Community Healthcare Assistant

Overview

NCH&C is proud to be the first standalone NHS community trust in the UK to achieve an \’Outstanding\’ rating from the Care Quality Commission (CQC). Our focus is on continually improving the quality of care we offer to local people and on improving access to that care, helping people to move seamlessly from one service to another. The CQC observed that our staff are well supported to make positive changes and innovations. Norfolk Community Health & Care NHS Trust is committed to continuing to create a modern and inclusive work environment and actively promotes flexible working opportunities where possible to meet the needs of our workforce and maintain wellbeing. The trust offers a range of flexibility, including flexible working patterns, and applicants are encouraged to discuss this with the recruiting manager before or during the application process. We welcome applications from people who share our values and can help deliver outstanding care in our local community.

Before applying for this vacancy, please familiarize yourself with GOV.uk sponsorship eligibility criteria which impact the organisation’s ability to provide sponsorship, currently or in the future. Specifically for band 3 roles within healthcare please be aware of the salary threshold required for a certificate of sponsorship; overseas applicants who are new to care may not reach the minimum salary threshold and therefore applications may be withdrawn. There is the opportunity to join our community nursing teams in Breckland as a Community Healthcare Assistant.

The role will be to visit patients in care homes across the Thetford area and address a variety of care needs, for example, diabetes care / insulin administration, wound care, venepuncture and catheter care. Our service works 7 days a week and you will be able to demonstrate flexibility, a sound clinical basis and understanding of community working. We would welcome prospective applicants to contact us for further information and to meet the team. You will be able to demonstrate a good basic knowledge of health care and appreciation of community based working.

Responsibilities

1. To contribute to the delivery of a variety of interventions for patients with long term conditions, palliative care and rehabilitation needs to achieve quality of life and independence where possible.
2. To work within the integrated team to facilitate early discharge from hospital.
3. To work within the integrated team to prevent unnecessary admission to hospital.
4. To work with all health care professionals and statutory/non-statutory agencies to provide a seamless, integrated service to our service users.
5. Apply competency based treatment techniques/care to patients with specific conditions under the supervision of a qualified practitioner, following a prescribed treatment/care plan.
6. Plan and prioritise own visits to delegated patients, and ensure these are documented in personal work diary.
7. Ensure patient held records are completed for each visit, and that SystmOne inputting is completed on a daily basis.
8. Make basic judgements on patients\’ responses to prescribed treatment/care plans, and report findings to a qualified practitioner.
9. Liaise with other health care professionals as required.
10. Overcome barriers to understanding (e.g., patients with hearing or cognitive impairment).
11. Communicate with patients/carers by exchanging factual information, reassurance, tact and empathy.
12. Establish and maintain appropriate working relationships with colleagues, patients, carers and other health care professionals.
13. Demonstrate dexterity and coordination when undertaking treatment of patients where accuracy is important (e.g., taking blood sugars, venepuncture, supervising transfers, passive exercises).
14. Be responsible for ensuring equipment is used safely, following relevant training, and that it is maintained appropriately.
15. Contribute to the requisitioning of supplies and equipment through electronic ordering systems.
16. Work predominantly independently on specified tasks, with regular clinical support and supervision by a qualified practitioner.
17. Work with qualified practitioners with group work/clinics as required.
18. Demonstrate an awareness and understanding of consent, and gain consent as appropriate following organisational policies.
19. Share responsibility for maintaining store cupboards, pool cars, cleaning specialist equipment and general housekeeping tasks.
20. Share responsibility of indirect patient contact tasks (e.g., answering phones, arranging appointments, processing referrals and inputting activity data).
21. Undertake health promotion/education as required (e.g., smoking cessation, falls prevention).
22. Will be exposed to bodily fluids, infected material and blood products daily, therefore must use universal precautions and adhere to infection control policies.
23. Demonstrate basic IT and standard keyboard skills.

Professional

1. To be an active member of the in-service training programme by attendance at and participation in staff meetings, training sessions, courses and reflective practice.
2. To participate in the staff appraisal scheme as an appraisee, maintaining a dynamic personal development plan.
3. To demonstrate an awareness of clinical governance and risk management and apply them to work situations.
4. To provide peer support to other carers.
5. To develop competencies to enhance practice and ability to meet the needs of patients and the service.
6. To establish and maintain therapeutic relationships with patients and carers, incorporating motivation, encouragement and confidence building.
7. To demonstrate an ability to communicate with patients/carers with complex needs, using clear and effective verbal/non-verbal communication.
8. To gather and collate information to enable co-ordinator to plan interventions/liaison with others.
9. To provide direct feedback to professionals as appropriate, and in a clear and concise way.
10. To contribute to accurate and timely patient records, including data collection.
11. To communicate and share information with DN\\\’s, GP\\\’s and SW\\\’s as necessary.
12. Be able to communicate effectively with patients/relatives with communication difficulties (e.g., deafness, blindness, learning difficulties).
13. To provide feedback to co-ordinator in a clear and concise way.

Organisational

1. Undertake mandatory training as required.
2. Participate in a Personal Development Review process.
3. Undertake Personal Development Plans for other staff members.
4. Take part in clinical supervision as per Trust Policy.
5. Follow Trust policies and local procedures.
6. Ensure absence reporting is undertaken as determined by Team Leader and Trust Policy.
7. Contribute to clinical audit as required.
8. Complete the staff survey as required.
9. Complete risk assessments and incident forms as required.

Equal Opportunities – We are an equal opportunities employer and welcome all applications irrespective of age, disability, gender, sexual orientation, race or religion. Additionally, people with disabilities under the Disability Confident Scheme will be offered an interview providing they meet the minimum criteria for the post (outlined in the Person Specification). All sites are Smoke Free.

If you need this application in an offline format, please let us know.

Immigration Status – Norfolk Community Health & Care NHS Trust is a diverse employer and welcomes all job applications. However, potential applicants should note that although the Trust is registered with the Home Office as a sponsor organisation for migrant workers, sponsorship can only be offered against Skilled Worker visas. If you are an applicant from outside the UK and do not already hold a self-gained right to work, we recommend you check the Home Office eligibility requirements before applying.

Please note: Although we are a registered sponsor organisation, we are unable to offer sponsorship for some job roles, and this will be identified through filtering questions at the start of any job application on the Trac recruitment system.

Redeployment – Priority for this vacancy will be given to NCH&C staff on the Trusts Redeployment Register in the first instance.

DBS – If this post is subject to a DBS check and you are not a current employee of Norfolk Community Health and Care NHS Trust or are not being recruited as an Apprentice, the cost of the DBS check will be automatically removed from your first month\\\’s salary. If you are registered with the update service this may not be required.

On April 1st 2025, the Boards of Norfolk Community Health and Care NHS Trust and Cambridgeshire Community Services NHS Trust will come together to deliver services as a group, with a singular board across both organisations. Both trusts are high performing specialist community health and care providers with a strong track record and high ratings. The group model provides health and care services to a population of 3.2 million in their homes and neighbourhoods. We provide care from the beginning to the end of life. The role being advertised will be employed by Norfolk Community Health and Care NHS Trust.