Assistant Practitioner inTunbridge Wells inTunbridge Wells PUBLISHED THU 7 NOV 2024

Are you a qualified Assistant Practitioner (AP) or an experienced Nursing assistant looking for career progression, if you have a background in palliative care this would be advantageous. We are excited to be offering further roles within our multi-disciplinary team as part of Hospice in the Wealds Hospice Outreach Service, working in the community.

As an AP in our Outreach team, you will need excellent interpersonal skills, as you will be regularly speaking with patients and those who care for them as well as other healthcare professionals. You will provide a supporting role to the clinical staff with delivering holistic patient support through clear and accurate use of IT systems, documentation and record keeping. You will see patients in the place they call home which includes Care Homes and Nursing homes as well as maintaining telephone contact support. You will be confident to work autonomously but equally be comfortable working as part of our Team.

The Hospice Outreach Team are the initial point of contact for all new community referrals and all telephone calls coming into the service. You will be part of a rota of Assistant Practitioners covering our 7 day a week service offering remote support via telephone contacts, as well as clinic and home-based assessments.

We care for patients who have a life limiting illness, and our focus is on individualised care to achieve patient centred goals. We work alongside other community teams and specialists to optimise patient experience and improve our team knowledge and development.

About us

Scope & Job Purpose

To provide holistic and compassionate care to the patients, their families and those important to them.

To provide support to Hospice Outreach Service Team with delivery of care for terminally ill patients in the place they call home, either in person or via remote methods.

Key responsibilities

Deliverables/outcomes

To complete supporting contacts for terminally ill patients in the place they call home, as part of Hospice Outreach Service patient plans recorded on EMIS or as directed.

To use, with supervision and direction, a range of assessment methods including, but not exclusively limited to, home visits, telephone contacts and remote video links.

To provide support to registered nursing staff with triaging of incoming patient contacts.

Complete patient documentation, both paper and electronic autonomously, in partnership and where appropriate with supervision of a registered nursing staff member or manager, including completion of IPOS.

To complete, record and report holistic observations.

To recognise, take action or seek guidance as appropriate, for when to signpost, social prescribe or complete referrals to other services, both internal and external.

Deliver equipment to patients in the place they call home, and provide demonstrations and support as appropriate.

To be able to record via EMIS, basic risk assessments relevant to supporting delivery of Hospice Outreach Service.

To participate in MDTs and collaborative meetings, both internal and external as required or directed. This may include GSFs also known as Palliative Care meetings.

Be able to respond calmly to practical crisis/emergencies. Maintaining patients comfort, safety, and dignity always.

Complete base line observations and report findings. For example, blood sugar readings.

Undertake selected clinical procedures. For example, venepuncture.

To be responsible for specified clinical stock as designated by Hospice Outreach Service managers.

Complete bereavement contacts, both telephone and home visits as appropriate.

Management & Leadership

To provide guidance, advice and support to volunteers as appropriate.

Communications and Teamwork

Actively listen and communicate with patients and those important to them in a sensitive manner. Recognising the need to pass on information to registered staff when necessary.

Actively listen and communicate with all Hospice Outreach Service colleagues in support of the Team and delivery of the service.

To engage with Advanced Care Planning conversations and recording information as appropriate.

Engage with and participate in Hospice Outreach Service Team meetings and MDTs.

Provide mentoring, advice and peer support within Hospice Outreach Service and across Hospice in the Weald services, Living Well Service, In-Patient Ward and Cottage Hospice.

To liaise and collaborate with emergency services as required.

Communicate respectfully with all others you encounter as part of the work of the Hospice, both internally and externally.

Working with due diligence

Completion of accurate patient notes and record keeping in support of the clinical and medical staff.

To recognise when to work autonomously and when to seek advice and guidance.

To be responsible for own Health and Safety when travelling and working in the community.

Training and Development

Undertake Mandatory Training as required by Hospice in the Weald and participate in additional required training and development activities.

Take an active role in identifying gaps in knowledge and skills and how to address these

Take responsibility for setting own goals and achieving them

General

Maintain professionalism through adherence to recognized codes and guidelines and work within the boundaries of Hospice in the Weald policies.

Maintain personal development through the Hospice Annual Review process, continuously updating and improving knowledge and skills and applying that knowledge.

Engage in the use of information and communication technology (ICT) and achieve the required level of competence.

• Recognise the growing need for 24/7 working patterns and flexibility.
• Demonstrate Our Values through day-to-day interactions between colleagues as well as patients and those important to them.

Always strive for excellence

Any other duties that may be reasonably requested

Person Specification

Criteria

Qualifications

GCSEs or equivalent, including English Language

Relevant NVQ Level 2

Relevant NVQ Level 3 or willingness to work towards

Experience

Experience of working in a Healthcare setting

Able to work as part of a team and also be confident to work as autonomously as directed.

Essential Skills

Excellent communication and interpersonal skills

Computer literacy

A good understanding of the needs of patients and those important to them in palliative care

Time management skills with the ability to plan ahead, anticipate requirements and manage diary commitments.

Personal attributes

Personal awareness of knowledge, boundaries and own limitations

Enthusiastic and motivated

Flexible and reliable

Ability to reflect on own practice and to empower others

A genuine empathy with the work of hospices

Helping out - Fundraising Activities

Hospice in the Weald is a registered charity and not part of the NHS. We rely on support from the community we serve, to enable us to develop and deliver our services.

Our amazing fundraising team work incredibly hard to put on a full calendar of events every year and we will ask you to help out at two events per year. There is something for everyone and helping out is a great way to meet other staff and volunteers from across the organisation but above all it is fun!