Job summary
It's an exciting time for our Urgent Community Response (UCR) Service as we expand into the High Weald, Lewes, and the Havens (HWLH) area. We are recruiting to our new teams who will work with patients in their homes across the HWLH communities.
This is an amazing opportunity to become a member of the team as a Health and Therapy Assistant working together to help patients stay in their homes, making sure they avoid unnecessary hospital admissions and supporting them through the first few critical days after they leave hospital. The focus of this role is providing personal, health and therapy care for patients across the area with acute and diverse needs.
We are a multidisciplinary team working flexibly to provide a seven-day service, 365 days a year, between 8am and 8pm. We deliver:
1. A rapid response to people in the community who are experiencing acute episodes of ill-health.
2. A supported discharge service to facilitate timely hospital discharges.
3. Acute reablement for up to 10 days, supporting people to achieve functional goals and work towards independence with activities of daily living.
The team works closely with other services within Sussex Community NHS Foundation Trust, as well as our acute and community partners, GPs, South East Coast Ambulance Service (SECAmb), adult social care and voluntary and third sector organisations.
Main duties of the job
In this role, your day will be varied and interesting, supporting patients towards achieving more independence in their activities of daily living. You will be supported by nursing, physiotherapy, and occupational therapy colleagues to review the needs of patients and input into onward referrals. Due to the development of shared competencies across the registered staff groups, Health and Therapy Assistants now have a greater scope of independent working and access to skill development across each of these disciplines.
Your role will include assisting in the ongoing assessment and provisionof care, reablement and reporting all changes in patient status to your registered colleagues. You will undertake simple clinical and therapeutic procedures such as taking physical observations, venepuncture, administeringmedications, simple wound care, rehabilitation programmes and equipmentprovision. You will be expected to record the outcome of contacts with patient, relatives, and MDT members in either verbal or written format and you will have a key role in empowering patients to regain their health and independence in collaborationwith the multidisciplinary team. You will need to able to drive with a full UK licence due to the geographic area covered by the team.
About us
Why work for us?
4. Positive 2021 NHS Staff Survey results with compassionate culture and leadership, and support for staff wellbeing, scoring highly
5. Rated 'Good' with 'Outstanding' features by the Care Quality Commission (CQC)
6. Located in stunning Sussex, with easy access to the South Downs and the coast
7. A great variety of working environments, in the community, in patients' homes and in our community hospitals
8. Excellent training and development opportunities
9. Real Living Wage Employer, with great rates of pay
10. Supportive flexible working patterns such as part time, flexi time, annualised hours etc.
11. Supportive team environments
12. Cost-effective and convenient workplace nurseries in Crawley, Hove, and Brighton
13. Thriving BAME, Disability and Wellbeing, LGBT+ and Religion and Belief staff networks
14. Accredited Level 3 Disability Confident Leader, committed to creating inclusive workplaces
15. Access to a wide range of benefits and discounts for NHS staff
Job description
Job responsibilities
Further information is available in the attached job description and person specification.
If you would like to discuss this role or find out more, you can contact our Operational Team Leads,
Person Specification
Qualifications
Essential
16. Good general education
17. NVQ level 2 or equivalent (in health and social care applicable subject) or be willing to work towards
Desirable
18. NVQ level 3 or be willing to work towards
Experience
Essential
19. Evidence of consistent pattern of learning from education, training and experience
Desirable
20. Experience of working in a health or social care setting
21. Experience of working as a care assistant either with nursing or therapy services
22. Experience of working with adults in the community
Skills and Knowledge
Essential
23. Basic understanding of statutory health and social services
24. Basic numeracy and ability to write simple reports
25. Able to work with minimal supervision either in isolation or as a member of the team
26. Able to use time effectively and prioritise work through good organisational skills
27. Able to maintain confidentiality and deal with sensitive information
28. Able to use recognised IT packages Microsoft Office including Excel
29. Able to use of IT systems and keyboard skills including accurate data recording skills
30. Able to use strong interpersonal skills and appropriate empathetic and tactful manner
31. Able to communicate effectively with customers, carers and health and care specialist services and colleagues
32. Able to work effectively as individual but also as part of larger team
Other Requirements
Essential
33. An understanding of the principles of equal opportunities in relation to staff and patients
34. Car driver (Valid Driving License for use in the UK)
35. Willingness to undertake training to develop within the role
Desirable
36. Flexible working
37. Access to a vehicle for work purposes