Family Support Officer



Job Description/Terms of Reference

Paediatric Oncology

Bhaktapur Cancer Hospital

Key Relationships:

Ø  Healthcare professionals working on paediatric oncology ward

Ø  Social work department

Ø  Psychology department

Ø  Country Programme Coordinator, World Child Cancer UK

Ø  Psychosocial Support Advisor, World Child Cancer UK

Ø  Admin/Finance Officer, Together Against Childhood Cancer (TACC)

Ø  Program Coordinator/Finance Manager, Ramesh Gupta Memorial Trust (RGMT)

Main Purpose

To ensure that children and young people with cancer and their families receive the financial, emotional, social, and practical support they need.

Services will include a psychosocial needs assessment of the patient and their family’s situation, provision of emotional support, information on financial support and financial guidance for families, practical support and making referrals for other services where appropriate. The role will also involve working with the wider oncology team in a collaborative way, to meet the holistic needs of patients and their families.

To assess and review needs at diagnosis and at key points during the cancer journey, working in collaboration with the Multi-Disciplinary Team (MDT) / Oncology Medical Team at the Hospital.

To identify and contribute to best practice, promote the psychosocial needs of patient and their families, contribute to the development of services, and provide advocacy for patients and their families.

Key Responsibilities

 Needs assessments and financial support.

Ø  To ensure the provision of high-quality assessment and care support planning in partnership with families. To assess and review needs, initially at diagnosis and at key points during the cancer journey (relapse, end of life).

Ø  To individually assess families’ needs at diagnosis, developing support plans for the patient and families that are considered to be at high risk of abandonment in collaboration with the medical staff.

Ø  To ensure that the support plan is delivered directly or in partnership with others.

Ø  To assess the financial needs of families in collaboration with healthcare professionals and identify those requiring financial assistance.

Ø  To intervene and refer to relevant agencies, where any safeguarding needs are assessed. These may include concerns that have an impact on the family functioning and where there is an impact on the care provision of the child.

Provision of emotional support to patients and their families

Ø  To provide emotional support to patients and their families in individual and group sessions to help them cope better with the impact of the cancer diagnosis at each stage of the illness.

Ø  To support patients and families to adjust to hospital admission, exploring their emotional and social responses to illness and treatment.

Ø  Organize support groups for family members to assist them in understanding, dealing, and coping with the impact of cancer.

Ø  Support the parents/families to grow their own peer support groups.

Ø  Signpost families, who require a greater level of emotional support, to other relevant departments or organization.

Family education and information provision

Ø  To support the overall function of the medical team in delivering treatment and care by facilitating the communication between the families and the medical staff.

Ø  Help patients and families understand the illness and treatment options, as well as consequences of various treatments or treatment refusal.

Ø  To organize families’ education activities in collaboration with the medical staff.

Ø  To ensure families have access to the information they need in order to understand their child’s illness.

Ø  To be accessible to families for them to ask questions and to know where to signpost families for accurate and helpful information.

Reporting, Finance, Data Management and Administration

Ø  Maintain all the documents and reporting required for the project activities as per guidance from Paediatric Oncologist, Admin and Finance Officer of TACC, and Country Programme Coordinator of WCC.

Ø  Prepare monthly and quarterly narrative reports of on-going activities with guidance from Paediatric Oncologist, Admin and Finance Officer of TACC, and Country Programme Coordinator of WCC.

Ø  Provide monthly and quarterly family financial support reports verified by Paediatric Oncologist, and report to Admin and Finance Officer of TACC, and Country Programme Coordinator of WCC.
 

Ø  Collection and preparation of documents of family/patient support in coordination with Program Coordinator (RGMT) and Country Programme Coordinator of WCC and verified by Paediatric Oncologist.

Ø  To manage data and patient information in line with Data Protection guidelines.

Ø  To record patient information and interventions in a non-judgemental way.

Ø  To keep clear, accurate and timely written / typed records of support offered to patients and their families.

Ø  Identify any potential stories of success in treatment and document these stories for future fundraising activities.

Person Specification

Requirements

Essential

Desirable

Educational / Professional Qualifications

A bachelor’s degree in one of the following disciplines:

Psychology, Social Work, Anthropology, Public Health, Social Science or Nursing.

Experience

Experience and knowledge of working with families in a health or social care setting

Experience and knowledge of working in a multi-disciplinary environment

Experience of data management and financial and narrative reporting

Understanding of the impact of serious illness

Experience of working with a diverse group of constituents, awareness and understanding of issues of privilege, oppression, and marginalized communities

Knowledge and understanding of Child Safeguarding and Vulnerable Adult procedures

Experience of working with bereaved families

Skills / Attributes

Ability to offer empathetic, genuine, and non-judgment support to others

Self-awareness of one’s own limitations and the awareness of when to seek support or advise from others

Ability to present complex information clearly to a range of people

Cultural awareness and respect for the religious and cultural diversity of children and their families

Proven ability to communicate sensitively and effectively at all levels both verbally and in writing

Ability to manage complex or conflicting priorities in a pressured environment

Ability to challenge where necessary

Person centred approach to work

Ability to deal with stressful situations and offer appropriate support to others

Time management and organisational skills

Desire to develop skills in this field

Understanding of data protection and the ability to maintain confidentiality

Supportive, Team Player and Resourceful

Technical skills

Computer literate

Experience of Microsoft Office Packages

Experience of working with databases

Interested Candidate should send the following documents:
- CV or resume
- cover letter (one page: describing previous experience and showcasing the interest)
- scanned copy of the highest degree awarded

Kindly send the application document to TACC email (tacc.nepal@gmail.com) no later than 2 weeks of 1^st Published Date 5:00pm.

Note: Only Shortlisted Candidates will be contacted.