Terms and Conditions s19
Job Description and Person Specification
Two posts are available. The successful appointees will join the National Cancer Registry Ireland (NCR) to work on a prostate cancer research project called IPCOR (Irish Prostate Cancer Outcomes Research). This document provides information about the NCR, IPCOR, the post and the requirements for the position.
Terms and Conditions
Job Title: IPCOR Research Officer
Reporting To: Data Manager, Ms Fiona Dwane
Hours: 37 hours per week
Salary: Salary will be in accordance with Department of Health grade IV: €25,497-
€42,891.
Contract: This contract has an estimated duration of 12 months; there is the possibility of extension for up to 4 years if funding is available. The post is available immediately.
Probation: A probationary period of 3 months will apply.
Notice: One month notice in writing is required.
Annual Leave: 28 days per annum.
Confidentiality: Staff are bound by the provisions of the Data Protection Acts and must preserve strict confidentiality concerning all identifiable information of which they become aware of during the course of their work. The confidentiality guidelines of the Registry must be read and signed by all officers, and breach of these guidelines will be sufficient grounds for dismissal.
Location: One post is based in Cork (National Cancer Registry offices) and the other in Dublin (Mater Misericordiae University Hospital). There will be regular travel to (other) hospitals in the region.
Grievance & These will be as agreed between management and staff.
Disciplinary Procedures.
The terms of any relevant agreements concerning this grade between the Department of Health and the Unions representing staff at the Registry will apply.
About the National Cancer Registry
The NCR was established by the Minister for Health in 1991. It is funded by the Department of Health.
The functions of the NCR are:
§ to identify, collect, classify, record, store, and analyse information relating to the incidence and prevalence of cancer and related tumours in Ireland.
§ to promote and facilitate the use of the data collected, through approved research, and in the planning and management of services.
§ to publish an Annual Report based on the activities of the Registry.
§ to furnish advice, information and assistance in relation to any aspect of such service to the Minister.
Number of employees: 57
More information about the National Cancer Registry can be found here: www.ncri.ie
IPCOR – Irish Prostate Cancer Outcomes Research study
IPCOR has been funded by Movember in partnership with the Irish Cancer Society. It is part of a network of Movember-funded studies in different countries which are all seeking to better understand the clinical and patient-related outcomes of men with prostate cancer.
IPCOR is a collaboration between prostate cancer clinicians at hospitals across Ireland, the National Cancer Registry, Molecular Medicine Ireland and the HRB Clinical Research Facility in Galway. Over the next 5 years, IPCOR is aiming to establish a database of new cases of prostate cancer in Ireland. These cases will undergo intensive follow-up to collect information on their clinical outcomes (including treatment-related complications, relapses, and survival) and their patient-reported outcomes (including health-related quality-of-life and physical functioning). The ultimate goal of IPCOR is toenhance prostate cancer care, improve patient experiencesandmaximise quality of life for mendiagnosed with prostate cancer in Ireland.
The major responsibilities of the National Cancer Registry within IPCOR are to: identify the newly diagnosed cases from hospitals across Ireland; record information on the patient and the tumour; record detailed information on treatments received and associated complications; identify patients who have progressed or relapsed; and identify patients who have died.
Eventually four members of staff will be employed by the National Cancer Registry to support the collection of clinical data for IPCOR. In the initial phase of the study, two staff will be appointed to develop and pilot data collection procedures; these are the two posts which are currently advertised.
More information about IPCOR can be found here: www.ipcor.ie
Job description
The primary responsibility of the post-holders will be to: establish mechanisms to rapidly identify newly diagnosed cases; collect patient, tumour and treatment-related data; and collect clinical follow-up data. In the initial months of the project, the post-holders will be piloting the IPCOR data collection procedures and their experiences will inform changes that need to be made before the project is rolled out nationwide.
The specific responsibilities will include:
· Setting up procedures in hospitals in the designated area to identify incident prostate cancer cases as soon as possible after diagnosis (i.e. before treatment starts). Slightly different procedures are likely to be needed in each hospital and may include: attending MDT meetings; liaising with outpatient and pathology departments; and liaising with clinicians, clinicians’ secretaries and clinical nurse specialists;
· Scheduling visits to hospitals to access patient charts, access hospital information systems and liaise with staff;
· Reviewing patients’ medical records and recording specified information for newly diagnosed cases on the IPCOR database initially and, after the pilot has been completed, on the national cancer registration system;
· Piloting collection of clinical follow-up information for selected cases diagnosed in previous years;
· Coding all diagnoses and procedures using ICD-O coding standards, and coding other data as set out in the IPCOR Data Dictionary;
· Taking responsibility for the quality of own work including reviewing and correcting any cases queried by central Registry staff;
· Collaborating with other Registry staff (including existing tumour registration officers) to establish the most efficient working practices for recording prostate cancers within the National Cancer Registry;
· Participating in training as and when required; and
· Undertaking other related duties.
Person Specification
Essential qualifications and experience
The successful candidate must have a third level qualification in healthcare or an allied discipline, a RGN or equivalent nursing qualification, or be educated to degree level in health sciences, social sciences or a related subject. S/he must have worked in a healthcare environment for at least two years and be familiar with medical terminology. Computer literacy is essential.
Desirable experience and training
Experience in, or knowledge of, oncology would be advantageous as would experience of working/liaising with clinicians and handling medical records.
Experience of some of the following would also be desirable:
· supporting research studies;
· abstracting information from medical records;
· computer systems used in hospitals in Ireland;
· handling confidential information/data;
· Microsoft ACCESS.
Personal qualities
The successful appointee must have excellent interpersonal and communication skills. S/he must be able to establish good working relationships with a diverse range of hospital staff and with other members of the multidisciplinary IPCOR project team.
S/he must also be able to demonstrate the following:
· self-motivation and the ability to work on her/his own initiative;
· the ability to plan and manage her/his own workload;
· ability to meet targets within defines time frames; and
· the ability to work with a minimum of supervision an;
· appreciation of data confidentiality and data protection issues;
· excellent attention to detail, including scrupulous concern for accuracy; and
· a flexible approach, including a willingness to travel as required.
Other requirements
The post will involve travel to hospitals in a defined region around the base location. The post-holder must be willing to work outside normal hours if required. S/he must hold a full clean driving licence and have her/his own transport to meet the mobility requirements of the post. (Costs of travel for the purposes of the project will be reimbursed).
Application Procedure
Informal enquires may be directed to Ms Fiona Dwane - email: ; telephone: 021 4318014 (Tues-Fri).
Applications in the form of a CV (three copies), plus a covering letter describing how your qualifications and experience make you suitable for the post together with the names of at least two referees, should be submitted to:
Human Resources Officer
National Cancer Registry Ireland
Building 6800
Cork Airport Business Park
Kinsale Road
Cork, IRELAND
Please state clearly which post you are applying for.
Applications by email will not be accepted.
Closing date for receipt of applications: Friday 30th January 2015 at 12 midday
The National Cancer Registry Ireland is an equal opportunities employer.