Job summary
After a successful few years, the Herts Unplanned Care Team is now expanding. We are looking for proactive and enthusiastic Healthcare Assistants (HCAs) to join us and enable the delivery of care to patients in their own homes.
The aim of the service is to avoid unnecessary admissions into secondary care and provide a timely discharge from hospital and community bedded units for patients requiring urgent therapy input in their homes. The team provides care across three pathways delivered over 7-days a week 8am to 10pm - Rapid Response (RR), Early Intervention Vehicle (EIV) and Discharge to Assess (DTA). All pathways are delivered in a patient's usual home environment.
Main duties of the job
If you are a motivated team player and want to excel in delivering holistic care to a diverse patient group in their own home, we want to hear from you. Previous experience of working in the NHS is ideal but not essential, community experience is desirable, but training will be given. You will be self-motivated with strong organisational skills and able to make decisions under supervision from senior members of the team.
As a Healthcare Assistant within the team you will follow the plans set by the assessing clinicians and be able to recognise changes to the patient's condition, reporting to the appropriate clinician where indicated. The role requires you to be able to keep accurate clinical records and have good clerical/ administrative skills.
The organisation is supportive of training needs and there is an excellent mandatory training and education programme. You will also receive regular clinical and safeguarding supervision.
This is an exciting post, with the opportunity to help develop the service and make a real difference to patients and a chance to develop both clinical and strategic skills.
**Possession of a valid UK driving license and use of a car for work purposes is essential. **
About us
Central London Community Healthcare (CLCH) is one of the largest community healthcare organisations in London and Hertfordshire, providing our services to diverse communities/boroughs in 11 London Boroughs - Barnet, Brent, Ealing, Hammersmith & Fulham, Harrow, Hounslow, Kensington and Chelsea, Merton, Richmond, Wandsworth, Westminster - and Hertfordshire.
Just as we care about our patients' wellbeing, we care about yours!
We can offer you:
- A comprehensive induction into the community service followed by a local induction to introduce you to the role
- Single occupancy accommodation in Central London - (we can help you find accommodation in London, support you with your deposit)
- Car lease scheme *T&C's apply
- Flexible working options
- Annual travel card loan
- Training, support and development in your career
As an NHS trust, we are committed to equal opportunities and ensuring equality and diversity in the workplace.
We have a number of staff networks: Disability and Wellbeing Network (DAWN), Race Equality Network and the Rainbow Network which supports LGBT+ staff. Each network has a champion who is an executive director at the Trust and they hold regular meetingsto discuss issues andmake plans to improve CLCH.
Job description
Job responsibilities
Unplanned Healthcare Assistant is expected:
- To contribute to the on-going assessment of a patient by completing the appropriate paperwork for allocated patients, recording, and reporting all clinical and behavioural information to the nurse/therapist for action and planning purposes
- To undertake, and report back on delegated clinical activities that have previously been signed competent. Eg: vital signs, routine urinalysis, glucose monitoring, gait/mobility training, falls prevention awareness groups, increasing independence through activities of daily living
- To enable patients/carers to make most effective use of resources within the service by ensuring they receive up-to-date information sheets, responding to any questions constructively
- To pass onto/seek assistance from other colleagues, promptly, any questions that you are unable to resolve
- To liaise and refer patients to the MDT team as appropriate in accordance with local procedures
- To assist with errands and general duties appropriate to the clinical area as required.
- To prescribe appropriate equipment and educate carers and patients in the safe use of this equipment, after being deemed competent to do so.
- To use clinical judgement and skills to report any untoward changes in carers or clients health status immediately to the relevant team member, GP, District Nurse or emergency services if appropriate.
- To collect data from patients/carers for recognised outcome measure and document for therapists/nurses to interpret.
Please refer to the attached Job Description for full list of responsibilities.
Job description
Job responsibilities
Unplanned Healthcare Assistant is expected:
- To contribute to the on-going assessment of a patient by completing the appropriate paperwork for allocated patients, recording, and reporting all clinical and behavioural information to the nurse/therapist for action and planning purposes
- To undertake, and report back on delegated clinical activities that have previously been signed competent. Eg: vital signs, routine urinalysis, glucose monitoring, gait/mobility training, falls prevention awareness groups, increasing independence through activities of daily living
- To enable patients/carers to make most effective use of resources within the service by ensuring they receive up-to-date information sheets, responding to any questions constructively
- To pass onto/seek assistance from other colleagues, promptly, any questions that you are unable to resolve
- To liaise and refer patients to the MDT team as appropriate in accordance with local procedures
- To assist with errands and general duties appropriate to the clinical area as required.
- To prescribe appropriate equipment and educate carers and patients in the safe use of this equipment, after being deemed competent to do so.
- To use clinical judgement and skills to report any untoward changes in carers or clients health status immediately to the relevant team member, GP, District Nurse or emergency services if appropriate.
- To collect data from patients/carers for recognised outcome measure and document for therapists/nurses to interpret.
Please refer to the attached Job Description for full list of responsibilities.
Person Specification
Education/Qualification
Essential
- GCE General Education or equivalent
- Basic skills in literacy Level 1 and numeracy level 3
- Diploma NVQ Care level 2 or equivalent experience.
- Must undertake Diploma NVQ 3 care
- All new Healthcare Support Workers across the NHS are required to complete the Care Certificate programme. Newly recruited HCSW's are identified during our recruitment process but line managers have the responsibility to make sure that new support workers working within their teams are enrolled on the programme. Completing the Care Certificate ensures that support workers have the required values, behaviours, competences, and skills to provide high quality compassionate care.
- You may be required to undertake a literacy and numeracy test prior to interview.
Desirable
Experience
Essential
- Experience of working within a health or social care setting
- Experience of organising and prioritising your own workload.
- Experience of working as part of a team.
- Experience of working with older people
- experience of care giving
Desirable
- Previous experience of working in the NHS.
- Experience of community working.
- Experience providing mobility aids and carrying out exercise programmes as directed by senior therapists.
- Ability to instruct patient/carers in relation to use of equipment and therapy interventions - exercise, safe handling etc.
- Experience working as a rehab assistant in an adult and/or elderly setting.
Skills and Knowledge
Essential
- Demonstrates an understanding of the role applied for within the clinical context.
- Knowledge and understanding of responsibilities related to patient information and record keeping, including updating records and managing patient information.
- Demonstrates awareness of limits to knowledge base.
- Awareness of responsibilities regarding health and safety particularly when working without direct supervision.
- Ability to problem solve and prioritise.
- Ability to communicate clearly and effectively, in both verbal and written format.
- Strong I.T skills.
Desirable
- Ability to effectively use SystmOne (Electronic Patient Record) and Microsoft teams.
- Knowledge of common clinical conditions which may be encountered in this area of work e.g. older adults, falls, neurology, orthopaedics.
- Understanding of professional roles relevant to clinical area e.g. nurse, therapists, dietician.
Personal/Physical Attributes
Essential
- Personally and professionally responsible
- Able to self-motivate.
- Willing and able to work as a team member
- Confident to work as an autonomous practitioner, alone in community settings
- Flexible, adaptable and reliable.
- Displays care, compassion and sensitivity to other people's feelings and needs.
- Able to work under pressure.
- Good planning and organisational skills in order to manage own workload
- Ability to communicate clearly and effectively, in both verbal and written format, including report writing skills
- Able to develop and maintain positive relationships with others both internal and external for the organisation and with patients and their carers.
- Able to foster a culture of continuous improvement
- Physically fit to perform the job description requirements with or without adaptations
- Able to carry out moderate physical effort throughout the day
- Hold a full, valid, UK driving licence and have access to a car to use for business purposes (unless you have a disability as defined by the Equality Act 2010)
Person Specification
Education/Qualification
Essential
- GCE General Education or equivalent
- Basic skills in literacy Level 1 and numeracy level 3
- Diploma NVQ Care level 2 or equivalent experience.
- Must undertake Diploma NVQ 3 care
- All new Healthcare Support Workers across the NHS are required to complete the Care Certificate programme. Newly recruited HCSW's are identified during our recruitment process but line managers have the responsibility to make sure that new support workers working within their teams are enrolled on the programme. Completing the Care Certificate ensures that support workers have the required values, behaviours, competences, and skills to provide high quality compassionate care.
- You may be required to undertake a literacy and numeracy test prior to interview.
Desirable
Experience
Essential
- Experience of working within a health or social care setting
- Experience of organising and prioritising your own workload.
- Experience of working as part of a team.
- Experience of working with older people
- experience of care giving
Desirable
- Previous experience of working in the NHS.
- Experience of community working.
- Experience providing mobility aids and carrying out exercise programmes as directed by senior therapists.
- Ability to instruct patient/carers in relation to use of equipment and therapy interventions - exercise, safe handling etc.
- Experience working as a rehab assistant in an adult and/or elderly setting.
Skills and Knowledge
Essential
- Demonstrates an understanding of the role applied for within the clinical context.
- Knowledge and understanding of responsibilities related to patient information and record keeping, including updating records and managing patient information.
- Demonstrates awareness of limits to knowledge base.
- Awareness of responsibilities regarding health and safety particularly when working without direct supervision.
- Ability to problem solve and prioritise.
- Ability to communicate clearly and effectively, in both verbal and written format.
- Strong I.T skills.
Desirable
- Ability to effectively use SystmOne (Electronic Patient Record) and Microsoft teams.
- Knowledge of common clinical conditions which may be encountered in this area of work e.g. older adults, falls, neurology, orthopaedics.
- Understanding of professional roles relevant to clinical area e.g. nurse, therapists, dietician.
Personal/Physical Attributes
Essential
- Personally and professionally responsible
- Able to self-motivate.
- Willing and able to work as a team member
- Confident to work as an autonomous practitioner, alone in community settings
- Flexible, adaptable and reliable.
- Displays care, compassion and sensitivity to other people's feelings and needs.
- Able to work under pressure.
- Good planning and organisational skills in order to manage own workload
- Ability to communicate clearly and effectively, in both verbal and written format, including report writing skills
- Able to develop and maintain positive relationships with others both internal and external for the organisation and with patients and their carers.
- Able to foster a culture of continuous improvement
- Physically fit to perform the job description requirements with or without adaptations
- Able to carry out moderate physical effort throughout the day
- Hold a full, valid, UK driving licence and have access to a car to use for business purposes (unless you have a disability as defined by the Equality Act 2010)
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.
