Health, Recovery and Wellbeing Lead

This role will be based on a **37.5 hour working week.**

**This role is on a 2 year Contract**

Overtime available

**Salary of £28,500**

Previous applicants need not apply

This role contributes to the achievement of the Business & Corporate Plan objectives of the Ferry Project by contributing to the provision of safe accommodation, care and support to homeless single people at the Ferry Project.

The post holder will be an integral part of the hostel who will have supervision from the clinical leads for the early detection of liver disease programme.

The main purpose of the role is to support people to understand how lifestyle can increase risk factors for cancers, be alert to signs or symptoms that should be investigated to rule out cancers, to encourage engagement with national screening programmes and liver health checks; along with providing support to navigate the complexities of the healthcare system.

The post holder will demonstrate excellent organisational skills, must be flexible in approach, able to exercise initiative and demonstrate a consistently high standard of professionalism, being aware of the need for confidentiality and integrity. The post holder will have excellent communication skills and be willing to undertake on-going training and development. In addition, the post holder will be able to signpost clients to the relevant sources of support and information appropriate to their needs.

The role will also include supporting the wider community (via outreach) to understand risk factors or cancer, screening opportunities and to support them to navigate healthcare systems with any concerning symptoms.

Data collection will be a vital part of this role to be able to evidence the difference that Health, Recovery and Wellbeing Leads can make to addressing health inequalities and to work towards these roles becoming ‘Business as Usual’ in commissioning intentions.

**Background**

**Cancer is one of the biggest contributors to inequalities in life expectancy, with people from the most deprived communities more likely to get cancer, be diagnosed at a later stage and die from the disease.**

Addressing health inequalities is crucial for us to achieve high-quality healthcare for all. Primary care serves as the foundation of the healthcare system, being the first point of contact for most people seeking help. But unequal access to these services can perpetuate health inequalities. By addressing issues of access, we can ensure that everyone, regardless of their socio-economic status, race, gender, or geographic location, has an equal chance of comprehensive and timely care.

Implementing **Health, Recovery and Wellbeing Leads** will begin to encourage healthy behaviours, awareness and prevention of cancers alongside identifying any barriers to and facilitate timely access to healthcare. They will also encourage the uptake of national cancer screening programme invitations and liver health checks by raising awareness in the hostels and day centres where they work.

**Health, Recovery and Wellbeing Leads** will work with clients to create a shared trauma informed health navigation plan. This will include:

- Current understanding of their health, their health goals.
- Current challenges with accessing healthcare (e.g. overstimulation, finding certain environments/language triggering or upsetting) + tools/strategies to navigate this.

**Key Accountabilities**

**Specific Objectives**
- Primary focus on addressing the earlier detection of liver disease in support of the National Cancer teams drive to reduce the number of late-stage liver cancers.
- Tailored cancer health education and counselling (face-to-face, phone, printed materials, lay language).
- Promotion of healthy behaviours (e.g. smoking cessation, alcohol reduction, physical activity promotion, and nutrition) to aid in prevention against cancer.
- Supporting engagement with national cancer screening programmes alongside any locally driven initiatives such as targeted lung health screening (earlier detection of lung cancers in at risk populations) and capsule sponge for early detection of oesophageal cancers.
- Ensuring that clients symptom concerns are communicated to project clinical professionals and if needed, provide support to navigate the healthcare system involvement of the patient in decision-making regarding their health.
- Scheduling screening appointments, reminders and follow-ups.
- Transportation assistance and accompanying homeless clients to and from procedures if needed and helping with reaching and navigating screening results.
- Facilitating follow-up appointments with healthcare providers.

**Identification of health needs and barriers. Including**:

- Personalised approach of assessment of client needs.
- Adapted solutions regarding barriers to care.
- Enhanced understanding of needs of clients among local health and social care providers.
- Establishing trust between clients and the staff at shelters, drop-in