Tuberculosis (TB) Outreach Worker in City of Westminster

As the TB outreach worker, you'll be part of St George's Hospital TB team, supporting patients and their families with complex social needs throughout their TB treatment. You will work alongside the multidisciplinary team and other agencies to provide individualised care that respects the diverse background of our clients. You will be required to visit patients in their homes / hostel and will be able to manage public transport or your own transport. The TB team at St George's are part of the Southwest London TB Network, caring for individuals with TB in hospital, outpatient clinics, the home and community. Monday to Friday working.

Main duties of the job:

• Provide support and follow-up to adults and children with complex needs and following training and assessment, provide community and clinic based directly observed therapy (DOT) and undertake random urine sample checks and pill counts in order to help assess patient's compliance. This will involve visiting patients in their homes and in a variety of community settings including homeless hostels.
• To visit non attendees at home to encourage attendance at further appointments and clinics.
• To work alongside TB Nurse Specialists to provide support and follow-up care to TB patients and their families.
• To identify specific needs in education of patients, relatives, and staff and facilitate meeting these requirements.
• To offer an individualised service respecting the many diverse cultural and spiritual backgrounds of each family, offering confidentiality, and maintaining trust.
• To assist in the prevention and control of spread of TB.
• To link with primary care, local authority, voluntary and other agencies such as Find and Treat to provide access to support, and facilities needed for TB treatment. Many TB patients are socially excluded and therefore this post will aim to improve access to all primary healthcare and other services.
• To participate in raising the profile of TB to local health care workers and others.
• To access and manage charitable funds for patients who require support and incentives.

Do you have experience caring for patients in hospital or the community with TB? Do you have a heart for people in marginalised communities accessing healthcare? Can you be part of a specialist team but able to work independently?

Knowledge and Skills Essential:

• High standard of spoken and written English - Equivalent to GCSE pass or CEFR C1.
• Experience of working with TB patients or with complex, vulnerable and marginalised populations.
• Care experience in hospital, prison or community setting.
• Lone worker experience.
• Up to date knowledge of the diagnosis and treatment of Tuberculosis.
• Aware of health issues surrounding refugees, homeless, alcohol and drug users.
• Phlebotomy.
• Willing to travel to see patients using public transport / own transport.

Person Specification Qualifications Essential:

• High standard of spoken and written English - Equivalent to GCSE pass or CEFR C1.

Experience Essential:

• Experience of working with TB patients or with complex, vulnerable and marginalised populations.
• Care experience in hospital, prison or community setting.
• Lone worker experience.
• Up to date knowledge of the diagnosis and treatment of Tuberculosis.
• Aware of health issues surrounding refugees, homeless, alcohol and drug users.
• Phlebotomy.
• Willing to travel to see patients using public transport / own transport.

St George's, Epsom and St Helier University Hospitals and Health Group cares for a population of four million people in South West London and North East Surrey. Our sites include St George's Hospital, one of 11 major trauma centres in the UK and the largest healthcare provider and major teaching hospital in the area; St Helier Hospital, home to the South West Thames Renal and Transplantation Unit and Queen Mary's Hospital for Children; and Epsom Hospital, home to the South West London Elective Orthopaedic Centre (SWLEOC). After years of collaboration, our two Trusts became a hospitals group in 2021. While remaining as two separate Trusts, being a hospitals group will help us to collaborate more closely on research, and the development, education, and training of our 17,000-strong workforce.