Rapid Response Support Worker in Plymouth

Come and work in the glorious countryside of Devon! Rapid Response support patients across South Hams and West Devon. We are a 7 day crisis team who provide care in people's homes to reduce/avoid the need for hospital admission. We also support the transition home from hospital. This is a rural area so the ability to frequently travel independently, and in a timely manner, between Livewell Southwest sites and community locations, including areas not served by public transport, is essential. Pool cars are supplied or fuel costs are paid.

If you are a caring individual who likes to help people facing a crisis to recover their health and skills to be able to live as independently as possible, this is the role for you. We can guarantee that no 2 days will ever be the same. You must be self-motivating, compassionate and trustworthy. Willing to help with washing and dressing, toileting, medication and meal preparation. A good communicator as you may need to liaise with other family members and health professionals on their behalf.

We offer ongoing training and full support in a lively and fast-paced team.

• Providing support to remain at home living as independently as possible.
• Duties may include:

• Washing and dressing the person.
• Moving and handling of people (using appropriate equipment).
• Toileting.
• Medication support.
• Meal Preparation.
• Shopping.
• Taking basic observations and reporting to health professionals.

This role may not be eligible for sponsorship under the Skilled Worker route; please refer to the Direct Gov website for more information with regards to eligibility. Please note that Livewell may close the job advertisement earlier than the specified deadline if a high number of applications are submitted. Therefore, we recommend you submit your application at the earliest opportunity. All Livewell staff are expected to be able and willing to work across a 7 day service.

About us: Livewell Southwest is an independent, award-winning social enterprise delivering integrated health and social care services across Plymouth, South Hams, and West Devon, with specialist services in parts of Devon and Cornwall. Our teams work in community hospitals, GP practices, sports centres, and health hubs. As an organisation with a strong social conscience we are guided by our values: kindness, respect, inclusivity, ambition, responsibility, and collaboration. We focus on transforming services to ensure sustainability, while empowering staff and those we serve.

We involve the people we care for, along with their families and carers, in shaping the care they receive, striving to deliver the right care at the right time and place. Centering our work on individual needs helps people lead healthy, independent lives. We prioritise employees' development, offering protected CPD time, training pathways, leadership programs, and funding for qualifications like the Care Certificate and Nurse Training Scholarships. Our induction and preceptorship programs ensure a smooth transition into our organisation. Livewell Southwest values diversity and encourages applications from all sections of the community, including those with armed forces experience, lived experience of mental health, neuro-diverse conditions and learning disabilities. If you need assistance or reasonable adjustments during the application process, contact the Recruiting Manager listed in the job advert.

• The post holder is employed by Livewell Southwest (LSW) and sits with the South Hams and West Devon RRCS.
• They will provide short term care and support to individuals in crisis, at their place of residence, without which would mean an admission to the acute hospital setting.
• The RRCS Support Worker will carry out their role as directed by the key worker. A written care or service plan in a range of environments will be specified.
• The post holder will work under the guidance of specific professionals including district nurses, care managers, occupational therapists, physiotherapists, community psychiatric nurses and general practitioners.
• The Post Holder:

• Is a member of the South Hams and West Devon RRCS and is attached to a Community IC team working over a 7 day pattern.
• Will deliver support and personal care to patients identified after an outcome lead care plan carried out by a relevant professional.
• Will work as a generic support worker undertaking specific tasks to support patients receiving RRCS. The job holder will be required to work alone with patients in various settings in the community without direct supervision.
• Will take a holistic approach to patient management, carry out tasks and treatment plans as directed by senior IC staff. To feed back to the appropriate IC worker and maintain accurate clinical records.
• Will contribute to the development, provision and review of care programmes.
• Will liaise with other health, social or voluntary care services and agencies to ensure identified patient care needs outside the scope of the team are met.
• Will be accountable to the case manager, who will be one of the outlined professionals, and will be clearly tasked for each individual case.
• Will support patients with achieving RRCS goals within their prescribed length of stay.
• Will annually identify written personal objectives with the RRCS supervisor / Manager.
• May need to change base, within the localities, in order to meet the needs of the service or Livewell SouthWest.
• Will need to be able to drive and have access to a roadworthy vehicle during as the role is based within a rural setting.

• They are to meet targets/objectives in relation to an individual's care plan as agreed and in conjunction with the Rapid Response Manager, intermediate care services co-ordination centre or the relevant case manager.
• To provide a flexible service; this will include evening and weekend work.
• Maintain case records in respect of individual service delivery, which comply with Livewell Southwest's policies and guidelines.
• Make links with local community resources and networks.
• Provide information and advice on how to access services that will benefit the health and wellbeing of individuals.
• To contribute towards ensuring a safe working environment for self and others and report on situation of potential risk.
• To be conversant and compliant with LSW policies and procedures relating to clinical governance and that their requirements, along with nationally recognised professional standards, are incorporated within clinical practice.
• Ensure that LSW's policies and procedures relating to health and safety at work are understood and implemented.
• To move and handle patient in line with LSW training and policy.

• Qualifications:

• Vocational Qualification Level III in Health & Social Care or equivalent, or able to demonstrate the skills, knowledge and ability to work to this level.
• Basic IT Skills Word & Email.
• Vocational Qualification Level III in Care (or evidence of working towards) or able to demonstrate the skills knowledge & ability to work to this level.

• Demonstrate commitment and interest in caring for the older patient.
• Understand the need for confidentiality.
• Able to cope with the needs of dying patients and death.
• Awareness of Policies/Standards.
• Maintain Professional Development.
• Evidence of recent study.
• Willingness to learn.

• Effective communication and interactive skills including oral, written and I.T.
• Good interpersonal skills.
• Ability to use initiative and work independently.
• Good time management.
• Organisational skills.
• Evidence of good multi-disciplinary working.
• Skills in delivering personal care.
• Be able to communicate effectively with all types of people including challenging behaviour.
• Ability to deal sensitively with patients.
• Have a calm disposition.
• Have a positive and cheerful disposition and an awareness of own strengths and weaknesses.
• Enjoy challenging work.
• Ability to identify problems and deal with effectively.
• Venepuncture.
• Wound Care including removal of sutures/clips.
• Community Nursing Assistant competency skills.
• Teaching skills.
• Clinical skills in baseline observations.

• Substantive and relevant experience of working in a community setting (e.g. patients place of residence).

• 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.