Home First Health & Wellbeing Assessor - LIFE band 4

at  Croydon Health Services NHS Trust

Health & Wellbeing Assessor - LIFE Therapy team
Band 4
Our vision is for the people of Croydon to experience well-co-ordinated care and support in the most appropriate setting, which is truly person-centred and helps them to maintain their independence.
The post holder will work as a member of the LIFE therapy team within the Community, Home first and within the Croydon Intermediate Care Beds providing skilled support to the Occupational Therapists Physiotherapists and the Intermediate Care Nurse and will work under indirect supervision from the Therapy Team Leads / Therapists and Senior Social Workers.
The post holder will be expected to work autonomously and be responsible for their own workload and prioritizing this effectively.
The post holder will be expected to carry out holistic home assessments, set reablement care plans and make onward referrals, where appropriate. They will review care and therapy requirements and document their input and plans onto the Trust and/or Council IT record systems.
Interview date - 2nd December 2024
The post holder will work as a member of the LIFE therapy team within the Community, Home first service providing skilled support to the Therapy, Nursing and social care staff. The workload will be under indirect supervision from the Therapy Team Leads / Therapists and Senior Social Workers.
The post holder will be allocated assessments to complete and will otherwise work autonomously and will be responsible for their own workload and prioritizing this effectively.
The post holder will often be working alone and will be expected to carry out specific aspects of assessment of patients, within set parameters and will be expected to progress /modify treatment to meet the rehabilitation, reablement and recovery needs of each individual, using skills gained through experience and/or relevant training or qualification.
The post holder will be expected to carry out home assessments and travel across the borough of Croydon using their own car.
The post holder will be required to document the details of their assessments and/or, where appropriate, make onward referrals and order simple equipment.
Croydon Health Services NHS Trust provide hospital and community services from a number of community and specialist clinics throughout Croydon. The Trust was formed on 1st August 2010 through the integration of Croydon Community Health Services and Mayday Healthcare NHS Trust. Around 4,100 staff provide services for a population of over 360,000 people who are relatively young with a high level of ethnic diversity. Our main hospital site, Croydon University Hospital is one of the busiest in London. We’re also leading the way in providing more healthcare outside hospitals at clinics, specialist centres and in people’s homes. Our experienced district nursing teams, Allied Health Professionals and community matrons look after people of all ages across Croydon. Across the NHS everyone is working hard to meet growing demand and we’re no exception. But with the right people on board, we are rising to this challenge, putting our people in the driving seat, encouraging innovation and transforming our services to give local people the quality of care they deserve. Croydon Health Services puts a great deal of importance on education and training throughout the careers of all of our staff. If you want the opportunity to have a real impact, challenge yourself and be part of an NHS Trust that’s making a real difference then a career at Croydon Health Services could be just what you’re looking for.

Clinical

• The post holder will carry out a complete holistic assessment within the person’s home or hospital setting using the integrated initial assessment. This will include:

For those hospital based, working as a trusted assessor identifying the appropriate discharge pathway as part of Croydon’s Discharge to Assess model.

• In the community, identifying independent goals with individuals that promote people reaching their full potential.
• The post holder will be required to perform basic Health checks, e.g Blood Pressure, Blood glucose.
• Being able to assess for and prescribe simple solutions including basic equipment to meet the person’s needs.
• To be responsible and proactive when organising caseload in discussion with the other team members. To ensure patients and carers are an integral part of their treatment planning and goal setting.
• Implementing designated rehabilitation and reablement programmes with individuals.
• The post holder will carry a caseload and be part of a multidisciplinary team, providing triage, and assessments, support planning and 1:1 intervention which may include personal care.
• The post holder will be required to assess the level of need, complete risk assessments and support plans/ goal with families, individuals, and relevant professionals as required, to determine the level of assistance to be provided directly by the LIFE Service.
• The post holder will ensure that care plans are written, reviewed and accurate records maintained in the person’s notes and office copies as required.
• The post holder will bring any issues or concerns to the attention of the Care Manager in accordance with Safeguarding procedures and policy.
• The post holder will work in a flexible manner over a 7-day period, working a shift-based rota within the operating hours.
• The post holder will be required to attend and actively contribute to multidisciplinary team meetings and assist and support the other members of the team
• The post holder will work with others to develop rapport with people, and encourage their interest and participation in a manner which promotes dignity, self-esteem and choice. This requires empathy, sensitivity and good interpersonal skills.
• The post holder will keep accurate and up to date records of the person being supported in line with departmental standards and standards for record keeping.
• The post holder will be required to participate in 1:1 and supervision arrangements organised by the LIFE Manager.
• To comply with all Trust and Council, Service and Professional standards, policies and procedures.
• To maintain a high personal standard of work and to seek advice from senior staff when appropriate.
• The post holder will be required to use the Trust and Croydon Council IT systems to enter the person’s data, activity, service evaluation and any other relevant data collection.
• The post holder will require a clean driving licence and able to travel independently across the Croydon borough.

Nonclinical
1. To undertake administrative duties including answering telephones, taking messages, processing referrals as appropriate including all discharge related paperwork and maintain departmental paperwork as required to assist with the smooth running of the team.
2. To use the Trust and Croydon Council IT system to enter patient data, activity, service evaluation and any other relevant data collection.
3. To use basic typing and word processing skills.
4. To maintain accurate and up to date statistics as required by the Operational Manager and the Trust.
5. To assist with maintaining stock levels of departmental equipment/stationary as required.
Training and Supervisory
1. To actively participate in departmental training activities.
2. To complete a competency training booklet specific to the role in LIFE
3. To participate in joint patient sessions and specific training to develop a high standard of skills and knowledge, to be able to deal with the complexities of managing patients in this area.
4. To provide advice and to demonstrate own activities to less experienced staff within the workplace.
5. To attend mandatory training in accordance with Trust policy and to attend in-service training and external courses as identified via the Appraisal process.
6. To participate in the Trust’s staff development and appraisal system, and to continue to maintain personal professional development
7. To participate in the induction of new staff as appropriate
8. To attend and contribute to team meetings.
Service development
1. To participate in evaluation of clinical practice and/or research projects and the implementation of changes in line with evidence based practice, Therapy guidelines and clinical governance, as delegated by Senior therapist/ Operational Lead.
2. To identify opportunities to improve the service in order to provide the
best possible patient care and to participate in initiatives to improve the service.
3 To actively participate in LIFE team audits and Clinical Governance

GENERAL

1. To work in accordance with the Council & Trust’s Values to consistently demonstrate the behaviours required.
   2.2. The postholder is required to carry out his/her role in accordance with the organisation values, standards and behaviours, in a Professional, Compassionate, Respectful and Safe way.
2. To ensure that Croydon Council & Health Services Trust’s policies and procedures are adhered to.
3. To have responsibility for the Health, Safety and Welfare of self and others and to comply at all times with the requirements of the Health and Safety Regulations and the Council & Trust’s Health and Safety policies and procedures.
4. To ensure confidentiality at all times, only releasing confidential information obtained during the course of employment to those acting in an official capacity in accordance with the provisions of the Data Protection Act and its amendments.
5. To work in accordance with the Council & Trust’s policies to eliminate unlawful discrimination and promote equality and diversity in the workplace. To positively promote at all times equality of opportunity in service delivery and employment in accordance with Trust policies, regardless of age, disability, race, nationality, ethnic or national origin, gender, religion, belief, sexual orientation or domestic circumstances.
6. To adhere to the Infection Control Policy, procedures and guidelines.
7. All clinical staff hold responsibility for ensuring they have sound knowledge of standard infection control precautions and that no omission on their part or within the sphere of their responsibility is detrimental to the interests or safety of their patients, visitors and colleagues.
8. To comply with the Council & Trust’s Safeguarding Children and Vulnerable Adults policies, procedures and protocols. All individual members of staff (paid or unpaid) have a duty to safeguard and promote the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults.
9. To work within the relevant Professional Bodies Code of Professional Conduct and Scope of Professional Practice.
10. To undertake such other duties as may be reasonably required from time to time as are consistent with the responsibilities of the post.
    This job description is not an exhaustive document, but is a reflection of the current position. The job holder may from time to time be asked to undertake other reasonable duties. Any change will be made in discussion with the job holder in light of service needs

Please refer the Job description for details