Assistant Teenage and Young Adults (TYA) Youth Worker

Assistant Teenage and Young Adults (TYA) Youth Worker

The Royal Surrey Cancer Centre is looking for an empathetic and motivated individual to join our Teenage and Young Adult (TYA) Cancer Service as an Assistant Youth Worker. The post holder will be expected to have a strong understanding of person centred care, with the ability to build supportive relationships with young people aged facing cancer.

Applicants should be proactive, well organised, IT literate, and flexible to work occasional evenings or weekends.

This post requires an experienced, forward thinking, motivated and ambitious person whose contributions will be recognised by a dynamic, professional and friendly team.

Main duties of the job

To support the youth worker with a wide range of appropriate recreational activities to enable young people aged years to develop cognitive, social and emotional skills throughout their cancer trajectory.

To participate in the TYA Cancer Multidisciplinary Team using specific skills to contribute to the care and understanding of the young people, their families, and carers.

To ensure the day care and outpatient environment is young people friendly and stimulating.

To encourage and help to develop a peer group network of support.

To support the youth worker with signposting TYAs to accessible grants and benefits when they're struggling with cost of living.

To support the youth worker with guiding and mediating for the TYA and their family with general support.

To support patients to advocate for themselves and their best interests within the team and wider hospital, and to advocate for them where this is not possible.

About us

Royal Surrey is a compassionate and collaborative acute and community Trust. The Care Quality Commission (CQC) has given us an outstanding rating.

Although it isn't the Trust's normal practice, adverts may close early, so you are encouraged to submit an application as soon as possible.

Job responsibilities

To ensure TYAs are aware of the financial support available to them when struggling with living costs. Supporting youth worker to liaise with external agencies such as schools and employers to support TYA and family to manage day to day life during and post treatment and while living with cancer. To ensure that appropriate activity and recreational equipment is safe and appropriate for each young adult patient. To source, advise and purchase recreational resources to meet the needs of the years age group. To work across Teenage and Adult Cancer services taking referrals from the clinical staff within the Teenage and Young Adult Cancer Service. Working with external agencies to provide appropriate activities both within hospital and the community to meet the needs of this patient group during treatment and beyond. Signposting TYAs to more specialist support within the TYA team. Example: Counselling, coaching, holistic wellbeing support or psychosexual therapy. Working alongside the young people to establish their health needs. Using the results of patients health needs work closely with the rest of the team to provide solutions. To support youth worker to provide appropriate recreational facilities and activities for the teenagers and young adults on the Teenage and Young Adult Unit and other ward areas. Provide support for educational decision making and liaise with schools, universities and other higher education institutes where appropriate. Support youth worker to encourage and support the interaction of teenagers and young adults with activities, with particular emphasis on group work and using motivational approaches where appropriate. To devise and develop ways in which peer group support can be achieved. Prepare young people for invasive and non-invasive medical procedures, using distraction techniques and activity. Ensure the appropriateness of available resources to be updated as needed. To coordinate and support peer network and therapeutic support groups used to encourage social interaction and offer support in order to aid adjustment to disease and hospitalisation. To participate in fundraising process including suggestions for fundraisers and sending thank you cards out to fundraisers. Assist youth worker to research and get quotations for ordering supplies and equipment as appropriate. To ensure recreational and craft equipment is continually maintained. To keep records of the numbers and types of patients receiving recreational services. To attend weekly TYA unit team meetings. To provide an age appropriate environment in which young people can remain stimulated. Link with the Youth Worker at the Principal Treatment Centres (PTC) (Royal Marsden, University College London Hospital) to ensure that activities are coordinated and collaborative. Assist youth worker to plan, co ordinate, monitor and evaluate work which broadens access to social activities for young people. To develop and maintain a close working relationship with people from the community as well as with those involved in other elements of the Unit's work. Ensure that patient privacy and confidentiality is maintained, and that dignity and freedom of choice is enhanced. Respect the individuality, values and cultural and religious diversity of patients and their families. Supervise volunteers. Ensure infection control measures are kept at all times. Use any computer system purchased by the trust providing appropriate training has been given. Example: Cerner. Comply with the data protection act 1984. Assisting clinical team in delivering safe and timely care to patients as appropriate. Maintain own learning through reading and attending study days. Review and reflect upon own practice through the effective use of clinical supervision and appraisal. Attend in service training and meetings as required. Organise and attend Trust statutory and mandatory trainings where applicable. Participate in the orientation, training and supervision of students. Act as a role model and in a professional manner at all times creating a good working atmosphere. Work within current policies issued by the trust reporting any accident or sickness to the lead Nurse. Have knowledge of social media platforms such as Facebook, Instagram and twitter to ensure that all unit sites are managed and updated regularly.

Person Specification Qualifications

• GCSSE English Language and Mathematics (Grades A C) or equivalent
• NVQ3 or NVQ3 plus additional training to diploma level equivalent, or equivalent through short courses
• Evidence of continued role development

Knowledge and Experience

• Relevant health or social care experience at Band 2 or equivalent
• Experience of multi professional working
• Evidence of good communications skills
• Understanding of person centred care
• Understanding of the health and social care environment
• Experience in the care of TYA
• Experience in coordinating a patient workload
• Understanding of Macmillan Cancer Support and its role across the UK
• Awareness of improving outcomes: a strategy for Cancer and other National Cancer policies

Disclosure and Barring Service Check

This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.

£27,106 to £28,850 a year pro rated including high cost area supplement.