Tools
Work it out: the essential questions to ask about work
This project aims to put cancer patients in control of the journey back to work by developing questions to help them get the most of their interactions with healthcare professionals, employers, HR professionals and benefits advisers. The overarching aim of the tool is to enable those affected by cancer to find solutions in making a timely return to work or to maintain employment during treatment.
Over the past months several focus groups with people living with and beyond cancer have taken place to discuss the first iteration of the questions. During the project a wide group of health professionals, employers, researchers and service users commented on the tool. After amendments were made the tool was tested.
The tool is available to download here and on the Macmillan.org.uk/work page.
Power questions tool for Carers
The aim of the project is to develop a tool to support the carers of people affected by cancer in balancing their caring responsibilities with work. The project will build on the information and guidance already provided by Macmillan Cancer Support and develop materials that are underpinned by research methods. Loughborough University has been commissioned to develop this piece of work. The tool would be likely to cover issues such as:
- Maintaining emotional wellbeing while balancing work and caring responsibilities
- Skills and knowledge needed to balance working with caring
- Support available to carers who work and how to access it
The project will run between June and October.
Embedding the Benefits Made Clear Tool (BMC) in Health Settings
In 2009 Macmillan produced an online interactive guide accessible on Macmillan’s website, offering people affected by cancer to identify whether they may entitled to key disability and incapacity benefits. In January 2011 we commission a feasibility/scoping study to determine the implications of testing the guide within information settings and healthcare settings more generally, to maximise the reach, exposure and impact of the product.
The research involved a number of focus groups with service users, workshops with experts, and interviews with patient facing staff. Site visits were also carried out to five information and support centres located in hospitals. The final report outlined key attitudes and perspectives, and practical implications, with recommendations on implementing the tool within heath settings. The final report was published in February 2011 and can be downloaded below.
As it was deemed feasible to test the guide in healthcare settings – we took the recommendations into consideration to map out the second phase of the project. The aim of the evaluation will be to test the tool within ten pilot sites around England from April 2011, and evaluate the wider implications of the service. The final BMC Evaluation report is due in November 2011.
Benefits Made Clear interactive guide
Benefits Made Clear feasibility study, February 2011
Triage Tools
We are developing a new screening/triage tool to help health professionals identify employment and financial needs and signpost more effectively. It is not necessary for health professionals to have knowledge about work or benefits – the tool consists of flow diagrams to follow, and helps them signpost to services and advice on returning to or staying in work.
We organised a small reference group in December 2010 that helped by providing feedback on the Triage tool. The tool will be redesigned by the Macmillan team and will be available for testing later in 2011.
Last updated on August 24, 2011