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PROSTATE CANCER
SUPPORT GROUP OF KIDDERMINSTER & DISTRICT
GUIDELINES FOR
BUDDIES/FACILITATORS
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These guidelines
are drawn up by the Sub-Committee for ‘caring’,
to help and guide men who take on the role of
buddy or facilitator to any other members of the
support group. |
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Originator: |
Mary Symons |
Clinical Nurse
Specialist in Urology - Chairperson
for the caring Group |
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Approved by: |
Dr. R. Herbert. |
Sub Committee
member |
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Jean Smith |
Sub Committee
member |
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Derek Wood |
Sub Committee
member |
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Revd. P.
Brothwell |
Chairman of the
Support Group |
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Date of Approval: |
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Purpose of document |
To enable men who
have agreed to be buddies/facilitators on the
groups behalf to feel confident in the
undertaking of such roles. |
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Definition of a ‘buddy’
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A member of the
group who is willing to be contacted, initially
by telephone, by any newly diagnosed man with
prostate cancer, who may be considering the same
treatment pathway that the buddy has taken.
It is a personal
decision that each buddy can make whether they
would then be willing to meet the new member
face to face or offer any services e.g. taking
them to another centre for treatment.
Any costs
incurred would be met by the group.
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Facilitators/Mentors
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A member of the
group who is willing to take on a number of
contacts within the group and who is willing to
be a contact point for several members of the
group. This will involve contacting the members
when they attend meetings and also if they do
not, to ensure that there are no problems.
Any issues should
be reported to the main committee so that a
decision can be made should it be necessary to
offer to help in any way from the group.
Any costs
incurred would be met by the group.
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Introduction
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Care for patients
with prostate cancer often needs to be continued
over many years, across professional and
organisational boundaries. Continuity of care
is essential during treatment, follow-up and
during any palliative care.
The group should
be seen to offer support to its members through
the buddy system or via facilitators at any
point in their journey. The voluntary sector
needs to offer help where there are gaps in the
system that may affect a members wellbeing.
It was initially
suggested that a buddy scheme would help men
going for their first treatment of radiotherapy
to orientate them at a time that they may be
feeling distressed. The buddy could take them
on at least 2 occasions to the radiotherapy
centre, show them the route, where to park,
where to go to claim free/reduced parking
charges and where to find the department. The
arrangements for this could be to suit the newly
diagnosed man and his buddy.
The undertaking
of 37 treatments of radiotherapy is extremely
daunting and many men will not be keen to drive
themselves, in which case the buddy or the
radiotherapy department could put them in touch
with Community Transport for the rest of their
treatments.
This idea could
also be taken further for men going to have
brachytherapy treatment or surgery. Not every
man will have a family member able to attend
such events with them who can drive, or who may
not wish to.
Care for patients
with prostate cancer often needs to be continued
over many years, across professional and
organisational boundaries. Continuity of care
is essential during treatment, follow-up and
during any palliative care.
The group should
be seen to offer support to its members through
the buddy system or via facilitators at any
point in their journey. The voluntary sector
needs to offer help where there are gaps in the
system that may affect a members wellbeing.
It was initially
suggested that a buddy scheme would help men
going for their first treatment of radiotherapy
to orientate them at a time that they may be
feeling distressed. The buddy could take them
on at least 2 occasions to the radiotherapy
centre, show them the route, where to park,
where to go to claim free/reduced parking
charges and where to find the department. The
arrangements for this could be to suit the newly
diagnosed man and his buddy.
The undertaking
of 37 treatments of radiotherapy is extremely
daunting and many men will not be keen to drive
themselves, in which case the buddy or the
radiotherapy department could put them in touch
with Community Transport for the rest of their
treatments.
This idea could
also be taken further for men going to have
brachytherapy treatment or surgery. Not every
man will have a family member able to attend
such events with them who can drive, or who may
not wish to.
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Responsibility and duties
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The
buddy/facilitator is providing a listening
service, which should enable them to pick up any
major issues that the new member may be having
difficulty with, and to report any concerns to
the appropriate member of the committee.
They should
not attempt to answer any medical questions
and should be able to signpost the member to the
appropriate person or persons who may be able to
answer some of their concerns.
Being a
buddy/facilitator may be challenging, please do
not hesitate to share any concerns with Mary or
the Key worker involved.
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Confidentiality
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The Human Rights
Act 1998 guarantees respect for a person’s
private and family life, home and
correspondence.
The Data
Protection Act 1998 concerns personal
information, which includes facts and opinion
about an individual.
Buddies and
Facilitators may become party to personal
information from members, regarding their
condition or personal life and we have a duty as
a Support Group to ensure that this information
is not shared with inappropriate people and
should only be relayed to a professional person
if there are concerns for the members safety or
that there emotional needs are not being met.
Please see signposting advice for help with
steering them to the correct people to help them
with their specific problem.
All Buddies and
Facilitators would be advised to sign a
confidentiality
Policy agreeing
that they will keep all information regarding
the members that they assist securely and not
release to any other party unless they need
professional assistance, and then permission
should be given by the member for the
buddy/facilitator to pass on information which
may include:- name, address, telephone number
and the problem/issue they may have.
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Signposting
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This is a term
used within the health service as a means to
point people to the right department to help
with issues that are affecting them. Many
people undergoing cancer treatments need help
outside of the health service. |
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For financial help: |
Macmillan help
line: 0800 500 800
Website: www.macmillan.org.uk/betterdeal |
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Travel insurance:
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Every key worker
should have a list of insurance companies who
will provide cover.
Also Mary Symons: 01299 823166.
This information is supplied by the Prostate
Cancer Charity helpline: 0800 074 8383.
Website:
www.prostate-cancer.org.uk |
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For transport:
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Radiotherapy
Department at New Cross,
Wolverhampton provide a free transport Service.
Ask at GP
practice or the hospital departmentf or other
services which may be provided.
Wyre
forest Community Transport: 01299 405820 (there
is a small charge for this service). |
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Spiritual issues: |
Revd. Paul
Brothwell: 01299 823495 |
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Emotional issues: |
Mary Symons or
Key worker. The Key worker is the Clinical nurse
Specialist assigned to each newly diagnosed man
within the NHS and is the point of contact for
any member. |
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Social Issues. |
Derek Wood
(Committee member)
CAB |
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Medical issues: |
Consultant or
Key worker should be first line contacts. Within
the group, Mary Symons, |
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Core responsibilities of the key worker
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To
be a willing listener
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To
be available for telephone contact
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To
report any concerns to the appropriate member of
the committee.
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To
be able to signpost members to the appropriate
person or department.
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To
ensure that the committee are aware of any needs
that a member may have which are not being met.
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Lead in communication for members and be a
willing and active member at the meetings. |
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Training
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It is felt by the
committee that all members who sign up as
buddies or facilitors should attend the
‘buddying and befriending’ course run by
Macmillan. This proved to be invaluable for
many who have already attended. |
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Mary Symons
25th November 2010
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The
Buddy Application Form
What is the purpose of this form?
The
Prostate Cancer Support Group of Kidderminster & District would like
to start a 'buddying' system for members of the group. For the
committee to administer this we need the participation of members
who are willing to become ‘buddies’ to new members. If you chose to
participate in this scheme you are required to sign this form, so
that health information may be stored, so that it will be possible
to match up new patients with ‘buddies’. The information will be
stored on a data base, which will be only be accessible to the
Clinical Nurse Specialist who is a member of the Committee and
members of the Urology Teams at Kidderminster Hospital and Mr.
Baxter-Smith (Consultant Urologist) at Droitwich Spa Hospital. The
information stored will be strictly confidential.
Why do you need
my health information? Health professionals will need to be
able to use your health information to appropriately match you with
another prostate cancer patient who is potentially considering the
same treatment that you have had, and who can benefit from the
knowledge of someone who has completed their journey.
Who will
disclose, use and/or receive my health information?
No health
information will be disclosed or shared under any circumstances.
The medical and nursing staff who can access the Buddy database are
the only people who will know your health information. The only
personal information disclosed to other patients, is your contact
details which you supply to us and are happy for us to share with
other individuals e.g. e-mail; telephone number, address. This will
permit other patients to contact you. The choice will be yours
whether to just submit e-mail contact or telephone contact details,
and whether you wish to withhold your address.
How will my
health information be protected once I disclose it to the Buddy
Database? Your health information that is given remains
private and confidential under the laws of Data Protection Act
(1998) and the policies and procedures within the Worcestershire
Acute NHS Trust.
Can I withdraw
from the Buddy Database? You can withdraw from the Buddy
Database at any time by notifying Mary Symons on 01562 512328/01299
823166
or e-mail:-
Mary.Symons@worcsacute.nhs.uk or
mandmsymons@talktalk.net
If you withdraw, all information will no longer be used and safely
removed from the database.
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I agree that my personal health
information can be stored and used on the Buddy Database for the
Prostate Cancer Support Group of Kidderminster& District, to allow
healthcare professionals to match me up to another Cancer patient.
Please tick the box
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I agree to share my preferred
method of contact details with another prostate patient(s) through
this network.
Please tick the box o
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PLEASE PRINT
Participants
Full Name |
Year
of
Birth |
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Signature of Participant |
Date |
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Signature of Buddy
Database Representative |
Date |
If you have any
questions/concerns please contact the Support Co-ordinator
Mary Symons 01562
512328/01299823166
or e-mail
Mary.Symons@worcsacute.nhs.uk or
mandmsymons@talktalk.net
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Prostate Cancer Support Group
Kidderminster
and District
Registered Charity
No.1100718
P.O. Box 3854
Web site:-
www.kidderminsterpcsg.com
Kidderminster,
Worcs., DY11 5WP
BUDDY DATABASE
Personal details
PLEASE PRINT IN BLOCK CAPITALS
| First name: |
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Surname:
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| Date of birth: |
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| Address 1 |
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| Address 2 |
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| Address 3 |
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| Post code: |
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Telephone (home):
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| Mobile telephone: |
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| E-mail: |
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Please tick the appropriate box in each of the
three sections
Preferred method of communication
| Letter
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| E-mail
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| Telephone |
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| One-to-one
(face to face) |
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Details of cancer journey.
Diagnosis:
| Localised |
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| Locally
advanced |
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| Metastatic |
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