Activity Co-ordinator - Campion Ward and Nicol Unit

Job responsibilities

Summary of Key Areas of Responsibility

To provide a range of creative and social and meaningful activities to stimulate and engage a diversity of individuals and groups of patients.

To contribute to maintaining a welcoming, safe and positive physical and emotional care environment

To work collaboratively with other members of the multidisciplinary team (MDT).

To carry out specific tasks involving direct patient care without the direct supervision of the registered practitioners.

To exercise autonomy within the parameters agreed with the line manager in order to achieve the above.

To understand and meet the needs of individual patients using a person-centred approach and to encourage and motivate others to so the same.

Promote effective communication with all patients/clients, colleagues, other health care staff and visitors to the Trust, always projecting a professional image.

Work to South Warwickshire University NHS Foundation Trusts core values, Trusted to provide Safe, Effective Compassionate and inclusive care.

Main Duties and Responsibilities

Delivery of Direct Patient Care (following satisfactory completion of an in-service training programme)

Dressing and undressing patients as part of a therapeutic intervention.

Ensuring patients are given the required assistance using the toilet as required during activity sessions (including urinals, commodes and bed pans)

Ensuring patients are given the required assistance to meet their dietary and fluid requirements reporting any concerns to the registered nurse as appropriate. providing additional refreshments to patients and their carers if needed

Participating in the moving and handling of patients/clients.

Participating in and promoting good infection prevention & control practices.

Preparing for/and participating in food service, encouraging socialisation at mealtimes.

Work in line with the trust guidelines for increased supervision and the safe 6 specialing guidance when required to provide one to one care. Provide support and advice to colleagues providing 1:1 care.

Therapeutic Activities

Plan and implement individual and group-based therapeutic activities that support rehabilitation goals and promote independence. These may creative, cognitive, physical, and task-based activities tailored to each patient's needs, abilities, and personal interests. Organise and deliver structured physical, functional, and social activities aimed at improving confidence and performance in everyday tasks. Work collaboratively with occupational therapists and physiotherapists to integrate therapy goals and recommendations into activity sessions. Support the creation and maintenance of a therapeutic, inclusive, and dementia-friendly ward environment that promotes engagement, orientation, and wellbeing.

Work alongside clinical teams to reduce risks such as deconditioning, falls, and social isolation by facilitating personalised and targeted activity sessions in line with individual care and therapy plans. Participate in MDT discussions to identify patients who would benefit from additional one-toone support.

Assist in the coordination of social dining interventions and promote initiatives that support dignity, independence, and therapeutic outcomes during mealtimes. Provide support for patients with nutrition and hydration needs as guided by dietitians and speech and language therapy (SALT) colleagues.

Maintain effective communication with the multidisciplinary team, accurately reporting patient progress, observations, and any changes in function or wellbeing through both verbal handovers and written documentation.

Liaise with dementia specialists, including Admiral Nurses, to ensure patients living with dementia and their carers are supported appropriately throughout their rehabilitation stay.

Promote the use of person-centred care tools such as the This is Me document and forget-me-not Scheme, ensuring this information is reviewed and shared with the MDT to tailor rehabilitation and care interventions effectively. Monitor and support the implementation of the Trusts Dementia Care Bundle to ensure holistic and consistent care is delivered for patients with cognitive needs.

Communicate compassionately and effectively with patients experiencing confusion, cognitive impairments, delirium, or mental health challenges, adapting interaction styles to enhance understanding, engagement, and therapeutic rapport.

Housekeeping

Assist ward staff in maintaining a safe, orderly, clean and tidy working environment for patient/client care.

Keep all activities resources and clean and tidy and in a designated storage space. Ensure all items are accounted for at the end of any activity and take steps to prevent theft of Trust Property.

Where delegated as such, to undertake specific duties in relation to the maintenance, cleaning and ordering of supplies.

In consultation with the line manager, identify and obtain resources to be used specifically within the role and ensure effective utilisation and storage with due regards for infection prevention, financial resources and risk related issues.

Administrative Duties

Answering the telephone in the manner required by all Trust employees.

Completion of patient charts including but not exclusively, SKIN bundle, Intentional Rounding, food and fluid charts, bowel charts, pain assessments.

Documentation of interactions with patients in the appropriate place. Documenting significant conversations with visitors and carers in the appropriate place.

Individualising care plans for patients with specific planned activities.

Ensure ward staffs have adequate supplies of This is Me, Forget-me-not scheme. Maintain the information leaflets available to visitors and carers on the ward.

Team Working

Developing positive working relationships with all members of the medical, nursing and therapy teams.

Working with a variety of students, volunteers, apprentices and work experience individuals to ensure that they have a welcoming and beneficial learning experience during their time on the inpatient setting

Work with relatives and carers to prevent and resolve complaints at a local level. Report any concerns or complaints to the Nurse in charge and offer visitors PALS information if unable to resolve.

Personal Development

Demonstrate the ability to self-manage in terms of identifying skills to develop. Seek to improve personal knowledge appropriate to the clinical areas and patient group that is commensurate with the grade and also identified through the appraisal process.

To maintain all mandatory and statutory training as required by the Organisation at the relevant time intervals.

Qualifications

Essential

• Evidence of attaining basic level of education (numeracy and literacy).
• Commitment to further professional experience/knowledge.
• Level Three NVQ completed or equivalent or working towards
• Dementia awareness training
• Computer literacy/ basic IT skills
• Awareness of Safeguarding Vulnerable Adults, young people and children responsibilities

Desirable

• First Aid at Work Certificate
• Enhanced Dementia Training
• Qualification in Reminiscence Therapy

Experience

Essential

• Previous experience in a care or therapy setting.
• Experience of working with people with special requirements e.g. impaired sight or hearing ,other disabilities
• Evidence of ability to maintain effective working relationships with colleagues, patients and visitors.

Desirable

• Activity co-ordination/ group reminiscence experience
• Experience with multi-professional team
• Experience of working with persons with a dementia.
• Experience of organising group activities, outings , parties etc

Skills

Essential

• Excellent communication skills - verbal/written.
• Able to undertake a range of physical care interventions as directed by qualified staff.
• Ability to accurately pass on information clearly and precisely.
• Able to promote professional image.
• Awareness of confidentiality requirements.
• Ability to work in a team and independently.
• Able to carry out delegated duties without direct supervision, able to prioritise and organise own workload.

Desirable

• Skills in the arts/crafts -Drama -Creative activities -Art/Drawing -Music -Local history

Personal Qualities

Essential

• Organisational skills.
• Ability to remain calm in stressful situations.
• Ability to work in a team as well as work autonomously.
• Reliable, punctual.

Desirable

• Ability to motivate self and others.
• Creative and innovative.

Other

Essential

• Professional appearance.
• Satisfactory Disclosure and Barring Check.
• Able to participate in patient moving and handling if necessary.
• Full clean driving licence and access to a car

Desirable

• Flexible in working shift patterns and adapting with the needs of the service which may include evenings or weekends and bank holidays and within the acute site in all departments as needed

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.

Certificate of Sponsorship

Applications from job seekers who require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website (Opens in a new tab).

From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants, applying for entry clearance into the UK, have had to present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Adult dependants (over 18 years old) are also subject to this requirement. Guidance can be found here Criminal records checks for overseas applicants (Opens in a new tab).