The supportive and assistive workforce is essential to delivering safe, effective and compassionate cancer care.
Working alongside registered professionals, colleagues in supportive and assistive roles often spend significant time with patients and their families, helping them navigate services, access support, attend appointments and receive high-quality care throughout their cancer journey.
Whether you're providing direct patient care, coordinating appointments, supporting clinics, navigating patients through services or assisting with administration, your role contributes to the overall experience and outcomes of people affected by cancer. ACCEND recognises the valuable contribution made by the supportive and assistive workforce and provides a framework to support learning, development and career progression.
Yes.
You do not need to work in a specialist cancer service for ACCEND to be valuable. The framework can help you understand your contribution to the wider cancer pathway and develop the knowledge and skills that matter most in your role. Many of the knowledge, skills and behaviours within the framework are relevant to professionals who support people affected by cancer in a wide range of settings.
You may work with patients across the pathway in Primary Care, Community or Rehabiliation Services. Patients affected by cancer may also present within Mental Health Services or Urgent and Emergency.
People affected by cancer spend significant time accessing services outside specialist cancer care. As a result, healthcare professionals, support workers, administrators, coordinators and community-based staff all have a role to play in supporting people affected by cancer.
Did you know? There is a package specifically for those in Primary Care and importance of prevention, screening and early diagnosis of cancer. Access here.
You may not be delivering specialist cancer treatment, but the support you provide can make a significant difference to a patient's experience. ACCEND can help you:
Build Confidence Develop your understanding of cancer and feel more confident supporting people affected by cancer.
Recognise Patient Needs Understand the physical, emotional and practical challenges patients may experience during diagnosis, treatment and recovery.
Support Personalised Care Help ensure that patients receive support that is tailored to their individual needs and circumstances.
Develop New Skills Identify learning opportunities relevant to your role and future career aspirations.
Plan Your Career Explore opportunities for progression within cancer services and the wider healthcare workforce.
As responsibilities develop, some colleagues may begin building capabilities associated with the Registered Level, particularly those progressing towards professional registration.
Most supportive and assistive workforce roles will align with the Supportive/Assistive Level of Practice within ACCEND, covering a range of roles including:
Healthcare/Clinical Support Workers Providing direct care and support to patients within inpatient, outpatient and community settings.
Cancer Navigators/Care Coordinators Helping patients understand the cancer pathway, access services and overcome barriers to care - coordination of patient pathways, appointments, referrals and communication between services.
Nursing Associates Working across healthcare services to deliver hands-on patient care, support personalised care, contribute to care planning and work alongside registered nurses and the wider multidisciplinary team.
Administrative and Clerical Staff Ensuring cancer services run efficiently by supporting appointments, data management, communication and patient administration.
Therapy and Rehabilitation Assistants Supporting AHPs and rehabilitation teams to help patients maintain independence and recover following treatment.
If you're still not sure, you can explore more Supportive / Assistive Role Profiles or use the ACE Level Checker.
Before exploring the wider ACCEND framework, we recommend completing Foundations of Cancer Care.
The programme has been designed to help non-specialist staff build confidence and develop a consistent understanding of cancer care, regardless of your professional background.
“Overall I found the course beneficial. There were some elements that I was already familiar with such as the personalised care for cancer as I do this in my day to day role, I particularly found the self-care module useful as I have struggled with emotional burnout. The science module was challenging but interesting, it’s a shame the course wasn’t available when I started the role." - Emily, Cancer Care Facilitator
Start Foundations of Cancer Care here.
“I found the course interesting. The module that included the staging and grading [The Science of Cancer] was very useful as it gives me context when I’m looking at patients notes and to understand the process. Being able to do the course in smaller chunks made it easier to complete in quieter periods too.” - Joan, Clinical Support Worker
ACCEND provides a framework to identify development opportunities relevant to your role and future aspirations. If you have completed the Foundations of Cancer Care and are looking for further learning and development, you may wish to explore the SYB Learning and Development page [coming soon] or the following external resources below:
Follow us on social media: @CanAlliance_SYB
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