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Improving the Cancer Journey (ICJ)

The Improving the Cancer Journey (ICJ) service is here to support anyone, aged 16 and over, living in Ayrshire and Arran that has been affected by cancer.

This includes:

  • people living with cancer
  • those affected by cancer (partners, carers, family members)

Cancer doesn’t just affect your physical wellbeing. It can affect many different aspects of your life and the lives of those around you.

It can be difficult to know what support is out there and where you can access it. The Improving the Cancer Journey service, in partnership with Macmillan Cancer Support, can support you to access non-clinical services within Ayrshire and Arran.

How does it work?

You may already be accessing clinical support from:

  • cancer specialists
  • nurses
  • your GP

In addition to this, the ICJ service can support you to access non-clinical supportive services.

This may include support with:

  • accessing information to answer questions or concerns about your cancer and treatment
  • putting you in touch with local teams that can help you with money or housing worries and benefits
  • caring or work responsibilities
  • connecting you with services that can support with addressing physical concerns
  • day to day practical issues
  • accessing complimentary therapies
  • emotional concerns, connecting you with wellbeing support and services

Holistic needs assessment

When people affected by cancer access the ICJ service, a Macmillan Project Support Facilitator will have a meaningful conversation with them to discuss their needs and concerns. They will be offered a holistic needs assessment, which helps to determine what matters most to that person.

A holistic needs assessment looks at needs or concerns a person might have about any area of their life, not just about their cancer.

These concerns can be:

  • Physical: For example, how will my treatment affect my appearance and energy levels?
  • Emotional: For example, how can I manage feelings like loneliness, fear and anxiety? How can I support a family member with cancer while caring for myself?
  • Practical: For example, who will look after my house / family members / pets when I’m accessing treatment? I’m worried about travelling for my treatment?
  • Financial: For example, how will I pay for my bills and food shop when I’m not working?
  • Spiritual: For example, how do I deal with past regrets or worries about the future?

A holistic needs assessment recognises that any area of your life that is affected by cancer is important. It gives you the time to explore what resources, help and support is available locally for you. 

The person affected by cancer typically completes the assessment by themselves. This ensures that the information gathered is what means most to them. Support with this can be arranged as required.

The facilitator will then arrange an appointment with the person via telephone or video call (Near Me) to discuss and formulate the care plan. Face to face appointments can be arranged as required, and are based on the facilitators’ availability.

Based on this assessment and conversation with the facilitator, a support plan will be created to make sure the person affected by cancer is provided with tailored information and advice. This will include referring or signposting you to organisations, resources, opportunities or services near you that could be of benefit.

Accessing the ICJ service

We can provide support:

  • over the telephone
  • online via video call (Near Me)
  • face to face in the local community – this is dependent on facilitator availability

The service is open Monday to Friday (9.30am to 4pm) and closed on weekends and public holidays.

Contact

To get in touch with us, or to find out more about how we can help, please contact the team:

ICJ is a non-clinical service. For clinical issues, contact your GP or Macmillan Nurse.

The Improving Cancer Journey service is delivered by NHS Ayrshire & Arran and the three health and social care partnerships in collaboration with Macmillan Cancer Support.

View the Improving the Cancer Journey privacy notice for details of how we process your information.

Further support

Local welfare benefits teams

Cancer support