Community Health Worker

Job description

Job responsibilities

Children in Care Council, 2016

We need workers who think about how they treat us. This means workers who treat us fairly and who show us they care. We dont want to be labelled and we should be treated like normal people; dont look down on us.

Workers need excellent communication skills, this includes listening skills. Our workers need to be able to listen to our views, ask how and what we are feeling and make sure they understand what we are saying by checking back with us. We expect our workers to demonstrate that they respect us and our experience in real ways by not taking phone calls during meetings, and by writing down what we say and talking in short simple language.

Finally, we expect our workers to work hard for us. This means doing what they say they will do, sticking to promises and not making excuses. We expect our workers to respond promptly to us and provide up to date contact details, especially for out of hours. It is important that workers build good relationships with us and are flexible and willing to change their view and always do what is best for us.

Job Purpose:

The Community Health Worker works as part of the public health nursing team in providing preventative and supportive health care to children young people and their families. The post holder works under the supervision of a Specialist Public Health Nurse or Team Leader with a defined population. As part of the public health nursing team the post holder collaborates with a wider multi-disciplinary team in offering public health services to the community. The work takes place in a variety of settings, including home, clinic, schools and community venues.

This role requires the ability to fulfil all spoken aspects of the role with confidence and fluency in English.

Main duties and responsibilities:

The principle responsibility of the post holder it to support the delivery of universal services and targeted interventions to address health inequalities. The service will be offered within the framework of national and local targets including the Healthy Child Programme.

Working in partnership to provide appropriate advice and support to families in accordance with evidence based practice under the supervision of Specialist Community Public Health Nurse (SCPHN).

Signposting families to supportive services e.g. Childrens Centres and services provided by the local authority or the voluntary sector.

Maintain clear and accurate records as per standards and guidelines, ensuring clear analysis and outcomes for the child.

Support and promote breast-feeding, good infant feeding practices, good nutrition, dental care, and smoking cessation.

Communicates effectively with people who may themselves have communication difficulties, including willingness to seek out and use resources to help those whose first language is not English or those with sensory or learning difficulties.

Able to communicate effectively and helpfully with people who may be distressed or angry, for example, may be asked to support families where there is a child with special needs.

Communicates in such a way as to empower, motivate and/or support individuals, families and other members of staff, judging which approach is most likely to be effective in addressing the current health need or situation.

Able to recognise situations where service users require advice and help from the Specialist Community Public Health Nurse, for example, need for family reassessment, complex evolving family health needs, or child protection, thus ensuring safe practice.

Able to use relevant equipment eg: electronic scales and measures of length and height, and interpret result. Refers measurements that are outside normal parameters.

Where appropriate, manages and maintains equipment, eg: ensuring servicing of scales at the required intervals. Has due regard to efficient and effective managements of resources, eg: accurate prediction and maintenance of supplies, informing line manager of any difficulties encountered.

Organises delegated workload to meet priorities of client care, making efficient use of time and travel.

Organises and supports service delivery within health and community settings. e.g. child health clinics, National Childhood Measurement Programme in schools, Healthy Child Programme.

Keeps a daily electronic diary containing accurate record of work content and travel. Initiate and participate in data collection, research, audit, surveys and service user feedback.

Participating in supervision and annual appraisals which will help you to reflect on your work, understand your objectives and monitor your progress towards achieving them Using continuing professional development to consolidate, update or improve clinical skills.

Please refer to the full Job Description & Person Specification on the right hand side when completing your application.

Person Specification

Qualifications

Essential

• QCF or equivalent qualification e.g. NNEB /CACHE/ BTECH Diploma (2 year full time course) or NVQ 3 (Child care related) Foundation degree or equivalent.

Experience

Essential

• Evidence of continuing professional development.
• Ability to work as a reflective practitioner.
• Group and family work.
• Child Protection awareness.

Desirable

• Knowledge of services for children and families.
• Experience in delivering health promotion.
• Experience in assessing child development.

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.

UK Registration

Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see NHS Careers website (opens in a new window).

Employer details

Employer name

Devon County Council

Address

Follaton House

Plymouth Road

Totnes

Devon

TQ9 5NA

Employer's website

https://www.devon.gov.uk/ (Opens in a new tab)