Health Care Assistant

Be the reason someone feels cared for at home. As a Community Health Care Worker, you\’ll bring expert clinical care into the heart of peoples lives in their communities where they feel most comfortable. You\’ll work beyond hospital walls, supporting patients and families in their own homes helping them live with dignity, independence, and reassurance. The role is about delivering nursing care to those in need in their own homes. Listening, building trust, and making every visit count. Why come and join us the South Hams Locality is an area of outstanding natural beauty with local beaches and rural villages. You will have variety and autonomy in your working days. You will belong to a multi- disciplinary team so team spirit is in supporting each other. Interventions maximise impact, your skills will improve lives, supporting recovery, comfort and dignity. Our Organisation supports ongoing training, career progression. Balance is key to well being so we offer flexible working patterns that value you. We are looking for a Health Care Worker with a passion for person centred care. Strong communication and problem solving skills. Confidence when working independently, with the backing of a supportive team. Join us in shaping compassionate, values led care in the heart of our communities.

Main duties of the job

Apply today and join us in shaping healthcare in the community setting that promotes ageing well, reducing hospital admissions, health promotion enabling self care and patient education.

The main duties of this role are to provide high quality nursing care in patients homes in the community setting. Undertake a wide variety of clinical assessments including physical, emotional,, social needs, following care plans. Monitor and evaluate progress and report concerns to a senior member of the team. Provide health promotion and education to enable and empower patients and their families to be self-caring and independent in managing their own health conditions. Work Collaboratively with GPs, hospital staff, allied healthcare professionals, and social care teams to deliver coordinated care. Maintain accurate clinical records. Respond to urgent situations with appropriate clinical judgement and interventions. You will support patients at end of life ensuring dignity, comfort is maintained and family support is provided. You will take part in health promotion promoting independence and empowering patients to manage their own health where possible.

This role may not be eligible for sponsorship under the Skilled Worker route.

Please note that Livewell may close the job advertisement earlier than the specified deadline.

All staff are expected to be able and willing to work across a 7 day service.

About us

Livewell Southwest is an independent, award-winning socialenterprise delivering integrated health and social care services acrossPlymouth, South Hams, and West Devon, with specialist services in parts ofDevon and Cornwall. Our teams work in community hospitals, GP practices, sportscentres, and health hubs.

As an organisation with a strong social conscience we are guided by our values,kindness, respect, inclusivity, ambition, responsibility, andcollaboration. We focus on transforming services to ensure sustainability, whileempowering staff and those we serve.

We involve the people we care for, along with their families and carers, inshaping the care they receive, striving to deliver the right care at the righttime and place. Centering our work on individual needs helps people leadhealthy, independent lives.

We prioritise employees\’ development, offering protected CPD time, trainingpathways, leadership programs, and funding for qualifications like the CareCertificate and Nurse Training Scholarships. Our induction and preceptorshipprograms ensure a smooth transition into our organisation.

Livewell Southwest values diversity and encourages applications from allsections of the community, including those with armed forces experience, lived experience of mentalhealth, neuro-diverse conditions and learning disabilities. If you need assistance or reasonable adjustments during theapplication process, contact the Recruiting Manager listed in the job advert.

Job responsibilities

To maintain accurate records,which are confidential, contemporaneous, and legible, with all care givendocumented at the time. The post holder will be expected to participate instandard of patients records by audit or peer review and have a regular opendiscussion with team members.

Make appropriate records in themulti-disciplinary patient file, which will then be counter-signed by aregistered nurse.

To report and record incidentsand near misses relating to health, safety, security, fire, physical violence,aggression and verbal abuse.

To have a working knowledge andbe responsible for ensuring nurses and patients equipment is in safe workingorder, disposed of or returned when no longer required as per Policy and toinform Line Manager if any problems occur.

To provide holisticevidence-based/best practice care to patients in accordance with National andorganisation approved policies/procedures/guidelines and individual care plans.

Assist registered nurses indelivering high standards of care to patients referred to the Lower LimbService.

Communicate and liaiseeffectively with patients, carers and members of the primary health care teamincluding 3rd party, statutory and voluntary services

To undertake specific clinicaltasks as delegated by members of the Well-being team having once undertakenrelevant training and deemed competent. Working in line with the LivewellSouthwest Delegation to band 3 and 4 support workers guidance.

To provide appropriate supportand advice to family and carers, demonstrating tact and sensitivity in dealingwith complex and sensitive information and negotiating a positive outcome.

To recognise and respond to anychanges in patient care situations, which might include risks to self andothers including adult and child protection concerns. The post holder mustinform the most appropriate professional at the earliest opportunity. Be conversantwith the safeguarding adult and child protection procedures and policies.

To ensure privacy, dignity andhuman rights are respected for patients and Carers.

To develop new skillsappropriate to the development of the Wellbeing Club and Lower Limb Service andin maintaining mandatory training requirements. To assume co-responsibility formaintaining skills and knowledge levels.

The post holder is required tocomply with all infection control policies and guidance, attend relevantupdates and report issues of concern to their immediate line manager (if noaction or explanation received, then it is the individuals responsibility toescalate)

To contribute to thedevelopment, implementation and monitoring of standards.

To provide basic education andcontinuing support to patients, family and carers.

To identify areas of concernregarding practice and communicate to the registered nurse Team Lead.

Person Specification

Experience

• NVQ 3 – Can demonstrate ongoing learning – willing to work towards achieving the Care Certificate
• Awareness of Policies/Standards
• Evidence of recent study
• Effective communication and interactive skills including oral, written and IT
• Good interpersonal skills
• Ability to use initiative and work independently
• Effective communication and interactive skills including oral, written and IT
• Good time management
• Organisational skills
• Evidence of good multi-disciplinary working
• Relevant experience in a nursing care environment
• Vocational Qualification Level III in Care (or evidence of working towards) or able to demonstrate the skills knowledge & ability to work to this level
• Maths & English GCSE Grades 4 and above or equivalent
• The post holder will need to be able to travel to all clinic locations across the Livewell Southwest footprint.
• Full and valid driving license and access to a car for work purposes is required.
• We will consider reasonable adjustments under the Equality Act for those with a disability that are successful for the post.
• Familiar with and committed to the principles and values of the NHS.
• Demonstrates commitment to and focus on quality, promotes high standards to consistently improve patient outcomes.
• Consistently puts patients at the heart of decision making.
• Creates and fosters a culture of openness, honesty, integrity and inclusiveness.
• Values diversity and difference.
• Uses evidence to make improvements and seeks out innovation.
• Demonstrates commitment to partnership working.
• Flexible approach to working.
• Highly motivated with ability to influence and inspire others.
• Outcomes focused.
• Ability to act as a champion for patients/carers and their interests, ensuring the patients voice has an impact on service developments.
• Knowledge and experience in compression therapy and lower limb care.
• Knowledge and experience of continence management including male, female and suprapubic catheterisation.
• Knowledge and experience of complex wound care.
• Venepuncture
• Complex wound care, packing of wounds, Topical negative pressure therapy
• Experience of compression therapy and lower limb management with garments and hosiery.
• Continence Management including catheterisation male, female and supra-pubic
• Community Healthcare Assistant competency skills
• Teaching skills

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.