Vocational Rehabilitation Pilot Sites – continued
Type of Pilot site organisations
The VR Strategy identified that partnerships were very important to the success of the VR Model and therefore this was reflected in the pilot sites. In general, they were NHS based organisations that took the lead role.
Some examples of the organisations are:
- Vocational rehabilitation charity, e.g. Shaw Trust in partnership with an NHS Regional cancer treatment centre, the Christie Hospital, Manchester
- NHS Specialist Hospital, the National Hospital for Neurology and Neurosurgery, London
- Private limited career and outplacement consultancy, Orbital’s Ltd in partnership with a Macmillan Cancer Information centre , Olive Tree Support Centre, Crawley Hospital
Two of the pilot sites were successful in bidding for extensions and will run until 31st March 2012 – they are the Shaw Trust at the Christie NHS Trust and the National Hospital for Neurology and Neurosurgery.
How were referrals made to the pilot sites
This was primarily through printed information and referrals at Levels 1 and 2 of the VR Model using Clinical Nurse Specialists, outpatient clinics, visitors to cancer information centres, or a universal telephone number providing a triage service.
Access to VR services
The majority of the pilot sites offered access for all cancer patients. Several of the pilots focussed on more common cancers such as breast and colorectal and some on rarer cancers such as brain tumours. All the pilot sites were aware that patient expectations need to be managed carefully given the short time frame of the project.
Features of the seven pilot sites
- Shaw Trust & the Christie Hospital
The vocational rehabilitation charity, Shaw Trust partnered with Christie NHS, a specialist cancer hospital, to set up a pilot in Manchester. The Shaw Trust embedded two VR advisers within the Christie who work closely with the social work and OT departments together with the Cancer Information Centre. This pilot covers a wide range of tumour types.
- Doncaster Community Healthcare
This service was based at St John’s Information and Support Centre, which is co-located with a hospice in Doncaster. It was supported by services such as an Information Co-ordinator, counselling and disability support services. This pilot had a strong focus on self management programmes. Support options included work simulation environments to build stamina and confidence, and workplace assessments. The service is community based.
- National Hospital for Neurology and Neurosurgery
This pilot site, in a London-based hospital, focuses on people with brain and spinal tumours, and therefore is more clinically focused. They accept referrals from other services within the London area and other brain cancer services. The pilot builds on learning gained from a vocational rehabilitation model the hospital previously developed and tested for people with Multiple Sclerosis (MS).
- NHS Blackburn with Darwen
This pilot in Lancashire used the services established by the Government Condition Management Programme in that area, to provide a three month rehabilitation programme with ongoing follow-up support for six months. They worked directly with specialist cancer services, and had a presence in oncology clinics across the county. They built on their existing collaborative partnerships to ensure the service is promoted across all 19 Job Centre Plus offices in Lancashire. They ceased providing a service in March 2011.
- Mount Vernon Cancer Network
This pilot operated across the Mount Vernon Cancer Network, which includes Hertfordshire, South Bedfordshire, and parts of Buckinghamshire, Berkshire and London. It was led by a VR Project Manager who focused on developing the capacity of the network in respect of vocational rehabilitation. The VR Project Manager mapped existing services and sources of support across the network. She then identified existing levels of workforce knowledge, skills and devised training programmes which were rolled out across the network together with amendments made to the holistic assessment questionnaire used by CNS with patients.
- Orbitals and the Olive Tree Information Centre
This pilot is a partnership between the Olive Tree Cancer Support Centre based at Crawley Hospital, and Orbitals Ltd – a private consultancy specialising in career development and coaching that employs independent coaches. This pilot had a strong focus on engaging and upskilling employers, supported by CADIA, the Gatwick Diamond Employers Association. The pilot provided a service in an area of high deprivation, and used trained volunteers from a variety of backgrounds. The service is continuing with voluntary support from the coaches and volunteers at the Centre.
- NHS South of Tyne and Wear
Based in Gateshead, Newcastle, this pilot was led by a Macmillan Cancer Nurse Specialist and Condition Management Team lead. The service was open to individuals of working age diagnosed with Breast, Colorectal or Testicular cancer living in the South of Tyne and Wear PCT district. This service conducted a skills and knowledge audit of clinical nurse specialists and identified training needs in work support/VR. The service was based on the Condition Management Programme and ceased on the 31st March 2011.
Last updated on November 19, 2012