Job overview
The Assistant Practitioner will work under the direction and guidance of the Home First and discharge hub team.
The post holder will complete initial and follow up visits of patients who have recently been discharged from hospital, completing assessments within their scope of practice.
Main duties of the job
• To support patients being discharged as part of Home First initiative by assessing them in their place of discharge to ensure that the discharge was safe and effective
• To confirm/identify any equipment or POC requirements, and onward referrals, and to ensure that these are actioned.
• To assess effectiveness and safety of prescribed equipment with patients in their own home during follow-up visits
• To ensure that patients are informed of how to report any faults in equipment.
• To work with the Discharge team to help to identify patients suitable for discharge on the Home First pathway.
• To have an understanding and sensitivity/empathy towards patients physical, mental, psychosocial and spiritual needs and to take these into account when making onward referrals.
Working for our organisation
Our high secure services care for patients from South of England and we provide low and medium secure services across eight London boroughs. The Trust also provides mental and physical healthcare in three London boroughs (Ealing, Hounslow and Hammersmith & Fulham). We employ over 5,000 staff, of whom 59% are BME. Our turnover for 2024-25 is over £500m.
The Trust is rated as ‘Good’ overall by the Care Quality Commission. Forensic services are rated as ‘Outstanding’.
The Trust is an established partner and contributor in the development of the evolving North West London Integrated Care System and the Integrated Care Board. The Trust leads the NW London Children and Adolescent Mental Health provider collaborative.
Detailed job description and main responsibilities
The Candidate Pack provides an overview of the key tasks and responsibilities of the role, and the person specification outlines the qualifications, skills, experience and knowledge required. Please view as attached
The person specification below is not the full person specification, but outlines the criteria against which your application form will be assessed.
Person specification
Qualifications
Essential criteria
1. Educated to A Level/ NVQ Leve 3 or equivalent
2. Higher National Certificate in health and social care or equivalent
Desirable criteria
3. ECDL qualification
4. Knowledge of medical terminology
5. Customer Care training
6. Foundation degree level or equivalent
Experience
Essential criteria
7. Relevant and recent experience working in a senior Administrative role or Health / social care clinical role working with patients
8. Experience of working to and implementing local policies and procedures
9. Ability to work in a busy department whilst maintaining professionalism at all times
10. Experience of discharge to assess pathways
11. Experience of using NHS IT/ Database systems
12. Experience of discharge processes
13. Working knowledge of office procedures, structure and workings of a large organisation
14. Understand the importance of confidentiality
15. Ability to work on own initiative and within a team
16. Ability to provide patients with an environment that supports privacy and dignity
17. Supports patient equality and diversity
18. Ability to problem solve
Desirable criteria
19. Medical terminology
Skills
Essential criteria
20. Good IT skills to include use of Microsoft packages: word, outlook, excel and other Microsoft office software packages
21. Ability to draft routine correspondence
22. Ability to work under pressure and meet deadlines in a realistic manner
23. Good written and verbal communication skills
24. Excellent written and spoken command of the English language
25. Excellent organisational and time management skills
26. Ability to work in a multi-disciplinary setting
27. Ability to collate data and produce reports
Other Requirements
Essential criteria
28. Excellent interpersonal skills
29. Excellent organisational and time management skills
30. Able to work under pressure and to deadlines
31. Ability to work autonomously and as part of a busy team and encourage collaborative working
32. Ability to use own initiative
33. Flexible approach to working hours/duties