Cancer Nurse

Job Title: Cancer Nurse

Department: Services

Reporting to: Team Lead - Daffodil Centres - Community & Hospital Services Manager, Irish Cancer Society

Location: Dublin 8: St. James Hospital

Hours: Full time - Monday - Friday - 08:00-16:00.

Contract Type: Permanent

Key Relationships: Irish Cancer Society: Services Department - Hospital: Department of Nursing/Cancer Services Clinical Staff

Salary Grade: €56,600 per annum

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WHO WE ARE

Every three minutes, someone in Ireland hears the words 'You've got cancer'. At the Irish Cancer Society, we understand the physical, emotional and financial impact a cancer diagnosis brings. And we are determined to do everything we can to help.

As Ireland's leading cancer charity, we work across every area of cancer - from prevention and early detection, through to end-of-life care. We make a positive impact for people affected by cancer every day: investing in lifesaving and life-changing research; providing practical, financial and emotional supports; and driving improvements in public cancer services.

Our Services are available for anyone affected by cancer. Our team of specialist cancer nurses provide cancer related information and education on a wide range of topics, emotional support and signposting to sources of support via our Support Line and in Daffodil Centres. This empowers and enables enquirers to the service to get the information and support they need from a trusted source at a time and place that suits them.

If you are looking for an opportunity to use your cancer nursing skills and knowledge to make a positive impact on anyone affected by cancer this role is for you.

Irish Cancer Society Daffodil Centres

A cancer diagnosis impacts on all areas of a person's life. At the Irish Cancer Society, we aim to reduce this burden of cancer and improve the quality of life for everyone affected by cancer.

Our Daffodil Centre at St. James Hospital is one of 13 Daffodil Centres across Ireland. It is a friendly and welcoming, purpose-built unit, staffed by a specialist cancer nurse and volunteers.

Main duties and responsibilities

The post holder must be a registered nurse with oncology knowledge and experience who is able to discuss and assess complex cancer needs as well as related practical and emotional matters with anyone who contacts the Daffodil Centre. They must have the leadership and organisational skills to manage and develop the centre and the people skills to interact with enquirers as well as with internal and external stakeholders.

YOU WILL

• Be responsible for the leadership/management of the Daffodil Centre, including promotion and continuous development of the service and for raising awareness of its availability, both within the hospital and in the local community.
• Provide specialist information, education and support to anyone affected by cancer that visits or contacts the centre - this could be a person with a diagnosis, friend/relative/carer, someone concerned about symptoms or seeking cancer prevention/health promotion material or a health care professional.
• Develop and maintain information resources available within the centre for service users.
• Deliver Irish Cancer Society patient education programmes.
• Manage and mentor the Daffodil Centre volunteers.

Delivering person centred care and education

• Be responsive in understanding and addressing the needs of service users and complete a Needs Assessment with them, if appropriate.
• Provide comprehensive cancer information, advice and support to patients, carers, the public and healthcare professionals (face-to-face, telephone, email and written).
• Refer enquirers to other services within the Irish Cancer Society, as well as to other relevant health care professionals and/or organisations.
• Deliver the Society's patient education programmes locally in groups and online as required.
• Act as a resource to the multidisciplinary teams in the hospital on information, supports and services available to those affected by cancer.
• Present to various external groups on a variety of cancer topics, including cancer prevention to cancer treatments, side-effects and follow-up care, as well as the different services available from the Irish Cancer Society.

Leadership of the Daffodil Centre and volunteer management

• Work with managers in both the hospital and the Irish Cancer Society to develop and manage the Daffodil Centre, ensuring that it is open as advertised, delivering an accessible and high-quality professional service.
• Implement the hospital and the Irish Cancer Society policies, procedures and guidelines.
• Continually seek out ways to develop our services and supports and improve the efficiency and effectiveness of the centre.

• Work with the Team Lead and Services Coordination Team to prepare regular and end of year service activity reports.

• Keep informed of Irish Cancer Society campaigns and events, which may impact on centre activity e.g. an increased number of calls or emails on a specific issue.
• Work with the Society's Volunteer Team and the Team Lead to recruit, interview and train volunteers.
• Manage and supervise the competence of volunteers working in the Daffodil Centre.
• Provide the volunteers with ongoing support and supervision.
• Report any concerns regarding volunteers to the Daffodil Centre Team Leaders.

Communication, relationship management and promotion of the Daffodil Centre and the Irish Cancer Society

• Establish and maintaingood working relationships with the multidisciplinary teams involved in the delivery of cancer care within the hospital.
• Develop and maintain close links with the Services Team and all other relevant departments of the Irish Cancer Society.

• Work to expand the reach and impact of the Daffodil Centre in the community within the hospital catchment area.
• Work with the Daffodil Centre Team Leaders to ensure you have the appropriate promotional materials/resources for the centre and an adequate supply.
• Present to various internal and external groups on the services provided by the Irish Cancer Society.
• Participate and assist with the Irish Cancer Society exhibition stands at various events /conferences for both patients and health care professionals
• Take part in media relations activity on behalf of the Irish Cancer Society.

Information Development

• Maintain a comprehensive resource of high-quality evidence based, relevant information, encompassing all aspects of cancer, care and support.
• Be responsible for maintaining stock levels of patient information materials, including Irish Cancer Society materials (booklets/factsheets), which will be displayed in the Daffodil Centre