Job overview

Coping with a cancer diagnosis or complex haematology treatment is hard, but for some patients it also brings new money worries and unforeseen financial costs.   We are looking for someone who can help patients and their carers find out what they are entitled to and assist them to access this financial support so they can concentrate on their treatment.

We need you to have good experience in providing specialist benefits advice and advocacy within an organisation such as the NHS, Citizens Advice or similar.  You should have relevant recent training and experience of client centred specialist benefits advice work with a general knowledge of housing, employment and consumer law as well as experience of tribunal representation.

Strong communication skills, a proven ability to work under pressure to strict deadlines and an attention to detail are just some of the skills you will require to work in our friendly and supportive department based in the UCH Macmillan Cancer Centre, Huntley Street London WC1E 6DH.

Main duties of the job

You will be working with in-patients and out-patients with a cancer or haematological diagnosis such as sickle cell disease and thalassaemia.  

You will meet with patients or their representative face to face, via MS Teams or phone, assess their welfare and benefits needs, based on your good understanding of the support available, and assist with applications for benefits and grants.  

You will need to help prepare mandatory reconsideration's and tribunal packs.  You may be required to support the patient throughout the review process.  You will need to communicate with multiple agencies and maintain accurate and clear paperwork and communications.

Working for our organisation

University College London Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust (UCLH) is one of the most complex NHS trusts in the UK, serving a large and diverse population. We provide academically led acute and specialist services, to people from the local area, from throughout the United Kingdom and overseas. Our vision is to deliver top-quality patient care, excellent education, and world-class research.  
We provide first-class acute and specialist services across eight sites:  

•    University College Hospital (incorporating the Elizabeth Garrett Anderson Wing)  
•    National Hospital for Neurology and Neurosurgery  
•    Royal National Throat, Nose and Ear Hospital  
•    Eastman Dental Hospital  
•    Royal London Hospital for Integrated Medicine  
•    University College Hospital Macmillan Cancer Centre  
•    The Hospital for Tropical Diseases  
•    University College Hospitals at Westmoreland Street  

We are dedicated to the diagnosis and treatment of many complex illnesses. UCLH specialises in women’s health and the treatment of cancer, infection, neurological, gastrointestinal and oral disease. It has world class support services including critical care, imaging, nuclear medicine and pathology.  

At UCLH, we have a real ‘One Team’ ethos, and our values – safety, kindness, teamwork and improving, are central to the way we work. This is supported by our staff, who voted us as the #1 NHS Acute Trust to work for in the whole of England.