Public Health Support Worker

Job description

Job responsibilities

1. To provide breast feeding support to families across Halton following appropriate training

2. Provide sign posting as appropriate for families and children and young people across the 0-19 service following completion of training

3. To undertake appropriate follow up visits to clinic defaulters under the direction of the Health Visitor and school nurse, checking addresses and rebooking appointments.

4. To ensure the smooth running of a variety of clinical sessions such as, community medical officer clinic, 6 weeks and 9-12 months child health surveillance clinic, immunisation sessions and NCMP

5. Support agreed PSHE and health promotion activities for all ages of children within the 0-19 service, in a variety of settings such as school, home visits, childrens centre, public buildings and community clinics after the completion of training and assessment of competence

6. To prepare resources/materials/information for health education group/individual sessions for the 0-19 service

7. To provide home safety advice unsupervised in clients own home following training and assessment of competence

8. Assist the 0-19 Team members in preparation for all 0-19 Core Service activities within School, Home, Childrens centres, Clinic/Health Centre, Community environments

9. Maintain an effective cold chain by ensuring safe storage of vaccine by rotating stock and monitoring vaccine fridge temperature adhering to the current Immunisation Policy and advise members of the 0-19 service to low stock levels to maintain adequate vaccine supply

10. Undertake and assist in Vision and Hearing screening as per agreed protocol for the 0-19 service following the completion of training.

11. To support the delivery of Child Health surveillance activities for the 0-19 service by preparing and tidying rooms/equipment/resources

12. To Measure childrens heights, weights and head circumferences and plot centiles after the completion of training and assessment of competence in order to complete the delivery of the healthy child programme offer and the national child measurement programme(NCMP)

13. To support the 0-19 Team with a range of administrative duties: filing, organising clinics, making individual client appointments, ensuring adequate supply of referral forms etc.

14. To support the 0-19 team in ordering of supplies ensuring constant availability for use by the team.

15. Recognise respect and support cultural variations and spiritual beliefs that influence parenting and nutrition

16. To report signs of child neglect/abuse to School Nurse/Health Visitor, colleagues immediately.

Organisation of work

1. To be responsible and accountable for timely and accurate record keeping including attendance or non attendance at clinic appointments in the Electronic patient record.

2. Check the 0-19 service NHS mailboxes, signposting any messages/referrals appropriately.

3. Support all national immunisation and screening programmes in schools by ensuring that all lists and consent forms are up to date and prepared in a timely way and to co-ordinate appropriate administrative support within immunisation clinics in schools.

4. Record data as requested for service development and audit purpose

5. Maintain strict confidentiality for all clients

6. To store and maintain records in accordance within Trust Policy

7. To provide accurate information to the identified administrator regarding absences, study leave, cover for holidays, expenses and other patient related data as required.

8. To contribute to the development of and implementation of policies, procedures and guidelines relevant to own area of work

9. To complete statistical data and other returns promptly in accordance with the needs of the service

10. Plans and organises own workload and informs team leader

11. Maintains a current up to date electronic diary of activity.

Professional

1. To participate in the Personal Development Review process and 1 to 1 to identify opportunities for enhancing professional or clinical knowledge

2. To attend 0-19 team meetings and ensure read minutes if not able to attend to maintain up to date knowledge.

Teaching and Learning

1. To attend mandatory training as required by the Trust

2. To participate in study days as appropriate

3. Assist in the learning experience of students and support induction of new staff in the community placement.

Communication

1. Ensure a friendly and welcoming point of contact to all service users, giving prompt attention to their requests, directing enquiries and signposting as appropriate.
2. Deal with information in a tactful, sensitive and strictly confidential manner, showing empathy and judgement, in liaison with appropriate professionals as required.
3. Liaise with administrative staff within Bridgewater, the Local Authority, childrens centres and schools.

Develop and maintain excellent working relationships with colleagues.

Person Specification

Qualifications

Essential

• NVQ Level 2 in Child Care or equivalent or willing to work towards

Desirable

• NVQ level 2 in Health/Child Care/Education.
• Childcare Development qualification.
• ECDL
• Care certificate in Healthcare
• IT qualification

Experience

Essential

• Experience of working with preschool children and their families

Desirable

• Experience of working in a health care setting with children.
• Experience of working in a clerical setting.
• Experience of working in a community setting.

Skills and Attributes

Essential

• Competencies achieved within the workplace and attendance at a Higher Education Institute (HEI), as part of the assistant practitioner (AP) programme
• Good oral and written communication skills
• Computer literacy/competent use of electronic patient record
• Understanding of confidentiality
• Ability to organise and prioritise own workload without direct supervision

Desirable

• Knowledge of Healthy Child Programme
• Knowledge of National and Local Public Health Outcomes

Other

Essential

• The ability to travel independently across the Trust
• The ability to work flexibly in accordance with service needs

Employer details

Employer name

Bridgewater Community Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust

Address

Lister Road

Astmoor

Runcorn

Cheshire

WA7 1TW

Employer's website

http://bridgewater.nhs.uk/ (Opens in a new tab)