Virtual Ward Health Care Support Worker in Tamworth

Come and join our Virtual Ward Team - Virtual Ward workforce. Do you want to help shape the future of patient care in a virtual ward environment? We are looking for a number of roles to join one of our Community based Virtual Ward Teams and help shape the future of patient care. This role requires a valid and in-date driving licence and you need access to a car.

Main duties of the job:

• We are looking for enthusiastic, innovative and engaging individuals, who have a passion for the delivery of high quality patient care within the community.
• The candidates will have to be able to prioritise their own workload without supervision, have an excellent patient focussed approach and be able to use their initiative as well as work as part of a multidisciplinary team.
• Our General Acute Medicine and Frailty Virtual Ward is a new and innovative Service, that has an agreed admission criteria and works in partnership with supporting care services to deliver acute care in the patient's own home.
• The aim of a virtual ward is to reduce length of acute hospital stay and/or avoid hospital admission; this leads to quicker recovery and reduces disruption to patients', and their carers' lives.
• This means we can proactively manage people living with frailty at home, and for those that have a sub-acute episode we can improve a patient’s experience.

Job responsibilities:

• As part of the Virtual Ward Team, the post holder will be responsible for undertaking a range of delegated clinical care duties in the community with patients that have been admitted onto a virtual ward bed.
• This involves recording patient observations and any changes to patient clinical conditions.
• Supporting the remote monitoring of patients using agreed digital technology.
• Carrying out limited clinical care duties.
• Acting as the patient educator around accessing services in the community.
• Sitting with patients that need 24/7 observations.
• Exchanging factual information with patients using persuasion, tact, empathy to ensure that they understand what is happening, who is involved with their care, and next steps.
• Supporting the patient if they have physical impairment, mental health condition or learning difficulties.
• Providing clinical observations under the instruction of the registered nursing staff that are covering the shift.
• Assessing the condition and comfort of the patient and making a judgement on the appropriate action to take to ensure following patient centred care.
• Planning own work activities that are based on the priorities of the shift.
• Conducting instructed tests that require hand eye co-ordination and the use of equipment.
• Following policies and procedures and contributing to any updates or changes that might be needed.
• Ensuring that any equipment that is used in the home environment is safe and properly used so that it doesn't cause distress or discomfort for the patient.
• Supporting and demonstrating own duties to new starters and providing support to students or junior staff.
• Contributing to updating patient records on the relevant IT systems.
• Liaising with other professionals and agencies that can support the patient whilst on the virtual ward and as part of their discharge planning.
• Occasionally participate in audits, surveys, research and development opportunities.
• Acts on own initiative when delivering patient care.
• Having access to a vehicle to visit the patient in their own home environment to support with clinical observations, digital assessments and patient care.
• Conducting remote monitoring of patient vital signs using a dashboard and notify any registered nursing staff if the patient is outside their baseline.
• Undertake clinical supervision and an appraisal as directed by the service policy.
• Participate in induction programmes for new staff and training programmes for students.

Person Specification:

• Experience in undertaking a range of delegated clinical care duties eg. Blood pressure, blood glucose.
• Vocational Qualification Level 3 or working towards or equivalent level of experience.
• Completed relevant short courses that would support the role including patient and clinical care duties.
• Knowledge of care and related procedures.
• Experience of conducting clinical observations.

Role requirements:

• Good standard of general education including GCSE English (or equivalent qualification).
• Experience of working within an acute hospital or a health care environment.
• Experience of working with minimal supervision and using own initiative.
• Demonstrate the ability to prioritise and plan workload in order to meet deadlines.

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.