Post-diagnostic Support Worker | South West London and St George's Mental Health NHS Trust

South West London and St Georges Mental Health Trust; City Of London; Hybrid; GBP 25,000 - 30,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading mental health service provider in the UK is seeking a post-diagnostic support worker to assist in caring for older adults with memory problems. The role involves facilitating group sessions, coordinating care with families, and conducting audits. Candidates should have strong communication skills and a passion for improving outcomes for older adults. This role offers a chance to develop skills in a supportive multidisciplinary environment.

Qualifications

• Experience working with older adults is essential.
• Excellent communication skills and a proactive attitude are required.
• Ability to work autonomously is necessary.

Responsibilities

• Facilitate group sessions and create care plans.
• Monitor patient progress and provide feedback.
• Support patients in managing their care needs.

Skills

Experience working with older adults

Excellent communication skills

Proactive attitude

Ability to work autonomously

Experience facilitating groups

Excellent documentation skills

Understanding of audits

Job description

Job Overview

An exciting opportunity has arisen for a band 4 post‑diagnostic support worker. The Wandsworth Memory Assessment Service is a well‑established team within a wider service, providing timely assessment, diagnosis and treatment for people with memory problems. The support worker will support the team to facilitate group sessions, care‑plan directly with patients, liaise with family and carers, liaise with third‑sector organisations and carry out audits. This is a fantastic chance to develop transferable skills and experience in cognitive disorders and older people’s mental health in a supportive multidisciplinary environment.

Key Responsibilities

• Facilitate group sessions.
• Create care plans directly with patients.
• Coordinate with family and carers.
• Engage with third‑sector organisations.
• Conduct audits.

Working Environment

The role involves agile working and the applicant will be expected to work from the team base as well as a variety of locations, depending on service need.

Qualifications and Skills

The post holder should have experience working with older adults and a passion for improving outcomes for older adults experiencing memory problems. Excellent communication skills, a proactive attitude and ability to work autonomously are essential. Experience facilitating groups or a desire to develop this skill, experience working with family and carers, excellent documentation skills and an understanding of audits are highly desirable.

Detailed Responsibilities

1. Work autonomously within the parameters of the role, ensuring delivery of quality care and contributing to the physical, psychological, social, recreational and spiritual care of patients.
2. Ensure the fundamentals of care are met: nutrition, hydration, hygiene, comfort, emotional and social support.
3. Support the patients’ management of care needs through
   • Initial data collection
   • Monitoring of individual service user / patient progress
   • Feedback and discussion
   • Producing reports and in‑care reviews
   • Devising a plan of care and interventions supervised by a registered nurse
4. In a junior leadership role, lead and direct junior staff in providing hands‑on care to service users, including
   • 1‑to‑1 engagement with service users in an honest, open and non‑judgmental way.
   • Recognise and value service users as individuals, maintaining their respect, dignity and equality.
   • Contribute to care plans that reflect service user needs and relevant documentation in partnership with the MDT.
   • Escalate concerns to the relevant health‑care professional.
   • Monitor and record clinical observations (vital signs, physical observations) and raise concerns as appropriate.
   • Promote healthy lifestyles, give health‑promotion advice and support, and facilitate psychosocial activities where appropriate.
5. Escort service users when required, in line with Trust policies.
6. Advocate for service users’ needs and rights within Trust policy, encouraging and empowering them to take responsibility for their care.
7. Support the registered nurse to coordinate and prioritise activities within the clinical area.