Advertised role location: Belfast HSCT
Official document: Band 3 Home Care Worker 25 SE (doc)
JOB DESCRIPTION

POST: Home Care Worker (Care and Support)

LOCATION: South and East Belfast

BAND: 3

REPORTS TO: Home Care Co-ordinator

RESPONSIBLE TO: Co-Director Adult Community and Older People
Services

Job Summary / Main Purpose

The vision of the Trust Home Care service is to be the first option for all new referrals for domiciliary care and being a leader in developing new forms of care and support at home, through a trained and skilled workforce. This includes the integration of the reablement approach in the delivery of care and support at home for people who are being discharge home from hospital or respite care with or after a medical condition.

The Home Care Worker (Care & Support) works within Adult Community and Older Peoples Services as part of the multi- disciplinary team and practice will be led by various professionals in the division such as Social Work and Social Care Teams, district nursing and Occupational Therapists & Physiotherapists.

The Home Care Worker (Care & Support) will be providing personal care to a range of service users in their own homes and to people with a range of care needs, including people with complex care needs such as palliative and end of life, medical conditions such as swallowing difficulties or chronic illness, communication difficulties, people with dementia, people with mental illness, people who do not comply with the care to be delivered and people with palliative care needs.

They will have specific responsibilities for designated service users and will attend to a range of duties and tasks according to an agreed care plan and under the supervision of a Home Care Coordinator, to ensure allocated duties are carried out according to the policies and procedures of the Trust, Health & Safety Standards and Policies and the Domiciliary Care Standards and NISCC Codes of Practice.

Home care workers will also deliver a person-centred service, which will include promoting independence and supporting service user re-ablement plans.

The hours of the posts will be as follows: - 25 hours and staff will be required to be available for work between 7.30am to 11.00pm, working on a rotating shift pattern, including weekends and evenings.

The postholder must be flexible and available to work across a range of day, evening and weekend shift patterns on a rotational basis to meet the needs of the service.
Main Duties / Responsibilities
For each of the following, the postholder will:

Adhere to the Northern Ireland Social Care Council Codes of Practice and standards of service provision as directed by the Adult Community and Older Peoples service area.
Encourage service users to actively participate in their own care when this is appropriate.
Deal courteously and respectfully with service users, carers, relatives, work colleagues and others with whom they come in contact during the performance of their duties.
Obtain consent from service users for all care provided.
Respect the dignity, wishes and beliefs of all service users.
Provide care in accordance with the BHSCT Home Care Procedures.
Deliver social care tasks in the clients home as required, including;

Applying creams as detailed in care plans.
Assisting service user with compliance with medication and oxygen therapy as required.
Disposing of clinical waste encountered in the completion of their tasks, in line with Trust policies and procedures.
Adhering to Infection Control procedures to protect both the service user and themselves, including the use of personal protective equipment.
Reporting any changes in the service users condition or mood to their line manager.
Use of any prescribed pieces of equipment provided to support the delivery of personal care or the promotion of independence.
Undertaking duties that are require to ensure adequate standards of environmental hygiene and prevent cross infection.
Adhering to care plans in place in the service users home as prescribed by social work staff.
Maintaining medication records.
Maintaining care records.

Undertake household and domestic duties as directed, including bed making, preparation of drinks/meals, and the collection of prescriptions and/or pensions in exceptional cases and agreed with the case holder and service user.
Provide practical assistance and encourage service users with activities of daily living in both supporting them to continue to return to living at home. In addition the home care worker will take on a supportive and empowering role enabling and supporting service users to have independence and control over their daily living circumstances.
Promoting increased independence in tasks under the direction of Physio, Occupational Therapist or district nurse to include:

Mobilising
Using equipment to transfer service users
Toileting
Household tasks, such as cleaning and laundry
Washing and dressing
Independence in feeding
Food preparation
Use of aids and appliances in place in the service users home
Assisting service user maintain social links
Promoting service user choice
Prescribed exercises

Enhance the physical health and well-being of the service users in their care through the implementation of an agreed care plan.
Adhere to the care plan and to report to their line manager any request by service users or carers to perform additional tasks not included in the care plan.
Report to Home Care Co-ordinator any concerns, regarding the medical, social or physical needs and changes in service users’ condition, including changes to emotional or social well-being.
Report to the Home Care Co-ordinator any concerns regarding potential exploitation or abuse of service users, in line with Trust Safeguarding reporting arrangements.
Report incidents and accidents, complaints and compliments to their line manager and to participate in any investigations needed to resolve any of these issues.
Participate in reviews or case discussions with OTs, Social Workers and other key professionals to share their knowledge of service users circumstances.
Maintain any written information as required by the Home Care Co-ordinator, in particular (but not exclusively) daily record sheets and medication records.
Work either on their own or with other colleagues, in an unsupervised setting, in the service users home, and in the event of an emergency act within own role and summon appropriate help.
Report any defects in equipment within the service users home to their line manager and to advise their line manager of any obvious health and safety risks in the service users environment.
Undertake comprehensive training schedule for post and to take responsibility for their own compliance with Post Registration Training and Learning to ensure continued registration with the Northern Ireland Social Care Council (NISCC).
Participate in the induction, training and development of other staff as appropriate.
Attend team meetings and supervision with their line manager as appropriate.
Actively engage in Personal Development Planning and Staff Development Review on an annual basis.
Commit to work flexible 5 days out of 7 to include evenings, weekends, to meet the needs of the service.
Be aware of the Human Rights legislation in relation to the requirements of this post.
Undertake similar duties as required.

General Responsibilities

Employees of the Trust are required to promote and support the mission and vision of the service for which they are responsible and:
At all times provide a caring service and to treat those with whom they come into contact in a courteous and respectful manner.
Demonstrate their commitment by their regular attendance and the efficient completion of all tasks allocated to them.
Comply with the Trust’s Smoke Free Policy.
Carry out their duties and responsibilities in compliance with the Health and Safety Policies and Statutory Regulations.
Adhere to Equality and Good Relations duties throughout the course of their employment.
Ensure the ongoing confidence of the public in-service provision.
Maintain high standards of personal accountability.
Comply with the HPSS Code of Conduct.

Information Governance  

All employees of Belfast Health & Social Care Trust are legally responsible for all records held, created or used as part of their business within the Belfast Health and Social Care Trust, including patient/client, corporate and administrative records whether paper based or electronic and also including e-mails.  All such records are public records and are accessible to the general public, with limited exceptions, under the Freedom of Information Act 2000, the Environment Regulations 2004, the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) and the Data Protection Act 2018. Employees are required to be conversant and to comply with the Belfast Health and Social Care Trust policies on Information Governance including for example the ICT Security Policy, Data Protection Policy and Records Management Policy and to seek advice if in doubt.

For further information on how we use your personal data within HR, please refer to the Privacy Notice available on the HUB or Your HR

Environmental Cleaning Strategy

The Trusts Environmental Cleaning Strategy recognizes the key principle that “Cleanliness matters is everyone’s responsibility, not just the cleaners” Whilst there are staff employed who are responsible for cleaning services, all Trust staff have a responsibility to ensure a clean, comfortable, safe environment for patients, clients, residents, visitors, staff and members of the general public.

Infection Prevention and Control

The Belfast Trust is committed to reducing Healthcare associated infections (HCAIs) and all staff have a part to play in making this happen. Staff must comply with all policies in relation to Infection Prevention and Control and with ongoing reduction strategies. Standard Infection Prevention and Control Precautions must be used at all times to ensure the safety of patients and staff.

This includes:-
Cleaning hands either with soap and water or a hand sanitiser at the appropriate times (WHO ‘5 moments’);
Using the correct ‘7 step’ hand hygiene technique;
Being ‘bare below the elbows’ when in a clinical environment;
Following Trust policies and the Regional Infection Control Manual (found on intranet);
Wearing the correct Personal Protective Equipment (PPE);
Ensuring correct handling and disposal of waste (including sharps)  and laundry;
Ensuring all medical devices (equipment) are decontaminated appropriately i.e. cleaned, disinfected and/or sterilised;
Ensuring compliance with High Impact Interventions.

Personal Public Involvement

Staff members are expected to involve patients, clients, carers and the wider community were relevant, in developing, planning and delivering our services in a meaningful and effective way, as part of the Trust’s ongoing commitment to Personal Public Involvement (PPI).

Please use the link below to access the PPI standards leaflet for further information.

http://www.publichealth.hscni.net/sites/default/files/PPI_leaflet.pdf

Clause: This job description is not meant to be definitive and may be amended to meet the changing needs of the Belfast Health and Social Care Trust.

PERSONNEL SPECIFICATION

JOB TITLE / BAND: Home Care Worker (Care and Support) / Band 3

DEPT / DIRECTORATE: Home Care Services, Adult Community and Older Peoples Services / Adult Social & Primary Care

Notes to applicants:
You must clearly demonstrate on your application form under each question, how you meet the required criteria as failure to do so may result in you not being shortlisted. You should clearly demonstrate this for both the essential and desirable criteria.
Shortlisting will be carried out on the basis of the essential criteria set out below, using the information provided by you on your application form. Please note the Trust reserves the right to use any desirable criteria outlined below at shortlisting. You must clearly demonstrate on your application form how you meet the desirable criteria.
Proof of qualifications and/or professional registration will be required if an offer of employment is made – if you are unable to provide this, the offer may be withdrawn.

ESSENTIAL CRITERIA

The following are ESSENTIAL criteria which will initially be measured at shortlisting stage although may also be further explored during the interview/selection stage.
You should therefore make it clear on your application form whether or not you meet these criteria. Failure to do so may result in you not being shortlisted. The stage in the process when the criteria will be measured is stated below.

Factor
Criteria

Method of Assessment

Experience
Qualifications
Registration

2 years paid experience in a caring role within a health and social care related field.

OR

NVQ or QCF or RQF level 2 in Health and Social Care or related subject and 1 years paid experience in a health and social care related role

OR

4 GCSEs Grades (A-C/9-4) including English Language and 18 Months paid experience in a caring role

OR

NVQ or QCF or RQF level 3 in Health and Social Care or related subject.

Where NVQ / QCF / RQF 2 or NVQ / QCF / RQF 3 in Health and Social Care or related subject is not already held, willing to undertake (where applicable) and successfully complete.
By date of appointment be registered or have applied for Registration with the Northern Ireland Social Care Council and within 6 months of commencement in post be registered with NISCC.
(If a candidate is unable to gain registration with NISCC offer of employment will be withdrawn.)
Shortlisting by Application Form

Other (e.g. Driving etc.)

Hold a current full driving license valid in the UK and have access to a car

‘Where disability prohibits driving, this criteria will be waived if the applicant is able to organise suitable alternative arrangements’
Shortlisting by Application Form

Knowledge
Skills
Abilities
Good communication skills.
Ability to work with others and as part of a multidisciplinary team.
Demonstrate an understanding and knowledge of needs of older people and people with a disability.
Good organisational skills with an ability to prioritise own workload.
Ability to use own initiative.
Interview

Eligibility to work in the UK
If you are an overseas national and require a Certificate of Sponsorship from Belfast Trust to work in the UK, under the current Home Office Immigration Rules, we would not be able to offer this. The working hours for this role mean the salary will fall below the minimum threshold of £25,000.
Please confirm if you require sponsorship by answering yes or no.
Shortlisting by Application Form

NOTE:
Where educational/professional qualifications form part of the criteria you will be required, if shortlisted for interview, to produce original certificates and one photocopy of same issued by the appropriate authority. Only those certificates relevant to the shortlisting criteria should be produced. If educational certificates are not available an original letter and photocopy of same detailing examination results from your school or college will be accepted as an alternative.

Where a post involves working in regulated activity with vulnerable groups, post holders will be required to register with the Independent Safeguarding Authority.

HSC Values

Whilst employees will be expected to portray all the values, particular attention is drawn to the following values for this role