Physical Health Support Worker in Torquay

Duties and Responsibilities

• Work closely with Registered Nurses, Pharmacists, Non Medical Prescribers, GPs, VCSE partners and MDT colleagues.
• Participate in MDT meetings as required to provide physical health updates and receive guidance.
• Communicate sensitively with people who may experience anxiety, neurodiversity, psychosis or health related distress.
• Record all results in the Physical Health Launchpad, SystmOne or EMIS, as appropriate.
• Ensure clear, accurate and timely documentation.
• Follow Trust procedures for blood sample labelling, ID verification, and any interim solutions referenced in PHM meeting actions.
• Communicate effectively with people using services, considering any communication difficulties and responding appropriately.
• Participate in, support and maintain positive interventions and activity programmes that improve quality of life and mental wellbeing.
• Offer emotional support, advice, information and education to people using services, their carers and families, including signposting to other services.
• Foster and maintain strong working relationships with other community teams, health and social care professionals and inpatient services, sharing relevant information appropriately.
• Provide information and assistance to people using services and their carers to ensure they understand their rights, entitlements and care plan.
• Communicate any changes in a person's presentation to the appropriate professional in a timely manner.
• Provide NHS advice on national screening programmes e.g. breast screening, bowel screening etc.

Analytical and Judgemental Skills

• The post holder will be aware of and work within their own limits, and competencies.
• Take part in the constant assessment of risk and management of risk in conjunction with the qualified staff.
• Take part and be aware of Health and Safety matters as appropriate.
• Be punctual for work and conduct themselves in a professional manner in accordance with Trust Policies.
• Use resources appropriate to the needs of people using services.

Planning and Organisational Skills

• Deliver brief interventions and health promotion conversations, including: Smoking cessation or transition to safer alternatives, Weight management, Diet, hydration and exercise, Medication adherence, Engagement with structured physical activity offers, Screening programmes.
• Work alongside peer support workers, social prescribers and VCSE partners to encourage meaningful health behaviour change.
• Support individuals who require enhanced engagement due to poor health literacy, social isolation or severe mental illness, as identified within CMHT discussions.
• Maintain accurate records of all activity.
• Liaise appropriately with other agencies to support the delivery of care.
• Attend meetings and other communication events linked to the work of the team, as directed by the team leader.
• Independently or jointly monitor a person's mental health to ensure safety.
• Observe and report changes in mental health presentation to qualified staff so that the care plan remains up to date; recognise fluctuations in mental health.
• Encourage social and physical activities as outlined in the care plan.
• Promote independence and recovery.
• Recognise signs of abuse and follow appropriate procedures to elevate concerns.
• Participate in, support and maintain positive interventions and planned activity programmes to enhance quality of life.
• Record contacts, interventions and observations on the electronic care record and seek professional validation when required.
• Maintain up to date clinical knowledge relevant to the role and current mental health practice developments.

Responsibility for Patient/Client Care, Treatment and Therapy

• Carry out routine physical health observations, including: Blood pressure, pulse, temperature, height, weight, BMI, NEWS2 scoring, Waist circumference and metabolic monitoring, Physical side-effect screening using Trust approved tools (e.g., Lester Tool).
• Support venepuncture pathways once trained, including baseline and follow up blood tests.
• Assist with ECGs, ensuring appropriate preparation, positioning and patient support.
• Support clozapine and depot monitoring clinics by collecting and recording physical health data in line with Trust SOPs.
• Escalate abnormal or deteriorating physical health parameters to registered practitioners immediately.
• Staff physical health monitoring clinics, including community hubs, CMHT bases and satellite locations.
• Provide outreach or home-based visits for individuals unable to attend clinics, ensuring equitable access when clinically appropriate.
• Support the hub and spoke PHM model, contributing to consistent practice across localities.

Responsibility for Policy and Service Development Implementation

• Contribute to improving the PHM model by identifying barriers, supporting cohort identification work, and feeding back operational issues.
• Participate in audits, data quality improvement, and evaluation of physical health services.
• Comply with all DPT policies, protocols, procedures relevant to the role.
• Report any observed incidence of unprofessional behaviour, accidents/incidents, untoward occurrences or faulty equipment.
• Participate professionally in service development and proposed service changes.
• Complete all core training requirements and other appropriate training courses pertinent to the role, as agreed by the team leader.

Responsibility for Finance, Equipment and Other Resources

• Assist in maintaining safety and security of the environment.
• Help maintain cleanliness and tidiness of the environment (including equipment).
• Have knowledge and understanding of counter fraud.
• The post holder will have no direct responsibility for finance, but they will need to adhere to relevant Trust policies on financial issues.
• Use Trust NHS resources in a sustainable way.

Responsibility for Human Resources, e.g. Supervision, Training, HR Advice and Management

• Attend mandatory baseline and advanced physical health training programmes arranged by external providers or the Trust for Band 3 staff.
• Maintain competencies in: Observations, Venepuncture, ECG, Infection control, Physical health monitoring SOPs.
• Engage in supervision and take personal responsibility for ongoing competency development.
• Work independently with people in their own homes and other settings in the community or as part of another role, with daily supervision from an identified mental health practitioner.
• Actively participate in regular supervision from a mental health practitioner and an annual appraisal in accordance with Trust policy.
• Participate in and support students' learning along with other members of the team.