Job overview
An exciting opportunity has arisen for a full-time Clinical Support Worker to join the Specialist Weight Management Service (SWMS). The SWMS is a Tier 3 MDT service consisting of Consultant Endocrinologists, a GP with Specialist Interest, Psychology Professionals, Specialist Dietitians, Physiotherapists, Nurses, Support Workers, and Administrators. Since its beginning approximately 15 years ago, the SWMS has grown quickly and now provides a Tier 3 service to the areas of Tees Valley, County Durham, and North Yorkshire (Hambleton & Richmondshire). The SWMS has also been awarded Diamond accreditation as part of the STAQC scheme.
The successful applicant will be responsible for working alongside the SWMS clinicians and supporting patients at specific community venues; they will also be required to provide cover at other venues. The successful applicant will have previous experience of working in the NHS, and possess good written and verbal communication skills and be able to demonstrate excellent team working skills. The successful applicant will have a working IT knowledge with the ability to remote work if provided with the necessary equipment. They must also be willing to learn about potentially new lifestyle interventions for weight management and associated co-morbidities.
Previous experience of working with people with obesity and/or in the area of weight management will be advantageous.
Main duties of the job
This post will help with the efficient running of SWMS both clinically and administratively. The successful applicant will be working directly with patients of the SWMS helping them to adopt healthy lifestyle changes and to follow advice given by the SWMS MDT. They will also be working with the SWMS administration team helping to support the smooth running of the service.
The Clinical Support Worker will act as a practical resource actively delivering components of the SWMS including their own clinics. The Clinical Support Worker will also work closely with administration staff with specific duties to ensure that patients, clinicians, and stakeholders are provided with the appropriate service.
Core Functions:
- Work the SWMS MDT and Administration team to deliver an effective service for our clients.
- To help people in the Teesside, Redcar & Cleveland, North Yorkshire, and County Durham areas who are referred to the SWMS to lose weight and maintain weight loss.
- To interact with clients on both an individual and group situation.
- To feedback relevant information to the SWMS Multidisciplinary team and Administration team as appropriate.
- To support the SWMS Administration team with regular duties and cover to ensure an effective service for our clients and clinicians.
-To work closely with Tier 2 and Tier 4 weight management services.
- To contact other stakeholders as required or to request more information from them GP surgeries.
Working for our organisation
We support the 'Making Every Contact Count' approach to behaviour change in the promotion of health and wellbeing of individuals and communities.
South Tees Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust offers leadership and improvement training to all new staff. This training programme has been designed to support our staff in developing their understanding of leadership and management skills. You will be expected to attend the following training sessions:
·Your Leadership Impact
·Service Improvement for Beginners
After you complete these one and a half days of training, you will be able to explore further leadership and improvement training opportunities. We also offer a range of additional in-house courses and bitesize programmes through our Leadership and Improvement Team.
Detailed job description and main responsibilities
Please see the full job description and person specification document(s) attached for main responsibilities of the role.
Person specification
Knowledge
Essential criteria
1. Fluent in written and verbal English.
2. Ability to work as a team player and as part of a multi-disciplinary team.
3. Good interpersonal and listening skills.
4. Basic IT skills including previous experience of having used Microsoft Office package software.
5. Ability to interact effectively with people from a range of backgrounds.
6. Able to respect confidentiality even in difficult situations.
7. Ability to participate in leading group sessions.
8. Knowledge about what factors contribute to a person gaining and losing weight and willingness to further this knowledge.
9. Ability to treat each patient as an individual and to assist in creating individual care plans within the ability and resources of the service.
10. Ability to work across professional boundaries with Consultant Physicians and other Healthcare Professionals at more than one location.
Qualifications
Essential criteria
11. Level 1 in Maths/English or equivalent
12. Willing to undertake the necessary training to support lifestyle behaviour change of clients on caseload.
13. NVQ Level 3 or equivalent demonstrable experience
Experience
Essential criteria
14. Previous experience of working with people.
Desirable criteria
15. Experience working within the NHS.
16. Experience of working with people with obesity.
Disclosure and Barring Checks (DBS)
It is now the policy of South Tees Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust that all successful candidates who are new to the Trust who require DBS clearance for the post they have been offered, are required to pay the cost of their DBS. The method of payment for this is via salary deduction from your first month's pay.
Equality, Diversity and Inclusion
South Tees Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust is committed to promoting equality of opportunity, celebrating and valuing diversity and eliminating any form of unlawful discrimination across our workforce, ensuring our people are truly representative of the communities we serve. All individuals regardless of age, disability, gender reassignment, marriage and civil partnership, pregnancy and maternity, race, religion or belief, sex and sexual orientation are encouraged to apply for this post. We welcome applications from the Black and Minority Ethnic (BAME) Network; LGBT+ Network; Disability and Long-Term Health Conditions Network, Faith Network, Childless not by Choice Network and the Menopause Support Group.
As an inclusive employer, we are here to support you.
If you have any special requirements to help you with your application, email our team at
Right to Work in the UK
The Trust welcomes applications from all candidates who meet the criteria for the role. Please note that from January 2021, to work in the UK all candidates who are not UK or Republic of Ireland (RoI) nationals require sponsorship unless you have permission to work via another route. Non UK / RoI candidates wishing to apply can self-assess the likelihood of obtaining a Certificate of Sponsorship here Work in the UK - (.
Please provide full and accurate details of your current immigration status on the application form. Your current immigration status will not be considered as part of the shortlisting or interview process.
Please note that not everyone needs a Skilled Worker visa. If you are applying for a vacancy in health or adult social care, you may be eligible to apply for the Health and Care Worker visa instead.
We are able to offer sponsorship for a Health and Care Worker or Skilled Worker visa, subject to candidate and position eligibility. Please review the job eligibility guidance for skilled workers here: Skilled Worker visa: Your job - ( and for the Health and Care Worker visa here: Skilled Worker visa: eligible healthcare and education jobs - (
Please note: if the job you are applying for does not meet the eligibility criteria above, we will be unable to offer you sponsorship and you will need to explore whether you may be eligible to apply for an alternative immigration route which will secure your right to work in the UK before you apply. If you are in the UK already on a visa, please ensure you have no restrictions that would prevent you from taking this post.
The Trust encourages and supports all applicants to be fully vaccinated against both COVID19 and influenza.
Please be aware, there are occasions where some vacancies may close prior to the closing date advertised. This will only happen where sufficient applications are received AND will be made evident on the job advert.
Please note if you are successfully shortlisted, we will contact you via the email address that you have applied from so please ensure you check your emails regularly.
Existing employees of South Tees NHS Foundation Trust currently on the Redeployment Register, who meet the essential criteria for this post, will be shortlisted and interviewed prior to all other applicants.