Dementia Specialist Support Worker
Job Description
Job summary
We are pleased to be able to offer an opportunity for you to build upon your experience of supporting people who have a diagnosis of Dementia.
A vacancy has arisen for a Dementia Specialist Support Worker based within the safeguarding and complex health team at Ipswich Hospital.
You will be supported by and work alongside our Dementia Nurse specialist and will be expected to have direct patient contact in order to support understanding of activity and interventions which help patients during their time in hospital.
You will support the sharing of planned care interventions to help inpatient teams enable consistency of care. There will be some expectation that you will undertake short periods of enhanced one to one observations where these are required as a means of understanding if the strategies identified to reduce risk are help and will support work being undertaken to evaluate the service that is provided.
This will include data collection as part of an audit programme and involvement in understanding patient and carer experience.
The Dementia specialist support worker will also work with carers and families to signpost for further support, encourage feedback and enable information sharing which will be helpful for the patients' care.
Main duties of the job
- To assist the Registered Clinicians to care for the patient who has a diagnosis of dementia to ensure their physical, psychological, social and spiritual needs are met
- To ensure that all communication and care provision maintains the dignity and respect of all patients and their carers/relatives. In particular a compassionate approach to working with carers of people who have a diagnosis of Dementia.
- To communicate effectively with patients, carers, visitors and other staff members at all times. Specifically, effective communication in relation to formulated care plans to support consistency in approaches to care and contact with families and carers to support and signpost to external services.
- To assist the wider MDT with clinical procedures, acting as a chaperone if necessary. This will involve reviewing use of assessment tools as identified within care plans and feeding back to the Dementia Specialist as required to assess outcomes.
- To be responsible for the quality of data recorded. The data should be accurate, legible (if hand written), recorded in a timely manner, kept up to date and appropriately filed.
- Deal with external and internal queries. This may include providing complex or sensitive non clinical information or advice to patients or relatives.
- Use initiative to deal with routine and some non-routine problems that may arise, and only exceptionally refer more complex issues to the appropriate person.
About us
One of the largest Trusts in East Anglia, East Suffolk and North Essex NHS Foundation Trust (ESNEFT) provide hospital and community health services to people living across a wide geographical area. We deliver care from two main hospitals in Colchester and Ipswich, six community hospitals and in patients' own homes. You will be joining a team of over 11,000 amazing colleagues providing care to 800,000 residents.
Along with supporting you to achieve your career goals we offer a generous pension scheme, 27 days annual leave on commencement (pro rata) and access to a range of NHS discounts. Our Staff Health and Wellbeing programme offer a range of services including mental health support. We offer a range of flexible working opportunities.
Our philosophy is that Time Matters to everyone. Across the Trust, we concentrate on improving the things we do and removing those which do not work or cause time delays for our staff and patients.
To support our employees to achieve their career aspirations you may be eligible to obtain a qualification via an apprenticeship. All successful applicants will be required to undertake a skills review to facilitate this. For full details please see the attached Apprenticeship Handbook
If you are passionate about patient care and want to develop your skills and knowledge then we are keen to hear from you.
Find out about living and working with us - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GkPu7HphU8A
Job responsibilities
- To assist the Registered Clinicians to care for the patient to ensure their physical, psychological, social and spiritual needs are met
- To perform and accurately record clinical observations as required and report changes to the Registered Clinician immediately
- To be responsible for ensuring own infection control practice is in line with Trust Infection Control policies, including approved hand-washing technique.
- To challenge those not following recognise infection control procedures when witnessed.
- To ensure that all communication and care provision maintains the dignity and respect of all patients and their carers/relatives
- To communicate effectively with patients, carers, visitors and other staff members at all times
- To promote high standards of hygiene, cleanliness and safety within the ward/department environment
- To answer the telephone appropriately and refer callers onto the appropriate member of staff as necessary
- To assist the wider MDT with clinical procedures, acting as a chaperone if necessary
- To accurately complete documentation e.g. fluid, food and observation charts & report as required
- To report any clinical incidences to the Registered Clinician immediately &complete incident form as appropriate
- To be responsible for the quality of data recorded. The data should be accurate, legible (if hand written), recorded in a timely manner, kept up to date and appropriately filed.
- Deal with external and internal queries. This may include providing complex or sensitive non clinical information or advice to patients or relatives.
- Pass on messages as appropriate to the relevant person in a timely way.
- Use initiative to deal with routine and some non-routine problems that may arise, and only exceptionally refer more complex issues to the appropriate person.
- Responsible for the maintenance of accurate data on hospital systems as appropriate.
- Give guidance, support and empathetic approach to any complaints or concerns raised and liaise with the relevant manager
- To actively participate in the development of improvements for the service. Incorporate new practices to
- Work to standing operating procedures and departmental guidelines.
- Ensure any information is accurate and up to date before sharing internally or externally
- Support the team in gathering any data for audit research purposes.
For full details of the responsibilities and duties of this role please see the attached job description
Person Specification
Qualifications
Essential
- Care certificate achieved
- Evidence of completed competencies as part of a professional portfolio
- NVQ level 3 or equivalent
Desirable
- Evidence of functional skills or willingness to undertake
- Willingness to undertake further study
- Evidence of Dementia specific training undertaken
Experience
Essential
- Previous experience in an health setting
- Experience of working with people with a diagnosis of Dementia
Desirable
- Experience within an acute setting
Knowledge and Skills
Essential
- Awareness of the physical, mental, emotional impact of Dementia for patients and their carers/families
- Awareness and experience of undertaking care interventions which specifically focus on supporting the needs of people with Dementia
- Awareness of physical, psychological and spiritual needs of patients relatives and carers.
- Awareness of the nature of the carers role in assisting patients to fulfil basic human needs
- Knowledge of clinical procedures and observations
- Excellent communication skills
Desirable
- Ability to support junior staff members
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
East Suffolk and North Essex NHS Foundation Trust
Address
Ipswich Hospital
Ipswich
IP4 5PD
