Specialist Lymphoedema Practitioner

Job overview

Within Therapy Services, the lymphoedema service delivers specialist lymphoedema advice and care to patients with cancer at all stages of their cancer journey. Members of the lymphoedema service support each other across both sites of the hospital to provide a co-ordinated, high quality service utilising the strengths of a multi-professional team.  The service also provides support and advice for health care professionals through formalised educational programmes.

We are looking for a highly professional, flexible and enthusiastic lymphoedema practitioner to join our team. With previous experience of caring for patients with lymphoedema and an understanding of the needs of the patient with cancer related lymphoedema, you must also have excellent communication and organisational skills, the ability to prioritise and be able to work well with indirect supervision.

We actively support and encourage staff to develop personally and professionally through formal and informal training and offer a wide range of benefits including educational opportunities at The Royal Marsden School.

Main duties of the job

To ensure that a co-ordinated, high quality service for patients with lymphoedema is provided that is patient focused and will lead to an improved quality of life for the patient.

To provide skilled care and expertise in lymphoedema management for all patients referred to the lymphoedema service and to demonstrate competent clinical judgement in deciding patient focused long-range goals or plans.

To work closely with the Lymphoedema Practitioner, acting as a resource and mentor and through reflective practice and supervision facilitating their professional development.

To educate patients, relatives and health care professionals on all aspects of lymphoedema management.

To demonstrate a positive and realistic attitude to the patient with cancer related lymphoedema to ensure that the physiological, psychosocial, spiritual and cultural needs of the patient and family are met.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

For further information please refer to the job description and personal specification

In collaboration with the Lymphoedema Therapist and Advanced Lymphoedema Practitioner to provide and sustain a high quality lymphoedema service throughout the hospital.

To implement relevant assessment strategies and provide skilled care for patients with lymphoedema of a complex nature.  To use reflective practice and clinical reasoning to evaluate the programme of care and review where necessary.

Use specialist skills in the use of equipment provided for the assessment and evaluation of a patient’s lymphoedema.