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Assistant Practitioner

  • NHS
  • Part Time
  • Highbridge
  • 27711.00 - 31067.00 a year
NHS

Job Description

Job summary

  • Part-time hours based in Highbridge
  • 28 days annual leave (pro rata)
  • Progression/development opportunities
  • Permanent role

Main duties of the job

We're working to improve the lives of children and families in Somerset and you'll be a key part of that. You will be joining our Public Health Nursing service which is comprised of teams of Health Visitors, School Nurses (Specialist Community Public Health Nurses), community staff nurses, and assistant practitioners.

Your work will involve:

  • Working directly with children and families in a range of settings to deliver core and targeted health support and advice on an individual basis or through delivering group sessions.
  • Supporting the Health Visiting and School nurse teams in completing holistic assessments of the health and wellbeing of families as well as assessing the ongoing physical, social and emotional development of children.
  • Fulfilling the requirements of the Healthy Child Programme across the whole 0-19 year age range.
  • Working closely with our Health and Social Care colleagues, contributing towards multi-disciplinary work and assessments.

We offer ongoing support, training and guidance to help you be the best you can be. But it will really help if you:

  • Have a Childcare qualification
  • Have an experience of working with children and families.
  • Are able to demonstrate excellent communication skills
  • Are able to work on your own initiative and as part of a team
  • Are able to demonstrate your dedication to improving the health and wellbeing of children and families
  • Are caring, empathetic and friendly

Previous experience working in the community and home visiting is desirable.

About us

We are a team with a strong Public Health Focus committed to improving the health and well-being of our children and families in Somerset using good leadership skills and a sound knowledge base in safeguarding and child protection processes.

  • We promote a healthy work-life balance and offer flexible working arrangements wherever possible.
  • iHV professional membership.
  • Prioritised superb Safeguarding, Clinical, and Restorative supervision.
  • The opportunity to fulfil your leadership role within the team.
  • Continuing Professional Development opportunities.
  • Generous annual leave allowance, with the opportunity to purchase additional leave.
  • Staff discounts in gyms.
  • Employee Assistance for the times you may need some support and a variety of employee wellbeing services.
  • Auto enrolment onto our generous Pension Scheme and optional pension enhancement through our Additional Voluntary Contribution scheme.
  • A Flexible Benefits Scheme via salary sacrifice to obtain a cycle for work and health screenings.
  • My Staff Shop offering discounts in shops, online shopping, restaurants, cinema tickets, insurance benefits and more.

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Job responsibilities

Work under the supervision of a co-ordinator and team manager in accordance with policy, protocols, and standard operating procedures. The Registered Practitioner remains accountable for the appropriate and effective delegation of activities and must ensure that the Assistant Practitioner has the competency, confidence, and expertise to carry out such activities. Having accepted the activity, the Assistant Practitioner is accountable for their actions. In a situation where the Assistant Practitioner feels they do not have the necessary skills or ability then they must alert the Registered Practitioner immediately.

Responsibilities

  1. There is a requirement to work with vulnerable children and families in line with national and local policies relating to safeguarding children and to provide support and advice to children, families and schools regarding the health and wellbeing needs of children under the supervision of the co-ordinator and/or team manager.
  2. Undertake defined clinical or therapeutic interventions appropriately as per programme determines (one-to-ones and group work).
  3. Manage own work and case load and implement programmes of care in line with current evidence, taking action relative to an individuals health and care needs.
  4. Promote effective inter-professional and multi-disciplinary team working with peers, colleagues and staff from other agencies and provides appropriate leadership within the scope of the role.
  5. Promote and understand the impact of effective health promotion, empowering, healthy lifestyles such as movement and nutrition and fluid balance.
  6. Undertake physiological measurements as part of an assessment of an individual's healthcare status.
  7. Analyse situations where a range of factors and options need to be determined, e.g., coordinating priority of need.
  8. The post holder will complete a period of induction to achieve the competences required to undertake the role.

Contacts & Relationships

    • Children, Young people, and their carers.
    • Public Health Nurses.
    • Public Health Practitioners.
    • Senior Managers.
    • Early Year Providers.
    • General Practice /Primary Health Care Teams.
    • Locality Safeguarding Nurse and Looked After Children Nurse Teams.
    • Paediatric Continence Services.
    • Integrated Therapy Services.
    • Community groups and voluntary organisations.
    • Wider partner agencies

Communicate in person, face to face, in writing and, where appropriate, electronically with all the above contacts.

  • Vary the style and level of communication with individuals, families and carers to meet the differing levels of understanding.
  • Actively involve young people (where appropriate) in decisions about their own healthcare.
  • Attend and contribute to Area team meeting monthly to facilitate effective communication within children and young peoples services.

Resources

  • Responsible for maintaining stock control and safe use of equipment other than equipment they personally use.
  • Participate in the induction of new staff.
  • Allocate work to and support the development of others and may supervise, mentor or assess other staff as required
  • Participate in appraisal and personal development to meet service and organisational objectives.

Further information specific to this job

The successful candidate has a responsibility for promoting and safeguarding the welfare of the children and young people they are responsible for or come into contact with.

Corporate Responsibilities

Understand, uphold, and promote the aims of the councils equality, diversity, and inclusion policies; health, safety and wellbeing of self and others; and Organisational values in everything you do. Equality and Diversity practice covers both interaction with staff, service users and communities and includes challenging discrimination and promoting equality of opportunity for all.

Person Specification

Experience

Essential

  • Proven experience in an education or health care role.
  • Provision and promotion of Think Family centred care and support, duty of care and safeguarding of individuals.

Desirable

  • Research and development in the health and social care sector to inform and improve quality of care.

Personal Attributes

Essential

  • Understanding of the importance of current evidence-based practice.
  • Treat individuals with dignity, respecting beliefs, culture, values and preferences.
  • Ability to work flexibly.
  • Excellent interpersonal skills, with an ability to demonstrate compassion and honesty.
  • Demonstrate ability to challenge areas of concern and work to deliver best practice.
  • Ability to speak fluent English as stated in
  • Part 7 of the Immigration Act (2016).
  • Applicants must have a full valid driving licence and have access to a car for work. If necessary, adjustments can be considered in line with the Equality Act 2010.

Qualifications

Essential

  • Level 2 English and Maths (equivalent to GCSE grade C and above).
  • Either an accredited level 5 occupational
  • competence qualification (such as foundation
  • degree, Level 5 Diploma of Higher education
  • or Level 5 Diploma for Assistant Practitioners
  • Healthcare or equivalent) or NNEB NVQ 3 (or
  • equivalent) with significant post qualification
  • experience.

Disclosure and Barring Service Check

This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.

Employer details

Employer name

Somerset County Council

Address

Highbridge Children's Centre

7 Coronation Road

Highbridge

TA9 5JD

Employer's website

https://www.somerset.gov.uk/ (Opens in a new tab)

Good luck with your application