Job Description

Job Title / Discharge Support Worker
Job Band / AS1H / Ref
Department / Health & Social Care /
Division
/ Southern Region
Reporting To / Service Manager – H&SC / Location / Yeovil District Hospital
Duration / 6 month contract /
Last Updated
/ 09.01.14

Context

The Red Cross is the largest voluntary humanitarian organisation in the world. It promotes humanitarian values and provides emergency help to people in short term crisis in the UK and overseas. Within the UK, the British Red Cross delivers services through its 50,000 volunteers and 3,000 staff.

Scope

The Red Cross helps vulnerable people in the UK regain their independence following personal crisis. The Yeovil Assisted Discharge service facilitates the transition to home from the Frail Older Persons Assessment Service (FOPAS), for patients in need of support to help them settle back in at home.

Overall Purpose of the Post

To accept referrals from the ward sister, nurse in charge and other designated hospital staff, assist with creating and maintaining simple short-term support plans for each discharged patient, transport them home if required and help settle in and support them for up to 72 hours via telephone calls and/or home visits so they can recover and remain safe and well at home.

Main Duties and Responsibilities

  To accept referrals from the ward sister, nurse in charge and/or designated hospital staff.

  To help assess, and in conjunction with all appropriate parties, help create and subsequently maintain a simple short-term up to 72 hour support plan together with an exit strategy for each patient referred.

  To transport and escort patients from Yeovil District hospital to their own homes as requested.

  To settle patients back at home and help with any essential food shopping as required, prompt medication if requested, help prepare light meals/snacks and drinks and generally provide practical and emotional support to help them return to a normal daily routine.

  To report any obvious risks to patients in their own homes whilst respecting their choices and preferences.

  To suggest adjustments to their support plans as necessary following the initial take home/home visit and communicate back to the ward sister or nurse in charge.

  To report any concerns or changes to patient’s health or social care needs immediately to the ward sister or nurse in charge, if neither are available, then to report to the original referee.

  Be prepared to accept new urgent referrals if requested and help re-organise existing plans if possible to accommodate.

  Maintain appropriate records and provide short written reports after every shift for each visit and telephone call made.

  To have an awareness of and comply with all relevant Health and Safety Regulations.

  To uphold the reputation of the British Red Cross by maintaining high personal standards and projecting a warm, appreciative and welcoming attitude towards patients, colleagues, and NHS staff.

  To uphold the Fundamental Principles of the Red Cross and Red Crescent movement and to work within the Society’s Equal Opportunities policy.

  Undertake any other duties related to the service and to be flexible in times of need.

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Person Specification

Job Title: Discharge Support Worker
Band: AS1H

Education/ Training

/   Educated to GCSE level or equivalent **
  NVQ2 qualification in care or similar would be an advantage

Experience

/   Previous experience of similar hands-on working in a health or social care environment
  Previous experience of involvement with assessment of service user needs in a health or social care setting would also be advantageous
  Experience of working to strict schedules
  Experience of working in a multi-disciplined team setting
  Experience of working with the frail, elderly or other vulnerable adults

Knowledge/ Technical Skills

/   Ability to help mould methods of working and determine on-going best practice
  Good admin skills
  Ability to identify and help assess peoples needs
  Ability to collect service user data and service quality feedback
  Ability to re-organise own workload and plans to accommodate urgent new referrals
  Good geographic knowledge of Yeovil and the surrounding areas would be useful
  Knowledge of or willingness to learn the key issues relating to avoidance of readmissions, reablement, health indicators and housing support**
  IT literate

Competencies

/   Ability to relate effectively to people of all types and at all levels - internal, external, patients, paid staff and volunteers**
  Excellent oral and written communication skills**
  Ability to work in a fast-moving environment requiring quick action and where quality and patient outcomes really do matter**
  Ability to use own initiative and work as part of a multi-disciplined team**
  Ability to manage own time and workload, and respond to and prioritise a range of competing demands **

Behaviours

/   Passion and enthusiasm for supporting people
  Positive in outlook, enthusiastic and flexible in approach**
  Strong team player**
  Understanding of and commitment to equal opportunities policy and procedures and the Red Cross Fundamental Principles**

Special Circumstances

/   An enhanced DBS check will be required for this role
  Car driver**
  Willingness to work flexible hours when absolutely essential to maintain service delivery**
  Willingness to undertake appropriate work related training courses**
  Able to respond to Red Cross emergency situations with 24 hour on call duties as required

**Minimum short-listing criteria. N.B. All disabled candidates who meet these criteria must be short-listed for interview in line with our commitment under the two- tick symbol scheme.

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