Job summary
We are looking for an enthusiastic professional who can help the Community Independence Service (CIS) make Hammersmith & Fulham (H&F) a great place to grow old. Join us and be part of a committed and caring team as we deliver high quality patient care.
Your role as a Health Care Assistant (HCA) within the CIS Home First Team will involve providing a rapid response care service for people who need urgent help with primary acute physical health illness in their own homes, often immediately after a hospital admission. Please note that this role is not an inpatient ward based or mental health service, and the vast majority of our patients need support with functional activities.
As a HCA you will be expected to provide support to our patients in a wide range of community and patient home environments, working autonomously and collaboratively in supporting the integrated multidisciplinary team in the delivery of excellent patient care. You will be responsible for the holistic, comprehensive care of complex community patients, delivering clinical care delegated by a registered professional and contributing to the evaluation of person centred care plans.
The service is operational 7 days a week 8am to 8pm. Hours of work for HCA may vary between these hours.
Main duties of the job
You will have excellent communication skills, IT skills, and the ability to be adaptable, flexible and reliable as changes to your caseload and patient visits may happen on a daily basis. You will therefore require good organisation skills and the ability to prioritise your workload effectively. Experience of care in a community setting would be an advantage but is not essential.
1. Carry out day to day care of patients within their own home environment, such as personal care, medication prompting, toileting and meal preparation.
- Carry out safe moving and handling of patients with the use of equipment prescribed by Occupational Therapists and Physiotherapists, for example rollator frame, sara steady, re-turn and hoist.
- Review and adjust basic equipment that has been prescribed and installed by Occupational Therapists or Physiotherapists, for example mobility aids or toilet frames.
- To be able to take observations (for example blood pressure and temperature) after completing the appropriate competency, NEWS2 scoring and early identification and escalation of the deteriorating patient.
- Participate and contribute to audits, service development and projects associated with improving the quality of service of CIS.
About us
West London NHS Trust is one of the most diverse healthcare providers in the UK, delivering a range of mental health and physical healthcare and community services. The Trust runs Broadmoor Hospital, one of three high secure hospitals in the country, with an international reputation.
Our high secure services care for patients from South of England and we provide low and medium secure services across eight London boroughs. The Trust also provides mental and physical healthcare in three London boroughs (Ealing, Hounslow and Hammersmith & Fulham). We employ over 5,000 staff, of whom 59% are BME. Our turnover for 2024-25 is over £500m.
The Trust is rated as 'Good' overallby the Care Quality Commission. Forensic services are rated as 'Outstanding'.
The Trust is an established partner and contributor in the development of the evolving North West London Integrated Care System and the Integrated Care Board. The Trust leads the NW London Children and Adolescent Mental Health provider collaborative.
Job description
Job responsibilities
The Candidate Pack provides an overview of the key tasks and responsibilities of the role, and the person specification outlines the qualifications, skills, experience and knowledge required. Please view as attached
The person specification below is not the full person specification, but outlines the criteria against which your application form will be assessed.
Job description
Job responsibilities
The Candidate Pack provides an overview of the key tasks and responsibilities of the role, and the person specification outlines the qualifications, skills, experience and knowledge required. Please view as attached
The person specification below is not the full person specification, but outlines the criteria against which your application form will be assessed.
Person Specification
Qualifications and Training
Essential
- Degree / Diploma Physiotherapist or Occupational therapist
- Registration with HCPC as a Physiotherapist or Occupational therapist
Desirable
- Post registration CPD eg: oGoal setting oFrailty and older people's rehabilitation. oStudent placement facilitator
Experience
Essential
- Previous experience of working in the UK or a similar health economy as a Physiotherapist or Occupational therapist. Previous general experience to include the following:
- oOlder people / frailty assessment and rehabilitation
- oMedicine
- ogeneral surgery
- oOrthopaedics
- oFalls
- oRespiratory
- oNeurology
- oLong term conditions
- oExperience teaching juniors and assistants.
- oExperience completing audit and service development
Desirable
- Experience working as an autonomous practitioner in a community setting. Experience teaching students
Knowledge
Essential
- Excellent IT skills including Outlook, Word, Excel and clinical records data bases.
- Excellent communication skills, fluency in written and verbal English.
- Demonstrates flexibility, problem solving, initiative and leadership skills.
- Able to demonstrate clinical and professional development.
- Awareness of developments in NHS and service delivery and improvement.
- Understanding the principles of multi-disciplinary team work.
- Evidence of maintenance of a CPD portfolio
- Demonstration of knowledge of standards of practice, evidence and best practice guidelines
- Able to demonstrate a good understanding of the role of an Occupational therapist and Physiotherapist in community assessment as well as the role of other professionals in the MDT
- Demonstrated a commitment to working with older people
- Able to demonstrate insight into the problems of disability and its effects
- Able to demonstrate an understanding of the application of health and safety
Personal Qualities
Essential
- The ability to work under pressure and set priorities, delegate and manage own time The ability to work in a team
- Leadership skills and an interest in management skills
- Personally and professionally responsible
- To be flexible, to be able to motivate self and others
Desirable
- Have insight into own strengths and development areas with respect to the trusts values and behaviours
Person Specification
Qualifications and Training
Essential
- Degree / Diploma Physiotherapist or Occupational therapist
- Registration with HCPC as a Physiotherapist or Occupational therapist
Desirable
- Post registration CPD eg: oGoal setting oFrailty and older people's rehabilitation. oStudent placement facilitator
Experience
Essential
- Previous experience of working in the UK or a similar health economy as a Physiotherapist or Occupational therapist. Previous general experience to include the following:
- oOlder people / frailty assessment and rehabilitation
- oMedicine
- ogeneral surgery
- oOrthopaedics
- oFalls
- oRespiratory
- oNeurology
- oLong term conditions
- oExperience teaching juniors and assistants.
- oExperience completing audit and service development
Desirable
- Experience working as an autonomous practitioner in a community setting. Experience teaching students
Knowledge
Essential
- Excellent IT skills including Outlook, Word, Excel and clinical records data bases.
- Excellent communication skills, fluency in written and verbal English.
- Demonstrates flexibility, problem solving, initiative and leadership skills.
- Able to demonstrate clinical and professional development.
- Awareness of developments in NHS and service delivery and improvement.
- Understanding the principles of multi-disciplinary team work.
- Evidence of maintenance of a CPD portfolio
- Demonstration of knowledge of standards of practice, evidence and best practice guidelines
- Able to demonstrate a good understanding of the role of an Occupational therapist and Physiotherapist in community assessment as well as the role of other professionals in the MDT
- Demonstrated a commitment to working with older people
- Able to demonstrate insight into the problems of disability and its effects
- Able to demonstrate an understanding of the application of health and safety
Personal Qualities
Essential
- The ability to work under pressure and set priorities, delegate and manage own time The ability to work in a team
- Leadership skills and an interest in management skills
- Personally and professionally responsible
- To be flexible, to be able to motivate self and others
Desirable
- Have insight into own strengths and development areas with respect to the trusts values and behaviours
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.
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).
UK Registration
Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see
NHS Careers website (opens in a new window).
Additional information
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.
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).
UK Registration
Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see
NHS Careers website (opens in a new window).
