An exciting opportunity has arisen for a Health Care Assistant to join our expanding and well-established Frailty Team working to improve the care for frail and elderly patients.
Main duties of the job
This role involves home visits to patients who are frail and often complex. These patients may be living in care homes or in their own homes across Weymouth and Portland. There is a combination of regular, e.g. monthly visits to monitor patients, and one-off task-focused visits.
This role works with all of the GP Surgeries in Weymouth and Portland and with the Weymouth and Portland Integrated Community Team, with referrals coming from both Primary Care and Dorset Health Care staff. Clinical support will be provided by the Frailty Team.
Job responsibilities
* To support the provision of clinical care for identified patients with frail and/or complex needs usually in their own homes in accordance with the patients' care plan.
* To establish and maintain effective communications with patients, carers, and health professionals in a professional manner.
* To assist with ongoing support of patients, their families, and carers to manage their frailty and long-term health conditions.
* To be able to identify and recognise a deterioration in an individual's health and act promptly to refer to relevant health professionals to minimise the risk of rapid deterioration or where appropriate, avoid hospital admission.
* In line with the PCN/Practices Team policy, to update patient records ensuring entries are accurate, relevant, and timely and communicate care provided appropriately.
* Following appropriate competency-based training, to undertake delegated clinical tasks and procedures such as phlebotomy, ECG, BMI/BP readings, and urinalysis.
* To develop and maintain effective working relationships with health and social care colleagues and other agencies to ensure that frail and complex patients receive a consistent, integrated response to all contacts/referrals.
* To demonstrate an ability to undertake duties in an autonomous manner.
* To understand and follow procedures and policies on information governance, with strict adherence to protocols regarding the sharing of personal and confidential information between different organisations and individuals.
* To contribute to the ongoing development of the service and participate in team meetings.
Person Specification
Knowledge and Skills
* Excellent communication skills with patients with complex needs and their families/carers.
* Clinical observation skills.
* Venepuncture.
* Ability to take an ECG.
* Clear and concise record keeping.
* Ability to prioritise workload.
* Knowledge of Systmone.
* Confidence in lone visiting to complex patients.
* Ability to use bladder scanner.
* Band 3 Therapy Assistant Competencies.
Qualifications
* 5 GCSEs at C/4 or above including Maths and English (or relevant experience).
* Care Certificates.
Experience
* Previous experience in an NHS/Primary Care/Local Authority role.
* Experience of working under own direction.
Disclosure and Barring Service Check
This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.
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