Nursing Assistant/Driver

A vacancy has become available within our Whittaker Day Unit which is part of Mental Health Services for Older People, based in the Etherow Building at Tameside General Hospital. You will be responsible for transporting clients between their homes and Whittaker Day Unit. You need a real commitment to working with this client group. Previous experience of working with clients over 65 years of age is preferable. You will be supported by the Team Manager and existing team through clinical and managerial supervision.

Main duties of the job:

• To work as part of the MDT to support patients to attend Whittaker Day Unit and to transport them between home and Whittaker Day Unit independently.
• To transport clients with a mental health condition who may be reluctant to attend/engage and may require prompts.
• To transport clients whose mental state requires short supported journeys.
• To transport clients who are in a crisis and may need to attend Day Hospital at short notice.
• Able to demonstrate the ability to work alone with clients out in the community and have the ability to understand the need to communicate back to MDT their observations of the client and report any significant risk that may impact on patient wellbeing.
• To carry out other ad-hoc driving duties as may be required, e.g. delivering case notes, pathology laboratory samples.
• Transfer/collect appropriate clients to/from other clinics/hospital on behalf of the Older Peoples wards and facilitate discharges.

Key Responsibilities of the Post:

• To facilitate patients in community based groups/activities to support patients with the transition from secondary mental health services to community services.
• To support Whittaker Day Unit patients to engage in activities/groups within the day hospital to promote their assessment and treatment.
• To facilitate groups with clients in the day hospital when requested to by unit co-ordinator.
• To support clients to access alternative means of transport, to enable them to travel to and from day hospital independently.
• To operate a Trust leased vehicle (expected to be a people carrier or similar) and will be responsible for keeping the vehicle in a clean and tidy condition.
• To be responsible for carrying out daily vehicle checks and ensuring that the vehicle is adequately filled with fuel, oil and water at all times.
• Ensuring the vehicle is left securely locked at all times and that all vehicle security systems are applied whenever the vehicle is parked.

Key Requirements of the Person Specification:

• Previous experience of working with older people within the community desirable.
• Good interpersonal and observational skills.
• Understanding of the problems associated with old age.
• Good communicator and ability to develop rapport with people.
• Ability to work within a team, flexibility, patience and reliability.
• Full clean driving licence with use of a car or access to a means of mobility.

Education / Qualifications:

• Full clean driving licence with use of a car or access to a means of mobility.
• NVQ 2 or equivalent in Customer Care with further experience to Level 3 Health and Safety qualification/training.
• NVQ 3 or equivalent in customer care.

Experience:

• Able to demonstrate previous experience working with older people with mental health problems.
• Previous NHS experience.

Knowledge:

• Able to demonstrate literacy and numeracy skills sufficient to complete paperwork relating to delivery and collection of notes, pathology samples.
• Securing of patients’ property and comprehension skills sufficient to be able to read and understand written instruction.
• Knowledge of Trust’s Policy and Procedures.

Skills and Abilities:

• Able to demonstrate an ability to work to deadlines.
• Able to demonstrate the ability to use initiative to resolve problems and to prioritise workload.
• Able to demonstrate the ability to work alone with clients out in the community and have the ability to understand the need to communicate back to MDT their observations of the client.
• Able to demonstrate ability to work as part of an interdisciplinary team.

Work Related Circumstances:

• Able to demonstrate a flexible approach to changes in workload/duties/priorities.
• Able to demonstrate the ability to react sensitively to a wide range of differing needs.
• Willing to carry out all duties and responsibilities of the post in accordance with the Trust’s Equal Opportunities and Equality and Diversity policies.

This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975 (Amendment) (England and Wales) Order 2020 and it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service.