurse, eligible to work in the UK
- Post-degree qualification or experience and/or diploma in a thoracic or oncology setting
- Ability to deploy active listening skills in responding to callers
- Excellent verbal communication skills
- Excellent spoken and written English
- Ability and interest in developing knowledge of the role, services and resources of the Foundation and other agencies offering support to those with lung cancer
- To maintain continuous professional development for both role and NMC registration
Key Technical Knowledge and Experience
- Knowledge of the risk factors for lung cancer and current guidance on referral and testing
- Understanding of the diagnostic pathway and guidelines
- Awareness and understanding of the Foundation’s aims and objectives
- Competency in Microsoft office and ability to work with online and in house data
- Able to adapt to a non-clinical environment
- Ability to assess and respond to emotional and information needs
- Ability to work flexibly in a small team
- Able to demonstrate an awareness of lung cancer research, treatment developments and evidence-based practice
Personal Qualities
- To be passionate and non-judgemental in your approach to those with lung cancer
- An understanding and ability to provide confidential contact
- Have an empathetic approach to dealing with patients and relatives
- Have the ability to manage the boundaries between professional involvement and personal engagement
About Roy Castle Lung Cancer Foundation
Roy Castle Lung Cancer Foundation is the only UK charity wholly dedicated to lung cancer.
The team work closely with the Support Services Manager. Our department offers a range of group and 1-1 support and information that support people throughout their lung cancer experience. We have an online community, range of digital and support services run via our Lung Cancer Connect service and offer patient grants. Our services have adapted to the impact of the pandemic on our community with an increase in digital and remote services. We would hope to resume face to face support groups and Information Days in 2022.
This depends on the risk to our community from covid-19 and the capacity in the NHS and interest from those affected by lung cancer in accessing such services.
We focus on three areas: research, information & support, and prevention. Lung cancer receives significantly less funding than many other cancers, so our grants to fund research projects are essential if we are to EXPECT BETTER survival rates.
This activity is part of our Lung Cancer Information & Support service which is mainly based in Glasgow. Our charity has office bases in Glasgow and Liverpool and staff working remotely in the North, London and the South West. At present staff are remote working but some office based activity may be required in the future. Participation in team communication and access to IT and phone systems will be required.
For more information visit our website on www.roycastle.org or contact lorraine.dallas@roycastle.org
To apply: submit an application form and covering letter outlining your experience and interest to Rita Burke, Human Resources Manager – rita.burke@roycastle.org