Health Squad Advanced Wellbeing Practitioner
County Durham & Darlington NHS Foundation Trust
This role is geared towards addressing health inequalitiesin the most deprived populations of East Durham, looking to help individualswho may have disengaged from health services.
The role involves delivering health assessments across arange of settings (including clinically relevant tests for which training willbe provided). For those with higher levels of needs, the successful candidatewill work to signpost, refer and advocate on their behalf with regard to NHSnavigation. This can involve speaking with key stakeholders such as GP andspecialist service providers.
Additionally, this role supports with identifying healthinequalities and working with key individuals to explore how best to addressthese and recommend service changes, as well as supporting with promotionalevents in line with national health campaigns.
The role requires a strong level of relationshipbuilding both with hard to engage individuals living chaotic lifestyles as wellas working collaboratively with community and clinical services to ensurepositive outcomes for these individuals. The role is supported by an effectiveline management structure, including regular 1-to-1 and monthly team meetings.
Main duties of the job
Duties of this role includeworking alongside a team based within the East of County Durham to seek out andprovide a health assessment service to targeted cohorts.
The candidate will report to alocality coordinator who will work alongside them to identify suitable venuesto provide this outreach service at.
The candidate will work withclients to identify health needs based on an initial health assessment, createcomprehensive and bespoke plans to address any health navigation needs, andsupport them to address these issues in whatever manner this may take. Thecandidate will liaise with partner agencies (most commonly including GPservices, addictions services, mental health services etc) to ensure anadequate potential for positive outcomes for clients.
The candidate will assist with the provision ofhealth promotion events, including creating appropriate materials, organisingand liaising with venues, facilitating these events and making appropriatedecisions to signpost accordingly. The candidate will assist in in identifyinghealth inequalities through asset based, holistic conversation methodologies.
About us
If you are being interviewed you must accept an interview slot in the system to continue, even if you have arranged with the manager
You must be able to produce ALL certificates stated essential in the person specification or you will not be able to complete pre-employment checks
We provide hospital services from two acute sites - Darlington Memorial Hospital and University Hospital of North Durham. We have a centre for planned care in Bishop Auckland and provide care from community hospitals in Chester-le-Street, Shotley Bridge, Barnard Castle, Sedgefield and Weardale as well as over 80 other community based settings and providing care in patients' homes.
We particularly welcome applications from disabled and Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic (BAME) candidates as BAME and disabled people are currently under-represented
Full Job Descriptions can be found in the adverts supporting documents
Over reliance onAI-generated content is discouraged and may diminish the applicant's chances ofsuccess
For the most up-to-date information on visa requirements and eligibility, please check online to determine whether you can apply.
From April 9th 2025 - Healthcare assistants - You must have a minimum of two yearsof experience working within the NHS as a HCA for the Trust to considersponsorship (we will only consider sponsorship if you meet this criteria andhave a current visa expiring within 3 months)
Job responsibilities
This role entails meeting clients (referred in or met viaoutreach) at community venues and delivering a health assessment including someclinical tests, for which full training will be provided.
Based on the assessment as delivered, the successfulcandidate will identify health needs based on an initial health assessment,create comprehensive and bespoke plans to address any health navigation needs,and support them to address these issues in whatever manner this may take. Thecandidate will liaise with partner agencies (most commonly including GPservices, addictions services, mental health services etc) to ensure anadequate potential for positive outcomes for clients.
The candidate will assist with theprovision of health promotion events, including creating appropriate materials,organising and liaising with venues, facilitating these events and makingappropriate decisions to signpost accordingly.
The candidate will assist in inidentifying health inequalities through asset based, holistic conversationmethodologies.
The role will include supportingclients to understand and manage their health goals through the provision ofbasic community therapeutic interventions and techniques.
There are no line managementresponsibilities aligned to this post, however the candidate may take onadditional responsibilities (to be discussed with line manager as part ofcareer development opportunities) such as management of volunteers or inductionof new starters as the service continues to develop.
The candidate will work proactivelyto meet rising and emergent needs in the communities supported. The candidatewill also maintain and develop their knowledge on key areas of information,such as developing changes in the illicit substance use communities.
The candidate will use a personalisedapproach to care to support clients to seek and undertake appropriate support.
The role will also requireappropriate and effective data management of clients, including inputtinginformation onto databases and supporting with reporting processes.
The candidate will work with thewider wellbeing services and partners to apply asset based communitydevelopment techniques and undertake research to support access to appropriateservices.
The role includes supporting theongoing work delivered by the wider Adult Wellbeing Services, such as workingco-productively in the delivery of community events (e.g. alongside Join theDots at cancer-related health promotion events).
The candidate will apply solutionfocussed problem solving to address the wider determinants of health includingthe four key clinical areas of health need, which are weight management,alcohol misuse, smoking cessation and severe mental illness.
The candidate will also contribute to theknowledge and learning before, during and after projects as part of the HealthSquad team.
Person Specification
Special Skills and Knowledge
* Knowledge of health and lifestyle issues relating to adults (gained through practical experience and/or
* Understanding of the wider determinants of health and their impact on communities
* A working knowledge of supporting clients with long term health conditions
* An ability to foster behaviour change and motivate individuals in relation to health-related behaviours
* Ability to act upon own initiative, respond to changing situations with excellent organizational and time
* Ability to handle sensitive data, conforming to all GDPR requirements
* Good IT skills with experience in a range of Microsoft Office packages
* Knowledge of community development approaches, the local area and VSCE in the County
* Ability to collate information and prepare reports
* Sympathetic, pleasant manner with the ability to negotiate changes with a wide range of people and at
* all levels whilst actively promoting the 5 ways to wellbeing
Special Requirements
* The ability to regularly travel independently across County Durham within the working day
* Flexibility including occasional evening or weekend work.
Qualifications
* Relevant qualification in health, Physical Activity, Nutrition, Public Health, Mental Health, etc. NVQ4 /
* Foundation degree / Higher National Diploma or equivalent.
* Good overall topic based training covering a range of wellbeing disciplines
* Health Trainer qualification (City and Guilds Level 3) with core competencies completed
* First Aid Qualification
* Health Check Training (within 3 months of appointment)
Experience
* Experience of working in the community or voluntary sector
* Experience of successfully engaging and working with both individuals and groups
* Experience of evaluating projects using a range of techniques
* Experience of effective team working, with the ability to use own initiative
* Some experience of partnership/collaborative/multi sector working and of building relationships across
* a variety of settings
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.
Employer name
County Durham & Darlington NHS Foundation Trust
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