The health care assistant will need to demonstrate a strong interest/experience in Tissue Viability & lower limb management in order to provide specialist care, in all aspects of lower limb health & skin care. Working clinically under the guidance of Registered Nurses and Nurse Associates. Effective communication & teamwork are key. Health promotion/patient education is an essential part of this role, as is collaboration with other allied healthcare professionals as Marjon Universitys Sports Therapists deliver our Wellbeing programme.
The DN Treatment Clinics provide care to non-housebound patients that is unavailable at their GP surgeries: , urinary catheter management, nephrostomy care & Topical Negative Pressure Therapy wound dressings.
Daily duties require periods of prolonged bandaging & the work is physically demanding. You will be required to work in a variety of treatment clinic settings across the Livewell footprint, including an informal setting within a village hall.
As a member of the DN Treatment Clinics/Wellbeing Lower Limb Service you may be required to work independently during your working day.
The post holder will demonstrate a history of interest in lower limb management and Tissue Viability.
The post holder is supported by the Community Team Manager and Specialist Service Lead and is responsible for supporting and collecting information for the holistic assessment and management of Lower Limb disease. To be highly skilled in compression bandage application techniques and wound management. Underpinning aetiology and management of patients with leg ulcers. The post holder will be required to make contemporaneous recommendations for the management of lower limb conditions and implementation of an appropriate care plans, know when to esclate to a senior member of the team. Demonstrating the principles of wound healing and management, the aim of which is to enable patients to enjoy maximum independence and optimum quality of life.
“please note that this role may not be eligible for sponsorship under the Skilled Worker route.
Please note that Livewell may close the job advertisement earlier than the specified deadline if a high number of applications are submitted. Therefore, we recommend you submit your application at the earliest opportunity.
All Livewell Southwest staff are expected to able and willing to work across a 7 day service.
Livewell Southwest is an independent, award-winning social enterprise delivering integrated health and social care services across Plymouth, South Hams, and West Devon, with specialist services in parts of Devon and Cornwall. Our teams work in community hospitals, GP practices, sports centres, and health hubs.
As an organisation with a strong social conscience we are guided by our values, kindness, respect, inclusivity, ambition, responsibility, and collaboration. We focus on transforming services to ensure sustainability, while empowering staff and those we serve.
We involve the people we care for, along with their families and carers, in shaping the care they receive, striving to deliver the right care at the right time and place. Centering our work on individual needs helps people lead healthy, independent lives.
We prioritise employees’ development, offering protected CPD time, training pathways, leadership programs, and funding for qualifications like the Care Certificate and Nurse Training Scholarships. Our induction and preceptorship programs ensure a smooth transition into our organisation.
Livewell Southwest values diversity and encourages applications from all sections of the community, including those with armed forces experience, lived experience of mental health, neuro-diverse conditions and learning disabilities. If you need assistance or reasonable adjustments during the application process, contact the Recruiting Manager listed in the job advert.
Job description
Job responsibilities
Duties:
To maintain accurate records, which are confidential, contemporaneous, and legible, with all care given documented at the time.. The post holder will be expected to participate in standard of patients records by audit or peer review and have a regular open discussion with team members.
Make appropriate records in the multi-disciplinary patient file, which will then be counter-signed by a registered nurse.
To report and record incidents and near misses relating to health, safety, security, fire, physical violence, aggression and verbal abuse.
To have a working knowledge and be responsible for ensuring nurses and patients equipment is in safe working order, disposed of or returned when no longer required as per Policy and to inform Line Manager if any problems occur.
To provide holistic evidence-based/best practice care to patients in accordance with National and organisation approved policies/procedures and individual care plans.
To undertake specific clinical tasks as delegated by members of the Nursing team having once undertaken relevant training and deemed competent .Working in line with the Livewell SouthWest Delegation to band 3 and 4 support workers guidance.
To provide appropriate support and advice to family and carers, demonstrating tact and sensitivity in dealing with complex and sensitive information and negotiating a positive outcome.
To recognise and respond to any changes in patient care situations, which might include risks to self and others including adult and child protection concerns. The post holder must inform the most appropriate professional at the earliest opportunity. Be conversant with the safeguarding adult and child protection procedures and policies.
To ensure privacy, dignity and human rights are respected for patients and Carers.
To be willing to participate actively in appropriate in-service training programmes which the manager believes to be of benefit to the individual. To assume co-responsibility for maintaining skills and knowledge levels.
The post holder is required to comply with all infection control policies and guidance, attend relevant updates and report issues of concern to their immediate line manager (if no action or explanation received, then it is the individuals responsibility to escalate)
To contribute to the development, implementation and monitoring of standards.
To work within challenging and unpredictable environments e.g. patients homes which may have constraints and require adaptability.
To provide basic education and continuing support to patients, family and carers.
To identify areas of concern regarding practice and communicate to the Caseload Holder.
Management & Leadership:
To undertake designated duties as required in line with the Delegation to band 3 and 4 support worker guidance.
Only undertake work which is within own competence and to identify any work required to be undertaken by more senior staff
To identify and take responsibility in the maintaining of clinical competencies in line with the job role. Ensuring these are adequately support by clinical sign off. Identifying areas where this may be required.
To be responsible for organizing own time management on a daily basis in line with caseload demands, using own initiative and be flexible when organising own workload on a day to day basis, which is often unpredictable in order to respond to the needs of the service.
To maintain and Preserve confidentiality at all times, and be aware of the Data Protection Act, Access to Health Records and Consent for Treatment.
Complete on time and submit all necessary forms, documentation, including IT data and forward as required by the manager/organisation.
To complete and submit any necessary documentation as required by the District Nurse/Caseload Holder and District Nursing Manager.
Monitoring and ordering of stock levels and to utilise resources economically and effectively and promote cost consciousness throughout the service.
To share knowledge and information to promote a cohesive team.
To act as a role model for all staff and students demonstrating clinical skills and high standards of practice and professional conduct.
To participate in team activities so as to develop and consolidate a cohesive and supportive team ensuring openness within the team.
The post holder will be required to use a computer, being responsible for timely recording patient activities for IT data collection, dealing with e-mail queries, stock/equipment ordering.
Communication:
To demonstrate effective communication with patients, staff and other members of the multi-disciplinary team. When communicating with patients it should be at the appropriate level for patients to understand such as patients suffering from terminal illness, dementia, disability, visually impairment and/or hearing impairment.
Able to communicate the role and eligibility criteria of the District Nursing Service.
Maintain accurate and up to date patient records and inform other professionals about changes in patients condition.
Act as a patient advocate as required ensuring individual needs, preferences and choices are delivered by the Service.
The Post Holder to be supplied with mobile telephones and lone working devices for work purposes and be expected to abide by Livewell Southwest Lone working policy including the Operational procedure for lone working devices.
Education & Training:
Maintain own clinical expertise by attending meetings, study days and in-service training and learn new specialist skills required for service development. To maintain an up to date personal competency portfolio.
To attend and participate in meetings as negotiated within the team and to provide relevant timely feedback.
To participate in Reflective Practice, Practice Supervision and Appraisals and line management supervision as per policy .
Participate in the provision of community experience for all nurse learners and other professionals as appropriate.
To be encouraged to organise informal training sessions on behalf of the team using a variety of resources.
Travelling in all weather in heavy traffic to unknown areas on a daily basis, in the dark and adverse weather conditions.
Emotional Effort:
At every patient contact the post holder deals with emotional issues of patients and relatives.
At each visit staff may need to care for Patients with degenerative terminal conditions and their carers who may be children or adults within their home.
Need to deal with highly distressing and difficult family situations frequently such as grief, crisis care management with unpredictable care conditions.
Mental Effort:
Continuously interrupted, multi-tasking e.g. writing notes, answering mobile telephone call. Staff to carry a mobile telephone and are expected to be available to other staff and professionals and can be interrupted at any time.
Driving in all weather in heavy traffic to unknown areas on a daily basis, in the dark and adverse weather conditions.
Physical Effort:
Use of hoists and other lifting equipment often in a confined space in the patients home on difficult floor surfaces e.g. carpet.
At each visit staff risk assess the need to move light furniture in patients home to allow nursing procedures to be carried out often within a confined space.
Regularly carry and transport District Nurse equipment e.g. Nursing bag, documentation Laptop, phlebotomy equipment, sphygmomamometers and blood sugar machines.
Driving for periods of time between patients homes and requiring lifting nursing bags and equipment from the car boot on each visit.
The job involves several times in a day exposure and contact to highly unpleasant working condition such as secondary smoking, bodily fluids, including sputum, vomit, blood, urine and faeces, soiled linen, fleas, lice, scabies poor hygiene standards and communicable diseases.
Occasional exposure to verbal and physical aggression and dangerous pets.
Daily working in cramped conditions within patients own homes.
Frequently exposure to heat and cold in patients homes.
Mobile phones may not work in areas where there is poor network reception. Staff will utilise lone working devices.
