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Job summary

Main area
ASCR
Grade
Band 4
Contract
Permanent
Hours
Full time - 37.5 hours per week (Monday to Friday (usually worked as four long days))
Job ref
339-ASCR7185-LMH
Employer
North Bristol NHS Trust
Employer type
NHS
Site
Bristol Breast Care Centre
Town
Bristol
Salary
£27,485 - £30,162 Per annum
Salary period
Yearly
Closing
29/07/2025 23:59

Employer heading

North Bristol NHS Trust logo

Breast Cancer Support Worker

Band 4

 

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Job overview

Specialising in patients with breast cancer, the cancer support worker works as part of the cancer care team alongside registered practitioners to help improve and provide a personalised care and support package for patients and their families, supporting and signposting with the aim to facilitate a self managed approach and a firm understanding of their cancer pathway. 

As a cancer support worker you can offer practical and emotional support, signpost and provide information around lifestyle changes such as diet and physical activity, and assist with benefits referrals and psychological support.

The Breast Care Centre is a busy unit with a friendly atmosphere and is an important  part of North Bristol NHS Trust - we also support Breast Services at Weston Hospital so there may be some cross-site working.

Main duties of the job

To work as an integral part of the Breast Cancer Specialist Nursing team in providing a patient centred approach to their cancer journey using the Personalised Care & Support model.  The cancer support worker will promote access to support services and assess patients individual needs and requirements in a holistic way and will do this by 

  • Working alongside the Cancer Clinical Nurse Specialists
  • Coordinating care by providing a single point of access
  • Triaging patients, using a risk assessment framework and initiate appropriate response according to protocols
  • Undertaking individual holistic needs assessments and care planning
  • Providing basic face to face or telephone advice and refer on or sign-post to other sources of support
  • Coordinating any necessary assessments
  • Supporting information provision
  • Guiding people through the use of self-assessment resources
  • Participating in the organisation, delivery and administration of the Health and Wellbeing events and courses and other patient education sessions
  • Documenting and monitor all aspects of care coordination and service delivery, supporting data collection for audit.

Communication skills and adaptability are essential as is the ability to work as part of a team but also autonomously managing your own caseload of patients and using initiative, but also recognising your own personal limitations and boundaries.

Working for our organisation

North Bristol NHS Trust employs over 12,000 staff providing healthcare to the residents of Bristol, South Gloucestershire and North Somerset from our award-winning hospital building at Southmead. We are the regional Major Trauma Centre, and an internationally recognised centre of excellence in a range of services and major specialities. Our vision is that by enabling our teams to be the best that they can be, we will provide exceptional healthcare, personally delivered.

North Bristol NHS Trust values all people as individuals. We aim to be an anti-discriminatory organisation and are committed to building a team that represents a variety of backgrounds, perspectives, and skills. We welcome applicants from all underrepresented groups.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

Please see the job description attached for a full list of role responsibilities.

  • To provide information and support about cancer and the services available to those affected by cancer to enable these people to navigate the health and social care system and make choices that are best for their own individual cancer and their life.
  • A key aspect of the role involves daily and direct  eg face to face/telephone communication with patients, relatives, carers and other health and social care professionals as part of the multidisciplinary team approach.
  • To be proactive in identifying patients individual needs using approved tools and procedures to ensure these needs are met.
  • To co-ordinate access to the right level of information and educational resources to support people in decision making, enable independence and support self management as appropriate.
  • To demonstrate an awareness of the limits of personal practice and knowledge, and understand when to seek appropriate advice.

Person specification

Education/Training/Qualifications

Essential criteria
  • GCSE A*- D, or equivalent in English and Mathematics
  • NVQ Level 4 or NVQ Level 3 plus additional training to diploma level in health and social care

Work Experience

Essential criteria
  • Relevant health & social care experience at Senior Healthcare Support Worker (AfC Band 3) level
  • Experience in an administrative role & data management
  • Experience of working in a multi-professional environment
  • Experience of supporting/teaching patients & carers

Knowledge/Skills/Abilities

Essential criteria
  • Evidence of good communication skills & the ability to communicate sensitively with patients
  • IT skills, basic word, Email, keyboard skills
  • Knowledge of cancer pathways and an understanding of patient-centred care
  • Effective organisational skills
  • Good observational, assessment & problem solving skills
  • The ability to work within a team

Employer certification / accreditation badges

Apprenticeships logoNo smoking policyAge positiveArmed Forces Covenant (Silver Award)Care quality commission - GoodMindful employer.  Being positive about mental health.Disability confident employerBECHappy to Talk Flexible Working

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.

Documents to download

Apply online now

Further details / informal visits contact

Name
Caroline Eden
Job title
Clinical Nurse Specialists in Breast Care
Email address
[email protected]
Telephone number
0117 4147000
Additional information

If you wish to contact our existing Cancer Support Worker who can give you a personal insight into the role, please contact [email protected]

If you have problems applying, contact

Address
People & Transformation Division
North Bristol NHS Trust
Southmead Hospital
BS10 5NB
Telephone
0117 4141151
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