Community Healthcare Assistant (Higher Level)

Job summary

This is a rolling advert. Please contact the Recruiting Manager before applying.

Permanent - Up to 37.5 hours.

The role requires positivity and excellent communication, enthusiasm, the ability to participating in the assessment and care needs of the individual. You will need to demonstrate integrity, initiative, clinical knowledge with evidenced based practice from the direction of a Registered Nurse or Nurse Associate, approaching your work in a coordinated way

We work integrated with primary care, adult social care, therapists, urgent & intermediate care services alongside our specialist services informing our ageing well MDTs which facilitates shaping our future to deliver great quality care for housebound individuals.

We strive to maximise wellbeing, improve health outcomes and patient experience, and support people to remain at home. Through expert advice and clinical support and treatment, promoting the optimum quality of life. Whilst providing an effective and efficient service delivery, utilising health promotion, wound, medication, and continence management

If you have an interest in community nursing, preventing hospital admissions, and caring for people with complex long-term disease, through to the last stages of their life, this role is for you

We provide opportunity for continued learning and career progression, if this ignited your interest we would like to hear from you

Main duties of the job

To be a Community Healthcare Assistant your role is vital in terms of supporting peoples care through holistic evidence-based best practice in accordance with National and Organisational approved polices/procedures.

You will be required to be an autonomous practitioner and a team player. Be responsible for developing your competencies in clinical duties that the Community Registered Nurses and Nurse Associate delegate to you.

This includes being able to recognise when a person changes in their clinical conditions be able to perform observations. In exceptional circumstances this can involve unplanned care in consultation with Registered Nurses and Nurse Associate.

You be required to undertake a robust induction, allocated a mentor to support your learning to develop in your role.

We offer training in line with the required competencies for you to build on your knowledge, experience, and skills. You will be expected to undertake continued learning with accessibility to accredited courses.

The areas of nursing care you will develop your competence in are holistic assessment, medicine and wound management. Pressure ulcer prevention, continence management, palliative, and end of life care.

Have a full driving licence and the ability to travel across Plymouth.

All Livewell Southwest staff are expected to able and willing to work across a 7-day service

About us

"please note that this role may not be eligible for sponsorship under the Skilled Worker route, please refer to the Direct Gov website for more information"

Livewell Southwest values its staff and makes investment in their development a priority. Currently we offer the following development opportunities for staff:

A minimum of three days protected CPD for registered staff
Development pathways for unregistered staff from apprentice to bands 2, 3 and 4 and for registered staff in bands 5, 6, 7 and 8
Leadership programmes
Coaching and mentoring
Medicines Management, leg Ulcer Management and Assessment Training
Access and funding for training including Care Certificate, Assistant Practitioners Course and Scholarship Into Nurse Training
Robust Preceptorship
An induction programme tailored to your needs
Relocation package may be considered for the right candidate for certain roles

Livewell Southwest can allow existing members of the NHS Pension Scheme to continue their membership when they join the organisation.

Date posted

01 September 2023

Pay scheme

Agenda for change

Band

Band 3

Salary

£22,816 to £24,336 a year pro-rata

Contract

Permanent

Working pattern

Full-time, Part-time, Job share, Flexible working

Reference number

B9832-2023-NM-7763-14

Job locations

200 Mount Gould Road

Mount Gould

Plymouth

Devon

PL4 7PY

Mount Gould Road

Plymouth

PL47QD

1 Brest Way

Derriford

Plymouth

PL65XW

Plympton Clinic

Plympton

Plymouth

Devon

PL72AS

Cumberland Centre

Devonport

Plymouth

Devon

PL14JZ

Job description

Job responsibilities

Duties:

To maintain accurate records, which are confidential, contemporaneous, and legible, with all care given documented at the time.. The post holder will be expected to participate in standard of patients’ records by audit or peer review and have a regular open discussion with team members.

Make appropriate records in the multi-disciplinary patient file, which will then be counter-signed by a registered nurse.

To report and record incidents and near misses relating to health, safety, security, fire, physical violence, aggression and verbal abuse.

To have a working knowledge and be responsible for ensuring nurses and patients equipment is in safe working order, disposed of or returned when no longer required as per Policy and to inform Line Manager if any problems occur.

To provide holistic evidence-based/best practice care to patients in accordance with National and organisation approved policies/procedures and individual care plans.

To undertake specific clinical tasks as delegated by members of the Nursing team having once undertaken relevant training and deemed competent .Working in line with the Livewell SouthWest Delegation to band 3 and 4 support workers guidance.

To provide appropriate support and advice to family and carers, demonstrating tact and sensitivity in dealing with complex and sensitive information and negotiating a positive outcome.

To recognise and respond to any changes in patient care situations, which might include risks to self and others including adult and child protection concerns. The post holder must inform the most appropriate professional at the earliest opportunity. Be conversant with the safeguarding adult and child protection procedures and policies.

To ensure privacy, dignity and human rights are respected for patients and Carers.

To be willing to participate actively in appropriate in-service training programmes which the manager believes to be of benefit to the individual. To assume co-responsibility for maintaining skills and knowledge levels.

The post holder is required to comply with all infection control policies and guidance, attend relevant updates and report issues of concern to their immediate line manager (if no action or explanation received, then it is the individual’s responsibility to escalate)

To contribute to the development, implementation and monitoring of standards.

To work within challenging and unpredictable environments e.g. patients’ homes which may have constraints and require adaptability.

To provide basic education and continuing support to patients, family and carers.

To identify areas of concern regarding practice and communicate to the Caseload Holder.

Management & Leadership:

To undertake designated duties as required in line with the Delegation to band 3 and 4 support worker guidance.

Only undertake work which is within own competence and to identify any work required to be undertaken by more senior staff

To identify and take responsibility in the maintaining of clinical competencies in line with the job role. Ensuring these are adequately support by clinical sign off. Identifying areas where this may be required.

To be responsible for organizing own time management on a daily basis in line with caseload demands, using own initiative and be flexible when organising own workload on a day to day basis, which is often unpredictable in order to respond to the needs of the service.

To maintain and Preserve confidentiality at all times, and be aware of the Data Protection Act, Access to Health Records and Consent for Treatment.

Complete on time and submit all necessary forms, documentation, including IT data and forward as required by the manager/organisation.

To complete and submit any necessary documentation as required by the District Nurse/Caseload Holder and District Nursing Manager.

Monitoring and ordering of stock levels and to utilise resources economically and effectively and promote cost consciousness throughout the service.

To share knowledge and information to promote a cohesive team.

To act as a role model for all staff and students demonstrating clinical skills and high standards of practice and professional conduct.

To participate in team activities so as to develop and consolidate a cohesive and supportive team ensuring openness within the team.

The post holder will be required to use a computer, being responsible for timely recording patient activities for IT data collection, dealing with e-mail queries, stock/equipment ordering.

Communication:

To demonstrate effective communication with patients, staff and other members of the multi-disciplinary team. When communicating with patients it should be at the appropriate level for patients to understand such as patients suffering from terminal illness, dementia, disability, visually impairment and/or hearing impairment.

Able to communicate the role and eligibility criteria of the District Nursing Service.

Maintain accurate and up to date patient records and inform other professionals about changes in patients’ condition.

Act as a patient advocate as required ensuring individual needs, preferences and choices are delivered by the Service.

The Post Holder to be supplied with mobile telephones and lone working devices for work purposes and be expected to abide by Livewell Southwest Lone working policy including the Operational procedure for lone working devices.

Education & Training:

Maintain own clinical expertise by attending meetings, study days and in-service training and learn new specialist skills required for service development. To maintain an up to date personal competency portfolio.

To attend and participate in meetings as negotiated within the team and to provide relevant timely feedback.

To participate in Reflective Practice, Practice Supervision and Appraisals and line management supervision as per policy .

Participate in the provision of community experience for all nurse learners and other professionals as appropriate.

To be encouraged to organise informal training sessions on behalf of the team using a variety of resources.

Travelling in all weather in heavy traffic to unknown areas on a daily basis, in the dark and adverse weather conditions.

Emotional Effort:

At every patient contact the post holder deals with emotional issues of patients and relatives.

At each visit staff may need to care for Patients with degenerative terminal conditions and their carers who may be children or adults within their home.

Need to deal with highly distressing and difficult family situations frequently such as grief, crisis care management with unpredictable care conditions.

Mental Effort:

Continuously interrupted, multi-tasking e.g. writing notes, answering mobile telephone call. Staff to carry a mobile telephone and are expected to be available to other staff and professionals and can be interrupted at any time.

Driving in all weather in heavy traffic to unknown areas on a daily basis, in the dark and adverse weather conditions.

Physical Effort:

Use of hoists and other lifting equipment often in a confined space in the patient’s home on difficult floor surfaces e.g. carpet.

At each visit staff risk assess the need to move light furniture in patient’s home to allow nursing procedures to be carried out often within a confined space.

Regularly carry and transport District Nurse equipment e.g. Nursing bag, documentation Laptop, phlebotomy equipment, sphygmomamometers and blood sugar machines.

Driving for periods of time between patient’s homes and requiring lifting nursing bags and equipment from the car boot on each visit.

The job involves several times in a day exposure and contact to highly unpleasant working condition such as secondary smoking, bodily fluids, including sputum, vomit, blood, urine and faeces, soiled linen, fleas, lice, scabies poor hygiene standards and communicable diseases.

Occasional exposure to verbal and physical aggression and dangerous pets.

Daily working in cramped conditions within patients’ own homes.

Frequently exposure to heat and cold in patients’ homes.

Mobile phones may not work in areas where there is poor network reception. Staff will utilise lone working devices.