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Support Worker

Support Worker: Discharge Support Service

This is an exciting opportunity to be part of a dynamic service offering support to people leaving hospital or at risk of readmission. The postholder will play an intrinsic part is enabling the individual to get home safely, settle back into their own environment and regain and maintain as much independence as possible to keep them living at home safely and increase their sense of wellbeing. This service operates 5 days a week, 11.00-19.00, but there may be opportunities for weekend working in the future.

Salary: £10.42 per hour

Contract: Permanent contract  

Work location: Wexham Park Hospital

Hours of work: 21 hours a week, worked to a rota

Reporting to: Service Manager

Job purpose:

Undertaking all duties required to meet the service users’ needs for them to return home safely from hospital, remain in their own home and prevent hospital re-admission. Referrals may require the support worker to take the patient home from hospital to enable their discharge, using the service’s vehicle or their own vehicle.

The post holder will respond to referrals from Clinicians and Community Health Professionals and will be required to have the ability to assess service users’ needs, completing and following a support plan for the individual. 

The post holder will be providing practical and emotional support in the service users own home and signposting to other services where appropriate to enable the individual to live independently in their own home.

Key tasks and responsibilities:

  • Ensure safe discharge home from hospital for service users, transporting them in the service vehicle or the staff member’s own vehicle.
  • Provide assistance to a person returning from hospital or medical facility and those identified by local health professionals as being at risk of a further decline in health or without a support mechanism.
  • Provide on-going assessment of service users’ needs, and work with them to develop a support plan which meets these needs, providing appropriate support to achieve positive outcomes.
  • Recording and reporting of activities undertaken and highlighting any changes in a service user’s condition and ensure that appropriate actions are taken if a service user’s health deteriorates.
  • Liaising with health, housing and other professionals to ensure that the needs of the service user are consistently met.
  • To ensure a safe living environment for service users through carrying out risk assessments and providing information/advice whilst respecting their individual dignity, choice and rights.
  • To carry out follow-up welfare checks and visits as required and assist service users with their activities to re-enable their daily living skills for up to the maximum support period.
  • Provide practical and emotional support such as; mobility aids loans, transport, companionship, assistance with shopping, helping access to groups and activities
  • Signpost to further support available; liaising with Community Connectors, external organisations, partners and voluntary and community sector colleagues

This job description may be changed according to the needs of the organisation.

 

Person Specification

Knowledge and Skills

Essential

 

·        Ability to work as part of a team and on own initiative

·        Able to plan own workload

·        IT literate with Microsoft 365

·        Knowledge of services provided by the NHS and Social Care

·        Good Interpersonal and verbal communication

·        Working knowledge of health and safety practices

·        Understanding of the Risk Assessment process

·        Ability to communicate with health and social care professionals

 

Desirable

 

·        Able to deal with queries in a diplomatic, professional and confidential manner

·        Supporting and developing individuals

·        Knowledge of the local area

·        Ability to monitor local financial procedures

·        Understanding of how to improve service quality for the benefit of users

 

 

                                   Experience

Essential

 

·        Supporting service users who may have a sensory or physical impairment, or who may have dementia or mental health issues or who may be frail

·        Participation in a multi-disciplinary team environment

·        Experience of delivering high quality services to the public

 

Desirable

 

·        Experience of working with volunteers

·        Experience of finding information through the internet and other sources

·        Supporting and supervising projects and activities

 

 

                        Additional requirements

 

·        Willingness to work flexibly around the needs of the service (which may include evening and weekends).

·        Full driving licence and use of own vehicle to transport service users

 General requirements:

  • To abide by the policies and procedures of the organisation.
  • To promote the good name of the organisation.
  • Previous experience of the voluntary sector useful, but not essential.

 

Equal Opportunities

Age UK Buckinghamshire is an equal opportunities employer and welcomes applications from all sections of the community, regardless of age, disability, race, religion or belief, gender, gender reassignment or sexual orientation.

DSS Support wkr JD WPH.docx

Age UK application form.docx

Guidance notes for completing the application form

Please send all completed application forms to: recruitment@ageukbucks.org.uk