Allied Health Professional Assistant Practitioner

at  Weldmar Hospicecare

Job Context Weldmar Hospicecare is an independent charity that provides specialist end of life care to patients and those that are important to them throughout Dorset. This care is given in the comfort of patients own homes by Weldmar Community Nurses, our Weldmar at Home Team and via Wellbeing Support Session held across the county or as inpatients at our hospice in Dorchester. Our team of dedicated staff and volunteers ensure that we can continue to support patients through one of lifes most difficult journeys. We work closely with other health care providers including the NHS to ensure that our patients receive the highest possible care.
We do receive some funding from the NHS but the majority of our income is generated by our fundraising and retail teams, which plays a vital part in securing income to fund our care, both now and in the future. The role of AHP Assistant Practitioner is to support the Weldmar Allied Healthcare Practitioners (AHPs) in Central, South or North Dorset in the delivery of high quality and palliative care to patients and their families predominantly in their own homes, at Wellbeing Support Services, on the Inpatient Unit or as out patients. Job Purpose As a key member of the AHP Team, work closely with the team providing a high standard therapeutic intervention to enable patients to maintain and or improve their quality of life. To assist AHPs to deliver specialist therapy in the IPU, community and outpatients as required.
This may be supporting rehabilitative techniques and activities that support independence and empowerment. To provide feedback using accurate documentation and accurate observations to AHP, on assessments and treatments undertaken. To be a key member of the team in the day to day organisation of AHP team work and service provision. To co-ordinate and facilitate discharges from the IPU in a timely, appropriate and professional manner.
To liaise with the Multidisciplinary Team (MDT) and all relevant external agencies in order to plan complex transfers of care from the IPU. To participate in the IPU MDT meeting in order to identify the need for care provision and the means whereby care provision can be accessed. The post holder will be required to work in patients homes, the inpatient unit in Dorchester or outpatient clinics and be expected to work flexibly across care settings when this is conducive to meeting the holistic needs of the patient and their family. The post holder to be able to lead group therapy sessions, or have a willingness to do so.
Scope and Limits of Authority The post holder will be an experienced Allied Health Professional Assistant Practitioner who has the ability to: Deliver therapy with minimum direct supervision within the Inpatient Unit, patients own home, or Wellbeing Support Service. To ensure all relevant professionals are updated and aware of current discharge plans for patients on IPU via discharge update, handover sheet, MDT meetings and SystmOne In liaison with the whole MDT proactively identify, report and manage delayed transfers of care and delayed transfer of care records and participate in audit as stipulated by Clinical Governance Steering Group Promote a holistic and individualised approach to care. Attain full competence in the knowledge and skills outlined in the Band 4 Skills Profile associated with this role. Recognise their own limitations and know when to refer onto a senior health care professional.
The post holder has no direct budget responsibility but must be aware of cost implications and make effective use of resources. Job tasks To deliver quality therapy according to the therapy plan to a diverse caseload of patients, as delegated by AHP or Weldmar Community Nurse (WCN) working with minimum direct supervision. To be able to recognise and appropriately report changes in a patients condition or symptoms that requires the input of a senior registered health care professional. To co-ordinate the timely and effective transfer of care of patients from the IPU to an agreed destination.
To communicate effectively with the patient and families, MDT members and relevant external health & social care providers to ensure the relevant care package is in place. To attend Take 5 every day and update the wider MDT concerning relevant changes in various funding application and discharge process. To maintain accurate, legible and contemporaneous records on all patients, to ensure documentation meets agreed standards and adheres to Caldicott guidelines and Weldmar Policies and standards. To communicate with AHP colleagues regarding changes and ongoing therapy and care needs of patients and their families on a regular basis.
To establish and maintain effective communication with other members of the multi-disciplinary team and members of the wider health and social care community teams such as Adult Social Care (Community Rehabilitative Teams), DAIRS and Orthotics. To provide emotional support allowing patients and families to express their feelings/ concerns utilising listening and empathetic skills. To promote independence and well- being by ensuring: - Involvement of patients in their plan of care - Ongoing assessment of the home environment to identify any additional needs including equipment, care packages or carers support. To undertake and record on Weldmars electronic patient database system (SystmOne) clear and precise notes of observations and therapies conducted.
To contribute to symptom management through the utilisation of appropriate assessment tools, observation, monitoring or patient feedback, reporting the outcome to the appropriate registered professional. To alert a senior member of the AHP or MDT if patients or their familys behaviour causes concern and merits referral onto Weldmar Patient and Family Support Services. To initiate appropriate action in the event of an emergency situation Organisational and Administration Responsibilities To ensure that appropriate accurate and up to date records are documented according to Weldmar policies and procedures. To ensure all other information, documentation and reporting requirements are completed including service related communication e.g.
VANTAGE (Weldmars accident and incident reporting system) To work flexibly to provide cover for absent colleagues when required To participate in supervision and performance review processes Communications and Relationships To establish and maintain effective communication with other Weldmar team members and members of the wider health and social care community team. To communicate relevant information to patients and families whilst maintaining confidentiality. Communicate effectively with patients, carers and HCPs. Be able to communicate effectively with the AHP, extended MDT and outside agencies such as Social Services, CRT, DAIRS and Orthotics ensuring and facilitating continuity of delivering AHP care across the different care settings i.e.
IPU, community, and outpatients. Personal and Professional Development To act in a manner to safeguard and promote the interests of individual patients. To practice safely according to all Weldmar Hospicecare policies, procedures and competencies ensuring no action or omission within the sphere of post holder responsibility is detrimental to the interests, condition or safety of the patient or their family. To continue own personal and professional development within palliative and end of life care and the provision of integrated services to patients and families.
To proactively participate in opportunities for shared learning and personal and professional developmen

Please refer the Job description for details