Medway Community Healthcare

Support worker - Darland

The closing date is 26 May 2025

Job summary

  • Are you have a passion for working with patients with dementia?
  • Do you have a caring nature who will treat our patients with dignity, empathy and warmth?
  • Do you have good communication skills?

If you answered yes, we've got the perfect role for you!

We are looking for a compassionate and caring support workers who have the skills to care for our residents with respect, dignity, empathy and warmth.

We have full and part time roles available across a range of shifts. The successful applicants will be required to undertake all aspects of nursing support including activities with residents and work a variety of shifts; nights, days and weekends. In return we offer the right people the opportunity to develop their skills and knowledge in dementia care.

Main duties of the job

  • To work under the direction of the designated staff nurse to provide care to residents. Care will also include a variety of activities to stimulate/occupy the residents, for example, games, craft, gardening etc.
  • To adhere to the organisations values
  • To be involved in the planning delivering and evaluating the care of elderly residents with advanced dementia and challenging behaviours.
  • To supervise the work of new and junior staff.

About us

So what else?

This is your chance to join a progressive and innovative service in a social enterprise that is patient and staff focused - you'll even have the opportunity to become an MCH shareholder.

We encourage staff to get involved in exploring new ways of working and service development.

We'll provide well established, in-service training, one to one supervision, and appraisals with regular support.

You'll be able to develop your skills in a friendly and supportive team.

Would you like to work flexibly?In the NHS, we are reminded every day of how important work life balance is. As a flexible working friendly organisation, we want to be sure that you can work in a way that is best for us, for our patients and for you. Speak to us about how we might be able to accommodate a flexible working arrangement.

The small print

Informal visits can be arranged on request.

We will offer you the choice of two pension schemes; the NHS Pension scheme and the scottish widows group pension scheme.

MCH encourages all staff to be double COVID vaccinated to protect themselves, their colleagues, their family and their patients.

Details

Date posted

13 May 2025

Pay scheme

Agenda for change

Band

Band 2

Salary

£24,169 a year pro rata

Contract

Permanent

Working pattern

Full-time, Part-time

Reference number

813-154-0525-MH

Job locations

Darland House

29 Darland Avenue

Gillingham

ME7 3AL


Job description

Job responsibilities

1. Communication and relationship skills

Ability to form professional, trusting and reliable relationships with the residents and their families.

Ability to effectively communicate with staff from other services and agencies, members of the public, private and voluntary sectors.

To be able to communicate and work effectively with the members of the multi-professional team within the home.

Effective communication skills are essential in order to give sound professional advice, and provide counselling, motivation and support to develop the staff team in clinical areas.

2. Knowledge, training and experience

Essential

Foundation degree in health and social care

A minimum of 2 years experience in dementia care.

Ability to make decisions and to accept personal accountability.

Understanding staff motivation and ability to demonstrate this.

Good communication skills.

Ability to work as part of a multi-professional team with knowledge and understanding of the roles of other members.

Able to prioritise work and show leadership skills to other staff.

Understanding and implementation of local policies and procedures and able to work within these guidelines, delegating to other staff when appropriate.

An understanding of continuing care aims and objectives.

.

Desirable
  • Understanding of research and development in clinical practice.
  • Understand the relevance of audits

Good I.T. skills

analytical and judgement skills

To direct, and supervise support workers to provide good quality of care.

Ensuring resources are managed effectively on the unit.

To assist the qualified members of staffs in the smooth running of the home, assisting in the organisation and management of tasks as required.

4. Planning and organisational Skills

Ensure that the residents within the team have been regularly assessed, their needs identified and met with appropriate resources.

Support the qualified staff in implementing action plans based on audit findings.

Ensure the Home runs smoothly and priorities are met

To fully participate in the continuing care review multi disciplinary meetings

Plan, deliver and evaluate delegated care as per individualised care plans.

Manage own time and demonstrate organisational skills

5. Physical skills

Keyboard skills with an understanding of various software packages, including the intranet and internet and the formulation of spreadsheets. Updating all relevant records on the shared drive.

Provide a range of interventions e.g. phlebotomy, glucose monitoring, catheter care and wound care.

6. Responsibility for patient/client care;

  • Assist qualified members of staff to set and monitor clinical standards of care for residents, ensuring these are achieved through individual care plans, using the assessment, planning, and implementation and evaluation process.
  • Supervise support workers to achieve the same
  • Maintain clear and accurate records.

7. Responsible for policy and service development implementation

To provide 24 hour holistic nursing care for 20 elderly mentally ill residents on your floor.

Ability to work as part of a team to consider service changes and produce action plans and lead on clinical changes, keeping within agreed time scales.

To adhere to organisational relevant policies and procedures.

Ensure that the residents within the team have been regularly assessed their needs identified and met with appropriate resources.

8. Responsibilities for financial and physical resources

Assist the manager in maintaining budgets within spending limits and make the best use of resources available.

Responsible for the safe use of equipment.

9. Responsibilities for human resources (HR)

Ensure that own performance and development reviews take place in a timely manner identifying service and personal training needs.

Maintain good industrial relations with all staff

The post holder will carry out their duties in accordance with the organisation equal opportunities policy respecting the different backgrounds of colleagues and clients

10. Responsibilities for information resources

  • To keep informed and updated of changes to current trends in care.
  • To pass on information to the staff group regarding current trends.
  • With the home manager implement and monitor best practice throughout the home.

11. Responsibilities for research and development (R&D)

Activity participate in clinical audit and clinical governance activities to enable a high quality of service and promote service development

12. Freedom to act

Ability to work on own initiative and accept personal accountability

Responsibility for implementation of research based clinical practice raising quality standards of clinical care and to ensure that this is reflected within the written clinical protocols

Plan your own work load. Escalate concerns to senior managers/senior member of team guided by defined policy and procedures.

13. Responsible for policy and service development implementation

To adhere to organisational policies and procedures in relation to health and safety, safeguarding vulnerable adults

To comply with organisational and service specific policies and procedures and contributes to changes and updates as appropriate

14. Physical effort

Keyboard skills

Moderate effort when providing care

Combination of lifting with hoist, bending standing.

15. Mental effort

Frequent requirement for prolonged concentration

16. Emotional effort

Exposure to distressing or emotional circumstances

17. Working conditions

Daily exposure to unpleasant conditions, dealing with body fluids, unpleasant odours

Job description

Job responsibilities

1. Communication and relationship skills

Ability to form professional, trusting and reliable relationships with the residents and their families.

Ability to effectively communicate with staff from other services and agencies, members of the public, private and voluntary sectors.

To be able to communicate and work effectively with the members of the multi-professional team within the home.

Effective communication skills are essential in order to give sound professional advice, and provide counselling, motivation and support to develop the staff team in clinical areas.

2. Knowledge, training and experience

Essential

Foundation degree in health and social care

A minimum of 2 years experience in dementia care.

Ability to make decisions and to accept personal accountability.

Understanding staff motivation and ability to demonstrate this.

Good communication skills.

Ability to work as part of a multi-professional team with knowledge and understanding of the roles of other members.

Able to prioritise work and show leadership skills to other staff.

Understanding and implementation of local policies and procedures and able to work within these guidelines, delegating to other staff when appropriate.

An understanding of continuing care aims and objectives.

.

Desirable
  • Understanding of research and development in clinical practice.
  • Understand the relevance of audits

Good I.T. skills

analytical and judgement skills

To direct, and supervise support workers to provide good quality of care.

Ensuring resources are managed effectively on the unit.

To assist the qualified members of staffs in the smooth running of the home, assisting in the organisation and management of tasks as required.

4. Planning and organisational Skills

Ensure that the residents within the team have been regularly assessed, their needs identified and met with appropriate resources.

Support the qualified staff in implementing action plans based on audit findings.

Ensure the Home runs smoothly and priorities are met

To fully participate in the continuing care review multi disciplinary meetings

Plan, deliver and evaluate delegated care as per individualised care plans.

Manage own time and demonstrate organisational skills

5. Physical skills

Keyboard skills with an understanding of various software packages, including the intranet and internet and the formulation of spreadsheets. Updating all relevant records on the shared drive.

Provide a range of interventions e.g. phlebotomy, glucose monitoring, catheter care and wound care.

6. Responsibility for patient/client care;

  • Assist qualified members of staff to set and monitor clinical standards of care for residents, ensuring these are achieved through individual care plans, using the assessment, planning, and implementation and evaluation process.
  • Supervise support workers to achieve the same
  • Maintain clear and accurate records.

7. Responsible for policy and service development implementation

To provide 24 hour holistic nursing care for 20 elderly mentally ill residents on your floor.

Ability to work as part of a team to consider service changes and produce action plans and lead on clinical changes, keeping within agreed time scales.

To adhere to organisational relevant policies and procedures.

Ensure that the residents within the team have been regularly assessed their needs identified and met with appropriate resources.

8. Responsibilities for financial and physical resources

Assist the manager in maintaining budgets within spending limits and make the best use of resources available.

Responsible for the safe use of equipment.

9. Responsibilities for human resources (HR)

Ensure that own performance and development reviews take place in a timely manner identifying service and personal training needs.

Maintain good industrial relations with all staff

The post holder will carry out their duties in accordance with the organisation equal opportunities policy respecting the different backgrounds of colleagues and clients

10. Responsibilities for information resources

  • To keep informed and updated of changes to current trends in care.
  • To pass on information to the staff group regarding current trends.
  • With the home manager implement and monitor best practice throughout the home.

11. Responsibilities for research and development (R&D)

Activity participate in clinical audit and clinical governance activities to enable a high quality of service and promote service development

12. Freedom to act

Ability to work on own initiative and accept personal accountability

Responsibility for implementation of research based clinical practice raising quality standards of clinical care and to ensure that this is reflected within the written clinical protocols

Plan your own work load. Escalate concerns to senior managers/senior member of team guided by defined policy and procedures.

13. Responsible for policy and service development implementation

To adhere to organisational policies and procedures in relation to health and safety, safeguarding vulnerable adults

To comply with organisational and service specific policies and procedures and contributes to changes and updates as appropriate

14. Physical effort

Keyboard skills

Moderate effort when providing care

Combination of lifting with hoist, bending standing.

15. Mental effort

Frequent requirement for prolonged concentration

16. Emotional effort

Exposure to distressing or emotional circumstances

17. Working conditions

Daily exposure to unpleasant conditions, dealing with body fluids, unpleasant odours

Person Specification

Knowledge

Essential

  • To have a basic understanding of dementia and the presentation of residents with dementia

Desirable

  • To demonstrate detailed knowledge of dementia and the disease progression

Experience

Essential

  • Experience of working within the care or helathcare sector

Desirable

  • To have experience of working within a community setting
  • To have specific experience of working with dementia patients

Skills

Essential

  • To have established skills in the field of care - including personal care, activities, moving and handling

Skills

Essential

  • To be able to demonstrate basic risk assessment knowledge and skills within a clinical context

MCH values

Essential

  • Good understanding of MCH values
Person Specification

Knowledge

Essential

  • To have a basic understanding of dementia and the presentation of residents with dementia

Desirable

  • To demonstrate detailed knowledge of dementia and the disease progression

Experience

Essential

  • Experience of working within the care or helathcare sector

Desirable

  • To have experience of working within a community setting
  • To have specific experience of working with dementia patients

Skills

Essential

  • To have established skills in the field of care - including personal care, activities, moving and handling

Skills

Essential

  • To be able to demonstrate basic risk assessment knowledge and skills within a clinical context

MCH values

Essential

  • Good understanding of MCH values

Disclosure and Barring Service Check

This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.

Employer details

Employer name

Medway Community Healthcare

Address

Darland House

29 Darland Avenue

Gillingham

ME7 3AL


Employer's website

https://www.medwaycommunityhealthcare.nhs.uk/ (Opens in a new tab)

Employer details

Employer name

Medway Community Healthcare

Address

Darland House

29 Darland Avenue

Gillingham

ME7 3AL


Employer's website

https://www.medwaycommunityhealthcare.nhs.uk/ (Opens in a new tab)

Employer contact details

For questions about the job, contact:

Unit Manager

Eniola Oseni

eniola.oseni3@nhs.net

01634852323

Details

Date posted

13 May 2025

Pay scheme

Agenda for change

Band

Band 2

Salary

£24,169 a year pro rata

Contract

Permanent

Working pattern

Full-time, Part-time

Reference number

813-154-0525-MH

Job locations

Darland House

29 Darland Avenue

Gillingham

ME7 3AL


Supporting documents

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