MDT Assistant

The post holder will be a member of the Cancer Team responsible for the administration of the out-patient pathway in line with national targets., The post holder will be a member of the Cancer Team responsible for the administration of the out-patient pathway in line with national targets.
They will assist in collecting Cancer Waiting Time Data for their nominated site, focussing on the new 28 day target, using the tracking and electronic recording systems currently in use by the Trust, to ensure that patients do not breach any targets set currently or in the future.
To work as part of the Cancer Services Team to ensure cross cover, cover for periods of annual and sickness leave and continuity of service across all site-specific tumour MDTs, as directed by the MDT Co-ordinators.
To work strictly within the Government's targets for outpatients and Choose & Book, ensuring patients pathways are in line with national targets.
To accurately record the data relating to outpatient pathway ensuring that all data is correct and up to date and ensuring that action is taken to amend any data errors., Bedfordshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust provides hospital services to a growing population of around 700,000 people living across Bedfordshire and the surrounding areas across two busy hospital sites in Bedford and Luton. Both hospital sites offer key services such as A&E, Obstetrics-led Maternity and Paediatrics. You will be joining a friendly, high performing Trust committed to ensuring the health and wellbeing of staff. As one of the largest NHS Trusts in our region you will have access to a programme of high quality training and development to help you grow your career. The Trust continues to be committed to delivering the best patient care using the best clinical knowledge and technology.
Our Values
We not only recruit based on qualifications and experience - we recruit individuals who demonstrate the behaviours which underpin our Trusts core values. We achieve this by using values based recruitment. We are dedicated to making our recruitment practices as inclusive as possible for everyone, we are committed to promoting equality and diversity, and creating a culture that values differences.
Please note that vacancies may close prior to the advertised closing date when sufficient number of applications have been received. All new staff will be subject to a probationary period covering first 6 months in post. Travel between hospital sites may be required. Please review all documents attached to ensure you familiarize yourself with all requirements of the job.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities
· To book appointments in line with national guidelines.
· To support the triage process and monitor timeliness of the Consultant's triage in all services.
· To work with the diagnostics services when booking Straight to Test Pathways
· To assist with the process of "Bounce Back" of referrals that are incomplete.
· Communicate with patients, colleagues, internal and external contacts in a courteous, professional and timely manner at all times by various methods, i.e. telephone, written, face to face.
· To assist in the daily monitoring of performance against agreed Waiting Time Targets for diagnosis and treatment for patients on a Cancer pathway, as directed by the MDT Co-ordinators.
· To support the MDT Co-ordinators to manage and track the patient through every stage of the patient pathway on a daily basis, to ensure that diagnostic tests and any subsequent treatments are achieved within the targets, as directed by the MDT Co-ordinators
· To develop an understanding of the Cancer Waiting Times Targets to ensure that the 28/31/62-day targets are met.
· To develop a knowledge and understanding of patient pathways for allocated tumour site/s.
· To assist with the checking of outcomes of patients attending outpatient clinics via Two Week Wait referrals and progress the booking of any required tests within deemed timescales, as directed by the MDT Co-ordinators.
· To assist in the daily monitoring of performance against agreed Waiting Time Targets for diagnosis and treatment for patients on a Cancer pathway, as directed by the MDT Co-ordinators including liaising with Radiology and Outpatients booking to ensure optimal pathway for the patient.
· To support the MDT Co-ordinators to manage and track the patient through every stage of the patient pathway on a daily basis, to ensure that diagnostic tests and any subsequent treatments are achieved within the targets, as directed by the MDT Co-ordinators
· To support the MDT Co-ordinators to escalate patients appropriately to ensure that diagnostic tests and any subsequent treatments are achieved within the targets, as directed by the MDT Co-ordinators
· To support the MDT Co-ordinators in the early identification of potential breaches in relation to treatment or patients delayed in diagnostic pathways and to support in the escalation of such issues to the MDT Co-ordinators (or in their absence, the Cancer Services Manager) to enable relevant actions to be taken to overcome problems with meeting targets.
· To support the MDT Co-ordinators along with clinical colleagues in collating, validating and entering relevant patient information onto Somerset Cancer Registry on a daily basis to ensure that accurate timely patient information is available at all times, as directed by the MDT Co-ordinators.
· To support the MDT Co-ordinators to ensure that all waiting times information is kept up to date to support monthly submissions made by the Cancer Information Analyst to Open Exeter within the timescales set down.
· To support the MDT Co-ordinators in ensuring that all mandatory data set items pertinent to the tumour specific data sets are collected, as directed by the MDT Co-ordinators. These maybe subject to change as the data sets, systems and procedures are developed.
· To support the MDT Co-ordinators to enable the Cancer Services team to cross cover and provide continuity of service to all MDTs, as directed by the MDT Co-ordinators.
· To undertake any work that the Cancer Services team may require support for, that is appropriate to their skills and knowledge, as directed by the MDT Co-ordinators, particular in times of staff annual leave.
· To undertake any work as detailed by the MDT Co-ordinators or Cancer Services Manager.
· Dealing with queries from consultants and other Trust staff and to have the initiative to know when help from a more senior staff member is required.
· Have an excellent telephone manner; this is imperative to ensure that clear and concise information is exchanged to patients and staff.
· Working within set work patterns, prioritise own work efficiently and effectively to ensure all administrative duties are met, highlighting any issues to the Cancer Manager/Deputy cancer Manager
· Work flexibly across the department as required.
· Entering and retrieving data from hospital computer systems.

· Data quality validation under supervision.
It is an exciting time to join the newly formed Bedfordshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust. We run two busy hospital sites in Bedford and Luton. Our 7,500 staff provide high quality care for a growing population of around 700,000 across Bedfordshire and the surrounding areas.
You will be joining a friendly, high performing Trust committed to ensuring the health and wellbeing of staff. As one of the largest NHS Trusts in our region you will have access to a programme of high quality training and development to help you grow your career. Travel between hospital sites may be required. We have state-of-the art facilities placing us at the heart of cutting edge health care. The Trust continues to be committed to delivering the best patient care using the best clinical knowledge and technology available.
All new staff will be subject to a probationary period covering their first six months in post.