Job Purpose
The Care Home Assistant Practitioner (CHAP) provides high-quality, person-centred care to residents while supporting the nursing team with delegated clinical duties within their competence. The CHAP acts as a senior member of the care team, promoting dignity, independence, wellbeing, and excellent clinical standards while mentoring Care Assistants and ensuring compliance with CQC regulations.
The role bridges the gap between Care Assistants and Registered Nurses by undertaking enhanced clinical responsibilities, supporting resident assessments, and contributing to safe, effective care delivery.
Key Responsibilities
Resident Care
- Deliver outstanding person-centred care.
- Promote residents’ dignity, independence and choice.
- Support residents with personal care when required.
- Monitor residents’ physical, emotional and psychological wellbeing.
- Identify deterioration and promptly escalate concerns.
- Support residents with nutrition, hydration and mobility.
Clinical Duties
Following competency assessment and training:
- Record observations (NEWS2 where applicable).
- Blood pressure.
- Pulse.
- Respiratory rate.
- Temperature.
- Oxygen saturation.
- Blood glucose monitoring.
- Urinalysis.
- Weight monitoring.
- Pressure area assessments.
- Waterlow scoring.
- MUST assessments.
- Falls assessments.
- Wound monitoring (where delegated).
- Catheter care (within competency).
- Stoma care (where trained).
- Documentation of clinical observations.
- Assist nurses with medication rounds.
- Administer medication only where legally permitted and authorised by the organisation’s policy.
- Recognise deterioration and escalate immediately.
Care Planning
- Participate in assessments.
- Update electronic care plans.
- Complete risk assessments.
- Review daily care records.
- Support audits.
- Ensure documentation is accurate, contemporaneous and compliant.
Leadership
- Support and mentor Care Assistants.
- Assist with induction of new staff.
- Promote best practice.
- Lead by example.
- Encourage a positive culture.
- Support shift coordination when delegated.
- Report safeguarding concerns immediately.
Communication
- Liaise with:
- GPs
- District Nurses
- Community Teams
- Families
- Pharmacists
- Allied Health Professionals
- Participate in MDT meetings.
- Maintain professional communication at all times.
Compliance
Maintain compliance with:
- CQC Fundamental Standards
- Health and Social Care Act 2008
- Mental Capacity Act
- Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards (DoLS)
- Infection Prevention and Control
- Safeguarding Adults
- Health & Safety legislation
- Medicines Management Policies
- GDPR
Professional Responsibilities
The CHAP must:
- Work within their competency.
- Maintain confidentiality.
- Maintain accurate documentation.
- Attend mandatory training.
- Complete competency assessments.
- Participate in supervision and appraisal.
- Maintain professional boundaries.
- Escalate concerns appropriately.
Person Specification
Essential
- NVQ/QCF Level 3 Diploma in Adult Care (or equivalent).
- Minimum 2 years’ experience within a nursing or residential care home.
- Good written and verbal English.
- Excellent communication skills.
- Compassionate and caring nature.
- Good IT skills.
- Understanding of CQC standards.
- Knowledge of safeguarding.
- Ability to work shifts including weekends.
Desirable
- Assistant Practitioner qualification (Level 4) or working towards one.
- Medication administration competency.
- Dementia training.
- End-of-life care training.
- Tissue viability awareness.
- Venepuncture competency (where applicable).
- ECG competency (where applicable).
Skills
- Clinical observation skills.
- Excellent documentation.
- Team leadership.
- Time management.
- Problem solving.
- Compassion.
- Professional judgement.
- Ability to remain calm under pressure.
Key Performance Indicators (KPIs)
- Accurate documentation.
- Excellent resident outcomes.
- Compliance with care plans.
- Medication competency (where applicable).
- Completion of mandatory training.
- Positive CQC compliance.
- High resident and family satisfaction.
- Low incident rates.
- Effective mentorship of junior staff.
Accountability
The Care Home Assistant Practitioner is accountable to the Registered Nurse (where applicable), Clinical Lead, Deputy Manager, and Home Manager, and must always work within the limits of their competence. Clinical tasks must only be undertaken following appropriate training, competency assessment, and authorisation in line with organisational policies and current legislation.
This role is designed to enhance clinical support within the care home while maintaining safe, high-quality, person-centred care and supporting the multidisciplinary team.
Pay: From £16.64 per hour
Work Location: In person
