Dimbleby Cancer Care are looking for an experienced touch therapist who can offer aromatherapy, massage and ideally reflexology to patients with a cancer diagnosis. This role is mainly based at Guy's Cancer Centre, though the successful applicant may be required to work across all GSTT sites, including St. Thomas' hospital and Queen Mary's hospital (Sidcup, Kent).

The Dimbleby Cancer Care service provides complementary therapy, psychological support and specialist information services to people affected by cancer. The Complementary Therapy Service currently offers aromatherapy, massage, reflexology, stress management, Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) acupuncture, as well as auricular acupuncture to patients.

Main duties of the job

The post will cover three days, specifically Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday. Ideally you should have experience of working with cancer or palliative care patients and be able to demonstrate evidence of continued professional development.

You will have the relevant training in aromatherapy and massage therapy, and ideally reflexology (ITEC, IFPA, AOR), and be self-motivated with registration/accreditation with the relevant professional body, as well as being a member of the CNHC. You will furthermore have highly developed communication skills and the ability to converse with a multitude of stakeholders, including patients, nurses, allied health professionals, consultants, as well as managerial and administrative staff from a wide range of diverse backgrounds. You will also be confident in learning how to deliver virtual group and individual sessions to patients.

Successful applicants are able work under emotionally distressing circumstances and be able to provide and receive complex, sensitive information.

About us

Guy's and St Thomas' NHS Foundation Trust comprises five of the UK's best known hospitals - Guy's, St Thomas', Evelina London Children's Hospital, Royal Brompton and Harefield - and community services in Lambeth and Southwark, all with a long history of high quality care, clinical excellence, research and innovation.

We are among the UK's busiest, most successful foundation trusts. We provide specialist care for patients including heart and lung, cancer and renal services as well as a full range of local hospital and community services for people in Lambeth and Southwark.

We have a long tradition of clinical and scientific achievement and - as part of King's Health Partners - we are one of England's eight academic health sciences centres, bringing together world-class clinical services, teaching and research. We have one of the National Institute for Health Research's biomedical research centres, established with King's College London in 2007, as well as dedicated clinical research facilities.

We have around 22,700 staff, making us one of the largest NHS Trusts in the country and one of the biggest employers locally. We aim to reflect the diversity of the communities we serve and continue to develop new and existing partnerships with local people, patients, neighbouring NHS organisations, local authorities and charitable bodies and GPs.

We strive to recruit and retain the best staff and ensure that our services are of the highest quality, safe and focused on our patients.

Job description

Job responsibilities

Professional / Clinical responsibilities

• To provide complementary therapies including aromatherapy and massage (and ideally reflexology) to cancer and palliative care patients, on an out-patient and in-patient basis, in person and virtually, and to patients attending the Cancer Centre for chemotherapy and/or radiotherapy.
• To develop an understanding of the hospitals policies and procedures.
• To contribute to the ongoing reviews of patients and their carers at meetings with the complementary therapy team, Dimbleby Cancer Care colleagues and at multidisciplinary team meetings to ensure integrated care is provided by the therapy team.
• To develop greater awareness of the resources and educational opportunities available to enable patients and their families to make informed choices to participate in their care.
• To apply initiative in responding to unforeseen clinical situations.
• To deputise for the clinical work for any member of the team.
• To attend regular Complementary Therapy Team meetings and supervision as agreed with the line manager.
• To participate in shared responsibility for maintaining a clean and tidy work area.

Communication:

• To keep accurate documentation of patient treatments.
• To communicate any change in the patients medical condition to appropriate medical staff.
• To keep accurate records for the use of the service.
• Report any untoward incidence involving the post holder, patient or visitor in accordance with Trust policy and procedures.
• To input required data into the computer system in a timely way.

Organisational:

• To be involved as required with support groups within the Trust and other patient/user groups within the community.
• To contribute to the regular complementary therapy team meetings by sharing knowledge, demonstrating reflective practice and by contributing to the development of complementary therapy initiatives with the agreement of the Lead Complementary Therapist.

Education & Professional Development.

• To undertake all mandatory training.
• To actively participate in the performance development review process, and identify appropriate developmental learning by reflective practice and undertaking self-directed learning/study.
• To undertake Continuing Professional Development to meet the annual requirements of the professional bodies for aromatherapy, massage and reflexology.
• To participate with education and training activities, and further develop expertise in working with patients with varying cancer diagnoses.
• To participate in regular supervision with line manager.

Financial Management:

• Ensure that stock is maintained in the department and ordered in line with Trust standards.

Planning and organisation

• To assist in any audit, evaluation and research initiatives within the department when required.
• To work in a professional manner in accordance with directives from the appropriate professional bodies and in line with best clinical practice standards and relevant policies of Guys and St Thomas NHS Foundation Trust.
• To undertake specific administrative tasks, for example, booking appointments, photocopying, filing and taking messages where appropriate.
• To undertake other tasks as agreed with the Manager of the Dimbleby Cancer Care Service or with the Lead Complementary Therapies.

Person Specification

Qualifications

Essential

• Recognised professional training in aromatherapy and massage therapy (eg. ITEC, IFPA)
• CNHC registration and membership of a professional body covering each therapy

Desirable

• Recognised professional training in reflexology (eg. ITEC, AOR)
• Recognised professional training in auricular acupuncture
• Further academic studies, eg degree level
• Nursing or other relevant allied health professional qualification

Experience

Essential

• Significant experience of working as a complementary therapist

Desirable

• Previous experience of working in NHS and/or with cancer/palliative care patients

Skills

Essential

• Ability to work effectively as part of and with a range of highly diverse members of the multi-disciplinary team
• Ability to work under supervision
• Good written and verbal communication skills, including record keeping.
• Evidence of ongoing CPD
• Good IT skills, including the ability to use excel, power point, Microsoft word and outlook.

Desirable

• Knowledge of cancer/palliative care and how to adapt complementary therapy treatments
• Knowledge of using essential oils with cancer and palliative care patients

Personal characteristics and aptitudes

Essential

• Ability to manage own workload and to be self-motivated
• Ability to work across all Trust sites
• Reliable

Desirable

• Reflective and compassionate

Employer details

Employer name

Guy's and St Thomas' NHS Foundation Trust

Address

Guy's Hospital

London

SE1 9RT

Any attachments will be accessible after you click to apply.

196-LIS7852