Post-diagnostic Support Worker

Job description

Job responsibilities

1. Working autonomously within the parameters of the role leading on implementing the delivery of quality nursing care, contributing to the physical, psychological, social, recreational and spiritual care in a recovery-focused way through therapeutic engagement and activities, and taking steps to address any issues that arise.

2. Leading on and undertaking activities to ensure that the fundamentals of care are met - nutrition, hydration, hygiene, comfort, emotional and social support.

3. Supporting the patients management of care needs through:

a. Initial data collection

b. Monitoring of individual service user / patient progress

c. Feedback and discussion

d. Producing reports and in-care reviews

e. Devising a plan of care and interventions supervised by a Registered Nurse.

4. In a junior leadership role leading on and directing junior to staff in providing hands-on care to service users including:

a. Undertaking 1-1 engagement with service users in an honest, open and non-judgmental way.

b. Recognising and valuing service users as individuals, acknowledging the importance of always maintaining the service users respect and dignity and ensure that the care provided respects equality and diversity.

c. Contributing to the development of care plans that reflect service user needs and relevant patient care documentation working in partnership with service users, wider MDT and friends/relatives/significant others.

d. Escalating any concerns to relevant Health Care Professional.

e. Monitoring and recording service user clinical observations, such as physical observations and vital signs and escalating as appropriate any signs or symptoms of deterioration or that do not fulfil the personal parameters to the relevant professional (Registered Nurse or Doctors). Promote healthy lifestyles and give health promotion advice and support.

f. Implementing the principles of recovery: encouraging and supporting service users to engage with healthy lifestyles, facilitating psychosocial activities and other activities of their interest. Where appropriate contributing to psychological interventions under the guidance of a registered professional.

5. Escorting service users, as required, in line with Trust policies.

6. Advocating for service users needs and rights within Trust policy. Encouraging and empowering service users to have an optimum level of responsibility for their individual programme of care.

7. Supporting the registered nurse to coordinate and prioritise activities within the clinical area.

Person Specification

Training & Qualifications

Essential

• Completion of Care Certificate and acquired competencies.
• English and Mathematics basic qualifications (eg GCSE at Grade C or above or evidence of Level 2 in Functional skills for numeracy and literacy).

Desirable

• Level 2/3 Health and Social care qualification / working towards qualification.

Experience & Knowledge

Essential

• Clinical experience minimum 1 year and experience of engaging with service users / patients
• Knowledge of treatment options

Desirable

• Experience in different clinical care settings
• Experience in supervision of staff

Skills & Abilities

Essential

• Able to provide quality care that is responsive to service user's needs, with supervision available but not always present, and acting on own initiative, within protocols, policies and care plans
• Able to plan and co-ordinate and prioritise own and team work within a shift system.
• Communications skills - receiving and conveying sensitive information, with staff and with service users and able to keep accurate records. Knowing when to escalate concerns and to whom Credible in a multi-professional environment
• Ability to positively engage distressed individuals and de-escalate highly-aroused situations
• Highly resilient and able to respond to difficult interpersonal situations, which may, at times, be traumatic / distressing.

Desirable

• Training and experience in specialist skills such as ECG, Vital Signs, Phlebotomy
• Experience in facilitating groups

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).

Employer details

Employer name

South West London and St Georges Mental Health NHS Trust

Address

Springfield University Hospital

15 Springfield Drive

London

SW17 0YF

Employer's website

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