Community Support Worker

South Warwickshire University NHS Foundation Trust

An opportunity has arisen for a Health Care Support Worker to join the Community Response Team and work within our multidisciplinary team. The team provides urgent holistic care and multidisciplinary assessments to people in their own homes. We are looking for an enthusiastic person. Experience working within a Community team is desirable. The team also completes urgent and unplanned visits to community patients.

IMPORTANT: Car driver with own car is essential for this post. The role will require ability, means, and willingness to travel between multiple community sites and patients' homes. Therefore, the post holder must have access to an independent means of transport and have business insurance in place.

Interviews will be taking place on 24th January 2025.

Main duties of the job

The Band 3 Clinical Support Worker will undertake high quality, caring, and compassionate personal care and associated duties under the direction but not direct supervision of the registered staff and working as part of the multi-disciplinary team.

As a Band 3 Clinical Support Worker (CSW), you make a valuable and important contribution to the delivery of high-quality healthcare, supporting the registered professional in the delivery of safe, effective, compassionate patient care. This job description is to be read in conjunction with the person specification for this particular job.

Job responsibilities

Professional Values

To act in a professional manner and ensure Trust standards are maintained and monitored to improve the quality of care to all who come into contact with the services provided by South Warwickshire NHS Foundation Trust.

Uphold the Trust values and standards at all times.

Ensure records and documentation are maintained, kept confidential, and meet Trust standards in line with the Data Protection Act.

Demonstrate a positive and enthusiastic approach to their work in order to maintain high morale and motivation within the team, promoting a professional and positive working environment.

To report any accidents or incidents as described by the Trust's policy and procedures ensuring an open and transparent culture.

To take reasonable care of the health and safety of themselves and of other persons.

To adhere to the Trust's dress code policy, maintaining a smart appearance at all times.

To assist other wards, departments, and teams within the Trust as and when required by service needs.

To adhere to the Trust's IT policies regarding e-mail and internet usage.

To ensure children and adults are protected from abuse and avoidable harm and report any safeguarding concerns in accordance with Trust policies and procedures.

Clinical Practice

To accurately and promptly carry out the instructions of the registered professional who is professionally accountable for the delivery of care.

To assist in the supervision of other healthcare and support staff as directed.

To carry out duties as specified within the Trust's approved core task list for Clinical Support Workers/Healthcare Assistants without direct supervision.

To report to the registered professional any patient who gives cause for concern or any observed changes in the client or patient's condition.

Provide and deliver a high standard of individualised care under the direction but not direct supervision of the registered professional.

To report all care that has been given to patients within the team to a registered professional.

To accurately document all care delivered to patients, countersigned by a registered professional, maintaining confidentiality at all times.

To assist in the preparation of patients for treatment, investigations, or procedures as directed by the registered professional.

To keep the clinical area clean and tidy, maintaining a safe environment.

To adhere to Trust infection control procedures, demonstrating an understanding of cross infection.

To chaperone or escort patients as needed under the direction of the registered professional.

To support relatives demonstrating compassion and empathy under the guidance of a registered professional.

To assist with the discharge process for patients as directed by the registered professional.

Communications and Interpersonal Relationships

Welcome patients, relatives, and visitors to the clinical area, providing assistance, support, and information where required. Being aware of barriers to effective communication and the means to overcome them.

Always introduce yourself in line with the Trust's privacy and dignity promises and the principles of good customer service.

To answer the telephone when necessary in a polite, courteous manner and pass on enquiries to the registered professional.

Communicate effectively within the multi-disciplinary team and other departments to ensure that patient care is well planned and coordinated.

Contribute to the reporting, handover, and documentation of patient care as delegated by a registered professional maintaining confidentiality at all times.

Report incidents, accidents, and complaints as per Trust Policy and to the senior professional on duty, ensuring an open and transparent culture.

Use the Trust information support system and other computer systems as required by the clinical area.

Team Working

Take all reasonable steps to ensure the safe keeping of patients' property in accordance with Trust policy.

Promote a professional, welcoming, and uncluttered environment; keep all storage areas safe, clean, and tidy.

To share responsibility in the care and maintenance of all equipment in the clinical area including all equipment cleaning.

Ensure all waste and soiled linen is disposed of in line with Trust policy.

Participate in audit under the direction of the registered professional.

Clean and check of beds, bed spaces, and lockers in the patient area following discharge and in preparation for admission (inpatient areas only).

Ensure deliveries are stored correctly and stock maintained to the required level.

Support the housekeeper with general housekeeping duties, reporting as necessary essential cleaning needs (inpatient areas only).

Education, Training and Personal Development

To ensure attendance at mandatory training sessions, i.e. infection control, resuscitation, and manual handling training.

To complete the Trust's Clinical Support Worker/Healthcare Assistant Induction programme.

To participate in appraisals and personal reviews and work to achieve agreed set objectives.

To undertake training as necessary for the development of the post and the relevance of the department including IT and clinical skills.

To continue personal development in relation to identified objectives.

Maintain up to date knowledge of changes in policies and procedures relevant to the post.

Person Specification

Qualifications

• Obtained an educational level of GCSE level A - C English and Maths or equivalent
• Minimum NVQ/Diploma Level 2, willing to work to Level 3 or equivalent higher apprenticeship in healthcare
• NVQ/Diploma level 3 or equivalent higher apprenticeship in healthcare

Experience

• Experience in delivering care in a healthcare or people-centred environment
• Experience working as part of a team

Skills

• Evidence of competence in care skills
• Good written, verbal and non-verbal communication skills
• Able to present information, written and orally in an accurate clear and logical manner
• Ability to organise and prioritise workload
• Ability to write accurate and legibly in patient notes
• Evidence of competence in relevant specialist skills/tasks

Personal

• Able to work as part of a team
• Compassionate and caring nature
• Reliable

Other

• Able to work flexibly over a 24-hour period
• Able to carry out moderate to intense physical effort throughout the working day and carry out concurrent activities
• Able, with appropriate support, to work in an emotionally demanding environment.
• Must be a car driver with access to a car for work purposes.

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.