Job Overview
University Hospital Southampton NHS Foundation Trust is delighted to offer a fantastic opportunity to work with us. Please see below for a detailed job description of the role.
An exciting opportunity has arisen to join our award‑winning Vulnerable Adult Support Team. We are looking for highly motivated individuals who will work alongside our physical and mental health teams to support patients and parents who attend the Emergency Department, Acute Medical Unit, Major Trauma Unit, and Critical Care Unit in crisis, due to issues such as domestic abuse, sexual violence, substance use, and homelessness.
About the Team
You will join our dedicated team whose members are passionate about helping patients with complex psychosocial issues. The service is ‘one of a kind’, offering a unique opportunity to work alongside expert clinicians to provide person‑centred interventions in the acute hospital setting. The work of this team has been described as ‘outstanding’ in two CQC inspections of the Trust (in 2015 and 2019). The team won the ‘Emergency and Critical Care’ category in the 2018 National Nursing Times Awards.
You will report to the Band 7 and 8 leads for the service and will have the opportunity to collaborate with specialist practitioners across acute hospital and community services to develop safe and supportive management plans.
Working for Our Organisation
University Hospital Southampton is one of England's largest acute teaching Trusts, offering a wide range of learning and development opportunities to support your career aspirations. Located on the south coast with an international airport and direct rail links to London, Southampton offers an ideal setting to live and work, with the New Forest, South Downs, and Jurassic Coast.
At UHS we’re committed to providing a flexible working environment where possible, supporting work‑life balance, family, study, or wellbeing. We champion individuality, diversity, and an anti‑racist, anti‑discriminatory environment where everyone feels valued, safe, and empowered.
Your Responsibilities
Detailed job description and main responsibilities.
What You’ll Do
* You will receive referrals from clinical staff and spend time talking with each patient to understand the issues they are experiencing from their perspective.
* Your intervention will include identification of relevant psychosocial problems, risk assessment, information giving, signposting, and referral to specialist and community services.
* You will make safeguarding referrals for adults and their children.
* You will liaise with clinicians, safeguarding teams, and multi‑agency partners to formulate safe management plans.
* You will act as the patient’s advocate, helping them achieve desired outcomes, promoting their health, safety, and wellbeing.
* You will support patients in times of crisis and help them access needed services, creating positive change in their lives.
* You will provide supervision, mentoring, and training to less experienced team members.
* You will contribute to service development, including audit, and support the development of anticipatory care plans for patients with high intensity service use.
What We’re Looking For
* Experience of working with patients with psychosocial needs in a client‑focused health or social care setting.
* Experience of supporting the identification and reporting of adult and child safeguarding concerns.
* A good understanding of mental capacity, confidentiality and consent when applied to working with vulnerable adults.
* A professional appearance, and strong organisational, interpersonal and communication skills.
* Ability to manage your own time and work independently, and collaborate within teams.
* Minimum education to GCSE (or equivalent) standard, with a pass in English and an NVQ3 or equivalent level of experience.
* Availability to work a mix of weekdays, weekends, bank holidays, early (0800‑1600) and late (1400‑2200) shifts.
Qualifications / Training Required
Essential criteria
* Minimum education to GCSE (or equivalent) standard, with a pass in English.
* NVQ3 or specialist training/experience to a diploma level.
Previous or relevant experience necessary
Essential criteria
* Experience working with patients with complex psychosocial needs in a client‑focused health or social care role.
* Experience undertaking adult and child safeguarding referrals.
* Good understanding of mental capacity, confidentiality and consent for vulnerable adults.
Desirable criteria
* Experience working within the emergency care environment.
* Experience with the Symphony computer system and person‑centred care using motivational interviewing.
Aptitudes And Skills Required
Essential criteria
* Excellent verbal and written communication skills. Able to organise own workload and support others.
* Ability to maintain records using appropriate computer and manual files.
* Ability to work under pressure, prioritise, and exercise good organisational and interpersonal skills.
Desirable criteria
* Computer skills, including Microsoft Word, PowerPoint and Excel.
* Experience presenting information to small groups and mentoring staff.
Special requirements of the post
Essential criteria
* Aware of responsibilities regarding patient confidentiality and data protection.
* Aware of scope of practice limits and ability to refer issues to registered staff.
* Ability to process highly personal information sensitively.
* Reliable, flexible approach to work.
Desirable criteria
* Confidence interacting with professionals, including senior nurses, consultants and managers.
Trust Values
Essential criteria
* Patient First
* Working Together
* Always Improving
#J-18808-Ljbffr