UCR Healthcare Assistant

The Methodist Church in Britain; King's Lynn; On-site; GBP 21,000 - 28,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Regular supervision

Professional development opportunities

Job summary

East of England Community Health and Care NHS Trust is seeking a Band 3 Healthcare Assistant for the Urgent Community Response team. The role focuses on personal care, end of life support, wound care and night-sits, working alongside nurses and therapists to keep patients safe at home and avoid hospital admission.

The service runs 8am to 8pm every day of the year, so weekend working is expected. A full driving licence and vehicle access are required, and applicants must pass occupational health

Qualifications

• NVQ Level 3 or equivalent knowledge and experience.
• GCSE grade C in English and Maths.

Responsibilities

• Personal care for patients in their own homes during crises.
• Medication support, meal preparation and prompting prescribed exercise programmes.
• Wound care and injections, supporting community nursing teams.
• Supporting people at the end of life.
• Providing prescribed equipment.
• Completing night-sits.
• Keeping people safe at home and avoiding unnecessary hospital admission.
• Supporting early discharge from hospital and in-patient units.
• Contributing to care pathways for long-term conditions, palliative care and rehabilitation.
• Working with health professionals and agencies to provide an integrated service.
• Referring people on to other appropriate services as needed.

Skills

Effective communication

Interpersonal skills

Initiative

Observational skills

Motivation & empathy

Education

NVQ Level 3 or equivalent

GCSE English and Maths (C)

Job description

Band 3 Healthcare Assistant post in the Urgent Community Response team at East of England Community Health and Care NHS Trust, a short-term service that avoids hospital admission by keeping people safe at home. Duties centre on personal care, end of life support, wound care and night-sits, working alongside nurses and therapists. The service runs 8am to 8pm every day of the year, so weekend working is expected, and the role needs a full driving licence and vehicle access. Applicants must pass occupational health fitness checks.

What the job involves

• Personal care for patients in their own homes during crises


• Medication support, meal preparation and prompting prescribed exercise programmes


• Wound care and injections, supporting community nursing teams


• Supporting people at the end of life


• Providing prescribed equipment


• Completing night-sits


• Keeping people safe at home and avoiding unnecessary hospital admission


• Supporting early discharge from hospital and in-patient units


• Contributing to care pathways for long-term conditions, palliative care and rehabilitation


• Working with health professionals and statutory and non-statutory agencies to provide an integrated service


• Referring people on to other appropriate services as needed

Qualifications

• NVQ Level 3 or equivalent knowledge and experience


• GCSE grade C in English and Maths

Experience

• Experience working in a health or social care setting

Skills & knowledge

• Effective communication in spoken and written English


• Good interpersonal skills and ability to work as part of a team


• Own initiative, with awareness of when to escalate to senior staff


• Good observational and reporting skills, and ability to manage stressful situations


• Highly motivated, able to provide high standards of care, with tact, diplomacy, empathy and sensitivity

Checks & eligibility

• Full and valid driving licence


• Access to a vehicle and ability to make own travel arrangements


• Additional checks where the role has contact with children or vulnerable adults

Other

• Passed fit for full duties through occupational health, with reasonable adjustments if needed


• Professional appearance and reliability


• Able to kneel, bend, stoop and work in cramped environments


• Able to manoeuvre limbs of around 5-6kg and move patients using handling aids


• Able to work flexibly to meet patient and service needs, including some weekend working

Nice to have

• Experience of working in a community care setting


• Knowledge of SystmOne

What’s offered

• Regular supervision


• Professional development opportunities