Dementia Health Care Assistant/Dementia Short Breaks Coordinator

at  Hospice of the Valleys

JOB PURPOSE -This role is a joint role and on a fixed term contract of 2 years. The post holder will be a member of the CARIAD Team within The Hospice of the Valleys and be a single point of access for short break requests within Torfaen and Blaenau Gwent. To work effectively as an autonomous practitioner within a multidisciplinary palliative care team, promoting and maintaining quality of life for patients with dementia. To engage in the assessment of complex symptom and psychological problems, provide support, ensuring a cohesive, holistic, and evidence-based approach to the management of individuals living with dementia and their carers.
To provide support, information, and guidance to people with dementia and those affected by their diagnosis. Enabling and empowering those engaging with the service to maintain independence, improve sense of well-being and put them more in control of their lives. To assess the needs of carers and provide a flexible short break service, arranged at the request of the carer including providing 1-1 sits and the coordination and facilitation of groups. ROLE OF DEPARTMENT The aim of the CARIAD service is to provide high quality care for people with dementia and their families who are experiencing complex symptoms that are not being effectively managed by generalist practitioners.
This work aims to enable them to remain in their identified preferred place of care, avoiding unnecessary admission to hospital. The service provides high quality, comprehensive education, for health and social care professionals and carers of people with dementia, facilitating an improved understanding of the disease process of dementia, the value of early implementation of a palliative care approach and recognition of the importance of advanced care planning. Contribute to the campaign to raise public awareness of dementia on matters relating to death and dying, supporting families to have difficult and sensitive discussions and address the issue of advanced care planning. Support and facilitate choice and the fulfilment of the wishes of people with dementia.
SCOPE AND RANGE Carry a complex caseload and in doing so undertake the generic responsibilities required of all Health Care Assistants. To develop innovative ways of working to ensure positive outcomes for those receiving the service. To represent and promote the service in relevant multi agency meetings. To ensure the transfer of knowledge and sharing of best practice across the Team and Services.
To ensure effective partnership working and engagement to achieve and deliver these objectives. To assess the need for and provide a flexible short break service, arranged at the request of the carer. MAIN TASKS, DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES To work autonomously, assessing patients and carers, with complex physical, emotional, social and psychological symptoms on a daily basis to enable an appropriate plan of care to be developed within the community. To provide information, support and advice in response to an assessed need highlighted within the initial assessment.
This will include information relevant to the dementia diagnosis and prognosis, carer support and advance care planning. Knowledge of local services is desirable as signposting to other services/agencies is required where appropriate. To build a professional relationship with service users and their families and to use that relationship to safeguard and promote positive outcomes. To communicate effectively with service users and their families, ensuring that their wishes are heard and recorded accurately, and plans reflect their views.
To establish rapport and build a respectful, honest and trusted relationship with service users and their families, in order to identify and reduce risk in line with safeguarding procedures. To support the completion of good quality assessments and the analysis of risk. To establish and maintain effective communication relating to complex, sensitive and potentially stressful situations on a regular basis. Supporting relatives, carers and staff in bereavement with the ability to recognise and refer on for complicated grief reactions.
To contribute to multidisciplinary team meetings on a regular basis to enable complex decisions to be made regarding care plans. Frequently contribute toward a core training programme relating to the specialist area for all Hospice staff and wider community including primary healthcare teams, social services staff and the voluntary sector. This could include providing education and support to the wider social care workforce in line with hospice expectations, as well as participation in local events and conferences. To maintain accurate and contemporaneous records.
To input and retrieve patient information from computer-based systems. The service also provides support through group settings. Therefore, this role will include the responsibility of organising a peer support group that offers stimulating and reminiscent activities for people with a dementia diagnosis. As a dementia co-ordinator you will be the Single Point of Access for Short break requests within Torfaen & Blaenau Gwent.
To co-ordinate the promotion of the Your Time, Your Choice project within Blaenau Gwent through social media, printed literature at various outlets including associated groups and facilities, MAS Clinics and GP practices. To engage with carers and assess their short break needs and suitability to the service using an agreed assessment referral form developed by a working group. To initiate follow-up contact with the client following their short break provision to evaluate their experience. Regularly meet with and feedback to Hospice of the Valleys Senior Management Team.
Prepare monthly reports and case studies to the Senior Management Team in line with the outcomes and objectives of the project. Prepare necessary reporting and statistical information for Carers Trust Wales. To attend supervisions, either on a one-to-one basis, or as part of a group in accordance with Hospice of the Valleys policy and guidelines. The Cariad service is a bespoke and unique service that prides itself on the gold service we deliver.
The service is always looking for ways to develop and improve and therefore it is imperative that the post holder is able to identify and evidence other areas of need and enable the development of the service in line with this need. KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS AND EXPERIENCE REQUIRE Health Care Assistant QCF Level 3. Minimum 2 years experience in a health care setting. Experience of working directly with people affected by a dementia diagnosis, their carers and those affected by the diagnosis.
Experience of working within an unpredictable, ever changing multi-agency setting. Communicate respectfully in an open, accurate, straightforward and confidential way with colleagues. Ability to organise and facilitate groups. Ability to identify learning needs in others, and to utilise education opportunities.
Ability to demonstrate contribution to policy development. Basic level competence in the standard range of IT programs. Able to demonstrate effective interpersonal and communication skills. PRACTICE, EDUCATION & SERVICE DEVELOPMENT To take personal responsibility for keeping up to date with legislation, research findings and practice knowledge, including attendance at appropriate training as required by the Hospice of the Valleys.
Work to maintain the values and aims of the Hospice of the Valleys and work in line with required policies and procedures. Practice and promote confidentiallty at all times, complying with the Hospices GDPR policies appropriate to your area of work. Contribute to training and practice development. To support the provision of learning opportunities.
To comply with Gwent Safeguarding Boards Safeguarding procedures and practice. Demonstrate efficient time management and flexible attitude to working patterns. To ensure the maintenance of such records and management information systems as appropriate. Positively commit to Hospice of the Valleys performance management process including annual appraisals and one to one meetings, taking responsibility for personal and professional development.
Treat everyone with respect and dignity. Maintain a professional, friendly and positive influence, maintaining awareness of how your behaviour can affect and influence the behaviour of others. To represent Hospice of the Valleys in the community and public domain as appropiate. Contribute toward clinical and corporate governance agendas as appropriate.
The post holder will be responsible for working within the policies and procedures of the organisation and will be responsible for updating policies relevant to the service area. MOST CHALLENGING/DIFFICULT PARTS OF THE JOB Challenging healthcare professionals decisions and practice from an advisory and teaching role to ensure all patients have access to equally high standards of care. Dealing with highly complex situations such as loss, grief and death on a daily basis. Communicating bad news to palliative patients and their relatives / carers on a regular basis.
Being involved in the care and support of people with complex needs relating to their dementia diagnosis and managing the distress and upset this brings. Some involvement in ethical decision making and dilemmas. Working within a fast paced and ever-changing clinical environment. Managing safeguarding concerns.
Lone working. Special Conditions and Professional Requirements Requirement to travel independently throughout the Service Area. Enhanced Disclosure and Barring checks on appointment and at periodic intervals. To be personally responsible for the continued registration with Social Care Wales.
This is an outline job description and may be subject to change, according to the needs of the organisation. The job description is available in English and Welsh

Please refer the Job description for details