Community Assistant Practitioner - Central Norfolk Home First Hub

The Methodist Church in Britain; Norwich; On-site; GBP 24,000 - 32,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Regular supervision

Clinical databases training

Opportunities for community visits

Job summary

East of England Community Health and Care NHS Trust seeks a Community Assistant Practitioner to triage therapy referrals, organise home-based assessments and coordinate therapy within Norwich and surrounding areas. The role involves telephone assessments, community visits and collaboration with a wide range of health and social care professionals.

The post requires strong communication and organisational skills, driving licence and commitment to safeguarding. Interviews are face to face only.

Qualifications

• NVQ Level 3 or foundation degree or equivalent knowledge and skills gained through training and experience.
• Good general education.
• Experience in health or social care setting.
• Experience with people at end of life.
• Evidence of ongoing learning.

Responsibilities

• Triage therapy referrals for Discharge to Assess pathways, assess needs, set priority and allocate referrals.
• Liaise with the multidisciplinary team to respond to referrals promptly based on each person’s needs.
• Carry out telephone assessments and review abilities at home or in care homes after discharge, arranging therapy.
• Carry out community therapy visits for initial assessment and treatment in homes and care homes.
• Assess, plan, deliver and evaluate care packages in homes, care homes, the travelling community, community hospitals and clinics.
• Apply a reablement approach using strengths-based assessment to promote independence.
• Work in the integrated team to support early discharge from hospital.
• Work in the integrated team to prevent unnecessary hospital admission.
• Communicate with health professionals and agencies to provide a joined-up service.

Skills

Good communication

Empathy & diplomacy

Written and verbal English

Organisational skills

Initiative and prioritisation

Multidisciplinary teamwork

Use of handling aids

Driving licence

Education

NVQ Level 3 or foundation degree

Good general education

Job description

This Community Assistant Practitioner post sits in the Central Norfolk Home First Hub, an integrated health and social care team within East of England Community Health and Care NHS Trust's Norwich therapy teams. The work centres on triaging therapy referrals for people leaving acute and community hospitals, including telephone assessments, then arranging therapy and making home visits. Shifts cover a seven-day week across Norwich, South and North, including weekends. Interviews are face to face only.

What the job involves

• Triage therapy referrals for people on Discharge to Assess pathways, assessing needs, setting priority and allocating referrals
• Liaise with the multidisciplinary team to respond to referrals promptly, based on each person's needs
• Carry out telephone assessments and review people's abilities at home or in care homes after discharge, arranging therapy
• Carry out community therapy visits for initial assessment and treatment in homes and care homes
• Assess, plan, deliver and evaluate care packages in homes, care homes, the travelling community, community hospitals and clinics
• Apply a reablement approach using strengths-based assessment to promote independence
• Work in the integrated team to support early discharge from hospital
• Work in the integrated team to prevent unnecessary hospital admission
• Communicate with health professionals and statutory and non-statutory agencies to provide a joined-up service

What’s required

Qualifications

• NVQ Level 3 or foundation degree, or equivalent knowledge and skills gained through training and experience
• Good general education

Experience

• Experience of working in a health or social care setting, across statutory, voluntary or private sector
• Experience of working with people at the end of life
• Evidence of ongoing learning

Skills & knowledge

• Good communication skills, including empathy, tact and diplomacy
• Effective written and verbal English, with literacy skills
• Highly motivated, open to change and development, with good organisational skills
• Able to use own initiative, prioritise workload and work alone
• Knowledge of specialist areas through in-house training and short courses
• Team player who manages stressful situations, listens well, is assertive and knows own limitations

Checks & eligibility

• Full UK driving licence and access to a vehicle

Other

• Professional appearance and reliability
• Ability to kneel, bend, stoop and work in cramped spaces, move limbs of around 5-6kg, and move patients using handling aids
• Commitment to safeguarding children and vulnerable adults

Nice to have

• Experience of working in people's homes
• Experience of working in a community setting
• Knowledge of multidisciplinary team roles
• Familiarity with SystmOne, TCES Medequip and Liquid Logic (training provided)

What’s offered

• Support within the team and regular supervision
• Training provided on clinical databases
• Opportunity to maintain clinical competencies through community visits