Job summary
We have all been touched by dementia at some point in our lives. Here on Dune Ward, we go above and beyond to support those living with dementia. We work with service users and carers during a period of time when they need compassion, understanding and support.
We are constantly exploring new and innovative ideas to improve our service, alongside the evidence-based care we deliver on a daily basis. All relevant training is provided, in addition to CPD opportunities.
In addition to supporting our service users, Dune Ward are passionate about the health and wellbeing of their staff and promoting a good work/life balance. Local clinical supervision is offered, and flexible working will be considered on request. We have a health and wellbeing lead who runs a session every team day, in addition to putting on events and activities throughout the year.
If you are passionate about dementia care, this is an opportunity you don't want to miss. If you would like any additional information, or if you would like to visit the ward, then please contact the ward manager, Megan Williams, on 01934 836522.
Main duties of the job
You will support both service users and their family to receive the highest quality of care and support during a particularly difficult and emotionally challenging time. You will be working alongside registered nurses and a wider multi-disciplinary team to offer holistic support, contributing to patient's psychological, physical, emotional and social wellbeing.
You will have good IT skills, and use these to record daily notes, write and review care plans and risk assessments, and also ward round or CPA notes.
In return, you will be offered a unique opportunity to develop your skills and knowledge within an acute admission ward for people with dementia.
You will be supported to gain expertise in Dementia Care through training and development. Dune Ward also offers a unique learning opportunity through it's rolling training programme, involving bespoke and targeted learning every week all year round for the whole team. This covers topics in relation to physical health care, mental health care, older adult, dementia care and inpatient nursing skills.
You will be offered monthly supervision, with a specific focus on your health and wellbeing, in addition to any developmental requests.
About us
We are AWP (Avon and Wiltshire Mental Health Partnership NHS Trust): a diverse organisation with over 5,000 dedicated staff providing inpatient and community-based mental health care.
We provide services from a range of locations to approximately 1.8 million people living in Bath and North East Somerset (B&NES), Bristol, North Somerset, South Gloucestershire, Swindon, across the county of Wiltshire and in parts of Dorset.
Our outstanding people promote mental health and wellbeing. The expertise and resources within AWP are dedicated to a person-centred approach for those who use our services and for all employees. We recognise that happy and fulfilled employees give better care.
At AWP we actively encourage applicants from all backgrounds; we are particularly keen to encourage applications from people from Black, Asian and minority ethnic backgrounds, those with disabilities and from the LGBTQ+ community. We want people to bring their unique blend of experiences, backgrounds, perspectives and knowledge to AWP, as diversity makes us stronger.
Job description
Job responsibilities
To deliver high quality care and recovery interventions for service users within designated clinical areas, in collaboration with, and under the indirect supervision of, registered care staff. These may include:- Supporting individuals with fluids and nutrition, physical wellbeing, and personal care.- Assisting service users with financial or accommodation issues.- Escorting or accompanying service users for planned periods of leave on hospital grounds and in the community facilitating social inclusion.- Encouraging service users to talk about their experiences in one-to-one or group discussions.
To help maintain a clean, well-organised, safe and therapeutic environment that meets the needs of service users, carers and colleagues, and to support registered care staff to perform standardised environmental assessments to monitor and improve the care setting.
To deliver psychosocially-informed one to one and group interventions aiming to positively impact service users cognitive and emotional wellbeing.
To work as part of a multi-disciplinary team. To assume lead or link roles on core practice initiatives and priorities (e.g. Essence of Care, Safewards and carer engagement) under the supervision of registered staff. To integrate areas of personal interest with clinical practice to enhance the diversity of the teams provision of care.
To practise planned care, and to directly participate in the development of recovery-focused interventions that address service users and carers needs and preferences. To proactively review, record and assess the on-going impacts of such interventions.
To participate in the on-going care planning, CPA and risk assessment processes in collaboration with service users, their carers, and other members of the care team and to contribute to all aspects of clinical record keeping.
To maintain a basic working understanding of both the Mental Health Act (1983) and Mental Capacity Act (2005), and any other relevant legislation, as required by mandatory and statutory training (MaST).
To adhere to AWPs Code of Conduct for unregistered practitioners; promoting and embedding it through the delivery of peer support and supervision to junior, temporary and newly appointed Health Care Support Workers.
To observe and record interactions with service users and carers both verbally and in writing via clinical records and staff handovers.
To deliver a wide range of fundamental care interventions using evidence based clinical tools, to monitor and improve physical health and personal wellbeing and to model a high standard of dignity, respect and candour.
To engage in reflective practice to maintain and promote ongoing clinical practice.
To promote and enhance a positive learning culture, being proactive in the induction, orientation and support of junior, temporary and newly appointed Health Care Support Workers, seeking to embed core care values into practice.
Job description
Job responsibilities
To deliver high quality care and recovery interventions for service users within designated clinical areas, in collaboration with, and under the indirect supervision of, registered care staff. These may include:- Supporting individuals with fluids and nutrition, physical wellbeing, and personal care.- Assisting service users with financial or accommodation issues.- Escorting or accompanying service users for planned periods of leave on hospital grounds and in the community facilitating social inclusion.- Encouraging service users to talk about their experiences in one-to-one or group discussions.
To help maintain a clean, well-organised, safe and therapeutic environment that meets the needs of service users, carers and colleagues, and to support registered care staff to perform standardised environmental assessments to monitor and improve the care setting.
To deliver psychosocially-informed one to one and group interventions aiming to positively impact service users cognitive and emotional wellbeing.
To work as part of a multi-disciplinary team. To assume lead or link roles on core practice initiatives and priorities (e.g. Essence of Care, Safewards and carer engagement) under the supervision of registered staff. To integrate areas of personal interest with clinical practice to enhance the diversity of the teams provision of care.
To practise planned care, and to directly participate in the development of recovery-focused interventions that address service users and carers needs and preferences. To proactively review, record and assess the on-going impacts of such interventions.
To participate in the on-going care planning, CPA and risk assessment processes in collaboration with service users, their carers, and other members of the care team and to contribute to all aspects of clinical record keeping.
To maintain a basic working understanding of both the Mental Health Act (1983) and Mental Capacity Act (2005), and any other relevant legislation, as required by mandatory and statutory training (MaST).
To adhere to AWPs Code of Conduct for unregistered practitioners; promoting and embedding it through the delivery of peer support and supervision to junior, temporary and newly appointed Health Care Support Workers.
To observe and record interactions with service users and carers both verbally and in writing via clinical records and staff handovers.
To deliver a wide range of fundamental care interventions using evidence based clinical tools, to monitor and improve physical health and personal wellbeing and to model a high standard of dignity, respect and candour.
To engage in reflective practice to maintain and promote ongoing clinical practice.
To promote and enhance a positive learning culture, being proactive in the induction, orientation and support of junior, temporary and newly appointed Health Care Support Workers, seeking to embed core care values into practice.
Person Specification
Experience & Knowledge
Essential
- Experience of working as a healthcare support worker in a clinical team
- Knowledge of, and experience of working with, a range of mental health issues
- Knowledge of care planning and its uses in a mental health setting
- Experience of working in a busy team, and an ability to use initiative at times of pressure
Desirable
- Experience of working in dementia care
- An understanding of how mental health issues can affect the lives of individuals, their families and their community, and experience of using a range of evidence-based approaches to reduce the impact of such issues.
Education & Qualfications
Essential
- NHS Care Certificate
- Possession of, or willingness to work towards Level 2 Functional Skills (Maths & English)
Desirable
- NVQ Level 3 in Healthcare Support Work or similar, or willingness to undertake same
Skills & Abilities
Essential
- Ability to communicate in written and verbal English to a high standard, and basic numeracy skills.
- Demonstrable ability to use computer systems efficiently and effectively to record data clearly, accurately and quickly.
- Ability to work with a degree of autonomy, whilst also taking direction from senior colleagues.
- Ability to conduct oneself in a professional and tactful manner, and to champion core care values such as dignity, compassion and safety.
Desirable
- Experience of effective verbal de-escalation skills
- Experience in the safe and appropriate use of control and restraint
Person Specification
Experience & Knowledge
Essential
- Experience of working as a healthcare support worker in a clinical team
- Knowledge of, and experience of working with, a range of mental health issues
- Knowledge of care planning and its uses in a mental health setting
- Experience of working in a busy team, and an ability to use initiative at times of pressure
Desirable
- Experience of working in dementia care
- An understanding of how mental health issues can affect the lives of individuals, their families and their community, and experience of using a range of evidence-based approaches to reduce the impact of such issues.
Education & Qualfications
Essential
- NHS Care Certificate
- Possession of, or willingness to work towards Level 2 Functional Skills (Maths & English)
Desirable
- NVQ Level 3 in Healthcare Support Work or similar, or willingness to undertake same
Skills & Abilities
Essential
- Ability to communicate in written and verbal English to a high standard, and basic numeracy skills.
- Demonstrable ability to use computer systems efficiently and effectively to record data clearly, accurately and quickly.
- Ability to work with a degree of autonomy, whilst also taking direction from senior colleagues.
- Ability to conduct oneself in a professional and tactful manner, and to champion core care values such as dignity, compassion and safety.
Desirable
- Experience of effective verbal de-escalation skills
- Experience in the safe and appropriate use of control and restraint
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.
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