Join a dedicated team providing health care support for Acute Virtual Ward patients' in their homes across Plymouth, South Hams, and West Devon. This part time role (up to30.00 hours per week, 7.5-hour shifts) is ideal for an experienced and motivated health care assistant eager to contribute to a growing Urgent Care Nursing service.
You will deliver high-quality, patient-centered care in thecommunity, helping individuals remain safe and independent at home whilesupporting their health and wellbeing. The role involves utilising clinicalskills and expertise within the Urgent Care Nursing Service.
We seek a health care assistant with some clinical knowledge, sound judgement,and the ability to work autonomously and collaboratively in a forward-thinkingteam.
You will need the ability to working autonomously demonstrating initiative and passion.
Livewell is dedicated to produce a competent workforce; byoffering career progression and in return we expect commitment from all ourstaff. If you feel you have ambition, courage and energy to meet the health andsocial care challenges ahead.
All Livewell staff are expected to be able and willing to workacross a 7 day service.
Please note that Livewell may close the job advertisement earlierthan the specified deadline.
Main duties of the job
Responsible for the delivery of high quality care for patients within their homes.
Liaise with the nurse in charge and referral coordinator within the Urgent care nursing service team, and willbe supported by senior clinicians & clinical manager.
Responsible for effectively assessing, monitoring & escalating concerns regarding patient care using SBAR tool.
To prevent & reduce hospital admissions & minimisehospital lengths of stay by supporting the multi disciplinary team with care planning using clinical skills such as observations using NEWS 2, venepuncture and ECG's.
Responsible for reporting to senior clinician on duty.
The Urgent Care Nursing team work on a flexible rota shift system.
The service covers 24 hours per day over seven days a week. However the Acute Virtual Ward health care assistant role runs from 08:30 - 17:00, this post is for 8 hourshift per day.
The post holder will need to travel and attend to service usersbased across Plymouth and other geographical areas. Full and valid drivinglicence and access to a car for work purposes is required. Reasonableadjustments under the Equality Act will be taken into account for thesuccessful applicant.
Able to provide the interface between hospital, primary care,community & social care settings
Please note that this role may be eligible for sponsorshipunder the Skilled Worker route, please refer to the Direct Gov website forinformation
About us
Livewell Southwest is an independent, award-winning socialenterprise delivering integrated health and social care services acrossPlymouth, South Hams, and West Devon, with specialist services in parts ofDevon and Cornwall. Our teams work in community hospitals, GP practices, sportscentres, and health hubs.
As an organisation with a strong social conscience we are guided by our values,kindness, respect, inclusivity, ambition, responsibility, andcollaboration. We focus on transforming services to ensure sustainability, whileempowering staff and those we serve.
We involve the people we care for, along with their families and carers, inshaping the care they receive, striving to deliver the right care at the righttime and place. Centering our work on individual needs helps people leadhealthy, independent lives.
We prioritise employees' development, offering protected CPD time, trainingpathways, leadership programs, and funding for qualifications like the CareCertificate and Nurse Training Scholarships. Our induction and preceptorshipprograms ensure a smooth transition into our organisation.
Livewell Southwest values diversity and encourages applications from allsections of the community, including those with armed forces experience, lived experience of mentalhealth, neuro-diverse conditions and learning disabilities. If you need assistance or reasonable adjustments during theapplication process, contact the Recruiting Manager listed in the job advert.
Job responsibilities
Virtual ward is a safe andefficient alternative to NHS bedded care. Virtual wards support patients who would otherwise be in hospital toreceive the acute care and treatment they need in their own home. This includeseither preventing avoidable admissions into hospital or supporting earlydischarge out of hospital.
The post holder will carry out duties workingindependently or alongside the registered nurse and other members of the MDTteam within Plymouth, South Hams and West Devon undertaking urgent clinicalnursing skills to patients in their own homes, care homes or other communitylocations.
Oncompletion of competencies the role will include assisting nursing and membersof MDT using clinical procedures including, venepuncture, Male and femaleurethral catheterisation, 12 lead ECG recording, Simple wound care and aseptictechnique, delivery of medications. Goodcommunication skills with patients and colleagues and the ability to organiseallocated work is an essential component of this post.
Toplan, organise, prioritise and adjust own case load in relation to patientrequirement, indirectly supported by Registered Nurse or MDT team. To beresponsible for accurately documenting patient visits and contacts and ensuringthis information is communicated to the appropriate team.
Referrals will be obtained from Virtualward, Secondary Care, GPs, Community District Nursing Teams, PPG via 111, SWASTand other appropriate services.
Thepost holder will be able to provide holistic evidence based / best practicecare to patients in accordance with National and Organisational approvedpolicies/procedures and individual care plans.
Work autonomously and unsupervisedin the community setting, recognising the risks associated with lone working,both clinically and socially and work proactively to reduce those risks. To manage, underindirect supervision, own workload within competencies of the post.
Work as an autonomous practitioner,managing and prioritising delegated workload according to local guidelines andidentified need. Working in a variety ofcommunity settings, exercising a high level of judgement, discretion anddecision making in clinical care.
Work within challenging andunpredictable environments e.g. patients homes, which may have constraints andrequire adaptability
Supporting other members of the teamin their planning of patient care.
Provides support and advice topatients carers and relatives (on patients conditions and prognosis) whereappropriate.
Ableto recognise the importance of health education and teaching of patients andcarers, and to be able to advise and refer patients on where to accessinformation.
Followingpatient assessment, undertake clinical skills specific to individual competenceunder indirect supervision.
Abilityto undertake a range of agreed competency based diagnostic tests includingVenepuncture & point of care testing, Urethral Catheterisation, 12 Lead ECGand bladder scanning. This list is not exhaustive.
Responsibility for reviewing caredelivery and maintaining records in accordance with local and with organisationalguidelines.
Maintainaccurate records, which are confidential, up to date, legible and that all caregiven is documented. These records may be paper or IT based system and must bemaintained as specified in the Organisation Policies, NMC guidelines andGovernment directives. Works as part of amulti-disciplinary team
Acts as patient representative tofacilitate appropriate care pathways which involves effective communication topeers, other specialist practitioners, GPs and Consultants.
To adhere to infectioncontrol policies and guidance.
Person Specification
Knowledge
* Willingness to learn
* Awareness of Policies / Standards
* Evidence of recent study
* Familiar with and committed to the principles and values of the NHS
* Experience HCA level 3
Additional requirements
* The post holder will need to travel and attend to service users based across Plymouth and other geographical areas. Full and valid driving licence and access to a car for work purposes is required. Reasonable adjustments under the Equality Act will be taken into account for the successful applicant.
Experience
* Relevant experience within a care environment
Qualifications
* NVQ 3 in healthcare / skills, knowledge and ability to work to the level required
* GCSEs grade A-C / 4-9 in maths and English or functional skills level 2 in Maths and English
Specific skills
* Effective communication skills including written, oral and IT based
* Good interpersonal skills
* Ability to work independently using own initiative
* Good time management
* Organisational skills
* Ability to recognise own limitations
* Ability to recognise the professional accountability and responsibility of post
* Venepuncture
* Recording ECG
* Wound care (including removal of sutures / clips, packing of wounds, short stretch bandaging)
* Continence management including bladder scanning, and male and Female catheterisation
Disclosure and Barring Service Check
This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.
#J-18808-Ljbffr