Healthcare Assistant

NHS; Dewsbury; On-site; GBP 12,000 - 14,000; Part time

Job summary

A public health organization in Dewsbury is seeking a Health Care Assistant to support ongoing clinical interventions for individuals utilizing their services. This role involves monitoring health indicators, providing educational support, and working within a multidisciplinary team to facilitate recovery. Ideal candidates will have strong interpersonal skills and a commitment to continual personal development. Competitive salary offered based on part-time hours.

Benefits

Continuing professional development

Access to educational resources

Well-being hour per week

Qualifications

• Experience of working within substance misuse or a social care setting.
• IT literacy including proficiency in word processing and data entry.
• Knowledge of harm reduction and health promotion interventions.

Responsibilities

• Undertake initial screening for health issues.
• Assist in blood pressure and temperature monitoring.
• Provide education on health promotion and substance use.

Skills

Good interpersonal skills

Confidence to work independently

Ability to deliver quality services

Communication skills

Flexibility

Job description

The Health Care Assistant role is a varied one. They are an integral member of a multidisciplinary team, supporting with specialist clinical interventions to people who use our services.

In our services no two days are the same. Every person who comes into our service is treated as an individual, so understanding the importance of a whole person approach along with being curious, a good listener, a safe practitioner and having a flexible approach are essential skills.

You will also be supported to undertake the Care Certificate which will ensure you are well equipped to deliver on health and social care interventions. We want to support you to recognise and achieve your goals by

Attending regular national nurse and HCA forums, plus regular 1:1s and appraisals.

We actively support our HCAs with continuing professional development time.

We also have a wide range of educational opportunities including free access to the RCNi learning platform.

We offer you the opportunity to use the government backed Apprenticeship Levy fund to develop your practice in line with your specific role.

All our team members are encouraged to take a wellbeing hour every week and access personal well-being resources.

Main duties of the job

Work closely with the Nursing team to develop pathways to care.

Undertake initial physical and mental health screening for people who use our services and ensure appropriate sign posting/referral to primary care or appropriate secondary health care services for identified health issues.

Following training and competency sign off undertake interventions such as blood pressure, pulse, temperature monitoring, height/weight recording and ECGs for individuals who use our services as indicated/requested.

Assist in the titration process for opioid individuals who use our services as required.

Provide education, health promotion and screening for blood borne viruses (BBV). Support community alcohol & opioid detoxification.

Provide evidence-based harm reduction services, including needle exchange.

Contribute to CGLs Naloxone Strategy by training staff/individuals who use our services in the use of naloxone. Ensuring naloxone is distributed at every opportunity.

Utilise psychosocial intervention, in both one-to-one and group settings to promote engagement in treatment services and ownership of care.

Undertake phlebotomy following training and sign off, as required, ensuring adherence to identified pathways for blood sample labelling, collection, obtaining results and signposting.

Following training/competency sign off provide Hepatitis A and or B vaccinations under a patient specific direction (PSD) when indicated.

About us

Believe in people

At Change Grow Live, above all else we believe in people. It's the one thing that acts as a foundation for all our work.

If you use our services: we understand what you're going through. We won't judge. We believe you can make positive changes in your life.

If you work or volunteer for us: we believe in your potential. We believe you can do brilliant, life-changing work.

Our mission and vision

Our mission is to help people change the direction of their lives, grow as individuals, and live life to its full potential.

The vision we're working towards is to develop, deliver and share a whole person approach that changes society.

We believe that having diverse people working as part of our team makes us the organisation that we are.

We actively encourage applications from people from all backgrounds to help us to provide the best possible experience for the people who use our services and to make Change Grow Live a great place to work.

The safety of vulnerable children, young people and adults is our absolute priority. We will support you in your role to make sure that you are equipped to support the safety of people who use our services and those around them, to the highest standard possible.

Job responsibilities

Undertake initial physical and mental health screening for people who use our services and ensure appropriate sign posting/referral to primary care or appropriate secondary health care services for identified health issues.

Following training and competency sign off undertake interventions such as blood pressure, pulse, temperature monitoring, height/weight recording and ECGs for individuals who use our services as indicated or requested.

Assist and carry out appropriate toxicology screening processes including urine and saliva tests.

Assist in the titration process for opioid individuals who use our services as required by service need.

Provide education, health promotion and screening for blood borne viruses (BBV).

Following training and competency sign off provide Hepatitis A and or B vaccinations under a patient specific direction (PSD) when indicated.

Work as part of the integrated care and treatment pathways for individuals who are identified as being infected with BBVs (Hepatitis B, Hepatitis C and/or HIV).

Support community alcohol detoxification either at the service or at the service users home.

Support opioid detoxification in the community.

Undertake phlebotomy following training and competency sign off, as required, ensuring adherence to identified pathways for blood sample labelling, collection, obtaining results and signposting.

Support in the referral to specialist inpatient services (including detoxification) and liaise with hospital and inpatient unit staff as required.

Contribute to Change Grow Lives Naloxone Strategy by training staff and individuals who use our services in the use of naloxone. Ensuring naloxone is distributed to individuals who use our services at every opportunity.

Ensure vaccines are stored correctly and the cold chain is maintained as per current Department of Health Guidance. Maintain clinic fridge and room temperature checks and record as required.

Maintain required standards of infection control and hygiene as per CGL policies and procedures. Undertake regular clinic room checks, report and address, as directed, all variances from expected standards.

Provide evidence-based harm reduction services, including needle exchange.

Undertake basic life support and anaphylaxis training so you are confident and competent to assist in a medical emergency including the administration of anaphylaxis medication and naloxone if required.

Understand and adhere to the legislation surrounding the use of PSDs.

Utilise psychosocial intervention, in both one-to-one and group settings to promote engagement in treatment services and ownership of each individuals recovery journey.

Complete the Care Certificate if not already undertaken.

Communication

Develop therapeutic alliances with people who have substance misuse problems and develop effective partnerships with them to support their individual recovery journeys, offering health promotion and harm reduction advice.

Ensure that there is good communication of treatments offered, treatment progress and outcome of any investigations to other members of the clinical team.

Liaise with and take direction from other members of the team to provide the best possible specialist care for individuals who use our services, ensuring co-ordination and continuity of care.

Provide health education, regarding problematic alcohol and drug use and alcohol and drug detoxification.

Attend meetings appropriate to the development and maintenance of the role in agreement with and under the direction of the nurse.

Actively promote and participate in working with partnership organisations to develop and sustain effective treatment pathways.

Delivering a Quality Service

The post-holder will contribute to the service to ensure that people who use substances consistently receive high quality services that adhere to the best practice guidelines and to the highest professional standards.

Work as part of the nursing team to ensure that procedures are constantly reviewed to promote best practice and evidenced based practice in accordance with UK Guidelines on Clinical Management, NICE guidance, and CGL clinical protocols and procedures.

Support colleagues by providing coaching and teaching around harm reduction and BBVs.

Team Working

To work with others to ensure individuals who use our services have timely access to safe and effective prescribing for community detoxification from substances, across operational sites.

Contribute to the overall performance of the service to ensure that contractual output targets are achieved.

Working with colleagues in the service to deliver a community opioid and alcohol detoxification plan utilising a care co-ordinated approach to service user care.

Provide harm reduction advice to individuals who inject drugs, providing information and equipment and ensure all equipment is disposed of safely.

Undertake risk assessments and contribute to risk management plans for individuals who use our services engaged in the service.

Utilise appropriate prevention techniques to reduce substance misuse related harm and to aid in the prevention of multiple physical harms caused by drugs and alcohol.

Managing Information

Record and input client data and information in order that the service operates within contractual, administrative, and financial requirements.

Ensure that all data requirements in relation to individuals who use our services are met within defined deadlines.

The above is an outline of the post holders duties and responsibilities. It is not intended as an exhaustive list and may change from time to time to meet the changing needs of CGL.

Staff will need to work flexibly across operational sites as required and to work flexibly within an agreed number of hours to maintain the most appropriate level of service provision.

This role may involve evening, weekend, and bank holiday working.

Person Specification

Experience

• Good interpersonal skills and a willingness to work flexibly as part of a team.
• A clear understanding of the need for and ability to deliver quality services.
• A clear understanding of the need for and ability to deliver quality services.
• Confidence to work on own initiative as well as part of the team. Maintain professional boundaries and work effectively with partnership agencies.
• Demonstrate skills to undertake administrative duties.
• Communicate confidently and effectively, verbally and in writing.
• Respond flexibly to the demands of the post.
• Show a capacity to work alone and the ability to keep calm under pressure.
• Employ a professional, empathetic, and non-judgmental attitude towards individuals who use our services and all stakeholders.
• Show commitment to facilitating positive outcomes for individuals who use our services.
• Ability to travel between services (where required).
• A commitment to engaging with, understanding, and promoting
• Change Grow Lives values and vision.
• An understanding of and commitment to safeguarding best practice.
• An understanding of the importance of professional integrity in relationships with individuals who use our services, peers, and other relevant professionals.
• A responsibility for your own health, safety, and wellbeing as well as those around you (e.g., colleagues and individuals who use our services).
• An understanding of, and commitment to, treating all information acquired through the course of your employment as confidential.
• An understanding of information governance processes and a commitment to follow and apply all necessary safeguards.
• A commitment to seek learning opportunities to improve and broaden your own professional knowledge and skills and to contribute to and where relevant oversee the learning of others.
• Experience of working within substance misuse or a social care setting. IT literacy including proficiency in word processing and data entry.
• Knowledge of harm reduction and health promotion interventions.
• Knowledge of the issues facing substance misusers including appropriate medical interventions, social care, and health issues.
• Experience of contributing to project development.
• Knowledge of local services and geography.
• Knowledge of safeguarding children and vulnerable adults procedures.
• Understanding of the issues facing people who use substances, including appropriate medical interventions, social care, and health issues.

Qualifications

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.

£12,538.50 to £13,251 a year based on working 18.75 hours per week, pro rata