Healthcare Assistant for Community Cancer Team – Huntingdon

Healthcare Assistant (Phlebotomy focus) – Community Cancer Team

North West Anglia NHS Foundation Trust is seeking a compassionate and highly skilled Healthcare Assistant to join the Community Cancer Nursing teams (HCCN and PCCN). This role is essential for supporting patients with haematology and oncology conditions in the comfort of their own homes or within outreach clinics in the Huntingdon and Peterborough areas. As a community phlebotomist, you will be the “face” of the service, providing not just technical skill, but also vital emotional support to patients during their cancer journey.

Core Requirements and Skills

• Advanced Phlebotomy: You must possess excellent, proven phlebotomy skills, as the role involves lone working in the community where immediate peer support for difficult takes is limited.

• Mobility: A full, clean UK driving licence is essential, as you will be traveling between patients’ homes across a wide geographical area.

• Communication: Exceptional interpersonal skills are required to provide a “listening ear” and comfort to patients and their families.

• Autonomy: Ability to work independently as a lone worker while remaining a dedicated “team player” within the wider multidisciplinary team.

• Compassion: A deep commitment to maintaining patient privacy, dignity, and individualized care under the guidance of Registered Practitioners.

Key Responsibilities

• Mobile Phlebotomy: Visiting oncology and haematology patients at home to perform blood draws required for monitoring and treatment adjustment.

• Clinical Support: Delivering high-quality, skilled care as part of a treatment plan managed by Registered Nurses.

• Patient Advocacy: Acting as a vital link between the patient and the specialist nursing team, reporting any concerns regarding the patient’s physical or mental wellbeing.

• Outreach Clinics: Assisting in the smooth running of community-based outreach clinics.

• Holistic Care: Providing emotional support and guidance to patients before, during, and after their cancer treatments.

Why Join the Community Cancer Team?

This is an innovative and challenging service that takes specialist hospital care into the community. It offers a unique opportunity to build meaningful, long-term relationships with patients outside of a clinical ward environment.

• Professional Growth: The Trust is committed to staff development and offers a Band 3 pathway, allowing you to progress as you achieve specific clinical competencies.

• Dynamic Team: Work within a highly skilled, enthusiastic, and friendly multidisciplinary team (MDT).

• Workplace Impact: Your role directly reduces the need for vulnerable cancer patients to travel to the hospital, significantly improving their quality of life.

Vital Information

• Band: Dependent on skills (following the Band 3 pathway).

• Location: Cross-site working between Hinchingbrooke (Huntingdon) and Peterborough.

• Contract: Full-time.

• Priority: Trust colleagues currently at risk of redeployment will be given priority.

• Contact: Zara Ball, Lead Cancer Nurse (zara.ball@nhs.net / 07800874813).