About this role
Job summary
An exciting opportunity has arisen to join the Christie Teenage and Young Adult. We are looking for an enthusiastic and motivated individual to join a team dedicated to improving the lives of Teenagers and Young Adults (TYA) with cancer. The Youth Support Coordinator (YSC) will work with a wide range of Multi-Disciplinary Team (MDT) colleagues based at the Christie and across the designated hospitals to ensure all TYA patients (aged 16-25) receive age appropriate care, high quality social and emotional support regardless of where they are treated.
Main duties of the job
The role will work closely with both YSC colleagues, other staff across designated hospitals and The Christie to provide co-ordinated support for young people whilst they are having treatment for cancer and up to 2 years after the completion of treatment.
To be successful in this role, you will be required to have a diploma or degree in a relevant qualification such as youth work, psychology, social sciences or play specialism and you will need to be able to demonstrate extensive experience of working with young people.
Working closely with the multi-disciplinary team, you will plan, develop and deliver programmes for young people which will meet their needs and help to support them. You will facilitate activities to bring young people together in the local community and across the North West and will provide 1:1 support for young people where needed.
An ability to work autonomously and be proactive is essential. Empathy, sensitivity and a sense of humour are also some of the key attributes you will bring to this role. The post holder will be expected to work flexibly to meet needs of the service. Some evening and weekend work will be involved and the post holder must be able to drive, have their own car (mileage is paid for travel due to work) and travel across the region on a regular basis.
About us
The Christie is one of Europe's leading cancer centres, looking after more than 64,000 patients a year. We are based in Manchester and serve a population of 3.2 million across Greater Manchester & Cheshire, but as a national specialist around 25% patients are referred to us from other parts of the country.
We are the largest radiotherapy provider in the NHS with one in 20 treatments delivered at The Christie. We have up to 15 linear accelerators operating across our network of sites. We operate the largest chemotherapy unit in the UK on our main site and treatments are also provided at 13 other networked sites, and in patients homes. And as a specialist tertiary surgical centre, we focus on rare cancers, complex procedures, and multidisciplinary approaches to cancer surgery, specialising in colorectal, peritoneal, gynaecological, urological and plastic surgery.
We are also an international leader in research, with world first breakthroughs for over 100 years. We have been named by the UK's National Institute for Health Research (NIHR), as one of the best hospitals providing opportunities for patients to participate in clinical research studies, with more than 800 studies open at any time, caring for over 3,000 patients.
The TYA service is one of the largest Principle Treatment Centres in the UK, Come and join our dynamic, forward thinking, supportive team.
Job description Job responsibilities
Care and Support
Establish effective relationships with young people using age appropriate approaches and communication skills to identify individuals interests, strengths, areas of concern/need
Maintain a community-based programme for young people using various social models and motivational approaches that are appropriate to the young persons physical health and personal preferences
Use motivational techniques to engage with young people and act as an advocate on their behalf. Assist colleagues in effective communication with young people to achieve this aim
Work on a one-to-one basis with young people who are being treated in isolation or who do not wish to engage in group activities
Collaborate with colleagues to identify health and wellbeing issues for patients. Also signpost to age appropriate services, health promotion and awareness materials
The ability to visit young people and offer support at home or in their local hospital when necessary and appropriate
Work with the North West YSC team to develop and deliver an annual calendar of events for patients (to include a residential programme) and their families
Encourage activities to maintain and promote patients link with friends, family and home
Prepare patients for, and support patients through, invasive and non-evasive medical procedures, including chemotherapy, radiotherapy and surgery
Provide one-to-one support for young people having treatment; both in hospital and at home. Support may be provided by a number of medias; face to face, text, telephone, home visit (where necessary), zoom/MS Teams, website, emails, written information
To participate in the annual Teenage Cancer Trust residential programme
Working within the YSC service to maintain constant management of the TYA Facebook page and report any concerns to the line manager
Provide, where necessary and appropriate, support for family members (particularly siblings), partners and friends of young people.
Patient Involvement and advocacy
Assist in the running of the user/patient feedback activity to ensure young peoples ideas and thoughts are captured and acted upon where possible
Collaborate with colleagues to develop age-appropriate methods for gaining feedback from young people and supporting their input into developing services.
Education, Research and Audit
In line with Teenage Cancer Trust reporting requirements, keep records of activity completed on a monthly basis
Collate and provide information about the outreach YSC service that can be used in the annual YSC report to the charity and the Trust
Accurately and systematically record work undertaken with young people for Multi-Disciplinary Team (MDT) information
Undertake and record structured risk assessments for all organised activities on and off-site liaising with appropriate colleagues to manage risk
Ensure all necessary consents and medical information requirements are obtained for activities and maintain records safely
Plan for and utilise Teenage Cancer Trust and The Christie activity funds effectively to ensure maximum benefit from expenditure
Assist in the orientation of staff and students to the YSC and/or TYA team.
Meetings and networking
Attend psycho-social and clinical MDT meetings to contribute to coordinated assessment and support, report on work being undertaken with patients, raise any concerns and seek advice
Feedback to treating teams about young peoples social and emotional well-being
Develop strong and collaborative professional links with the hospital teams
Attend relevant meetings regarding The Christie service and Teenage Cancer Trust activity including Regional team meetings and YSC meetings
Act as an ambassador and advocate for Teenage Cancer Trust. Act as a contact for Teenage Cancer Trust media queries and support patients through the process
Ensure regular liaison with the regional Teenage Cancer Trust team. Support the regional team with media, fundraising and education activity.
Professional standards and personal development
Act at all times in accordance with the National Youth Agency ethical and professional code. adhere to TYA service guidelines concerning the maintenance of personal and professional boundaries
Maintain appropriate professional boundaries with patients, whether face-to-face or via online systems, telephone, or text
Ensure the responsibilities for patient confidentiality are maintained in all contacts with young people, families, friends and any other individuals or organisations
Actively identify own training needs and where appropriate seek out development opportunities in agreement with line manager. Undertake mandatory and other specific training required to fulfil the role and responsibilities
Have an active and up to date development plan agreed with the TYA lead nurse alongside agreed objectives with Teenage Cancer Trust. This will include at least an annual personal development review
Adhere at all times to the Christie values: compassion and respect, quality care and innovation.
JOB DIMENSIONS
Responsibilities for patient and client care
Assesses, plan, implement and evaluate care and support using specialist knowledge and skills.
Organises own workload and time in a flexible manner according to patient need
Maintain a safe working environment.
Freedom to act
Self motivated with the ability to work under own initiative
Accountable for own actions
Appropriately refer to other members of the multidisciplinary team
Make assessments and decisions within clearly defined policies and protocols.
Communication and working relationships
Respect patient confidentiality at all times and not divulge patient information unless sanctioned by the requirements of the role
Be aware of relevant legislation and policies around information governance and data protection
Communicate effectively with patient, families, siblings, other services and MDT colleagues Be able to use range of communicate methods e.g. oral, written and electronic
Maintain accurate records including budgets
Support patients and their families and ensure they receive the required information to enable them to actively participate in decisions about their social and emotional care.
Continuously work under The Christie values of compassion and respect, quality care and innovation
Keep electronic diary and relevant systems up to date with regards to who, where and when you are working off site.
Environmental factors
Ability to effectively deal with working in the often emotive environment of cancer and palliative care
Required to concentrate, for example, whilst undertaking analysis/report writing, deliver to tight deadlines. However, there are frequent interruptions (e-mail/telephone etc) which will change the focus and priority of the daily workload
Ability to check documents
Ability to present and discuss target performance indicators with key stakeholders.
Health and Safety, Risk Management, Safeguarding
Adhere to Trust safeguarding policies. Record and report any concerns to the Safeguarding Lead and Lead Nurse and/or Clinical Service Manager.
Accurately complete risk assessments and follow The Christie procedures.
Equality and Diversity
The jobholder must comply with all policies and procedures designed to ensure equality of employment and that services are delivered in ways that meet the individual needs of patients and their families. No person whether they are staff, patient or visitor should receive less favourable treatment because of their gender, ethnic origin, age, disability, sexual orientation, religion etc.
Physical Effort
There is a frequent requirement for the jobholder to spend a substantial proportion of their working time sitting or standing in a restricted position. There is also an occasional requirement to exert moderate physical effort.
The post holder must be able to work flexibly on regular evenings and occasional weekends. This will include evening and residential work away from the hospital.
Mental Effort
There is a frequent requirement for the jobholder to concentrate where their work pattern may be complex and or unpredictable.
Emotional Effort
The nature of the duties will require the jobholder to be involved in distressing or emotional circumstances and occasional exposure to unpleasant or highly unpleasant working conditions.
Person Specification
Qualifications Essential
Diploma Level (or above) qualification in Youth Work (JNC) A Youth Work qualification at Level 3 or above, alongside significant knowledge of youth work theory and practice, in addition to substantial youth work experience including leading projects/teams (Candidates with a diploma or above in other relevant fields within Social Sciences may be considered providing they have significant knowledge of Youth Work theory and practice, and substantial youth work experience including leading projects/teams)
Desirable
A Degree or Post-graduate qualifications in Youth Work or similar Training relevant to area of work eg Counselling, Teaching, Play specialism, Duke of Edinburgh Award leader, communication technology, youth participation. Membership/registration with a youth worker group
Experience Essential
Must have experience of working with young people; preferably in a healthcare setting Proven ability in project work involving youth participation/engagement Experience of organising and facilitating social/ leisure or therapeutic activities and groups Experience of undertaking risk assessments and addressing risk/safeguarding issues for young people
Desirable
Work with young people has been within a number of capacities/environments Experience working in a clinical environment Experience of work with young people with cancer or chronic health conditions Experience of working with vulnerable children or adults
Skills Essential
Excellent interpersonal skills, and be able to communicate with a wide range of people in a variety of situations Ability to coordinate, organise and facilitate a programme of 1:1 and group activities that benefit young people Self-motivated, ability to work autonomously and manage own workload; with lots of ideas and enthusiasm IT skills (Word, Excel, Email, Internet)
Desirable
To have set up a service from inception and evaluated the effectiveness of the service Experience of maintaining small budget Experience of multidisciplinary or multi agency team Negotiation skills Particular knowledge or skills that will contribute to the post eg. creative, music, communication technology
Knowledge Essential
Good knowledge of young people's issues with regard to a number of areas of social, emotional and physical development
Values Essential
Ability to demonstrate the organisational values and behaviours
Other Essential
Emotionally resilient Team player Ability to form positive relationships with young people in a short period of time but also to maintain a professional distance Uses initiative to resolve issues within own control
Desirable
Special requirements attached to the post - travelling, working unsocial hours as required.
Disclosure and Barring Service Check This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.
Employer details Employer name The Christie NHS FT
Address Teenage Cancer Trust NW - E00282
Manchester
M20 4BX
United Kingdom
Employer's website https://www.christie.nhs.uk/ (Opens in a new tab)