Croydon University Hospital NHS Trust

Generic Support Worker - LIFE Therapy team band 3

This job is now closed

Job summary

Generic Support Worker - LIFE Therapy team

Band 3

Our vision is for the people of Croydon to experience well-co-ordinated care and support in the most appropriate setting, which is truly person-centred and helps them to maintain their independence.

As demand rises with increasing health needs and advances in clinical care, we are responding to the challenges whilst continuing to deliver the highest quality of care. We are developing the services that we currently provide to reduce hospital admissions and to facilitate earlier discharge from hospital through advanced holistic assessment and ensuring patients have the safest best care that is delivered in their home environment.

Interview date tbc

Main duties of the job

To carry own caseload of patients, as delegated by the Team Leaders. Assist patients to carry out designated therapy programmes in line with own scope of practice and competency. Organise own caseload and delivery of equipment.

Attend and contribute to team meetings. Understand barriers to communication and adapt communication according to the patient's needs.

To comply with Trust and Service standards, policies and procedures. To maintain a high personal standard of work and to seek advice from senior staff when appropriate.

Keep accurate and up to date records of patients being treated.

To undertake administrative duties as required. To use IT systems to enter patient data, activity and accurate patient notes.

To carry out the role in accordance with the organisation values, standards and behaviours, in a Professional, Compassionate, Respectful and Safe way ensuring that Croydon Health Services Trust's policies and procedures are adhered to.

To be responsible for the Health, Safety and Welfare of self and others and to comply at all times with the requirements of the Health and Safety Regulations.

To ensure confidentiality at all times and promote equality and diversity in the workplace.

To undertake such other duties as may be reasonably required from time to time as are consistent with the responsibilities of the post.

About us

Croydon Health Services NHS Trust provide hospital and community services from a number of community and specialist clinics throughout Croydon. The Trust was formed on 1st August 2010 through the integration of Croydon Community Health Services and Mayday Healthcare NHS Trust. Around 4,100 staff provide services for a population of over 360,000 people who are relatively young with a high level of ethnic diversity. Our main hospital site, Croydon University Hospital is one of the busiest in London. We're also leading the way in providing more healthcare outside hospitals at clinics, specialist centres and in people's homes. Our experienced district nursing teams, Allied Health Professionals and community matrons look after people of all ages across Croydon. Across the NHS everyone is working hard to meet growing demand and we're no exception. But with the right people on board, we are rising to this challenge, putting our people in the driving seat, encouraging innovation and transforming our services to give local people the quality of care they deserve. Croydon Health Services puts a great deal of importance on education and training throughout the careers of all of our staff. If you want the opportunity to have a real impact, challenge yourself and be part of an NHS Trust that's making a real difference then a career at Croydon Health Services could be just what you're looking for.

Date posted

25 August 2023

Pay scheme

Agenda for change

Band

Band 3

Salary

Depending on experience

Contract

Permanent

Working pattern

Full-time, Part-time

Reference number

199-5522494-FM-NP

Job locations

LIFE therapy Team - Community

12-18 Lennard Road, Croydon, CR9 2RS

Croydon

CR9 2RS

Job description

Job responsibilities

Clinical

1. To carry own caseload of patients, as delegated by the Team Leaders.

2. To assist patients to carry out designated therapy programmes in line with own scope of practice and competency and feedback to the responsible Therapist or Nurse, taking into account changes in the patients health and social needs.

3. Assisting in identifying health needs of patients and participating in the delivery and evaluation of care provided under the indirect supervision of qualified staff.

4. Visit patients in their own homes to provide nursing care and therapy interventions as delegated by a registered practitioner in accordance with an individualised care plan.

5. To be responsible for organising own caseload and visits in discussion with the other team members and giving regular, clear and concise feedback.

6. To request, deliver and demonstrate use of equipment, appliances and walking aids.

7. To assist on home visit assessments as required and agreed with the Therapist.

8. To attend and contribute to multidisciplinary team meetings, team meetings and assist and support the other members of the team.

9. To use therapeutic handling skills which require dexterity and co-ordination, in the management of adults with acute illness and/or disability with varying mobility/balance/sensory impairment

10. To work with patients individually in the community setting without direct supervision or presence of a qualified Therapist or Nurse, including educating patients and carers on relevant subjects.

11. To liaise closely with the other members of the team regarding the patients progress, informing a senior therapist promptly of any change, deterioration or concerns in the patients health/needs.

12. To communicate information to patients and/or carers, from a multicultural, ethnically diverse population where there may be medical barriers to their understanding.

13. To understand the Physical and Psychological barriers to communication and adapt communication according to the patients needs.(This may require the use of interpreters and/or non-verbal communication aids.) To undertake this with groups or individuals.

14. To liaise with and work alongside other professionals/organisations, ensuring effective communication at all times in order to provide excellent patient care.

15. To comply with all Trust, Service and Professional standards, policies and procedures.

16. To maintain a high personal standard of work and to seek advice from senior staff when appropriate.

17. To develop rapport with patients, encourage their interest and participation, in a manner, which promotes dignity, self-esteem and choice. This requires empathy, sensitivity and good interpersonal skills.

18. To keep accurate and up to date records of patients being treated in line with departmental standards and standards for record keeping.

19. To deal sensitively with patients and carers who are experiencing anxiety, fear or anger in response to their illness or condition that can result in altered lifestyle due to a wide range of physical, mental and social factors.

20. To support and motivate patients with altered cognitive function and complex psychological issues.

21. Work flexibly in order to respond appropriately to the requirements of the organisation and the needs of the service, service users and patients

Nonclinical

To undertake administrative duties including answering telephones, taking messages, processing referrals and booking appointments as appropriate and maintain departmental paper work as required.
To use the Trust IT system to enter patient data, activity, service evaluation and any other relevant data collection.
To use basic typing and word is processing skills.
To maintain accurate notes for patients.

Training and Supervisory

To actively participate in departmental training activities.
To participate in joint patient sessions and specific training to develop a high standard of skills and knowledge.
To provide advice and to demonstrate own activities to less experienced staff within the workplace.
To attend mandatory training in accordance with Trust policy and attend in-service training and external courses as identified via the Personal Development Process.
To participate in the Trusts staff development and appraisal system, and to continue to maintain personal professional development
To participate in the induction of new staff as appropriate
To attend and contribute to team meetings

Service development

To participate in evaluation of clinical practice and/or research projects and the implementation of changes in line with evidence based practice, Therapy guidelines and clinical governance, as delegated by Senior therapist/ Operational Clinical Lead.
To identify opportunities to improve the service in order to provide the best possible patient care and to participate in initiatives to improve the service.

3 To actively participate in team audits.

GENERAL

To work in accordance with the Trusts Values to consistently demonstrate the behaviours required. The postholder is required to carry out his/her role in accordance with the organisation values, standards and behaviours, in a Professional, Compassionate, Respectful and Safe way.
To ensure that Croydon Health Services Trusts policies and procedures are adhered to.
To have responsibility for the Health, Safety and Welfare of self and others and to comply at all times with the requirements of the Health and Safety Regulations and the Trusts Health and Safety policies and procedures.
To ensure confidentiality at all times, only releasing confidential information obtained during the course of employment to those acting in an official capacity in accordance with the provisions of the Data Protection Act and its amendments.
To work in accordance with the Trusts policies to eliminate unlawful discrimination and promote equality and diversity in the workplace. To positively promote at all times equality of opportunity in service delivery and employment in accordance with Trust policies, regardless of age, disability, race, nationality, ethnic or national origin, gender, religion, belief, sexual orientation or domestic circumstances.
To adhere to the Trust Infection Control Policy, procedures and guidelines, and in particular practice strict hand hygiene at all times while carrying out clinical duties, in line with the responsibilities placed on employees by the Health Act 2006: Code of Practice for the prevention and control of healthcare associated infections (HCAIs). The prevention and control of HCAIs must be embedded into everyday clinical practice and applied consistently. 7. All clinical staff hold responsibility for ensuring they have sound knowledge of standard infection control precautions and that no omission on their part or within the sphere of their responsibility is detrimental to the interests or safety of their patients, visitors and colleagues. Clinical staff must keep their infection control knowledge and skills up to date by attending the Trusts mandatory infection control training, a record of which will be kept and information provided to line managers as required.
To comply with the Trusts Safe Guarding Children and Vulnerable Adults policies, procedures and protocols. All individual members of staff (paid or unpaid) have a duty to safeguard and promote the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults This will require you to:

Ensure you are familiar with and comply with:
The London Child Protection Procedures and protocols for promoting and safeguarding the welfare of children and young people.
The Croydon Multi Agency Safeguarding Vulnerable Adults Pan London Procedures.
Local protocols and systems for information sharing.
Know the appropriate contact numbers and required reporting lines. Participate in required training and supervision. Comply with required professional boundaries and codes of conduct

To undertake such other duties as may be reasonably required from time to time as are consistent with the responsibilities of the post.

This job description is not an exhaustive document, but is a reflection of the current position. The job holder may from time to time be asked to undertake other reasonable duties. Any change will be made in discussion with the job holder in light of service needs