Hospice Activity Coordinator in Ebbw Vale

The post holder will be a member of the Living Well and Family Support Teams within The Hospice of the Valleys and will coordinate and facilitate the smooth running of support groups, ensuring uptake of groups by hospice and non-hospice clients through community networks/social media. You will record and input data such as feedback, outcomes, and patient stories via appropriate systems. You will develop innovative ways of working to ensure positive outcomes for those receiving the service. You will represent and promote the service in relevant multi-agency meetings. You will ensure the transfer of knowledge and sharing of best practice across the Team and Services. You will ensure effective partnership working and engagement to achieve and deliver these objectives.

Main duties of the job

• To coordinate and facilitate the smooth running of support groups within the Hospice building and outreach venues, including hospital, nursing home, and community venues.
• To promote the services provided by the Hospice by engaging with community venues and services.
• To support staff with collating assessment and outcome measures through a variety of methods such as telephone, written, and electronic means.
• To build a professional relationship with service users and their families and to use that relationship to safeguard and promote positive outcomes.
• To update, maintain, and report accurate records of service provision and client details via Hospice systems and to support the development of meaningful data capture.
• Regularly meet with and provide feedback to teams.
• Knowledge of local services is desirable as signposting to other services/agencies is required where appropriate.
• Liase with volunteer manager at Hospice and assist with volunteer recruitment as appropriate.
• Escalate any queries as necessary to Team Lead.
• Notify Safeguarding officers should the patient/carers needs require further intervention.
• To attend supervisions, either on a one-to-one basis or as part of a group in accordance with Hospice of the Valleys policy and guidelines.

Knowledge, skills and experience required

• You require a good general level of education and an ability to work on your own initiative.
• Experience of working in a supportive role and goal planning.
• Experience of working directly with people affected by a dementia diagnosis and/or life-limiting illness, their carers, and those affected by the diagnosis, which may carry on to bereavement support for families.
• An understanding of dementia and the rights of people with dementia and their carers.
• An understanding of carers assessments.
• An understanding of procedures relating to safeguarding adults and children.
• An understanding of palliative care.
• An understanding of the signs and symptoms of grief.
• Experience of working within an unpredictable, ever-changing multi-agency setting.
• Ability to communicate respectfully in an open, accurate, straightforward, and confidential way with colleagues.
• Ability to organise and facilitate groups.
• Ability to identify learning needs in others and to utilise education opportunities.
• Ability to demonstrate contribution to policy development.
• Basic level competence in the standard range of IT programs.
• Able to demonstrate effective interpersonal and communication skills.

Practice, education & service development

• To take personal responsibility for keeping up to date with legislation, research findings, and practice knowledge, including attendance at appropriate training as required by the Hospice of the Valleys.
• Work to maintain the values and aims of the Hospice of the Valleys and work in line with required policies and procedures.
• Practice and promote confidentiality at all times, complying with the Hospices GDPR policies appropriate to your area of work.
• Contribute to training and practice development.
• To support the provision of learning opportunities.
• To comply with Gwent Safeguarding Boards Safeguarding procedures and practice.
• Demonstrate efficient time management and flexible attitude to working patterns.
• To ensure the maintenance of such records and management information systems as appropriate.
• Positively commit to Hospice of the Valleys performance management process including annual appraisals and one-to-one meetings, taking responsibility for personal and professional development.
• Treat everyone with respect and dignity.
• Maintain a professional, friendly, and positive influence, maintaining awareness of how your behaviour can affect and influence the behaviour of others.
• To represent Hospice of the Valleys in the community and public domain as appropriate.
• Contribute toward clinical and corporate governance agendas as appropriate.

Equipment and machinery

The post holder will be provided with a mobile telephone, laptop, and devices for lone working.

Systems

The post holder will be responsible for working within the policies and procedures of the organisation and will be responsible for updating policies relevant to the service area. The employee handbook will be provided which will outline all relevant policies and processes.

Decisions and judgements

High-level assessment, problem-solving, and decision-making skills will be required. Decision making undertaken with a person-centred and evidence-based approach utilising robust outcome measures.

Physical, mental, emotional and environmental demands of the job

• Physical Effort: Working in an open plan office where confidentiality and sensitive conversations are difficult due to concentration required for patient-related activities with an unpredictable environment where patients may display anger, abuse, or extreme emotion. Ability to manage challenges and possible conflict with other professionals in the process of ensuring best practice is established. Working within all aspects of Health and Safety at Work and Governance guidelines to ensure they are adhered to and to highlight to appropriate staff when health or safety of staff, patients, or carers is at risk. There is a requirement that the post holder will drive and have access to their own car.
• Mental Effort: Be expected to deal with frequent interruptions due to the unpredictability of the work and service user group. Be required to exert prolonged periods of concentration during assessments, report writing, and documentation. Problem solving for service users, their family members, and carers who have complex needs.
• Emotional Effort: Frequently work with service users and their carers who sometimes exhibit challenging and emotional behaviours and will potentially be exposed to distressing and emotional circumstances thereby emotional resilience will be needed.

Most challenging/difficult parts of the job

• Being involved in the care and support of people with complex needs relating to their dementia diagnosis and managing the distress and upset this brings.
• Frequently work with service users and their carers who sometimes exhibit challenging and emotional behaviours and will potentially be exposed to distressing and emotional circumstances.
• Working within a fast-paced and ever-changing clinical environment.
• Managing safeguarding concerns.
• Lone working.

Person Specification

• Minimum 1 year’s experience in a health care setting and/or social care setting.
• Understanding of palliative care.
• Understanding of the needs of bereaved people.
• Emotional resilience and experience of working in evolving and busy environments.
• Community working experience.
• Experience of communicating regarding complex, sensitive issues with patients, carers, and professionals.
• Understanding of the needs of people with dementia and their carers.
• Experience of multidisciplinary and multi-agency working.

Special Conditions and Professional Requirements

• Requirement to travel independently throughout the Service Area.
• Enhanced Disclosure and Barring checks on appointment and at periodic intervals.
• To be personally responsible for the continued registration with Social Care Wales.
• Ability to facilitate groups.
• Ability to work as part of a team.
• Ability to engage individuals living with dementia.
• Ability to support patient support group facilitators with the effective management and running of groups.
• Understanding the needs of carers of patients with life-limiting illnesses, and those affected by dementia diagnosis.
• Able to advocate for others, representing their views in an objective manner.
• Demonstrates clear and advanced communication skills; written, verbal, and non-verbal.
• Excellent planning and organisation skills.
• Able to develop effective interpersonal relationships with a diverse range of patients, carers, and professionals.
• Ability to assess risk regarding self and others and take appropriate action.
• Computer literacy with ability to use email, internet, Word, electronic records, and literature searching.
• Understanding of future care planning.

Qualifications

• Evidence of continuing professional development.
• Valid UK driving licence and use of a car within working hours.
• QCF 3 in care or willing to work towards qualification.

Personal Qualities and Circumstances

• Ability to form professional relationships within a multidisciplinary team.
• Ability to work independently and as a member of the multidisciplinary team.
• Excellent interpersonal skills.
• Motivated and enthusiastic.
• Ability to remain calm under pressure.
• Ability to respond to changing situations.
• Ability to use own initiative when required.
• Approachable and adaptable.
• Ability to manage the emotional impact of working within palliative/dementia care.

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.