Patient Navigator inKirkcaldy inKirkcaldy PUBLISHED FRI 29 NOV 2024

NHS Scotland rvrQq6u

Meaningful Impact, You will play a crucial role in supporting patients through their cancer journey, helping them to navigate complex pathways and receive timely care.

Collaboration, The position involves working closely with an advanced clinical nurse specialist and other healthcare professionals, fostering a collaborative and supportive work environment.

Professional Development, The role offers opportunities to develop and enhance interpersonal, organizational, and communication skills while working in a challenging yet rewarding healthcare setting.

Patient Advocacy, You will act as a vital point of contact for patients, ensuring their needs are met and that they feel supported throughout their diagnosis and treatment process.

Work-Life Balance, With NHS Scotland's reduction of the full-time working week to 37 hours from April 2024, staff can enjoy an improved work-life balance without a decrease in pay.

Diverse Work Environment, NHS Scotland promotes equality and diversity, giving you the chance to work in a team that values a variety of perspectives and backgrounds.

The NHS Scotland is hiring a Patient Navigator to join the Cancer Services Team in Kirkcaldy, specifically at Victoria Hospital. The role involves supporting patients through their cancer treatment pathways—including cancer of unknown primary, neuro oncology, and sarcoma—by monitoring progress, coordinating appointments, and ensuring timely diagnosis. The Patient Navigator will work closely with an advanced clinical nurse specialist, serving as a primary contact for patients and their families, and facilitating communication between them and clinicians. Key skills required include strong interpersonal, organisational, and communication abilities, along with an empathetic approach. The position demands motivation and the capability to work under pressure, with flexibility in working hours expected. NHS Scotland is implementing a reduced full-time working week in 2024, with adjustments for current employees as necessary. The organisation encourages applications from diverse backgrounds and ensures legal entitlement to work in the UK for all employees.

We are seeking an individual to work as part of the Cancer Services Team to support patients through pathways, monitoring progress and identifying potential breach patients - taking appropriate action to avoid these.

The post holder will work with an advanced clinical nurse specialist (ACNS) to cover the services cancer of unknown primary, neuro oncology and sarcoma. We are recruiting an individual to support patients going through these different pathways.

You will be based at Victoria Hospital, Kirkcaldy and will work collaboratively with the Oncology ACNS to provide a seamless service, which is responsive to individual patient’s needs. You will have a key role in ensuring that patients have a cancer diagnosis as early as possible, supporting those patients in all stages of the cancer pathway by being a vital point of contact.

This post will involve working as part of a team to ensure that all administrative/assessment functions for patients from the time of GP/Acute Services referral to the time of discharge are coordinated in line with specific care pathways to facilitate the smooth running of the patients’ journey.

You will have excellent verbal and written communication skills and an empathic nature to work with patients and their carers to assist in co-ordinating the appointments and information required by clinicians in the pathway.

This demanding post requires excellent interpersonal and organisational skills, and the ability to communicate at all levels. A flexible approach is essential, as is the need to be self-motivated with the ability to work under pressure and prioritise tasks/objectives. This is an exciting opportunity that involves working as part of a friendly, but very busy team/service. When applying for the vacancy, please ensure that the person specification is referred to.

For further details please contact, Gillian Wilson, Nurse Consultant Telephone . Email or Angela Glancey, Clinical Nurse Manager, Ext 20099. Email

NHS Scotland is reducing their full-time working week from 37.5 to 37 hours per week from 1 April 2024 but with no change in pay. This reduction will also be applied pro rata for part time staff. Your offer/contract of employment will therefore reflect the new working hours. However, as not all service areas will be able to adopt the 37 hour working week immediately from 1 April 2024, you may be required to work up to an additional 30 minutes per week for a temporary period for which you would be paid until the service you are working in changes rosters or working patterns to accommodate the new reduced working week. If you have any questions or concerns, please contact your Hiring Manager.

NHS Fife is legally obliged to ensure all its employees are legally entitled to work in the United Kingdom. If you are not a United Kingdom (UK) or Irish National, you are required to confirm your right to work in your application.

NHS Scotland is committed to encouraging equality and diversity among our workforce and eliminating unlawful discrimination. The aim is for our workforce to be truly representative and for each employee to feel respected and able to give their best. To this end, NHS Scotland welcomes applications from all sections of society.

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More about the NHS

The National Health Service (NHS) is a cornerstone of healthcare in the United Kingdom, established in 1948 with the simple yet profound principle of providing healthcare to all citizens, free at the point of use. This revolutionary system aimed to ensure that access to medical services would not depend on an individual’s financial situation, a concept that has since become fundamental to British societal values. Learn more...

More about CANCER

Cancer remains one of the most significant health challenges in the United Kingdom, impacting millions of lives each year. According to Cancer Research UK, nearly one in two people in the UK will be diagnosed with cancer at some point in their lifetime, highlighting the pervasive nature of this disease. Learn more...

Useful skills for a Patient Navigator: Click to view

Working as a Patient Navigator in the UK requires a combination of specific skills and competencies to effectively support patients in navigating the healthcare system. Here are the essential skills needed:

1. Communication Skills: Excellent verbal and written communication skills are crucial. You need to be able to convey information clearly and empathetically to patients, their families, and healthcare professionals.

2. Interpersonal Skills: Strong interpersonal skills help in building trust and rapport with patients, making them feel comfortable discussing their health concerns.

3. Knowledge of Healthcare Systems: Understanding the UK healthcare system, including NHS policies, processes, and available services is essential for guiding patients effectively.

4. Empathy and Compassion: A patient-centered approach is vital. Being able to understand and empathize with patients' situations will help you advocate for their needs and preferences.

5. Problem-Solving Skills: You should be able to think critically and assess situations to help patients overcome obstacles in accessing healthcare services.

6. Organizational Skills: Managing multiple cases and maintaining detailed records requires strong organizational abilities, including time management.

7. Cultural Competence: Sensitivity to and respect for diverse cultural backgrounds, beliefs, and practices will enhance your ability to serve a diverse patient population.

8. Advocacy Skills: You need to advocate for patients within the healthcare system, ensuring their voices are heard and their needs addressed.

9. Teamwork and Collaboration: As part of a healthcare team, you'll need to work effectively with doctors, nurses, social workers, and other professionals to coordinate care for patients.

10. Research and Resourcefulness: Being able to identify and utilize available resources, including community services and support groups, is key to helping patients navigate their care.

11. IT Skills: Proficiency in using electronic health records, databases, and communication tools is becoming increasingly important in the healthcare field.

12. Conflict Resolution Skills: The ability to manage and resolve conflicts or misunderstandings that may arise between patients and healthcare providers is valuable.

13. Emotional Resilience: The role can be emotionally challenging, so being able to cope with stress and emotional situations is important to maintain your well-being and provide effective support to others.