Job responsibilities
Job purpose/summary:
The Health and Wellbeing Coach works alongside a team within general practice and within Health & Beyond and empowers people to take control of their health and wellbeing, giving them advice around a healthier way of life.
A health coach assesses client lifestyles, addresses health concerns and then works with patients to make behavioural, nutritional and other changes in order to promote better health and wellness.
They consider the whole person in addressing existing issues and encourage the proactive prevention of new illnesses, promoting lifestyle medicine approaches.
Health coaching revolves around using coaching skills to support people with lower levels of patient activation to develop the knowledge, skills and confidence to manage their health and wellbeing whilst increasing their ability to access and utilise community support offers.
The post holder will be an integral part of the general practice team, working in each practice and across the PCN, as well as part of a wider community groups and their multidisciplinary teams.
Job Responsibilities:
Manage and prioritise a caseload in accordance with the Health and Wellbeing needs of the population, based on strong communication and negotiation skills.
Meet patients on a one to one basis or group consultation, by phone, face to face or video conference
Use a structured approach to coach patients through several sessions to set personal goals, build trust, give confidence to achieve goals
Where required refer people back to other Healthcare Professionals
Utilise existing channels to screen patients with an aim to identify those who would most benefit from health screening
Provide personalised support to individuals, their families and carers to support them to be active participants in their own healthcare
Coach and motivate patients through sessions to identify their needs, set goals and support patients to achieve their personalised health and care plan objectives.
Support patients to establish and maintain goals that are important to the individual and support personal choice
Work in partnership with services to connect patients to community based activities
Work with patients to support them to develop their level of knowledge, skills and confidence enabling them to engage with their health and wellbeing
Provides necessary coaching to reduce or eliminate behaviours that are considered high-risk.
Supports the operational aspects of the employer in order to promote client satisfaction.
Develops and conducts seminars and conventions for family members, clients or even employees who are interested in learning more about health and wellness.
Creates and distributes health education materials such as brochures to patients.
Develops care plans that are custom-tailored to individual patients.
Provide opportunities for the patient to develop friendships and a sense of belonging
Required Knowledge, Skills and Abilities
Has training in safeguarding adults
Raises awareness within the PCN of shared decision making and decision making tools
Demonstrates innovation and an acceptance of new ideas and concepts.
Shows the ability to resolve conflicts with clients and overcome their objections about their health and behaviours.
Possesses above average optimism and the ability to motivate clients to make vital changes in their lives.
Exhibits effective communication skills for working with clients, their families and their other healthcare providers.
Demonstrates a commitment to clients and a willingness to go above and beyond normal responsibilities to provide the best care possible.
Shows self-confidence and the ability to express views that may not be popular or shared by clients.
Education and Experience
Is enrolled in, undertaking or qualified from appropriate Health Coaching training, covering topics outlined by NHS England
He or she will need knowledge regarding topics such as weight management, nutrition, pre- or post-natal care, reducing stress, handling chronic conditions and more.
Since some experience as a healthcare provider is necessary, many health coaches start out working as nursing assistants, or nurses and work their way up.
Work Environment
The work environment of a health coach fluctuates quite a bit based upon his or her skill sets. In some cases, patients will require scheduled appointments in a clinical setting. Coachs will visit clients in their homesparticularly when dealing with seriously ill or disabled clients.
Other information:
Confidentiality:
- In the course of seeking treatment, patients entrust us with, or allow us to gather, sensitive information in relation to their health and other matters. They do so in confidence and have the right to expect that staff will respect their privacy and act appropriately
- In the performance of the duties outlined in this Job Description, the post-holder may have access to confidential information relating to patients and their carers, practice staff and other healthcare workers. They may also have access to information relating to the practice as a business organisation. All such information from any source is to be regarded as strictly confidential
- Information relating to patients, carers, colleagues, other healthcare workers or the business of the practice may only be divulged to authorised persons in accordance with the practice policies and procedures relating to confidentiality and the protection of personal and sensitive data.
Health & Safety:
The post-holder will assist in promoting and maintaining their own and others health, safety and security as defined in the practice Health & Safety Policy, to include:
- Using personal security systems within the workplace according to practice guidelines
- Identifying the risks involved in work activities and undertaking such activities in a way that manages those risks
- Making effective use of training to update knowledge and skills
- Using appropriate infection control procedures, maintaining work areas in a tidy and safe way and free from hazards
- Reporting potential risks identified.
Equality and Diversity:
The post-holder will support the equality, diversity and rights of patients, carers and colleagues, to include:
- Acting in a way that recognises the importance of peoples rights, interpreting them in a way that is consistent with practice procedures and policies, and current legislation
- Respecting the privacy, dignity, needs and beliefs of patients, carers and colleagues
- Behaving in a manner which is welcoming to and of the individual, is non-judgmental and respects their circumstances, feelings priorities and rights.
Personal/Professional Development:
The post-holder will participate in any training programme implemented by the practice as part of this employment, such training to include:
- Participation in an annual individual performance review, including taking responsibility for maintaining a record of own personal and/or professional development
- To always act within the NMC Code of Conduct and Scope of Professional Practice
- Taking responsibility for own development, learning and performance and demonstrating skills and activities to others who are undertaking similar work.
Quality:
The post-holder will strive to maintain quality within the practice, and will:
- Alert other team members to issues of quality and risk
- Assess own performance and take accountability for own actions, either directly or under supervision
- Contribute to the effectiveness of the team by reflecting on own and team activities and making suggestions on ways to improve and enhance the teams performance
- Work effectively with individuals in other agencies to meet patients needs
- Effectively manage own time, workload and resources.
Communication:
The post-holder should recognise the importance of effective communication within the team and will strive to:
- Communicate effectively with other team members
- Communicate effectively with patients and carers
- Recognise peoples needs for alternative methods of communication and respond accordingly.
Contribution to the Implementation of Services:
The post-holder will:
- Apply practice policies, standards and guidance
- Discuss with other members of the team how the policies, standards and guidelines will affect own work
- Participate in audit where appropriate.
