Do you want to be part of an award winning and dynamic social enterprise that:
* is renowned for providing high quality care and is ranked ‘Good’ by the CQC;
* is a for-better-profit organisation, reinvesting any surplus back into our health and care services and our local community;
* is friendly, ambitious, welcomes innovation and rewards excellence;
* offers superior benefits; everything you get in the NHS and more;
* and whose achievements reflect the passion, dedication and commitment demonstrated by our staff across all services?
Our vision is to be a successful, vibrant, community interest company that benefits the communities we serve. So if you want be a part of this, we would love to hear from you.
Job overview
We are looking for a positive and enthusiastic person, with a strong work ethic, excellent communication skills and a compassionate approach to care, to join our well-established team as a band 3 community palliative healthcare assistant.
The community palliative care CNS team at Medway Community Health is a forward-thinking, patient-focused team, based at the Wisdom Hospice, providing a high standard of care for people with life-limiting illness in the Medway and Swale communities, embracing change to improve patient experience. The service also incorporates the end of life care service to nursing and care homes within the Medway community.
The community palliative care CNS team are an integral part of the multi-disciplinary team (MDT) and work closely with medical/nursing colleagues, inpatient and outpatient teams to provide a holistic and patient-centred service. The palliative healthcare assistant role provides a valuable contribution to the patient pathway and supports the CNS Team with the daily management of patient care.
Main duties of the job
The role will involve supporting the existing CNS Team to continue to practice at an advanced level, providing administrative and communication support and assisting with the day-to-day running of the service. You will have direct patient contact and will develop in the role to enable you to identify when patients require urgent CNS support and assist in completing assessments and making onward referrals as directed by the CNS Team.
You will also develop in the role to work with patients and carers to ensure that routine patient reviews are completed.
You will receive ongoing support from senior members of the team including annual appraisals and performance reviews.
To work at Band 3 level, you will need to have achieved qualifications at NVQ 3 or equivalent, have good literacy skills, be able to input data, communicate empathically and evidence a compassionate approach and a good understanding of the impact of a life-limiting diagnosis on a patient and family.
The post-holder will need to have a degree of flexibility to meet the needs of the service. We currently operate a seven-day service and are happy to consider a flexible working pattern providing the needs of the service are met. Please note that this post will involve weekend working.
Working for our organisation
So what else?
* This is your chance to join a progressive and innovative service in a social enterprise that is patient and staff focused - you’ll even have the opportunity to become an MCH shareholder.
* We encourage staff to get involved in exploring new ways of working and service development.
* We’ll provide well established, in-service training, one to one supervision, and appraisals with regular support.
* You’ll be able to develop your skills in a friendly and supportive team.
Would you like to work flexibly? In the NHS, we are reminded every day of how important work-life balance is. As a flexible working friendly organisation, we want to be sure that you can work in a way that is best for us, for our patients and for you. Speak to us about how we might be able to accommodate a flexible working arrangement.
The small print
* Informal visits can be arranged on request.
* We will offer you the choice of two pension schemes; the NHS Pension scheme and the Scottish Widows group pension scheme.
* MCH encourages all staff to be double COVID vaccinated to protect themselves, their colleagues, their family and their patients.
Detailed job description and main responsibilities
Communication and relationship skills
* To be able to communicate effectively, using appropriate methods, both verbal and non-verbal to patients who may have barriers to understanding (e.g. blind, deaf, or English not first language).
* Using empathy, sensitivity and good interpersonal skills to communicate factual and sensitive information using tact and persuasion, to encourage patients, families and carers to play a proactive role in maintaining a quality of life during their disease progression until end of life.
* To be able to motivate patients to participate in the decision making regarding their wishes for preferred place of care and death.
* To liaise with teams and health and social care professionals as necessary regarding triaging and assessment of patients and care provided, highlighting any variations to expected outcomes from treatment programmes.
Knowledge, training and experience
* Grade 4 / C and above GCSEs in English and Mathematics.
* NVQ Level 3 in Health and Social care.
* Experience of documenting and evidence learning.
* Good knowledge of commonly encountered long term and palliative conditions such as Cancer, Motor Neurone Disease etc.
* Understanding of basic principles of holistic health and social care assessment.
* Flexible, reliable and organised.
* Good written and verbal communication skills and IT skills.
Planning and organisational skills
* Have initial discussions with referrer to identify the patient’s needs to facilitate clinical triage.
* To manage and prioritise own patient caseload delegated by the CNS, including the booking of patient appointments if necessary.
* To participate in general duties within the team e.g. answering the telephone, communicating messages and keeping the working environment tidy.
* To collect and submit all data and statistics as required in a timely and accurate manner.
Responsibilities for patient/client care
* To maintain patient’s dignity, privacy and confidentiality at all times.
* Ensure own practice meets the required, legal organisation, team and professional standards.
* To undertake triage and assessment of patients with a wide variety of presentations and conditions: using clinical reasoning skills and assessment techniques without supervision, discussing your findings with the relevant CNS.
* To represent the team at MDT meetings when appropriate and to participate in clinical decision making. To work autonomously as well as together with the cluster team.
Person specification
Disposition, adjustment, attitude and commitment
* Demonstrates resilience
* Evidences a strong work ethic
* Willingness to work unsocial hours
* Compassionate and committed to working with patients with life-limiting illness
* Flexible and good humoured
Qualifications
* NVQ Level 3 Health and Social Care or equivalent
* GCSEs grade 4/C and above in English and Maths
* Counselling qualification
* Willingness to attend/undertake relevant learning
Experience
* Significant experience in a healthcare-related environment
* Knowledge of relevant treatments, interventions and terminology
* Community care experience
* Experience in a palliative care environment
* Evidence of continued role development
MCH Values
* Good understanding of MCH values
We reserve the right to close this advert earlier than the published closing date if we receive a sufficient number of applications. Shortlisted candidates will be contacted within 1 week of the closing date; no discourtesy is intended in not contacting you if your application is rejected.
When completing your application, please include the email addresses and contact telephone numbers for your referees; your referees should be your line managers / course tutors for the last 3 years.
MCH is an equal opportunity employer that is committed to a compassionate and inclusive workplace and values diversity of all people. We prohibit unlawful discrimination and harassment of any kind and wish to provide our employees with a work environment free of discrimination and harassment. At the heart of our values, we seek to treat people fairly and with dignity and respect and provide a workplace where people feel they belong.
We aspire to have a diverse and inclusive workforce and strongly encourage suitably qualified applicants from a wide range of backgrounds to apply and join MCH. We are positive about disability and we guarantee interviews to applicants with a disability who meet the minimum criteria as specified in the job description. We are committed to offering support and making reasonable adjustments to allow full participation in the interview and selection process and through their employee journey.
We are committed to the safeguarding and welfare of children and vulnerable adults.
Employer certification / accreditation badges
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.
Job Title: Clinical Lead, Palliative Care Services
Address MCH House
Bailey Drive
Gillingham Business Park
Gillingham
ME8 0PZ
Telephone 07796182085
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