A growing number of PCNs across Wessex are recruiting ARRS funded care coordinators to focus specifically on cancer care. These roles can help improve the uptake of cancer screening programmes and patient experience by providing personalised care planning and support throughout the cancer pathway, and supporting the delivery of cancer requirements in the PCN DES.

Wessex Cancer Alliance is working with PCNs to help them recruit and induct cancer care coordinators, plus ongoing support through training opportunities and a Wessex Community of Practice.

For more information please contact Tamzen.Hogben@nhs.net

What is a Care Coordinator?

Care coordinators provide extra time, capacity, and expertise to support patients in preparing for clinical conversations or in following up discussions with primary care professionals. They work closely with the GPs and other primary care colleagues within the primary care network (PCN) to identify and manage a caseload of identified patients, making sure that appropriate support is made available to them and their carers (where appropriate), and ensuring that their changing needs are addressed.

For more information on the Cancer Care Coordinator role and how they can support cancer care in your PCN, please view the ‘Employing a Cancer Care Coordinator in your PCN’ webinar held in September (below).

Support for PCNs

If you are considering recruiting to this role, Wessex Cancer Alliance can support you by providing:

• Job description
• Induction package
• Training and education
• Tools and resources to support the care coordinator once in post
• A Wessex Community of Practice

For further details on the care coordinator role and resources to help you recruit to this and other ARRS roles please visit the Wessex Cancer Alliance ARRS toolkit which has been developed to help primary care teams understand the potential and opportunities within the ARRS funded roles to support the delivery of cancer care.

For local and national resources relating to primary care and cancer, the Wessex Cancer Alliance Primary Care Toolkit which contains the latest updates, best practice guidance, useful tools and links to relevant training.

If you are a cancer care coordinator working in Wessex and would like to join the Community of Practice, please contact Tamzen.Hogben@nhs.net

If you are a newly employed cancer care coordinator we offer a full six month supervision and training package. To discuss options and to find out more please contact Mary Edwards: mary.edwards8@nhs.net