Cancer Pathway Physical Activity Lead

The Cancer Pathways Physical Activity Lead will provide strategic and operational leadership for the development, implementation and evaluation of physical activity initiatives across cancer pathways. Funded by Sport England through a fixed-term programme, the post will work with patients, healthcare professionals, community partners and voluntary sector organisations to embed physical activity within routine cancer care. The post holder will lead the development of innovative, evidence-based approaches to support people before, during and after cancer treatment, promoting improved physical function, wellbeing, treatment tolerance and quality of life. Working across organisational and system boundaries, they will support cancer prehabilitation and rehabilitation services, contribute to service redesign and workforce development, and help establish sustainable models of care. A key focus of the role will be reducing health inequalities by improving access to physical activity opportunities for underserved and disadvantaged populations affected by cancer. The post holder will provide specialist expertise, education and leadership to staff while engaging patients and communities to co-design services that meet local needs. Lead the development, delivery and evaluation of physical activity initiatives across cancer pathways. Work with the Cancer Prehabilitation Team, multidisciplinary teams, primary care, community services and partner organisations to improve access to physical activity support for people affected by cancer. Support the delivery of prehabilitation and rehabilitation programmes, providing advice and guidance to patients, carers and healthcare professionals on physical activity and behaviour change. Promote personalised care, self-management and improved health outcomes before, during and after cancer treatment. Develop and deliver education and training to increase staff knowledge and confidence in promoting physical activity as part of routine cancer care. Build partnerships with community and voluntary sector organisations to create sustainable referral pathways and improve access to local opportunities, particularly for underserved populations. Collect and evaluate outcome data, contribute to service improvement, governance and reporting requirements, and support projects aimed at reducing health inequalities and improving patient experience. Act as a champion for physical activity within cancer services, supporting innovation, collaboration and the delivery of evidence-based care. South Tees Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust and North Tees and Hartlepool NHS Foundation Trust have come together to form University Hospitals Tees. As a result, post holders may be required to work across sites within both organisations. Across University Hospitals Tees, our ambition is to be the best place to work, ensuring we have the right staff in the right roles at the right time to deliver outstanding patient care and experience. We are committed to supporting our staff through an inclusive and supportive working environment, offering health and wellbeing initiatives, staff benefits, and opportunities for personal and professional development. We support the 'Making Every Contact Count' approach to behaviour change in the promotion of health and wellbeing of individuals and communities. The Cancer Pathways Physical Activity Lead will provide professional, clinical and operational leadership for the development, implementation and evaluation of physical activity initiatives across cancer pathways within North Tees and Hartlepool NHS Foundation Trust and associated partner organisations. Working closely with the Cancer Prehabilitation Team, multidisciplinary colleagues, community partners and people affected by cancer, the post holder will lead programmes that promote physical activity as an integral component of personalised cancer care. The role will focus on improving health outcomes, supporting recovery and wellbeing, reducing health inequalities and embedding sustainable approaches to physical activity within routine cancer services. The post holder will act as a specialist resource for healthcare professionals, patients and partner organisations, providing expert advice, education and leadership to ensure interventions are evidence-based, effective and responsive to the needs of local communities. Main Responsibilities Service Development and Leadership

• Lead the development, implementation and evaluation of physical activity pathways for people affected by cancer.
• Design and deliver innovative programmes that support cancer prehabilitation, rehabilitation and recovery.
• Contribute to service redesign and quality improvement initiatives that support prevention, personalised care and population health management.
• Identify opportunities to embed physical activity interventions into routine clinical practice and ensure sustainability beyond the funding period.
• Develop policies, protocols and clinical guidance relevant to cancer physical activity services.
Clinical and Patient-Focused Responsibilities
• Promote and support evidence-based physical activity interventions for people before, during and after cancer treatment.
• Provide specialist advice and guidance to patients, carers and healthcare professionals regarding physical activity and behaviour change.
• Support individuals to improve physical function, wellbeing and confidence through participation in appropriate physical activity programmes.
• Ensure interventions are personalised, inclusive and responsive to individual needs and circumstances.
• Promote self-management, shared decision-making and personalised care planning throughout the cancer pathway.
Partnership Working
• Establish and maintain strong relationships with primary care, community services, local authority partners, leisure providers and voluntary sector organisations.
• Collaborate with regional and national stakeholders involved in cancer care, health promotion and physical activity.
• Work with community groups to identify and address barriers to participation, particularly among underserved populations.
• Develop sustainable referral pathways and community-based opportunities for ongoing physical activity participation.
Workforce Development and Education
• Provide leadership, education and training to staff across cancer and associated services.
• Promote awareness of the benefits of physical activity within cancer care and support workforce capability development.
• Develop educational resources and deliver training programmes to improve knowledge, confidence and skills.
• Provide mentorship, supervision and support to staff, students, volunteers and partner organisations as appropriate.
Health Inequalities and Population Health
• Lead initiatives aimed at reducing inequalities in access to physical activity opportunities for people affected by cancer.
• Target interventions towards communities experiencing higher levels of deprivation, inactivity and poorer health outcomes.
• Ensure services are accessible, inclusive and designed with consideration of local population needs.
• Engage with patients and communities to co-design services and inform future developments.
Quality Improvement, Research and Evaluation
• Collect, analyse and interpret data to evaluate service effectiveness and patient outcomes.
• Produce reports and presentations demonstrating programme impact and achievements.
• Support audits, service evaluations and research activity relevant to cancer physical activity interventions.
• Contribute to the development of outcome measures and key performance indicators.
• Use evidence and data to inform continuous service improvement.
Governance and Professional Responsibilities
• Maintain professional registration and practice in accordance with relevant professional standards.
• Work within Trust policies, procedures and governance frameworks.
• Ensure compliance with safeguarding, information governance, health and safety and equality legislation.
• Manage resources effectively and contribute to organisational objectives and strategic priorities.
• Undertake any other duties commensurate with the grade of the post as required by the service.
Responsibility for People Management
• Provide professional leadership and support to staff, students, volunteers and partner organisations involved in programme delivery.
• Contribute to supervision, appraisal, training and development processes where required.
• Support multidisciplinary working and foster a culture of collaboration, innovation and continuous improvement.
Responsibility for Financial and Physical Resources
• Ensure effective use of the externally funded resources associated with the programme.
• Support monitoring and reporting requirements linked to Sport England funding.
• Contribute to the efficient use of equipment, facilities and project resources.
• Identify opportunities to maximise value and sustainability from the funded programme.
Communication and Relationships
• Develop effective working relationships with patients, carers, clinical teams, service managers, community partners and external stakeholders.
• Communicate complex information appropriately to a range of audiences.
• Represent the service at meetings, forums, working groups and stakeholder events.
• Act as an ambassador for physical activity and healthy lifestyle initiatives within cancer services.
Organisational Values The post holder will be expected to demonstrate the Trust's values in all aspects of their work, promoting compassionate, person-centred care and working collaboratively to improve outcomes and experiences for people affected by cancer.