Community Council of Shropshire 9.1.13

Job Description

Job Title: Carers Hospital LinkWorker

Hours per week 22.5hrs a week over 5 afternoons - Monday to Friday

Salary NJC Scale point 24 pro rata

Responsible to: Head of Service, Family Carers and Community Well Being

Responsible for: Volunteers

Job purpose: To work with the carers of people coming out of hospital in order to ensure they have information about the support and services available to them on leaving hospital.To work with the Hospital Discharge Planning team, Hospital Social Work Teams and other relevant professionals to facilitate effective discharge plans which meet both the needs of carers and those they care for. To ensure that carers are consulted and fully involved at all stages of the discharge planning process.

Principle tasks

  1. To establish protocols and referral systems which ensure carers are fully involved at all stages of discharge planning process.
  2. To work with matrons and ward managers to develop link staff with wardswho will raise awareness about carers and promote their recognition by colleagues.
  3. To participate in hospital staff induction training so that new and existing staff have sufficient information about carers to recognise and respond to their needs
  1. To actively promote carers’ rights to their own assessment to ensure their rights and capacity to care are taken into account in discharge plans.
  2. To contribute to the process of assessment, planning, implementation, monitoring and review to ensure carers’

needs are met in discharge plans.

  1. To provide carers with accurate and relevant information to assist them to make informed choices about their

current and future caring role.

  1. To assist carers in accessing appropriate services for themselves and the person they care for, provided by Health, Social Services, Housing, Education and other relevant agencies through:
  1. providing information about services and any policies and procedures, priorities and eligibility criteria, etc., of such services.
  1. advocating on behalf of carer, and those they care for, through signposting, referrals, liaison and negotiation with relevant agencies
  1. To promote the use of the ‘Who I Am’ passport by carers and hospital staff
  1. To ensure carers are aware of Shropshire RCC Carers Support Services and refer carers to the service.
  1. To network, liaise and attend appropriate meetings in order to promote joint working and collaboration with statutory and non-statutory agencies.
  1. To contribute to the organisation’s monitoring and evaluation by:

a)maintaining clear and accurate records of all client contacts in compliance with the organisation’s casework recording procedures.

a)submitting regular progress reports to the Project Steering Group and other written reports to Shropshire RCC Board of Trustees and funders, as required.

b)complying with any quality assurance systems adopted by the organisation.

  1. To participate in continuing professional development through training, education, supervision and appraisal.
  2. To supervise and support any volunteers linked to your area of work.
  1. To undertake other relevant duties to meet carers needs.
  2. To comply with organisations requirements for data entry and work time sheets
  3. To contribute to the production of work and service plans.

Other duties

To participate in the wider work of the Shropshire RCC as requested (eg: participation in internal working groups; presentations to other staff/Committee members; attendance at the AGM and other Shropshire RCC meetings; contributions to Shropshire RCC publications).

Particular duties and responsibilities may vary from time to time without changing the general character of the duties or level of responsibility entailed. The postholder may therefore be required to pursue activities other than those specified above, within the remit of the post

Created December 2012

Person Specification

Person Specification / Carers Hospital Discharge Link Worker / Essential/Desirable
Education and Training / NVQ Level 3 or equivalent qualification in Social Care or substantial (min 3 years) experience in direct support and advice work with carers or other vulnerable adult groups
European Computer Driving Licence (ECDL), or equivalent, or willingness to work towards this / E
E
Experience / Previous experience of providing support and advice to vulnerable client groups
Experience of working as part of a multi disciplinary team
Experience of advocating on behalf of vulnerable people and carers
Experience of collaborative and partnership working with other professionals and agencies
Experience of using IT for recording, research and communication
Experience of working with or alongside volunteers / E
E
E
E
E
D
Skills and knowledge / Excellent communication skills both on the phone and face to face
Good written skills
Ability to establish rapport and develop constructive relationships with people at all levels
Ability to maintain clear professional boundaries
Understanding of Adult Safeguarding and Child Protection
Knowledge of the role of carers and their associated rights
Knowledge of the key agencies within the field of Adult Social Care and Health Services
Knowledge and understanding of the Health and Social Care system, in particular secondary healthcare
Some knowledge of person centred practice and personalised approaches to services
Ability to work on own initiative and develop new work / E
E
E
E
E
E
E
E
D
E
Values and Attitudes / Self-motivated, confident, energetic and resilient
Team player who is supportive of colleagues
Able to demonstrate professional integrity
Able to demonstrate evidence of clear accountability for professional practice
Able to demonstrate valuing of diversity and to evidence non-discriminatory and anti-oppressive practice and attitudes
Empathic and compassionate in dealings with others
Committed to own continuing professional development
Flexible and adaptable
Willing to work unsocial hours on occasion / E
E
E
E
E
E
E
E
E
Other / Ideally a car driver with access to a car or other transport for work purposes / D