Physical Health Outreach Worker

Midlands Partnership University NHS Foundation Trust; Telford; On-site; GBP 25,000 - 30,000; Full time

Job summary

A healthcare organization in the UK is seeking an Outreach Worker to support patients in the Shropshire area, focusing on their physical health needs. The role involves home and community visits to deliver health checks, support, and education around physical health for patients with enduring mental health conditions. Candidates should possess skills in physical health tasks and demonstrate the ability to work within a healthcare team.

Benefits

Career development opportunities

Flexible working options

NHS discounts available

Qualifications

• Experience with physical health assessments and care.
• Ability to work in a team environment under supervision.
• Knowledge of health screening and promotion.

Responsibilities

• Plan and coordinate physical healthcare needs of patients.
• Conduct health promotion and prevention activities.
• Participate in multi-professional meetings.

Skills

Physical health skills

Job description

Overview

The primary role of this post is to act as an Outreach Worker covering the Shropshire Telford and Wrekin area. This will involve making home visits to clients along with Care Home visits and other Community visits as required.

Patients with severe and enduring mental illness are known to have poorer physical health outcomes than the general population. For this reason, Shropshire Care Group is providing support to patients around their physical health needs.

You will work together with team members conducting supervised specialist assessments of patients, focusing on their Physical Health needs. They will lead on ensuring that patients with enduring mental health conditions are not discriminated by virtue of their mental illness in terms of their physical health. The post holder will lead on supporting patients carrying out physical health checks as specified in the Lester tool, health screening, health promotion and lifestyle advice.

The post holder will be responsible for participating and assisting in the delivery of care/services to patients as part of a Mental Health Care Team, in this case the Community Mental Health service, working under the direct supervision of a registered nurse.

Main duties of the job

• Responsible for the planning and coordination of the physical healthcare needs of patients within the Community Mental Health Pathways; including the requirement for physical examinations and investigations.
• To complete and or order necessary investigations, provide treatment and care individually, as part of a team, through supervision of staff and through liaison and referral to other agencies, e.g. ECGs, Bloods.
• Undertake health promotion and prevention activities, e.g educating patients in the side effects of medication and lifestyle choices.
• Use professional judgement in managing complex and unpredictable care events. Capture the learning from these experiences to improve patient care and service delivery.
• Play an active role in multi-professional meetings.
• Ensure the delivery of high quality care through the pathway and demonstrate high personal standards in clinical practice in line with NICE Guidance.
• Collect and collate data/information effectively for the purpose of audit and service performance.
• Contribute towards research in the area of expertise
• Contribute to the maintenance and monitoring of service standards and make suggestions for improvement.
• Promote shared decision making with Service User involvement in all aspects of their care.
• Identify issues of concern at work and alerting appropriate personnel
• To assess and plan care in a manner that is consistent with the evidence based practice, policies and procedures and the management of risk

Working for our organisation

At MPFT we pride ourselves on staff wellbeing and development and can we offer you:

• Our SOOTHE resources - supporting staff across the trust with their physical, mental & financial health. In addition to the support offered from our occupational health provider Team Prevent
• Counselling support & lifestyle information with advice on a variety of personal matters
• “In our Gift” providing a platform for your voice to be heard to inform change
• The opportunity to purchase additional annual leave
• Opportunities for flexible working (depending on the role)
• Career development opportunities & coaching plus access to in house training programs
• Innovative research training program entitled STARS (Supporting the advancement of Research Skills)
• Child Care Vouchers Scheme
• Recognition & engagement through our staff LOVE awards, LOVE long service awards and Staff Engagement Surveys
• NHS discounts available via the Blue Card & Red Guava schemes

As part of our strong commitment to equality, diversity, and inclusion we welcome applications from candidates who meet the specific criteria regardless of race, gender, religion, sexual orientation, age, physical and/or mental disability or offending background.

We embed values based and inclusive recruitment practices to ensure that all applicants, from any background, have an equal chance of success in achieving a role with us.

Detailed Job Description and Main Responsibilities

For full details and overview of the role, please read and review the job description attached to this vacancy.

Please be aware that the use of artificial intelligence (AI) in completing application forms will be monitored to ensure fairness and transparency. If you have used AI you must state this in your application.

Please note, we may be required to close this vacancy early if we receive a high volume of applications.

Person specification

Experience

Essential criteria

• Physical health skills