Continuing Health Care Practitioner

Livewell Southwest; Plymouth; On-site; GBP 27,000 - 36,000; Part time

Job summary

Livewell Southwest is seeking a Continuing Health Care Practitioner (Band 5) on a 12-month fixed-term maternity cover. The post is 15 hours per week across a 7-day service, supporting people with learning disabilities, mental health needs and physical health needs to meet outcomes.

The role involves non-complex assessments, discharge planning, and working with Health funded individuals. Applicants should have a commitment to strengths-based approaches and collaborate across Livewell Southwest

Qualifications

• Experience in health and social care settings, including learning disabilities and mental health needs.
• Ability to conduct non-complex assessments and develop support plans.
• Knowledge of Care Act and safeguarding principles.

Responsibilities

• Provide information and advice to people and carers to meet needs and outcomes.
• Undertake non-complex assessments and plan appropriate support.
• Collaborate with other services to coordinate care and discharge planning.
• Maintain accurate records on electronic systems and ensure data quality.
• Work across 7-day service to support vulnerable adults and carers.

Skills

Interpersonal skills

Analytical skills

Communication skills

Assessment planning

Risk assessment

Education

NVQ Level 3 Health & Social Care

GCSEs or Equivalent

Tools

CareFirst

SystmOne

Eclipse

Job description

15 hours per week (0.4 FTE), fixed-term maternity cover contract for 1 year.

Band 5 Continuing Health Care Practitioner.

An opportunity has arisen for a Continuing Health Care practitioner (Band 5) to join Livewell Southwest within Mental Health Services for 12 months. Experience is essential, successful applicants will have a commitment to strengths based and solution focused interventions and use identified models to work with people to achieve person centred outcomes. This Post is working with Health funded individuals.

This role is working across the organisation, supporting people with learning disabilities, mental health needs and physical health needs ensuring that there care needs are met.

Please note that Livewell may close the job advertisement earlier than the specified deadline if a high number of applications are submitted. Therefore, we recommend you submit your application at the earliest opportunity.

All Livewell staff are expected to be able and willing to work across a 7 day service.

This role may not be eligible for sponsorship under the Skilled Worker route; please refer to the Direct Gov website for more information with regards to eligibility.

Main duties of the job

To provide qualityinformation and advice to people and their carers on the best ways to meettheir needs and achieve their stated outcomes and help them to live their livesas independently as possible.

To develop a widerange of skills and knowledge to be able to complete an initial assessment andlook at other professional involvement required within discharge to assess teamand across Livewell southwest services.

To complete holisticassessments acknowledging the Care Act 2014, for those who are health fundedequipment provision and basic therapy advice, following Shared Skills trainingprovided within the team

To have a knowledgeof a wide range of services (including third sector) to support people toachieve their identified outcomes.

To take astrength-based approach to referral and assessment.

To undertakenon-complex assessments of need and to help people to develop outcome-basedsupport plans.

To recognise and takeappropriate action when people are at risk of harm, abuse or neglect.

To assist people inthe assessment and support planning process by helping them to assess risks anddetermine necessary support and contingency plans.

To help people andtheir carers to identify sustainable contingency plans to help them maintainindependent living in emergency and crisis situations.

About us

Livewell Southwest is an independent, award-winning social enterprise delivering integrated health and social care services across Plymouth, South Hams, and West Devon, with specialist services in parts of Devon and Cornwall. Our teams work in community hospitals, GP practices, sports centres, and health hubs.

As an organisation with a strong social conscience we are guided by our values, kindness, respect, inclusivity, ambition, responsibility, and collaboration. We focus on transforming services to ensure sustainability, while empowering staff and those we serve.

We involve the people we care for, along with their families and carers, in shaping the care they receive, striving to deliver the right care at the right time and place. Centering our work on individual needs helps people lead healthy, independent lives.

We prioritise employees' development, offering protected CPD time, training pathways, leadership programs, and funding for qualifications like the Care Certificate and Nurse Training Scholarships. Our induction and preceptorship programs ensure a smooth transition into our organisation.

Livewell Southwest values diversity and encourages applications from all sections of the community, including those with armed forces experience, lived experience of mental health, neuro-diverse conditions and learning disabilities. If you need assistance or reasonable adjustments during the application process, contact the Recruiting Manager listed in the job advert.

Job responsibilities

Job Purpose:

The post holder willbe required to undertake non-complex and proportionate assessments that areevidence-based. The term non-complex is defined as - predictable situationsoften where the person is motivated to engage and respond to information, guidance,and advice. The person may present a low level of risk to self or others, andthe risk can be managed safely. Thesesituations often require short-term interventions, and the decisions requiresome analysis of different views and factors impacting on the persons life.

Examples couldinclude mental capacity assessments and health and social care assessments ofpeople who have a variety of needs. The post holder is also required to arrangeand review the delivery of social care support. There may be situations wherethe work is complex and on these occasions the post holder will need to seeksupport from social work colleagues or their line manager.

Decision-Making:

Thejob involves working within recognised procedures and requires the post holderto use initiative when organising their workload and determining workpriorities daily.

Youwill also be expected to:

Respondindependently to problems and unusual situations with access to an AdvancedPractitioner and colleagues for advice and guidance.

Dealwith any unexpected problems or situations through recognised procedures.

UndertakeIndependent decision making on handling particular situations and unexpectedproblems.

Resolveproblems or situations which may be complex and not covered by existingprocedures.

Usejudgement to assess a particular situation and decide the best way forward forresolution, when there is conflicting information.

Raiseconcerns with an Advanced Practitioner, i.e. in relation to Safeguarding,moving and handling, in relation to the above points.

Accountabilities:

Toundertake detailed assessments of care and support needs and reablement goals,with the specific focus of taking a holistic view of the persons needs andconsidering the options of support available to them.

Toundertake reviews of formal support arrangements.

Toundertake non-complex assessment of needs.

Toundertake non-complex carers assessments.

Tohelp people and their carers to identify sustainable contingency plans to helpthem maintain independent living in emergency and crisis situations.

Tocomply with all relevant legislative requirements as well as Livewell policiesand procedures.

Torecognise statutory responsibilities in respect of providing Community Careservices.

Responsibilityfor providing information, advice and guidance on established Livewell policyand external regulations and/or statutory requirements related to thewell-being of people.

Occasionallyrequired to demonstrate duties and provide advice, guidance and support toother employees, students or trainees. Also to provide feedback to the PracticeLearning Managers/ Student Supervisors.

Responsibilityfor accurately inputting information of work undertaken on electronic systems,i.e. Care first 6 and systm1 and also using a number of systems for checkinginformation relevant to the persons needs.

Responsibilityto ensure that data inputted onto the system is accurate.

Workin partnership with all other relevant agencies to ensure the needs ofvulnerable adults are addressed, e.g. police, NHS.

Torecognise the need for other professional involvement within the team andacross Livewell services.

Undertakeother duties appropriate to the grade of the post.

Physical Effort

Regulartravel to service users' homes, residential homes and nursing settings toundertake assessments and reviews.

Occasionalmoving and handling risk assessment activities and observation of careenvironments.

Prolongedperiods of sitting, standing, walking and using display screen equipment whencompleting assessments and maintaining electronic records.

MentalEffort

Dailyrequirement for sustained concentration when undertaking assessments, reviewinginformation, completing reports and maintaining accurate electronic records.

Regularanalysis of information from multiple sources to assess needs, identify risksand determine appropriate support plans.

Frequentdecision-making and problem-solving, including situations where there may beconflicting information or no clear procedural solution.

Regularinterruptions and conflicting demands, such as urgent calls, referrals andchanging service priorities requiring frequent reprioritisation of workload.

EmotionalEffort

Dailyinvolvement with vulnerable adults and carers experiencing ill health,disability, crisis situations, loss of independence and terminal illness.

Workingwith individuals who may be difficult to communicate with due to cognitiveimpairment, mental health issues or communication difficulties.

Regularexposure to safeguarding concerns, abuse, neglect and situations where adultsmay be at risk of harm.

Managingsensitive conversations regarding care needs, financial implications of care,risk management and future support arrangements.

Occasionalexposure to verbal abuse, aggression or challenging behaviour from serviceusers, relatives or members of the public.

Managingconflict and family disagreements whilst remaining professional and objective.

PhysicalSkills

Standardkeyboard and IT skills for maintaining electronic records, producing reportsand using multiple information systems.

Abilityto accurately complete assessments and record information on electronic casemanagement systems, including CareFirst, Eclipse and SystmOne.

Abilityto travel independently across the service area to undertake assessments andreviews.

Visitingpeople in their own homes may present risks to health and wellbeing, which willrequire appropriate risk assessment and discussion with managers.

Developedobservation and assessment skills when assessing service users' needs, risksand home environments.

Working Conditions:

Most of the work within our team will require the post holder to assessservice users within their own environment or a residential/nursing setting.

Serious verbal abuse, aggression and other anti-social behaviour from people and/or members of the public can occur occasionally

Person Specification

Knowledge

• Understanding of Adult Social Care and The Care Act 2014.
• Knowledge of the relevant policies and procedures of Livewell and the Department.
• Awareness of relevant legislation:
• Mental Capacity Act 2005, Mental Health Act 1983 (amended 2007), Children and Families Act 2014. Human Rights Act 1998, Equality Act 2010. Case law. Knowledge relating to Ordinary Residence, Continuing Healthcare. Equality Act, Carers Recognition & Services Act 1995, and Manual Handling Operations Regulations 1992 (amended 1998).
• Resources in order to provide advice and information to enable vulnerable adults and cars to make informed choices, e.g. Allowances, access to support.
• Safeguarding for vulnerable adults and children and young people.
• Working knowledge and experience of working to address a range of human needs, including personal crisis, disability, ill health.
• Reasonable awareness of the potential effects of providing regular and substantial unpaid care to a relative, friend or neighbour.
• Practical and procedural knowledge for a range of tasks related to the service area.
• Of the policies or procedures relating to at least one other service, e.g. NHS Continuing Health Care; multi-disciplinary assessments.

Experience

• Experience of working in a Health and/or Social Care setting, including voluntary work or administrative role.
• Demonstrable experience of addressing a range of human needs, including personal crisis, disability, ill health.

Skills

• Reasonable skills in using PC based applications including Microsoft applications such as Outlook (including calendar), word and excel, on a regular basis
• Analytical, problem solving or creative skills are required within support planning process for service users
• Ability to work in partnership with other agencies so that the best outcomes for the service user are achieved
• Ability to make a judgement on the risk factors to a person (including protection issues). Ability to prioritise those risks and act on the risk assessment.
• Planning and organisational skills
• Developed interpersonal skills to meet the needs of people and service requirements. For example, being open and supportive with people but able to seek support as and when required.
• Ability to resolve situations of conflict, e.g. family disputes.
• Non-judgemental attitude and abilities to build trust with vulnerable adults. Must have developed listening skills.
• Effectively communicate verbally with people, colleagues, managers and partners in different agencies in various settings.
• Developed communication skills to effectively communicate sometimes complex and/or sensitive information both verbally and in writing with people, as well as to provide feedback to professional colleagues.
• The ability to produce written reports and complete standard recording of service forms and documents, as well as communicating electronically, e.g. email.
• Ability to participate in learning & development by shadowing more experienced Community Care Workers and Social Workers.
• The ability to support, advise and give information to assist students on placement in their development, as well as less experienced basic entry band Community Care Workers, as appropriate.

Qualifications

• Educated to Vocational Level 3 (NVQ 3) in a relevant subject or equivalent level of qualifications or significant equivalent previous knowledge & experience.
• Good general education to GCSE level or equivalent.
• Enthusiasm and commitment to developing within an Adult Social Care setting.
• Experience word processing, MS Office word and excel.
• Evidence of a consistent pattern of learning and development from education, training and experience.
• Awareness of the Social Work England / Livewell Southwest Code of Practice and the College of Occupational Therapy, to meet the standards of practice and conduct required of social care workers.
• NVQ Level 3 and NVQ Level 4 Health & Social Care.
• Ability to frequently travel independently and in a timely manner between Livewell Southwest sites and community locations including areas not served by public transport.

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.