Detailed job description and main responsibilities

Job purpose

To be a core member of the Neighbourhood Nursing Team delivering direct care to service users and supporting registered practitioners to deliver high quality, compassionate care in accordance with the individualised care plans, in the service users’ own home.

To carry out a range of clinical and non-clinical healthcare within scope of practice, whether under direct or indirect supervision of the registered practitioner, in accordance with the organisation’s values.

Opportunities to develop knowledge and skills, specific to individual’s needs, exploring core skills and skills set specifically for the Senior Health Care Assistant role.

1.          Communication and relationship skills

·   Ability to form professional, trusting and reliable relationships with service users and their families.

·   Good inter-personal and communication skills, including ability to deal with sensitive service users’ issues and concerns

·   Provide and receive routine information either verbally or in writing and understanding of any potential barriers

·   Use of empathy, sensitivity and confidentiality when communicating.

·   Liaise with nursing staff as necessary to indicate changes in care plan of health needs to maintain high level of care provision.

2.          Knowledge, training and experience

·   Evidence of experience of working in health and social care provision.

·   Completion of competency-based workbook or Level 3 Apprenticeship Health Care or NVQ 3 Health and Social Care

·   Knowledge of care related procedures inclusive of clinical observations within scope of practice

·   Base level fundamental theoretical knowledge that is evidence based

·   Able to demonstrate good literacy and numeracy skills.

·   Ability to manage own time and demonstrate high quality organisational skills.

·   Ability to work as park a team and support peers

·   I T Literate

·   Commitment to achieve required statutory and mandatory training.

3.          Analytical and judgement skills

·   Providing continuity of care to service users.

·   Act on own initiative to make judgements on altering needs of the service users which may require change to the care provision or require further input from community nursing teams or GP’s.

·   Instigate appropriate escalation of service user need following assessment, inclusive of emergency procedures.

·   Identify equipment or resource needs of the service user.

·   Continuous review of care plan and service user’s needs.

4.          Planning and organisational skills

·   Responsible for organising allocated workload.

·   Plan and deliver delegated care with service user as per individualised care plan.

·   Notifying lead clinician with any concerns raised.

·   Supporting with supervision within the team.

5.          Physical skills

·   Provide a range of interventions e.g. personal care, pressure area management, wound care and venepuncture.

·   Ability to perform physical actions required for service user care including moving and handling with appropriate equipment.

·   Basic keyboard skills.

6.          Responsibility for patient / client care

·   Providing holistic personal care and clinical intervention to individuals in the community as per plan of care within scope of practice e.g. Clinical observations, catheter care, wound care

·    Awareness of own scope of practice and attend visits under direct supervision where needed

·   Maintain clinical competency and an awareness of health and social care to ensure high standards of care.

·   Liaising with community nursing teams to ensure effective care provision.

7.          Responsibility for policy and service development implementation

·   Follow policy organisational policies and procedures.

·   To be aware of safeguarding vulnerable adult’s, being service user advocate and reporting concerns to senior members of staff or appropriate teams.

·   Be aware of legal responsibilities to protect patient’s confidentiality.

·   Maintain professional boundaries at all times.

8.          Responsibility for financial and physical resources

·   Careful use of equipment within the service user’s own home, ensuring that all equipment used is within scope of practice/ training and are safe to use in accordance with MCH protocols/ procedures.

·   Careful movement of service users’ personal belongings, where needed.

·   Ensure appropriate equipment and supplies are available for clinical intervention.

9.          Responsibilities for human resources (HR)

·   Participate in own appraisal, education/training as an individual and within the neighbourhood nursing team to enhance service development and patient centred care.

·   To support and welcome new members of staff to the team and less experienced staff.

10.       Responsibilities for information resources

·   Complete accurate computerised service user records to enable communication and enable continuity of care.

·   Record and submit accurate and timely data to inform service development.

11.       Responsibilities for research and development (R&D)

·   Actively participate in clinical audit, surveys and clinical governance activities to maintain quality of service and support service development.

12.       Freedom to act

·   Although a lone worker, work is allocated and there is always a registered practitioner available for support and advice.