Cancer Support Specialist, Forth Valley 0.8FTE

As a Cancer Support Specialist within Maggie’s you will actively support centre visitors to understand and articulate their cancer related concerns. Through ongoing work with individuals, families and groups you will help them to engage with, and utilise, Maggie’s psychosocial programme of support. This will entail responsibility for ensuring that people are made to feel welcome, special and valued as individuals, and that they feel that their concerns have been heard and understood; creating the conditions for, and maintaining ongoing relationships with people accessing the centre and facilitating ongoing exploration of what Maggie’s programme may have to offer with regard to their use of all aspects of Maggie’s programme of support. This post is offered as 0.8 FTE and the salary listed is for 30 hours per week. Please note that the post holder will be required to work Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday.

Key responsibilities

• Participate in the provision of an integrated programme of cancer support to people affected by cancer.
• Responsibility for eliciting cancer related concerns and the psychological and emotional state of people affected by cancer self‑referring to Maggie’s Centre.
• Provide clinical and technical information as required for each centre visitor as well as emotional and psychosocial support (to Level 2 psychological support) to each centre visitor on each visit.
• To liaise with colleagues to ensure appropriate internal referrals of centre visitors and their use of Maggie’s programme of cancer support.
• Contribute to facilitated psychosocial and psycho‑educational components of Maggie’s programme, in particular Maggie’s programme of relaxation and stress management and supervised facilitation of network groups.
• Ensure that Maggie’s Centre environment and resources are maintained in accordance with Maggie’s policies and procedures to ensure that the programme of support is provided effectively and efficiently in a welcoming place.
• Contribute to raising awareness of and enabling access to Maggie’s Centre.

Skills, knowledge and expertise

• You will have a nursing degree (or equivalent training), current state registration and at least three years post qualification experience within an oncology nursing or related setting.
• A post‑graduate qualification in a relevant field would be advantageous.
• You will be able to demonstrate experience of providing person‑focused care support and a commitment to working as an effective member of a multi‑disciplinary team.
• You will have broad and up to‑date clinical knowledge in the field of cancer and be comfortable using narrative and strong interpersonal skills to assess cancer support needs and elicit concerns.
• Well‑organised, emotionally sensitive while also resilient, the post holder will be able to manage the demands of ongoing emotionally intense work.

Job benefits

• You’ll spend time at one of our incredible centres to experience our programme of support and see first‑hand the difference we can make.
• A structured Orientation week will cover everything you need to get settled in your new role.
• Holiday entitlement that helps you create a manageable work‑life balance.
• Generous sick leave cover.
• A supportive and friendly working environment.
• Tailored learning and development opportunities.
• Kitchen facilities with free tea, coffee and fruit bowl.
• Workplace pension and free financial advice from an independent financial advisor to help you plan for your future.
• Option to keep a pre‑existing NHS pension if eligible.
• Travel and cycle loans.
• Eye test expenses and money towards glasses.
• Enhanced maternity pay.
• Our buddy system links you with a colleague to give you extra support in your first few months.
• Facilitated stress management courses and access to our clinical psychologists for support.