Communication Support Worker

Job description

Job responsibilities

To be responsible for triaging and accepting suitable referrals to the Communication Support Service To carry out an assessment and objective measures of needs and in collaboration with the stroke survivor and/or carer, develop an individual communication recovery plan to address needs and meet desired outcomes. Including the ability to prescribe and order a designated range of equipment and instruct on using these. To work collaboratively with the Speech and Language Therapist and other health and social care professionals for the benefit of the client To provide support in hospital, on return home and other settings as appropriate, offering a person centered, goal oriented, continuity of care and casework-based support service. To support stroke survivors and carers by offering a range of solutions including coordination and system navigation of health and social care; personalized information; representation and advocacy; emotional and practical advice and support; help to self- manage and goal setting. To refer on to other services where appropriate ensuring information about local services, referral options and sources of support is relevant, appropriate, and up to date. It is important that there are good links, joint integrated working with referrers and with those agencies to whom referrals can be made in the wider community, health and social care and beyond (including GPs, the private and voluntary sector, local housing providers, district and borough councils as appropriate). Respond to signs of acute emotional distress (for example, depression, abuse, suicide, and relationship problems) and refer to other agencies, where appropriate. To observe the clients environment and report situations that may be detrimental to the patients health to the appropriate professional. To recruit, train and manage a team of volunteers, identifying regular opportunities for their involvement in the core delivery of the service and ensuring their involvement is recorded appropriately. To hold regular 1-1 support and team meetings for all volunteers To be responsible for the day-to-day co-ordination of the services including: 1 to 1 support either personally or via volunteers Providing blocks of communication groups to address communication needs. Organizing and monitoring community involvement programs for service users to engage with local activities (such as the stroke caf) Within commissioning agreements, initiate and run support groups for stroke survivors and carers forming part of their longer-term support. To keep accurate and up to date confidential records and reports and to provide routine monitoring information as required.

To be willing to travel during your duties in the Barnet community and possibly PAN London

To develop opportunities for peer support and community activity beyond the commissioned service, maintaining excellent working relationships with other voluntary sector and local organizations To be willing to travel during your duties.

Please refer to the attached Job Description and Person Specification for full list of main responsibilities

Person Specification

Education/Qualification

Essential

• GCSE grade A-C or equivalent in English and Maths
• Willingness to undertake further training as appropriate
• Higher Professional Diploma in Health and Wellbeing (QCF - Level 2/NVQ 3) or a recognised equivalent course

Desirable

• ECDL certificate
• Registration with the national regulatory body (when it becomes available).

Experience

Essential

• Experience of working in a health or social care, and community setting
• Experience of disabilities (cognitive and physical), elderly and frail populations, in particular working with people directly affected by stroke and their carers
• Experience of working as part of a team
• Administrative skills, including record keeping, writing reports and able to interpret and present data in a variety of formats.

Desirable

• Experience of recruiting, training and supporting volunteers
• Experience with the NHS patient information database (Rio, CIS)

Skills and Knowledge

Essential

• Knowledge of NHS
• Knowledge and understanding of the speech and language therapy service and how it works in collaboration with the service. Understanding the issues faced by people directly affected by stroke, in specific relation to communication problems.
• Knowledge of Health and Safety, risk management as it applies to organising group activities and community work (falls prevention and in Activities of Daily Living).
• Knowledge of multi-agency services available and processes for referral
• Knowledge of the effects of stroke, the ageing process and needs of vulnerable adults in relation to their health and well-being
• Ability to demonstrate an understanding of the impact of communication difficulties
• Excellent communication skills and ability to build effective relationships with a range of clients, professionals and other agencies (Oral, written communication and presentation skills, effective interpersonal, influencing and negotiating skills ).
• Ability to advocate for stroke survivors, their families and carers with health and social care professionals
• Self management skills. Ability to work without direct supervision and demonstrate initiative, managing time effectively (for workload/casload).
• Ability to analyse, interpret and record data in a clear, and succinct manner, and problem solving skills (completing needs assessments and objective measures)
• To be able to promote the work of the team across the trust
• Car owner/driver, to travel to undertake local case management and service delivery, further afield as required for meetings, training and conferences.

Desirable

• Knowledge of local health needs strategies

Key Attributes

Essential

• Ability to work in a team and to supervise the work of others
• Ability to work under pressure, prioritise effectively and manage competing demands.
• Adaptable and flexible. Ability to cope with uncertainty and change .
• Proactive and innovative, a warm and caring attitude
• Flexible about work location -The post holder may be required to work across other CLCH sites in Barnet as required.
• Appropriate level of physical fitness to perform the job (as outlined in the job description) with or without adaptations

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.

Certificate of Sponsorship

Applications from job seekers who require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website (Opens in a new tab).

From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants, applying for entry clearance into the UK, have had to present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Adult dependants (over 18 years old) are also subject to this requirement. Guidance can be found here Criminal records checks for overseas applicants (Opens in a new tab).

Employer details

Employer name

Central London Community Health Trust

Address

Edgware Community Hospital

Edgware

HA8 0AD

Employer's website

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