Frailty Assistant

Job description

Job responsibilities

MAIN DUTIES

1. Assist the team in the delivery of high-quality patient care (often without direct supervision) through a range of clinical procedures. This will include (but is not limited to) health related education and assisting in both the assessment process and delivery of patient care, including personal care.

2. To be able to safely use a wide range of specialist health and therapy aids and equipment in a manner that respects the dignity of patients. Examples include standing and walking frames, wheelchairs, manual and electric hoists, slide sheets and moving boards, hearing aids and other physical aids.

3. To attend relevant training for all equipment and aids used in delivery of the role.

4. Perform and adhere to holistic and individualised plans of care and treatment plans for patients within the acute setting.

5. Be able to recognise and escalate abnormal recordings or signs of change, within designated parameters, to a patients condition in a timely manner to the registered professional.

6. Support the education of patients e.g use of equipment, self-care skills, pressure care advice and demonstrate exercise techniques.

7. Make onward referrals to other services as directed by registered professionals. This will include making telephone referrals and use of electronic referral systems.

8. Provide verbal feedback on patients progress in daily huddle meetings and with other professionals as indicated.

9. To establish and maintain good relationships with patients, carers and external agencies, as well as other members of the team.

10. To take responsibility for cleaning, storing and maintaining nursing and therapy supplies and equipment.

11. To assist the clinical team with data entry and administration duties.

12. To attend and participate in team meetings, contributing where appropriate to service development. To participate in clinical supervision.

13. To ensure time management within own shift to ensure timely patient care and to ensure that records are updated in a timely manner, by prioritising non time-specific tasks and responding appropriately to rapidly changing requirements.

14. To effectively communicate with members of the multidisciplinary team, patients and relatives creating opportunity for effective communication at all times.

15. To participate in the effective reporting of incidents/complaints. This includes submission of appropriate documentation to facilitate the investigation process.

16. Undertake training and practice of agreed clinical competencies in basic nursing skills for designated area, keeping up to date with changes in clinical practice and the effect of these on your role.

Clinical Governance

• Participate in the Trust Appraisal and Personal Development Plan process by identifying your own development needs and agreeing development plans for these needs with the manager.

• Ensure awareness of when and how to report untoward incidents and how to respond appropriately with patients or relatives complaints.

• Ensure that your clinical practice is safe and appropriate at all times.

• Ensure your required mandatory and competency-based training is kept up to date.

Person Specification

Education and qualifications

Essential

• NVQ Level 3 in health and social care or relevant experience

Desirable

• European computer driving licence/equivalent IT qualification. Functional literacy and numeracy skills at Level 2/GCSE English and Maths

Experience

Essential

• Experience of working in a team
• Experience of providing care to adults
• Experience using MS Office and other IT applications

Desirable

• Experience of working within a health or social care service
• Experience of working as a health care or therapy assistant
• Experience of working with vulnerable people
• Experience of working with people who have dementia
• Experience of working with people who are unwell

Skills, ability, knowledge

Essential

• Good knowledge of frailty and the needs of older vulnerable adults.
• Ability to communicate effectively and adjust communication style of meet the needs of patients, relatives and other team members.
• Ability to organise self, prioritise work and work without direct supervision
• Display flexible attitude to work and the ability to cope with change.
• Ability to carry out patient moving and handling tasks.

Personal Qualities

Essential

• Ability to work under pressure
• Empathetic and sensitive to needs of others

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

University Hospitals of Morecambe Bay NHS Trust

Address

Furness General Hospital

Dalton Lane

Barrow-in-Furness

LA14 4LF

Employer's website

https://www.uhmb.nhs.uk (Opens in a new tab)