Health Support Worker

We are excited to be recruiting to both full and part time Health Support Worker roles within our Community Frailty Hub. The Community Frailty Hub provides person-centred care to older adults living with frailty in the community, promoting independence, safety and wellbeing while preventing avoidable deterioration and hospital admission.

Working as part of the multidisciplinary team, the post holder may work independently within an agreed scope of practice, enabling and monitoring patients, identifying early signs of deterioration, escalating concerns appropriately and maintaining accurate documentation. Providing care, support and reablement for patients living with frailty in the community to allow them to live safely, as independently within their own homes. The role includes comprehensive and mandatory training in core skills such as safeguarding, communication and infection control.

Main duties of the job:

• Accountable for the delivery of efficient and appropriate care in accordance with relevant standards, guidelines and codes of conduct under the guidance of clinical staff.
• To perform first visit assessments of patients in their own home following referral and assessment from a clinician.
• To update pre-visit summary and lone working questionnaire as appropriate.
• To facilitate care and support as appropriate.
• Encourage patient engagement to meet their goals and objectives as set out in a person-centred care plan.
• To work as part of the Frailty Hub signposting to referral pathways within the MDT.
• Support patients to complete home exercise programmes as advised by the therapy team.
• Ensure patients' comfort, safety, and dignity always, respecting privacy and ensuring confidentiality.
• Ensure all care and support is focused on promoting independence.
• To maintain written records on System One and other related information as required and report all changes in the patient’s condition to the Team in an accurate and timely manner.
• To assist and support patients and carers as appropriate.
• To assist patients with their activities of living, including prompting and administering medication (in line with training, competency and agreed protocols), diet, maintaining personal hygiene, assessing and using toilet facilities as appropriate.

Education and Training:

• In accordance with the concepts of lifelong learning, develop own knowledge and skills and contribute to provide information to others to help their development.
• Take part in plans for development, learning and performance, including participating in team meetings.
• To attend training offered by York Community Frailty Hub clinical staff to ensure this is up to date.
• Ensure mandatory training is up to date and completed on time.
• Demonstrating to new staff members the skills and activities carried out, including shadowing, home visits and office-based workload.

Other responsibilities:

• Establish and maintain communication with individuals and groups about difficult or complex matters, overcoming any problems in communication.
• Communicating clearly, concisely and effectively with other team members.
• To develop good communications with the patient and his/her family, passing on all relevant information to the Community Frailty Hub team and other professionals as appropriate.
• To treat all patient information as confidential.

Risk Management:

• Although it is essential the post holder can work independently, it is equally important the post holder to access support and advice as appropriate.
• Demonstrate an awareness of the scope / boundaries of their own responsibilities, decision making, skills and knowledge is vital and to assertively and appropriately escalate and/or access support.

Person Specification:

• Certification of Enhanced Criminal Record Check with children and/or adult barred list to be carried out after successful interview.
• Care Certificate.
• Experience in Motivational Interviewing/Coaching.
• NVQ Level 3 in Care or equivalent experience of working in a community health/social care setting.

Behaviours:

• Teamwork - Work effectively and professionally within the team through willingness to proactively support and assist their peers and colleagues.
• Solution Focussed Approach: Ability to react to and face challenges or setbacks in a positive manner with a commitment to continuous improvement of their own skills and behaviours and of the service.
• Customer Service - Ability to remain focused on providing and continuously improving an excellent patient and internal customer service.
• Confidentiality - Ability to exercise and adhere to Nimbuscare confidentiality policies.
• Work Prioritisation - Ability to organise, prioritise and manage your own workload.

Skills:

• Communication Skills - Good verbal and written communication. Ability to build professional and appropriate rapport with patients.
• Able to motivate patients to engage in rehabilitation.
• Work as part of the Multi-disciplinary team.