Healthy Ageing Coordinator

NHS; Wolverhampton; On-site; GBP 25,000 - 35,000; Full time

Job description

An exciting opportunity has arisen for an enthusiastic and motivated individual who is empathetic, friendly, caring and has good IT skills to join Primary Care Networks in developing and shaping older people's services.

The role of a Healthy Ageing Coordinator is fundamental to emerging new models of proactive management of care for older patients, and you will have responsibility for maintaining standards, identifying risks, and supporting the functioning of older adult services, ensuring high quality services for our patients.

We require an innovative, enthusiastic, and motivated individual based in Primary Care to participate in the delivery of patient care. To act as a key resource point, providing healthy ageing assessments to patients within the network. You will have a flexible approach to working and will be willing to contribute to the development of emerging services for older people.

Main duties of the job

The post holder will have responsibility for maintaining standards, identifying risks, and supporting the functioning of older adult services, ensuring high quality services for our patients.

You will work closely with other Healthy Ageing Coordinators, GPs, community services, our local NHS hospital Trust, and other services. You will work independently in a primary care setting, adhering to policies and procedures.

Previous experience of working in primary care is not an essential requirement, however you will need to demonstrate a commitment to delivering high quality patient centred care.

About us

Wolverhampton North Network is a successful PCN, consisting of 7 practices and over 50,000 patients. The successful candidate may need to be able to travel to all sites and have effective time management processes.

The applicant can expect to work within a supportive environment where you will receive regular clinical supervision and will be actively encouraged to undertake further training and study in order for you to continue to develop professionally, in accordance with your agreed personal development plans.

Job responsibilities

Role Definition

This is a developmental role. The post holder will be supported and trained to become responsible for Healthy Ageing checks within the network and assisting qualified nursing and medical staff in carrying out assigned tasks, involving direct nursing care in support of and supervised by a Registered Nurse/ medical staff.

The post holder will at all times demonstrate and behave in a manner in accordance with the hosting Practices Policies and protocols.

The role is to lead on, and play a pivotal role, in managing the coordination of Healthy Ageing checks, and the delivery of appropriate interventions across a range of agencies/ partners including care plans. The post holder will be the main point of contact for professionals, patients and carers/ families if they need support/ information/ guidance/ education.

The post holder will ensure relevant accurate data is recorded and maintained within the designated systems and will support and help implement continuous quality improvement activities across the primary care network (PCN).

Main Responsibilities

1. Support the identification of patients who are indicated to be living with Mild/ Moderate frailty utilising a recommended toolkit (i.e eFI. Or through RWT Care of the Elderly team).
2. Undertake a Healthy Ageing check using an agreed assessment tool, such as Edmonton to determine the level of frailty the patient could be living with which will inform an appropriate intervention.
3. Completing any necessary paperwork and referrals within associated Practices within the respective PCN.
4. Collaborative working between multi-agencies across the city including (but not limited to) RWT Care of the Elderly Team, Virtual ward, Community Nursing, Social Care, Social Prescribers, Primary Care MDT Coordinators, and other community/ voluntary sector services.
5. Undertake BP monitoring.
6. Undertake Urinalysis.
7. Proactively case manage patients who are aged 65 and living with mild/ moderate frailty, and could be socially isolated, adopting a holistic approach to review health, social and physical aspects of current daily activities, for example nutrition, hydration, eye and oral health, physical activities.
8. To identify carers and offer appropriate support, signposting to Carers Support for assessment, voluntary services such as Age UK, handyman services, housing assistance, lunch/ social/ physical activity groups.
9. Provide lifestyle advice to patients making any necessary referrals within associated Practices within the respective PCN.
10. Proactively identify patients who are at risk of a fall/ fear of falling, and refer to the community falls prevention team for primary prevention assessment and intervention.
11. Undertake weight monitoring at appropriate intervals.
12. Ensure specimens are labelled and bagged ready for collection with the necessary paperwork completed.
13. Restocking/maintenance of equipment used.
14. Restocking of clinical areas and consulting rooms.

This list is not exhaustive, and the post holder may be asked to undertake other relevant tasks within their scope of practice. Before performing these tasks, appropriate, relevant training must be received and documented in the training pack.

Professional /Clinical

1. Maintain high standard of personal contact and communication with patients, particularly during treatments.
2. Undertake basic observations and collecting specimens as required.
3. To avoid any behaviour which discriminates against your fellow employees, or potential employees on the grounds of their sex, sexual orientation, marital status, race, religion, creed, colour, nationality, ethnic origin or disability.
4. To safeguard at all times confidentiality of information relating to patients and staff in adherence with National and local Data protection and Information governance.
5. To behave in a manner that ensures the security of the Practice.
6. To adhere to all relevant Practice Policies and Procedures.

This list is not exhaustive.

Administrative/Managerial

1. Participate in the administrative and professional responsibilities of the practice team and on behalf of the respective primary care network (PCN).
2. Ensure accurate and legible notes of all consultations and treatments are recorded in the patient notes (electronic and patient held).
3. Ensure the clinical computer system is kept up to date with accurate details recorded.
4. Ensure accurate completion of all necessary documentation associated with patient health care and registration with the practice.
5. Attend and participate in practice meetings as required.
6. Assist in formulation of practice philosophy, strategy and policy.
7. Restocking and maintenance of clinical areas and consulting rooms.
8. To assist in seasonal and special projects as requested e.g., flu campaign.
9. Ordering and display of Health Promotion materials.

This list is not exhaustive.

Person Specification

Qualifications

• NVQ Level 3 in Health and Social care or Level 3 diploma in a health related topic, or equivalent.
• GCSEs Grade A-C in Maths and English or key skills level 2 in Maths and English (to be evidenced by a test if relevant qualifications not available).

Experience

• Essential induction training and experience care certificate or equivalent.
• Ability to work effectively as a team player under appropriate supervision, and as part of a multi-disciplinary team.
• Insight into how to evaluate own strengths and development needs, seeking advice where appropriate.
• Knowledge of when to seek advice and refer to a registered care professional.
• Understanding of the importance of the promotion of health and well-being (Making Every Contact Count).
• Ability to work on own initiative.
• Evidence of time management skills and ability to prioritise.
• Basic IT skills.
• Ability to communicate with members of the public and health and care providers.
• The promotion of equality of opportunity and good working relationships, courteous, respectful and helpful at all times.
• Ability to deal with non-routine and unpredictable nature of the workload and individual patient contact.
• Completion of a Healthcare Assistant development programme.
• Understanding of basic physiology, e.g. normal vital signs, fluid balance, nutritional requirements etc.
• Understanding of the scope of the role of the Health Care Assistant in context of the team and the organisation, and how the role may contribute to service development.
• Ability to move between sites working across health and social care as required by the needs of the development programme.

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.