Calderdale and Huddersfield NHS Foundation Trust (CHFT) are committed to equal opportunities and welcome applications from all sections of the community, regardless of any protected characteristics.
We are committed to recruiting to our values. Leading
One Culture of Care
underpins our values by creating an environment, tone and behaviours across all parts of the Trust that are fundamentally rooted in compassionate care.
We are open to considering a wide range of flexible working arrangements. There are opportunities to flex the days of the week, hours and times of work and place of work including: part-time, job-share, flexible working hours and the possibility to work from home when appropriate. Please talk to us during the interview process to discuss any flexibility that you may require.
We received our Silver Award from the Defence Employer Recognition Scheme which is helping actively promote SaBRE - Supporting Britain's Reservists and Employers. This means that we provided its statement of intent to support all Defence personnel and we welcome application to work for us. Find out more - Why Choose CHFT?
Our Future Plans
The Department of Health and Social Care has awarded capital funding to invest in local health services at both Calderdale Royal Hospital and Huddersfield Royal Infirmary. This is a significant investment and an opportunity to enhance services for our populations in Calderdale and Huddersfield and West Yorkshire for generations to come. To find out more, please visit https://future.cht.nhs.uk/
Job overview
To assist and support staff with direct and indirect patient care through engagement activities within clearly defined limits. This role will involve care and support of the older person. The successful candidate will work without direct supervision using their initiative within the level of competence.
The successful candidate will be passionate, committed, driven and able to use their own initiative.
Main duties of the job
The role will require you to support the multidisciplinary team(MDT) staff to deliver a multi-component prevention of delirium and support vulnerable patients who have a suspected diagnosis or confirmed diagnosis of dementia, acute delirium, with or without challenging behaviour using activities to support their recovery.
Our patients often may have an element of delirium or established dementia which is why the Engagement Support Worker's are a crucial part of the team in supporting individuals. The ESW role includes supporting the individual in reorientation, maintaining/ supporting them back to their baseline or new level of independence.
You will support patients either on an individual basis or in groups with reorientation exercises, stimulating activities, calming therapies, films, games, reminiscing, supporting with nutrition and prompting/eating, supporting mobilisation on the ward, personal cares (as required) and for individuals who are experiencing an acute challenging delirium you may provide intense support working closely with the MDT and family/loved ones to support them back to their base line.
We support and use the Butterfly Scheme, John's Campaign and strive to achieve patient centred individualised care therefore written and verbal communications with loved ones/families is also essential to deliver the best care and achieve the best outcomes for our patients.
Working for our organisation
Ward 6 is a 22 bedded Acute Medical Ward which specialises in Complex Care involving Care of the Older Person or individuals with Complex Care needs.
Our Team strives to provide the best care possible through our quality improvement work which successful candidates will have the opportunity to be a part of.
At CHFT we pride ourselves on delivering 'Outstanding Compassionate Care for our patients'. We care for one another as employees as we do our patients through 'One Culture of Care'.
Our Values as an organisation are..
-we put People first
-we work Together to get results
- we do the Must Dos
- we Go See.
Detailed job description and main responsibilities
- to ensure all care delivered is delivered in a safe manner with compassion, professionalism and always in the best interests of the person.
-attend handover to ensure all relevant information is obtained and to liaise with the nursing teams regarding those who require prevention of delirium interventions/support.
-to build therapeutic relationships with patients and relatives through using verbal non verbal communication skills, having regular conversations, providing reassurance being kind and empathetic, providing companionship whilst listening to the person taking note of their interests, likes/dislikes and ensuring records are kept up to date regarding such.
-to work as part of the ward team whilst delivering group interactions/activities to monitor and where appropriate prevent increased risk of delirium. such interventions are aimed at increasing patients orientation to time, place and cognitive stimulation (reading, reminiscing, social interaction, coffee mornings, meal times etc)
-to encourage and support relatives/loved ones and friends to participate in the recovery of patients by encouraging them to focus conversations around familiar events and routines, bring familiar items to support patients reorientation to the environment, routines and improvement in memory.
-to ensure patients with sensory impairments )including poor vision and hearing) have appropriate clean spectacles, hearing aids, checking they're in good working order and batteries replaced as required.
-to support people with nutrition, hydration and dietary requirements, refreshing their jugs of water, identifying particular likes and dislikes if they're able to tell you or supporting staff if the patient is non verbal in identifying specific nutritional likes and dislikes. to support in the record keeping of fluid intake and nutritional intake whilst escalating to nursing staff any concerns.
- to offer support to patients over meal times by helping/aiding with cutting up meals, arranging cutlery, removing packaging from food- nutritional support is not exclusive of this listed, other support as requested by the individual or by nursing staff.
- to support patients to walk independently or aided by supervision, supporting them to mobilise to day room, social area, bathroom or a walk up and down the corridor or around the ward.
-to ensure appropriate consent is obtained before supporting or delivering any intervention
-to ensure the patient's electronic record is updated with any interventions or observations noted such as memory care plans, meal interactions, food diaries, social interactions and information obtained from the family/ loved ones
- to escalate any concerns to the nurse regarding patients well being eg/ pain, discomfort, breathing difficulties, new confusion, disorientation or behavioural challenges.
- to work with the nursing teams and under the direction of the nurse in charge whilst working under own initiative.
Person specification
Qualification/Training
Essential criteria English and Math GCSE grade 9-2 (A*-E) or equivalent or high level of literacy and numeracy skills demonstrated within application Competence based level 2 Qualification e.g. NVQ or Diploma in Care or The Care Certificate issued by an employer Willingness to undertake any training or development relevant to the role
Knowledge, experience & expertise
Essential criteria Previous employment within a healthcare environment, working with older people Experience of developing activities for working with groups Demonstrate a commitment to a caring profession Understand the importance of record keeping Literacy skills
Desirable criteria Experience of working with patients with Dementia Knowledge of the conditions of Delirium and Dementia Awareness of Delirium prevention & management strategies Moving and handling and Infection control Food hygiene Resuscitation Customer care Experience of record keeping Infection Control Insight into the roles and responsibilities of the post
Communication and relationships
Essential criteria Ability to work as a team member Ability to work in a busy environment Good verbal, non-verbal and written communication skills Able to use own initiative as necessary Aware of own limitations/ level of competence
Desirable criteria Plan delegated workload
Our vision is to provide
One Culture of Care
for one another in order that we can provide compassionate care for the people who use our services. We are passionate about creating a workplace where we work together to get results, encouraging colleagues to have their say, in order to co create the change we want to see. We take pride in the diversity of our workforce that's why we encourage applications from all. Reasonable adjustments will be made for disabled applicants.
Please ensure your application is submitted with referees who can verify your employment/education history over the last three years and include valid email addresses for them. We will request electronic Factual Employment References from your previous employers. These references will be requested before you are issued with an unconditional offer of employment letter.
Candidates who require a Skilled Worker visa to work in the United Kingdom can determine the likelihood of obtaining a Certificate of Sponsorship for this position by assessing their circumstances against the criteria specified on the Check if you need a UK visa - GOV.UK website. We encourage all applicants to review these criteria carefully to understand their eligibility for sponsorship.
If you are appointed to a post, information will also be transferred into the NHS Electronic Staff Records system. The Inter-Authority Transfer (IAT) process is a critical and beneficial component of ESR and following interview your previous NHS employment data, if applicable will be transferred from your current / most recent employer.
You may be required to undertake a DBS. The Trust will administer the DBS check on your behalf and will recover the cost (Enhanced £54.40, Standard £26.40 or Basic £26.40) from your salary when you commence in post (including Internal staff). You will also be required to participate in the DBS Update Service and pay the £16 cost per year.
This is a condition of your employment.
CHFT is part of the West Yorkshire Association of Acute Trusts (WYAAT), a collaborative of the NHS hospital trusts from across West Yorkshire and Harrogate working together to provide the best possible care for our patients.
If you have any questions please contact ask.recruitment@cht.nhs.uk for assistance.
Employer certification / accreditation badges
Applicant requirements
This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975 (Amendment) (England and Wales) Order 2020 and it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service.
Documents to download
Engagement Support Worker JD (PDF, 320.4KB) Job Description Appendix A (PDF, 259.2KB)