Job Description

This is an excellent opportunity if you wish to start a career in advocacy or healthcare policy.

Job title: Advocacy officer

Location:Flexible, with frequent travel to Worcester (all staff currently working from home due the pandemic).

Reports to:Patient Advocacy Manager

When applying, please also read the person specification, which can be found in the job description which is downloadable on our website vacancies section.

Who we are and what we do

In 1969, a group of parents whose children had been diagnosed with leukaemia came together to create a support network. Now over 50 years later, we continue their work in providing information and support to anybody affected by leukaemia and other blood cancer types. 

How do we do this? We have a wide-range of services aimed at patients and their loved ones from diagnosis and beyond. 

Our support services range from nurse-led helplines, support groups and free-of-charge medical information to access to paid counselling, grants for those feeling the financial strain of a diagnosis and providing buddies so people always have somebody to talk to who have experienced something similar to them. We encourage you to have a read of our website and find out all the ways we support from diagnosis and beyond. 

Crucial to our work is raising awareness of leukaemia as a blood cancer and the importance for early diagnosis. Leukaemia can be difficult to spot as the symptoms are similar to many other common conditions. Unfortunately, most people are not aware of the signs of leukaemia and this leads to diagnosis being delayed, which can worsen outcomes for patients. 

As well as working to educate the general public through our #SpotLeukaemia campaign, we are working closely with our colleagues working in front line medical services to ensure they have the most up-to-date information on diagnosing leukaemia. We know that by raising awareness and working to educate health care professionals, we can save lives and improve outcomes. 

Overview of duties and responsibilities

The Patient Advocacy Manger and Chief Executive Officer will offer full training to the successful candidate.

• Influence policy which impacts the lives of people affected by blood cancer
• Undertake casework on behalf of individual patients, their families and/or in conjunction with other relevant professionals (e.g. social worker, benefits adviser, nurse).
• Plan and implement Leukaemia Care policy initiatives which underpin the strategic plan
• Work with the Campaigns Officer to identify issues that require campaigning activities
• Project manage the work relating to access to medicines, including NICE appraisals and health technology assessments
• Provide administrative support to the Patient Advocacy Manager
• Maintain and grow a database of policy makers, build relationships and identify policy advocates for blood cancers

Details on duties and reponsbilities

Policy

• Write articles on relevant policies for internal and external publications, both hard copy and digital.
• Attend external policy events and represent Leukaemia Care, at the request of the Patient Advocacy Manager.
• Assist the Patient Advocacy Manager to develop policy strategies.
• Draft briefings, policy and position statements on the issues affecting cancer patients and their carers, in general as well as specifically blood cancer patients.
• Review external policy documents from a variety of sources such as Cancer 52, the Cancer Campaigning Group etc.
• Assist the Patient Advocacy Manager to influence national, regional and international policy by representing the needs of patients and their carers in consultations, regulatory submissions and other policy initiatives.

Public affairs

• Developing and delivering written and oral briefings to Members of Parliament, peers, government officials and other decision makers on key policies and campaigns
• Actively networking and building constructive relationships with parliamentarians, political parties and NGO’s as relevant
• Provide analysis and insight on relevant legislation and policy guidance
• Planning and coordinating parliamentary events if required, coordinating and attend meetings with parliamentarians and stakeholder’s alongside senior staff.

Working with NICE (National Institute of Health and Care Excellence)

• To be aware of new and upcoming treatments for blood cancers which may be submitted for health technology appraisals.
• Develop relationships with health technology appraisal contacts in England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.
• To project manage the Leukaemia Care input into relevant health technology appraisals; identifying timescales and ensuring the deadlines are met, securing input from patients and medical professionals as necessary and drafting responses that are medically accurate and in line with Leukaemia Care’s policy.
• To gather information (e.g. patient surveys) about treatment side effects, patient compliance with treatment, and in general relating to consequences of diagnosis.

Advocacy Casework

• To provide a personalized, solution-based service resolving a specific issue that an individual is facing. These will be referred from the Leukaemia Care website and patient services team.
• To assist the Patient Advocacy Manager to support individual patients to secure access to appropriate treatment and support.
• To help patients understand their rights, options that are available, access further information and make informed decisions.
• Answer calls on the helpline as necessary, covering advocacy topics and providing wider cover for the helpline if needed.

Advocacy and Campaigns

• To work with the charity Videographer, Campaigns Officer and the Communications team to develop topical content – both in writing and video – to enable patients to understand their rights and options
• To work with the Patient Advocacy team to coordinate Leukaemia Care’s advisory panels (made up of patients and clinicians)
• To liaise with the Patient Services Manager and the Patient Advocacy team in identifying campaigning and advocacy issues presented by patients and carers.
• To identify issues that may require campaigning and work with the Campaigns Officer to research these issues.
• To work with the Communications Team to develop and manage content for the campaigns and advocacy pages of the Leukaemia Care website.
• To work with the Communications Team in developing content for the Leukaemia Matters magazine and other Leukaemia Care publications.

General

In addition to the specific duties and responsibilities outlined in this job description, all Leukaemia Care employees should be aware of their specific responsibilities towards the following:

• Adhere to all health and safety and fire regulations and to co-operate with the Charity in maintaining good standards of health and safety. 
• Uphold ethical and professional standards and not behave in a manner that is likely to bring the Charity into disrepute. 
• Promote and sustain a responsible attitude towards equal opportunities and diversity within the Charity.
• Demonstrate a commitment to ongoing learning and development and to participate in any training relevant to the role.

This job description is not exhaustive. It acts as a guide and may be amended to meet the changing requirements of the charity at any time after discussion with the post holder.