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Job summary

Main area
Breast Cancer
Grade
NHS AfC: Band 4
Contract
Permanent
Hours
Full time - 37.5 hours per week
Job ref
193-7375101PCG
Employer
Royal Berkshire NHS Foundation Trust
Employer type
NHS
Site
Royal Berkshire Hospital
Town
Reading
Salary
£27,485 - £30,162 per annum
Salary period
Yearly
Closing
31/08/2025 23:59
Interview date
05/09/2025

Employer heading

Royal Berkshire NHS Foundation Trust logo

Breast Cancer Support Worker

NHS AfC: Band 4

Royal Berkshire Hospital are pleased to announce that following our CQC inspection we have been rated ‘Good’ with inspectors reporting that we have made significant improvements.  The Trust’s overall rating has also improved to ‘good’.  This is a great opportunity to join our clinical or non-clinical teams to create a positive and motivating environment within our trust.  Come and join our team in this exciting time of change as we pride ourselves, our staff and our services on excellence.

At the Royal Berkshire NHS Foundation Trust we put our patients at the heart of every element of health and care that we provide. The Trust works together as a community to deliver its vision which is “Working together to provide outstanding care for our community.”

We are Compassionate in our thoughts, words and actions

We are Aspirational and have a true desire to be dynamic and to innovate

We are Resourceful and responsible in the way we work and live

We are Excellent in our development, fairness and sharing best practice

Amazing things happen at the Royal Berkshire NHS Foundation Trust; delivered by amazing people so why don’t you come and join us.  We offer a range of learning and development for all employees may you be clinical or non-clinical.  

Job overview

Band 4 Breast Cancer Support Worker

We are looking to  recruit  a Cancer Support Worker to join our Breast cancer specialist nursing team at the Royal Berkshire Hospital.

We strive to provide excellent quality cancer and holistic care to all of our patients, and our friendly team of Cancer Support Workers play a key part in this.

You will work under the supervision of registered nurses, providing patients and carers with general information and support about cancer related issues and cancer services.

You will also assist the team with administrative duties helping to ensure the safe and timely follow up of patients who are undergoing surveillance after cancer treatment.

Training will be provided by the Royal Berkshire Hospital and the working environment is friendly and supportive.

An informal visit and/or phone call is strongly recommended in order to research the post and the team.

Main duties of the job

This post provides administrative duties and support to the Clinical Nurse Specialists.

A key aspect of the role involves daily and direct (e.g. face-to-face and telephone) communication with patients, relatives, carers, and other health and social care professionals.

You will work closely with the Clinical Nurse Specialists to prepare clinics and may track patients on surveillance using a variety of electronic systems. You will assist in the administration of nurse-led clinics and holistic needs assessments and in the preparation of written and electronic patient information. You may also be required to carry out 'buddy calls' to vulnerable, isolated patients escalating any concerns to the registered nursing team.

You will have excellent communication and organisational skills, and work well within a small team.

Although each of our support worker posts supports a specific cancer team you may be asked to support other teams at times and the Cancer Support Workers also act as department fire wardens on a rota basis.

Working for our organisation

Reading sits on the river Thames and is served by great road and rail links to London, Oxford and Southampton. With excellent leisure and shopping facilities, and a thriving cultural scene, Reading is a wonderful place to live, work and play and provides excellent facilities for families, including some of the best state and private schools in the UK.

The CQC recently rated the care provided by the Royal Berkshire NHS Foundation Trust as Good.

Our "CARE" values: Compassionate, Aspirational, Resourceful, Excellent, reflect the type of Trust we aspire to be and you can join our dedicated and talented team to make this happen.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

Under the guidance and supervision of a registered practitioner, the support worker helps co-ordinate care by providing a single point of access, including: Rapid re-entry into the system for those people identified as having urgent or specialist needs, providing general information and support about cancer and cancer services.

By supporting independence and self management the role enables people to navigate the health and social care system and make choices that are best for their cancer and their lifestyle.

The information you will provide and communication required is sensitive due to the nature of cancer.

Communication in this context requires a high degree of empathy, understanding, diplomacy, honesty and integrity.

Please refer to the attached Job Description & Person Specification for further details.

Person specification

Education / Qualifications

Essential criteria
  • GCSE English Language and Mathematics (Grades A-C) or equivalent
Desirable criteria
  • NVQ4 or NVQ3 plus additional training to diploma level equivalent, or equivalent through short courses

Experience

Essential criteria
  • Relevant administrative and organisational skills
Desirable criteria
  • Relevant health or social care experience at AfC Band 3 or equivalent
  • Experience of multiprofessional working
  • Experience of working with people diagnosed with cancer

Employer certification / accreditation badges

NHS Pastoral Care Quality AwardApprenticeships logoNo smoking policyCare quality commission - GoodArmed Forces Covenant Gold AwardMindful employer.  Being positive about mental health.Disability confident employerStonewall equality policy. Equality and justice for lesbians, gay men, bisexual and trans people.National Preceptorship for Nursing Quality Mark 2024Florence Nightingale Foundation

Applicant requirements

This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975 (Amendment) (England and Wales) Order 2020 and it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service.

Application numbers

Candidates to be capped at 25 applications per 1WTE position to be recruited

Documents to download

Apply online now

Further details / informal visits contact

Name
Rebecca Kirby
Job title
Cancer CNS Team Leader
Email address
[email protected]
Telephone number
0118 322 8061
Additional information

Rebecca Kirby (Cancer CNS Team Team Leader) on 0118 322 8061 or [email protected]

Nicky Dann  (Cancer CNS Team Leader) on 0118 322 7511 or [email protected]

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