JOB DESCRIPTION
1. JOB TITLE Health Squad Practitioner
2. LOCATION Various according to service need
3. NOMINAL BASE Various according to service need
4. BAND/SALARY Agenda for Change Band 3
5. RESPONSIBLE TO Wellbeing Community Connector
6. JOB PURPOSE/SUMMARY
The Health Squad Darlington is a partnership between Denmark Street Surgery, Neasham Road Surgery, Darlington Primary Care Network, Darlington Borough Council, and County Durham and Darlington NHS Foundation Trust. It is a commissioned service in Darlington Borough based on the principle of Your Wellbeing, your way. Based on the model of behaviour change, the team encourages people living and working across the town to take small steps to better health in a way tailored to suit them.
- This role is employed by Denmark Street Surgery, and hosted within the The Health Squad Darlington, within Darlington Borough Council, to operate as a seamless service, serving the Community in Darlington. The Service will work with Darlington residents aged 18years who are socially excluded, at risk of poor health and wellbeing outcomes, and/or facing barriers to healthcare access, including, but not limited to:
- Gypsy, Roma and Traveller communities
- People experiencing/at risk of homelessness or rough sleeping
- Vulnerable migrants
- People with drug and / or alcohol dependence
- Frequent A&E attenders with complex needs
- People removed from GP lists (Special Allocation Scheme)
The Health Squad Practitioner, working with the Wellbeing for Life (WBFL) locality team, assigned to a specific Primary care network (PCN) area, will engage and work with a wide range of partners and local voluntary and community groups to develop joint health improvement activities ensuring that specific groups are reached by the service.
The post holder will also carry a caseload of clients aged 16 years and over to facilitate lifestyle and behaviour change, particularly in the areas of weight management, smoking, mental wellbeing, attitudes to national screening and Public Health campaigns and reducing alcohol intake.
The post holder will carry out promotional work to engage people in the service and offer one to one and group wellbeing advice and support to clients including signposting them to relevant services within the community (NHS and non NHS).
The post holder will act as an integrated member of a team, demonstrating a flexible approach, to working across the geographical location/patch to ensure the needs of the local community are met.
The post holder will liaise with a variety of partners, community and voluntary organisations across the geographical location/patch and the wider programme.
Excellent communication skills and local knowledge are essential in order to engage and work with members of the public. Willingness to undertake mandatory and role specific training within a specified timescale will also be essential.
7. DIMENSIONS OF THE JOB
The main role of the Wellbeing Practitioner is to work with individuals and groups aged 16 years and over from the community who need support to make behaviour and lifestyle changes.
- The post holder will support some of the most vulnerable people in the community.
- To manage a caseload of individuals (aged 16 years and over) and maintain regular supportive contact with each person to assist them to achieve their goals.
- To encourage and facilitate the development and delivery of personal health action plans.
- To source a holistic package of information to support individuals in the development of skills and knowledge and in particular assisting individuals to progress and achieve their health goals.
- To apply asset based community development, engagement and consultation techniques as appropriate to engage with the target groups/individuals.
- To assist with the ongoing service evaluation in line with the project plan.
- To promote and deliver health and wellbeing programmes and training to individuals and groups to support the delivery aims of the programme.
- To work collaboratively across the WBFL locality teams on signposting potential volunteers and supporting them at community events/activities.
8. ESSENTIAL KNOWLEDGE, QUALIFICATIONS, SKILLS, AND EXPERIENCE REQUIRED
See person specification for full details
9.
All employees are required to comply with the Statutory Duty of Candour: The volunteering of all relevant information to persons who have or may have been harmed by the provision of services, whether or not information has been requested and whether or not a complaint or a report of that provision has been made
10. MAIN DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES
The post holder has lead responsibility in delivering the following key result areas:
Caseload
- To manage a caseload of individuals/groups and maintain regular supportive contact with each person.
- To generate a working caseload of clients in groups or as individuals by applying asset based community development, engagement and consultation techniques as appropriate.
- To work with individuals and groups on 1:1 basis, both face to face and using digital platforms, including social media and video content, to support them through behaviour and lifestyle change by developing step change action plans and referring to relevant specialist services.
- To source a holistic package of support to assist the development of skills and knowledge and in particular assisting individuals to progress and achieve their health goals.
- To deliver Mini Healthchecks with 1:1 clients and groups as an engagement tool in line with locally agreed standardised quality assured protocols and practice.
- To plan, deliver and evaluate a range of interactive health and wellbeing workshops.
- To be responsible for data management of clients including inputting information onto databases and creating reports.
- To signpost or refer individual clients to a range of health and wellbeing lifestyle intervention, primary and secondary care services and voluntary and community support.
- To engage with and utilise the Adult Wellbeing Services volunteer programme, buddying and mentoring volunteers where appropriate.
Partners
- With the support of their line manager, work with the team and partners to apply asset based community development techniques and undertake research to support access to appropriate services.
- With the support of their line manager, work with partners and existing groups to develop the referral pathways for support.
- To apply solution focused, problem solving to deal with the wider determinants of health and lifestyle issues including weight management, alcohol, smoking and mental wellbeing.
Marketing and Monitoring
- To assist with service marketing and promotion activities, including supporting events, including cancer awareness, mental wellbeing and publicity campaigns.
- To engage in service evaluation in line with the project plan and learning from best practice.
- To contribute to the collation of verbal and written reports as required.
- To contribute to knowledge sharing and learning before, during and after projects, and to the development of a culture that helps colleagues become confident in using the appropriate technology and develop skills.
General
- To work flexibly as part of the team and to provide cover for colleagues as required maintaining appropriate staffing levels across the wider programme.
- There will be a requirement to work flexibly including some weekends and evenings depending on service need.
- To ensure the service operates effectively and efficiently.
- To audit and maintain resources, stock and equipment levels.
- To undertake any training and development deemed appropriate by your line manager.
This is not an exhaustive list of duties and responsibilities and the post holder may be required to undertake other duties which fall within the grade of the job, in discussion with the line manager.
11. COMMUNICATIONS AND WORKING RELATIONSHIPS
The post holder will be expected to work and communicate with a range of organisations and individuals to achieve the project aims. Effective communication will facilitate partnership working, influence decision making processes, avoid duplication and promote the service as a wellbeing ambassador:
- Wellbeing partners
- Other Wellbeing Practitioner programmes in County Durham
- Area Action Partnerships
- Primary Care Networks (PCN)
- Durham County Council
- County Durham and Darlington NHS Foundation Trust
- Community centre managers and Family Hubs
- Community groups and Third Sector organisations
- Education in the Community
- Communicate with members of the public to help them consider changes to their lifestyle behaviours
- Advise on behaviour change techniques on a one to one basis with clients providing motivation, empathy and reassurance regarding barriers to change
- Other Wellbeing Services including Social Prescribing Link Workers
12. MANAGEMENT AND SUPERVISORY POSTS
All managerial and supervisory posts are expected to follow the principles of being a Great Line Manager and specifically be aware of, understand, and apply fair employment policies/practices, and equality and diversity principles and legal obligations. Commit to developing staff preferences, promoting flexible working arrangements, and encourage change of working practice following major life changing events.
All managerial and supervisory posts will ensure compliance with Trust policies and procedures and clinical guidelines.
All managerial and supervisory posts must ensure staff have equal access to career progression and are appraised annually and have a PDP.
13. HEALTH AND SAFETY RESPONSIBILITY/RISK MANAGEMENT
It is the responsibility of the individual to work in compliance with all current health and safety legislation and the Trust’s Health and Safety Policy and to attend any training requirements both statutory and mandatory in line with the Trust’s legal responsibility to comply with the Health and Safety and Welfare at Work Act 1974.
It is a standard element of the role and responsibility of all staff of the Trust that they fulfill a proactive role towards the management of risk in all of their actions. Members of staff are responsible for adherence to all Trust policies for the safety of themselves, staff and patients at work
The Trust offers a range of Health & Wellbeing Support available – information is available on the Trust internet page
14. INFECTION CONTROL
It is the responsibility of all individuals to comply with infection control policies and to attend any appropriate training requirements in line with the Trust's responsibility to comply with Government Directives.
15. CHILD/YOUNG PERSON RELATED POSTS eg. Health Visitor, School Nurses etc.
Has responsibility for ensuring that children and young people are safeguarded and must comply with the NHS Safeguarding Children Procedures and the LSCB Child
Protection Procedures. The post-holder must attend safeguarding children training at
a level appropriate to the role and function of the post. Safeguarding Children Training is mandatory for all staff within this field.
16. DISCLOSURE & BARRING CHECK
This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS to check for any previous criminal convictions).
This post will involve access to patient/person identifiable information including access to vulnerable adults.
17. SUSTAINABILITY/CLIMATE CHANGE
Our Green Plan defines the Trust vision for sustainability - to ensure that we provide the safest, most compassionate and joined up healthcare whilst taking all reasonable steps to minimise the adverse impact on the environment, society and the planet; thereby not compromising the health and wellbeing of future generations. The Trust aims to be net carbon neutral by 2045 in line with NHS Net Zero targets. Our aim is to be an exemplar organisation in the way we embrace sustainability and all staff are expected to contribute to our corporate responsibility in relation to climate change by minimising the environmental impact of their day to day activities and adhere to Trust policies and plans on sustainability, waste, resource usage and governance.
18. RESEARCH & INNOVATION
Our aim is to ensure that Research and innovation is core business, and that the post holder not only has the opportunity to contribute to this, but is expected to do so. The importance of research and innovation cannot be underestimated in discovering new knowledge and ways of working to improve patient outcomes. There is evidence to show that research active hospitals have better patient outcomes, and as such this is now a pillar within the CQC’s well led framework. Research forms an essential part of appraisal at CDDFT, and it is expected that active participation in research is demonstrated within appraisal (where the job role permits). All research active employees will be supported in obtaining a certificate in Good Clinical practice in research. Research and Innovation have a track record of investing in our research colleagues, both in terms of time to undertake research, and from an education and training perspective. We have a strong and an experienced research and innovation team, ready to support you to engage in research and the innovation pathway. Clinicians with a demonstrable background in research may have the opportunity to take on a joint clinical/research appointment. This would be arranged in conjunction with the Director of Research and Innovation
19. GENERAL
This job description is intended as a guide to the principal duties and responsibilities for the post and should not be considered an exhaustive list. It is subject to change in line with future development of the service.
Pay: £13.17-£14.05 per hour
Benefits:
Work Location: In person
