How the Macmillan service works

The Macmillan Work Support Conversation service was designed and piloted across Northern Ireland from June of last year.

The pilot ended in December 2017, and following evaluation in January 2018, has now been embedded as part of the Macmillan information and support managers’ range of tools to support people living with cancer in all of the Health Trusts.

Karen Kelly (below) runs the service in the South Eastern Trust, working as a Macmillan information and support manager, based at the Ulster Hospital.

As well as helping patients, the new service provides support and information to employers who may need direction on what they can do to accommodate an employee returning after cancer treatment.

Also, people who are self-employed can get advice on what support is available to them.

Karen says: “What we found was that issues about work were coming up more and more with patients. People were trying to absorb a diagnosis and understand what it would mean for them and their families and also having to make decisions about work without really knowing what their options were.

“We found most people were ill equipped to deal with it and didn’t know enough about their rights. We make sure that people have the right information, so that they can make informed decisions.

“Sometimes that means exploring what support is already available or considering what a reasonable adjustment might be for them in their workplace.”

As well as practical issues on returning to work, the service helps people to find emotional support, manage fatigue or will refer patients on to more specialised services if necessary.

Karen adds: “It may just be helping people to find the right words to speak to their employers, so that they can clearly communicate their needs. It is all about relieving people of another stress at a difficult time in their life and maybe help them to find options they may not have thought about before.” Macmillan Work Support Conversation Service is available with the Macmillan information and support manager in local Trusts, either in person or by telephone for anyone unable to travel. People can self-refer, or be referred to the service by a health professional.

To contact your local Macmillan information and support manager for a Work Support Conversation, visit the ‘In Your Area’ section of www. macmillan.org.uk or call the Macmillan Support Line, tel: 0808 808 0000 (lines are open Monday to Friday 9am-8pm).