Hospital Support Worker

**Leukaemia Care Job Description**

Job title Hospital Support Worker - Leeds

Hours 7.5 hours per week

Remuneration £20,000 per annum pro rata (up to £26,500 depending on experience)

Type of contract: Fixed term contract for 3 years (with possibility for a permanent role)

Location Bexley Wing, St James University Hospital, Leeds

Report to Patient Services Manager

Work closely with: Anyone affected by leukaemia, myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS) or myeloproliferative neoplasms (MPN). This includes patients, carers and family members. Liaising with hospital staff, nurses, other support charities, care workers and staff at Leukaemia Care. You will work closely with the Regional Coordinator for your area and refer patients, carers and family members internally to advocacy, welfare, support groups and other services as appropriate.

**WHO WE ARE, AND WHAT WE DO**

Leukaemia Care is the UK’s leading leukaemia charity. For over 50 years, we have been dedicated to ensuring that everyone affected receives the best possible diagnosis, information, advice, treatment and support.

We are here for everyone affected by leukaemia and related blood cancer types - such as myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS) and myeloproliferative neoplasms (MPN).

We provide information, advice and support for anyone affected, this includes patients and their friends and families too. We raise awareness of the issues impacting people affected by leukaemia, MDS and MPN, and campaign to fix them. We are driving early diagnosis, raising public awareness, improving services and ensuring access to effective treatments.

How do we do this? We have a wide-range of services aimed at patients and their loved ones from diagnosis and beyond. Our support services range from nurse-led helplines, support groups and free-of-charge medical information to access to paid counselling, grants for those feeling the financial strain of a diagnosis and providing buddies so people always have somebody to talk to who have experienced something similar to them. We encourage you to have a read of our website and find out all the ways we support from diagnosis and beyond.

Crucial to our work is raising awareness of leukaemia as a blood cancer and the importance for early diagnosis. Leukaemia can be difficult to spot as the symptoms are similar to many other common conditions. Unfortunately, most people are not aware of the signs of leukaemia and this leads to diagnosis being delayed, which can worsen outcomes for patients.

As well as working to educate the general public through our #SpotLeukaemia campaign, we are working closely with our colleagues working in front line medical services to ensure they have the most up-to-date information on diagnosing leukaemia. We know that by raising awareness and working to educate health care professionals, we can save lives and improve outcomes.

**Overview**

You will provide patient support and raise awareness of the services we have at Leukaemia Care at the hospital. You will talk to patients, carers and family members, offering support, information and clear signposting to our services and other relevant organisations.

You will be based on the haematology ward/clinic and this is a non-clinical role. You will be required to record all your work so administration is part of this role.

Travel to our Worcester Head office may be needed at times to attend any training session, plus a one-day NHS induction in Leeds, and any other required visits as part of the induction process.

A laptop and mobile phone will be provided, along with patient resources. You will be reimbursed for parking at the hospital.

**Duties and responsibilities**

**By working with the Patient Services Manager**
- Develop and implement Leukaemia Care patient services initiatives which underpin the strategic plan.
- Work with the Patient Services team to support those affected by leukaemia, MDS and MPN.

**Job role**
- To attend St James University Hospital in Leeds to provide support on the haematology Ward or clinic.
- Liaise with consultants, nurses, and other health care professionals in providing patient support. This may involve giving out booklets and information within the consulting room itself
- Speak to patients, carers and anyone affected by a blood cancer or allied blood disorder to offer tailored advice or support
- Refer patients, carers and family members internally to our services
- Signpost patients to other blood cancer charities
- Support patients by phone through the CNS referral process
- Attend a local support group if needed.
- Regular feedback into the Patient Services team on how many patients we are supporting and any booklets we need to send out.
- Constantly being a proactive ambassador and patient support worker for the charity.
- This role is one day a week for the haematology clinic.

**Service Awareness**
- Build relationships with healthcare professionals at University Hospital Leeds
- e.g. consultant haematologists,