We require Generic support workers for Jean Heyes Rehabilitation Unit at Leigh Infirmary. The unit supports individuals who are medically well enough to be discharged, but who require a period of Nurse & Therapy led rehabilitation. It supports individuals to achieve specific goals which enable safe discharge back into their own home. As a generic support worker, you will help patients to achieve independence by assisting and assessing personal care needs and mobility. You will work closely with the therapy and nursing team to ensure patients meet their goals and become as independent as possible.
We are recruiting three permanent and one fixed term posts. The fixed term position is for 9 months to provide cover for an employee on maternity leave and will end on February 2027 or when the substantive postholder returns. Whilst this post is advertised on an fixed term basis there is the potential that this post may become permanent in the future. NHS employees should ideally secure their manager's agreement for a secondment ideally prior to applying as this will be a condition of any offer made .
All posts are for 36 hours per week over 3 days. The unit is open 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, so the shifts will be between Monday & Sunday, predominantly day shifts but may include night rotation. The unit remains open over Christmas/New Year & all bank holidays, so the post holder will be required to work some shifts over this period.
Note the following essential requirements:
NHS healthcare experience - if you do not have NHS experience you will not be selected for interview
Level 2 Health & Social Care NVQ or NHS accredited Care Certificate (does not include the online courses)
An Enhanced DBS with Adults Barred List checks will be obtained during pre-employment checks.
Please note an AI detector is used on applications - if applicants have used AI they are required to declare this within the application
To assist and work under the direction of Registered Nurses, Physiotherapists and Occupational Therapists
To work with adults being medically optimised prior to discharged in the Jean Heyes Rehabilitation Unit
To assist with personal care of patients
To help patients build their independence with a structured goal plan from the therapy team
To assist patients with mobilisation
To assist in the administration and clerical duties of the unit
To administer and monitor the stock of aids for independence and other departmental equipment
To work flexibly when required, which will involve covering a 7 day 24hr service
Choose Well – Choose WWL
Wrightington, Wigan and Leigh NHS Foundation Trust are the proud providers of acute hospital and community services to the people of the Wigan Borough and surrounding areas. At WWL, we value our staff believing that ‘happy staff, makes for happy patients’.
WWL are committed to placing the patient at the heart of everything we do, and in the provision of safe, effective care that acknowledges and ensures dignity. With this in mind we are seeking to recruit people who share our values and beliefs.
Duties and Responsibilities
Clinical
To assist Nurses, Therapists and other team members in the rehabilitation of patients using a range of delegated appropriate treatment techniques. This includes following nursing and therapy care plans.
Post holders are required to work independently with regard to routine, delegated tasks, following established good practice and refer non-routine tasks appropriately. Work is supervised and evaluated on a routine basis. This will include undertaking specifically delegated initial patient interviews and functional screening to assess for, measure and teach safe use of aids and appliances such as walking aids.
To follow treatment plans as prescribed by nurses and therapists and identify activities that meet treatment goals.
Encourage individuals to maintain optimum independence in accordance with the agreed activity plan by carrying out therapeutic activity utilizing empathy, sensitivity and good interpersonal skills
To manage the reablement of patients as delegated by the physiotherapists and occupational therapists, reporting back progress or adverse reactions appropriately.
To be responsible for the selection, fitting, adjusting and checking of equipment following a broad prescription from an Occupational Therapist or Physiotherapist.
To communicate with patients and/or carers to provide reassurance and promote understanding
To assist in information collection from patients/ relatives as requested by trained staff.
To use communication tools (verbal and non-verbal) to gain informed consent with patients where there will often be barriers to effective communication e.g., loss of hearing, altered perception, expressive and receptive dysphasia, pain, fear etc.
To ensure to escalate concerns regarding patients mental capacity
To prioritise tasks allocated and adjust as necessary.
To ensure that documentation is completed in accordance with Trust and departmental requirements.
To be responsible for some degree of housekeeping and stock control on the Unit
To be competent in phlebotomy and simple dressings
To participate in simple additional tasks such as swallowing assessments/foot screening and nutritional reviews and referring to specialities as appropriate
To be assessed as competent in the band 3 therapy competencies and work directly with the therapy team when required
To be able to assist patients in the event of an emergency and understand that JHRU is a 'cold site' nurse led unit without doctor presence
The applicant must have relevant UK healthcare experience in a similar setting
Professional
To attend any in-service training programmes as appropriate
To take part in the individual appraisal and performance review programme and to actively participate in supervision.
To maintain own continuing professional development (CPD) by keeping up to date any developments and incorporate them as necessary into your work.
To respect the individuality, values, cultural and religious diversity of patients.
To exercise good time management, punctuality and consistent and reliable attendance.
To assist JHRU staff in the induction and training of new staff
The post holder must withold a professional image and adhere to the Trusts 'Uniform policy'
Planning and Organisational Duties
To be aware of Health and Safety aspects of your work and implement any policies, which may be required to improve the safety of your work area, including your prompt recording and reporting of accidents to senior stage and ensuring that equipment use if safe.
To maintain accurate, comprehensive and up-to-date documentation, in line with legal and departmental requirements.
To comply with the organisational and departmental policies and procedures.
To undertake departmental administrative duties, as required.
To undertake any other duties that might be considered appropriate by the relevant registered nurse/Team Leader, or Community Therapy Services Lead.
Communications and Key Working Relationships
To report back to Nursing and Therapy staff on all treatment activities, either verbally or in writing as requested
To work as a member of the team and communicate relevant information to team members
To be able to communicate effectively in a variety of ways with patients/carers to gain co-operation and understanding of treatment programmes
To maintain good working relationships
To establish therapeutic relationships using negotiating and reasoning skills in order to complete treatment activities.
Responsibility for Finance
To identify deficits in resources required to carry out the job and bring to the attention of the Team Leader
To be responsible for the monitoring of materials and equipment and bring defects for deficits to the attention of the Team Leader
Adhere to financial policies.
Responsibility for Human Resources
To attend regular meetings e.g., staff meeting, support and development groups
To participate in in-service training.
Responsibility for Health & Safety
Compliance with the Health & Safety at Work Act 1974 – the post holder is required to fulfil a proactive role towards the management of risk in all of their actions. This entails the risk assessment of all situations, the taking of appropriate actions and reporting of all incidents, near misses and hazards, and a statutory duty of care for their own personal safety and that of others who may be affected by their acts or omissions.
Responsibility for Teaching
To assist JHRU staff in induction and training of new staff
The range of duties and responsibilities outlined above are indicative only and are intended to give an overview of the range and type of duties that will be allocated. They are subject to modification in the light of changing service demands and the development requirements of the postholder.
Work Circumstances
24 hours per week over 7 days.
Includes bank holidays, nights, weekend working
