Health Improvement Coach

Job description

Job responsibilities

The Health Improvement Hub places Health Improvement Coaches work into the local communities to identify and support those at a greater risk of poor health.They work on both a one-one basis and facilitate group sessions, supporting people to make healthy lifestyle changes and improve their lifestyles to improve both mental and physical wellbeing. Health Improvement Coaches are behaviour change specialists. They are Stop Smoking Practitioners and can offer health assessment including blood pressure readings. They work in partnership with local clinical and non-clinical services within the NHS, other organisations in the public, private and voluntary/community sectors.

Health Improvement Coaches specific duties and responsibilities include:

Develop and deliver evidence based behaviour change group programmes to target groups across Wiltshire

Work on a one to one basis with individuals under a lone-working policy for a period of six sessions per individual or through a more flexible approach as agreed by the client and their Health Improvement Coach, using behavior change techniques to build confidence and motivation and to overcome barriers to change.

To undertake follow up maintenance assessments of clients at 3, 6 and 12 months.

Undertake a 30-minute pre-consultation appointment, for mental wellbeing clients, which aims to assess the readiness of a potential client to change, eligibility for the service, determine what the client wants to work on, discuss what they can expect from the service or signpost to a more appropriate service.

Help individuals to develop, implement and review an action plan to support behaviour change and sustain those behaviours by setting SMART goals, leading to more healthy choices.

Help individuals to access services in the local community by signposting and support, as part of the clients own self-care and self-management.

Be responsible for keeping information regarding local groups and activities up to date and ensure recommendations of only recognised and regulated groups and activities.

Responsible for ensuring all government guidelines and information given to clients is up to date and accurate, i.e. units of alcohol recommended per week.

Target client work appropriately by using knowledge of local health deprivation and inequalities.

To carry out community-based work to generate referrals, network and convey key health messages, including attending local groups and activities, attending steering/focus groups, inter-agency meetings, networking events, area boards and community events.

Use judgement and decision making to ensure safeguarding of adults and children and seek immediate medical / professional support for those clients presenting an urgent medical condition. In addition, be responsible for keeping up to date on safeguarding training, policy and procedure.

To creatively plan sessions using Wiltshire Council resources to ensure they meet all the guidance/standards whilst maintaining interest and delivering benefits to all the customers to ensure retention targets are met.

Carry out health assessment of client ensuring all health and safety requirements are met, this includes taking blood pressure, weight and waist measurement, mental health scaling questions, CO monitoring, ensuring a decision is made on appropriate pathway to specialist support if needed.

Work as a level 2 stop smoking advisor, to deliver interventions across a spectrum of stop smoking work to support quitters, contribute to reducing ill-health and inequalities in health among the Wiltshire population.

To provide specific evidence-based preventative mental health and wellbeing support to clients.

To provide specific evidence-based physical activity support to clients seeking to increase their physical activity to support improvement in mental health and wellbeing.

To provide specific evidence-based alcohol reduction support to clients seeking to reduce their alcohol intake to support improvement in mental health and wellbeing.

To work within the remit of the Health Improvement Coach service and signposting referrals to suitable services when appropriate.

To risk assess private room space to see clients and for health fairs, use judgement and decision making if room space is subject to change upon arrival of appointment

To follow the lone working policy, ensuring health and safety guidelines for post holder and customers are met.

Work with partners to promote the Health Improvement Coach service and to generate referrals into the service

To be responsible for maintaining accurate written client records and for transcribing them onto the national Health Improvement Coach database DCRS, following data protection guidelines. Coaches are responsible for the accuracy of this data and are aware how to flag to a manager should they have entered incorrect data.

Keep records and monitor progress of individuals, use judgement and decision making to determine whether a client who is not achieving to seek alternative support or continue support at a later date, at Health Improvement Coach discretion.

Report concerns about individuals and those whose needs cannot be met by Health Improvement Coaches to managers as appropriate including health and safety concerns.

To support public health at health fairs and health events.

Ensure equipment used as part of the service (BP monitors, weighing scales and cholesterol machines, and CO monitors are working effectively and undertake quality assurance procedures.

Deliver one-off health and wellbeing workshops and training to community groups and services

Build ongoing professional relationships with a range of professionals inside and out of the health and social care system including working with adult social care, GPs, Dieticians, police, NHS partners and third sector organisations including the local prison HMP Erlestoke.

Person Specification

Qualifications

Essential

• A passion for health and wellbeing and a desire to support individuals across Wiltshire to improve their health and wellbeing.
• Experience of delivering evidence based behaviour changes programmes/interventions
• Hold a Level 3 Health Trainer certificate or equivalent, or the ability to demonstrate equivalent knowledge, skills and experience.
• Experience of being a Stop Smoking Practitioner
• Knowledge about what supports good physical and mental health and well- being within the context of the local community e.g. healthy eating, physical activity, substance misuse etc.
• Ability to apply new evidence, knowledge and learning into practice
• Proven experience of working or volunteering in a health / social care related field or experience of working with the public in a customer service based role.
• Experience of working with local community groups.
• Experience in working in a role that supports the health and well-being of adults.
• Experience of delivering and facilitating group work in the context of behaviour change
• Knowledge of the local population health needs.
• Knowledge of the services provided within the local community and how to support individuals to access and use them.
• Specialised knowledge of health inequalities and behaviour change methods.
• Excellent verbal communication skills.
• Strong active listening skills.
• Basic IT skills.
• Experience of working as part of a team.
• Ability to remain non-judgmental and be supportive of individuals in difficult situations.
• Fluent in English

Desirable

• Being able to speak the language of a minority group within local area
• Specialised / advanced knowledge and skills in the field of health
• training, health improvement, behaviour change and health promotion.
• Experience of development and delivery of training.
• Experience of presenting to a wide range of professional and non-professional audiences.
• Experience of working with children and young people
• As part of the induction training post-holders will be expected to complete the following training: Stop smoking practitioner training
• Connect 5 Training; 2 days training for Mental Health First Aid and apply these learned skills; 2 days suicide prevention training and apply these learned skills; MECC training.

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

Wiltshire Council

Address

County Hall

Bythesea Rd

Trowbridge

Wiltshire

BA14 8JN

Employer's website

http://www.wiltshire.gov.uk/ (Opens in a new tab)