Homeless Health Outreach Support Worker

Job description

Job responsibilities

Key Roles and Responsibilities

The post holder will:

Be responsible for the identification of homeless/vulnerable patients alongside the other team members.

Be expected to carry out a holistic assessment in order to address both physical and social needs, subsequently assisting in the setting up of support packages based on their assessment. This will include support with the patients housing, physical health needs, alcohol and drug dependencies, mental health issues and any other social care needs that the patient would benefit from been supported with.

Be expected to be involved in community based follow up.

Proactively identify and address own learning needs, ensuring knowledge is up to date in relevant housing and welfare legislation and local service provision.

Record work undertaken with patients accurately and timely, using Bevan clinical systems, enabling the collection of monitoring and evaluation data.

Contribute to ongoing quality service evaluation, providing in depth case studies, gathering patient feedback and on occasion participate in research activity.

Comply with all Bevan policies and training requirements.

Coordinate and organise outreach activity alongside the team leader.

Ensure databases remain up-to-date.

Partnership and team working

Develop and maintain links, working in partnership with external services such as local authority housing departments, supported accommodation providers, street outreach teams, local specialist homeless GP services, substance misuse, and other relevant services to ensure patients care plans are coordinated effectively.

Patient involvement and empowerment

The post holder will

Involve patients in developing their care plan, working transparently by managing expectations, explaining potential options in a way that patients can understand.

Support patients through the health and social care system as appropriate.

Assist patients to understand and obtain their welfare, housing and related rights, addressing any barriers to understanding and involvement such as language, culture, mental or physical health.

Advocate on behalf of individual patients effectively, clearly communicating the relevant circumstances of patients lives to hospital staff, multi-disciplinary teams and other external agencies.

Person Specification

Knowledge, skills and abilities

Essential

• Good knowledge of the welfare system, supported housing pathways and other services for the homeless
• Understanding of safeguarding of vulnerable adults principles and procedures
• Understanding of the importance of involving patients as fully as possible in the process of care planning
• Understanding of both patient and personal safety issues on/off site
• Understanding of data protection regulations and the need for patient consent
• Excellent organisational skills and an ability to prioritise own caseload in a rapidly moving service
• Excellent oral and written communication skills
• Ability to engage with and manage expectations of patients with complex needs
• Excellent administrative and IT skills
• Positive attitude towards working collaboratively and supportively, seeking expertise of colleagues appropriately
• Self-motivated

Desirable

• Can demonstrate an understanding of the health issues associated with chronic homelessness and social exclusion
• Understanding of the Mental Capacity Act and its relevance when working with homeless patients

Experience

Essential

• Experience of working with vulnerable adults
• Experience of successful and assertive advocacy for individuals facing social exclusion to other agencies and statutory services
• Experience of positive and proactive joint working in addressing individual needs, communicating effectively with partner organisations

Desirable

• Experience of joint working with healthcare services
• Able to demonstrate a good understanding of the challenges that homeless and vulnerably housed people face when accessing housing, healthcare, and other services

Values

Essential

• Commitment to improving the health of homeless and other multiply excluded patients
• Commitment to addressing social exclusion
• Commitment to promoting independence and patient choice
• Understanding of and commitment to equal opportunities in service delivery
• Commitment to evidence-based practice
• Committed to continuing professional development

Qualifications

Essential

• NVQ Level 3 in Health and Social Care or willing to undertake
• Level 2 Maths and English (e.g. GCSE grade C or above)

Desirable

• Phlebotomy

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.

Employer details

Employer name

Bevan Healthcare CIC

Address

York Street Health Practice

68 York Street

Leeds

LS9 8AA

Employer's website

https://bevanhealthcare.co.uk/ (Opens in a new tab)