Healthcare Support Worker - HMP Send

Central and North West London NHS Foundation Trust is a Top Employer Award Winner and works in partnership to provide responsive and dependable primary care, mental health, intellectual disability and substance misuse services to the diverse and culturally rich communities we serve. In our quest to deliver patient-focused quality care we are looking to recruit a highly motivated, innovative and enthusiastic Healthcare Support Worker to join our forward thinking, friendly and expanding Health & Justice team at HMP Send. By joining our Prisons Health Care Team, you will look after the healthcare needs of our patients residing in secure environments and have the opportunity to promote health and well-being. Our healthcare services work to a 7 day week working model, ensuring our patients’ healthcare is managed and maintained to the highest of standards at all times. Healthcare Support Workers (HSW) work closely with people who use our services and play an important contribution in how people experience our services.

Responsibilities

• Keeping patients as safe as possible by recognising the limits of the HSW role and working closely with Registered Professionals.
• Contributing to the best possible clinical outcomes using up-to-date skills and adhering to evidence based policies & procedures when implementing care plans.
• Ensuring the people using our services have a good experience by respecting, empowering & working in partnership with people when contributing to the implementation & evaluation of care plans.
• Demonstrating skills & knowledge to contribute to the growth & maintenance of key functions of the clinical area by carrying out assigned tasks, involving direct & indirect care to patients under minimal supervision & as directed by the nurse in charge.

Quality of Care / Patient Safety

• Work under the direction and supervision of Registered Professionals.
• Work to the standards set out in the Code of Conduct for Healthcare Support Workers and Adult Social care Workers in England (Skills for Health 2013).
• Act as Allocated Nurse, observe and interact with patients and document as required in the nursing notes.
• Recognise and respect patients as individuals with the same rights, needs and emotions as everyone else.
• Promote the dignity and self-esteem of patients at all times.
• Safeguard people by recognising and responding when an adult or child might be at risk from abuse but also recognising their own limits and asking for help and escalating concerns when necessary.
• Ensure patients make informed decisions whenever possible based on open and honest dialogue with the patient and their carer, and ensure patient’s choices are respected where possible.
• Assist qualified staff in the assessment of patients’ needs and the implementation of individual plans of care.
• Become proficient in venepuncture, smoking cessation, health promotion.
• Participate in the facilitation of group activities and run clinics.
• Facilitate in complex case management cases.
• Maintain accurate, legible, comprehensive records (and after appropriate training) physical observations, such as weight, temperature, pulse and respiration and blood pressure.
• Report any significant findings to the nurse in charge.
• Escort patients as required with due regard to safety and security.
• Participate in the observation of patients as per Trust Policy as required, and after appropriate instruction.
• Participate in supervision and appraisal processes to enable reflection and personal development.
• Be open and transparent about their own practice.
• Identify areas where improvements in safety or quality can be made.
• Work closely with others to improve services.
• Maintain compliance with mandatory training requirements.

Person Specification

• Willingness to undertake Care Certificate and further training as required.
• Understand and implement the Equal Opportunities Policy at a level appropriate to the job, including anti-racist practices.
• Promote anti-discriminatory and anti-racist practices.
• Work in line with the working model of a 7 day a week service.

Skills and Knowledge

• Communicate with the multidisciplinary team and update others effectively.
• Maintain accurate, timely, concise and legible clinical records both electronic and handwritten in accordance with CNWL policies.
• Use Microsoft Word to draft letters and reports.
• Adhere to the Code of Conduct for Health Care and Support Workers and Adult Social Care Workers in England.
• Contribute to the implementation of care plans by helping to assess patients, develop, implement and evaluate a care plan.
• Work under own initiative but follow the directions of care plans and Band 4 staff or registered Nurses.
• Obtain consent and understand how the Mental Capacity Act and Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards impact on your work and the people you are working with.
• Work well with other team members, being kind, considerate, reliable and enthusiastic.
• Help others achieve their objectives and deliver safe, effective care.
• Basic knowledge and understanding of the Mental Health Act 1983.

Previous Experience

• Previous experience of working with a multidisciplinary team.
• Experience of working with the general public, communicating with a range of different people.
• Previous experience of working in a fast-paced environment.
• Previous experience of working within a customer focused environment.
• Healthcare/NHS or similar experience in community or hospital settings.
• Experience in a caring role.
• Working within offender care/secure care setting.
• Previous experience in mental health setting or working with adults suffering from mental health problems.
• Working within secondary care/ward setting.

Education and Qualifications

• Numeracy and Literacy skills required to keep accurate records and administer medicines (if appropriate).
• Spoken and written English, to an appropriate standard to fulfil the job requirements.
• Relevant Level 3 qualification – eg. advanced apprenticeship, A-levels, T-levels, NVQ.
• Care Certificate – you will be supported to complete this within 3 months of starting if not achieved elsewhere.
• Patient assessments and observations.
• Smoking cessation level 1 or 2.