Patient Pathway Navigator

Job overview

University Hospital Southampton NHS Foundation Trust is delighted to offer a fantastic opportunity to work with us.

Job Title: Patient Pathway Navigator

Contract Type: Fixed Term

Purpose for Fixed Term: Short term funding

Under current Home Office rules, this role is not eligible for Skilled Worker visa sponsorship.

Please be advised that this vacancy may close earlier than stated if we receive a large number of applications.

Main duties of the job

As part of our team, you will have excellent communication skills and be able to proactively engage with patients and families. They will have robust understanding of cancer pathways and will be responsible for communicating directly with patients around up and coming appointments as well as being accessible to patients with any queries they may have.

The post holder will be working closely with the Upper GI CNS's and will be responsible for coordinating patient's appointments, ensuring the timeliness of investigation and monitor the progress of the patient's journey. The navigator will be pivotal in escalating operational issues and maximising available capacity by providing feedback to both clinical and nonclinical staff working towards achievement of the 28-day faster diagnosis and 62-day referral to treatment standards.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

The successful candidate will be responsible for;

• Navigating and chase diagnostic investigations and appointments for all patients on the cancer pathway within the appropriate time frames.
• To act as a first point of contact for patients queries in relation to the cancer pathways and next steps.
• To proactively communicate with patients and families in relation to upcoming appointments and provide guidance around next steps and what to expect.
• To be knowledgeable on all cancer waiting time standards and ensured the implementation of timed pathways.
• Working closely with the relevant MDT coordinator as required.
• Being responsible for supplying weekly cancer PTL meetings which they will help to prepare and facilitate and record outcomes of each patient via the Somerset cancer database.
• Attend the weekly MDT meeting, taking actions where required.
• Helping to develop and maintain office and administrative systems and processes to support the work of the cancer team.
• Regularly review and analyse individual patients’ waiting times across cancer pathways, escalating delays and breaching issues where necessary
• Working closely with the relevant MDT coordinator to act as a point of contact for the clinical staff, managers and booking teams for issues related to the relevant cancer pathway.
• Use electronic hospital systems to access results or information as required.
• Promoting patient centred care and establish good relationships with patients and relatives/carers.
• Providing empathy and support to the patient's, carers and relatives whilst signposting them to further services an onward referral to the CNS team as appropriate.
• Supporting the co-ordination of transfers of patient care to other organisations or teams following local, pan Wessex and national Inter Provider Transfer (IPT) processes as appropriate.
• Ensuring the minimum data set is received from external trusts on patients referred for MDT discussion and/or treatment.
• Escalating any bottleneck on the patient's pathway to the cancer services manager and/or services.
• To cross cover colleagues when they are annual leave and throughout periods of sickness
• To identify patients who have DNA'd their diagnostic tests or outpatient appointments and manage appropriately.

Applicant requirements

The postholder will have access to vulnerable people in the course of their normal duties and as such this post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975 (Amendment) (England and Wales) Order 2020 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service to check for any previous criminal convictions.