Tools
Work it out: The essential questions to ask about work- now available
This booklet was launched in November 2010 and has been hugely popular, and work continues to disseminate the booklet and raise awareness. The booklet aims to put cancer patients in control of the journey back to work by suggesting a series of 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.
The tool is available to download here and on the Macmillan.org.uk/work page.
Work it out for carers: Essential questions for carers to ask about work and cancer – now available
This resource for carers was launched in December 2010. It provides information for working carers on managing work and care responsibilities. The resource covers fundamental medical work, home and financial questions and includes topics such as managing hospital appointments and visits, flexible working arrangements and leave, and benefit entitlements.
The Carers work it out tool is available to download here.
Loughborough University were commissioned to development the content for the Carers work it out tool. Their research team spoke to a number of experienced working carers and reviewed existing literature to identify informational and support needs in order to develop a list of ‘power questions’.
The mini report around developing the tool is now available.
Work it out tool research Executive Summary [PDF, 148KB]
Embedding the Benefits Made Clear Tool (BMC) in Health Settings – Final BMC Evaluation report published in February 2012
In 2009 Macmillan Cancer Support produced an online interactive guide accessible on Macmillan’s website, offering people affected by cancer an opportunity to identify whether they may be entitled to key disability and incapacity benefits. In January 2011 a feasibility/scoping study was commissioned 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. From the finding of this report an evaluation was commissioned. We worked with ten pilots, information and health centres around the country to test the tool within ten pilot sites around England from April 2011, and evaluate the wider implications of the service
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 health settings. The final report was published in February 2011 and can be downloaded below.
Benefits Made Clear interactive guide
Benefits Made Clear feasibility study, February 2011
Also available to download is the Benefits made clear evaluation final report and the Benefits made clear evaluation final report executive summary.
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 April 2012.
Last updated on March 27, 2012