Home Treatment Team Support Worker

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

QUALITY OF CARE

• Work only under the direction and supervision of qualified Home Treatment Team staff
• Assist in the assessment of and implementation of individual’s care and risk plans
• Support and enable individuals to administer their own financial affairs, maintain own physical health care needs and treatments, daily living and social skills, administer medication and address spiritual needs
• Assist individuals to identify and develop an action plan, which maximises employment opportunities and engagement of meaningful activities in the community
• To observe and interact with patients and their families and carers, and document as required in the MDT notes
• Recognise and respect patients as individuals with the same rights, needs and emotions as everyone else. Promote their dignity and esteem at all times
• Act in a manner to raise standards of care and make the services culturally sensitive, relevant and accessible to meet the needs of patients
• Ensure patients make informed decisions whenever possible based on open and honest dialogue with them and their carers, and ensure their choices are respected where possible
• Assist qualified staff in the assessment of patients’ needs and the implementation of individual plans of care
• Contribute to the management of risk and the protection of individuals from abuse
• Provide support and safeguard individuals who are at risk from abuse
• Identify trigger points to reduce and respond to risk and violence. Protect yourself from levels of risk and violence in your own work environment
• Promote social inclusion, rights and responsibilities. Encourage people with mental health needs to access mainstream provision
• Maintain accurate records as per legal policy, recording procedures and protocols
• Assist service users as directed with daily living skills
• Facilitate recreational and social activities as required
• Record and document as required (and after appropriate training) physical observations, such as weight, temperature, pulse and respiration and blood pressure. Report to the shift co-ordinator any significant findings
• Escort service users to various therapeutic treatment programmes as determined by their care plan. These may be internal and external to the team base
• Participate in supervision and appraisal processes to enable reflection and person development
• Be aware of and adhere to agreed procedures for delivering care
• Be aware of one’s own limitations in terms of experience and knowledge. Make this known if asked to perform duties beyond one’s competence
• Recognise people’s diversity and promote equality of opportunity and access to services to challenge discrimination, prejudice and oppressive behaviour
• Provide advice and information about mental health needs and related services and facilities, to enable access and promote individual rights to represent their own interests and needs
• Maintain active contact with individuals to ensure continuity of care
• Contribute to the assessment and planning of individual’s abilities and needs
• Establish and sustain working relationships to support and reinforce positive behavioural goals, to achieve the effectiveness of agreed therapeutic interventions. Evaluate with other members of the team
• Support individuals to maintain social contact and obtain appropriate information and literature to interact with others, preventing isolation
• Enable and assist people who are at risk to themselves and others, to develop control over their own behaviour by challenging behaviours, which create risk
• Support individuals in time of stress and contribute towards prevention of distress
• Assist, prepare, plan and enable an individual’s transfer/move from a hospital or supported accommodation to a more independent living environment.

MANAGEMENT OF RESOURCES

• Co-operate with and contribute to all aspects of daily work as co-ordinated and planned for by the shift co-ordinator / Team Manager
• Participate in regular supervision as per Trust / local policy
• Ensure that agreed Trust policies and procedures are followed
• Participate in standard setting and use audit systems
• Report any shortfalls in the Home Treatment Team’s requirements to the Team Manager
• Liaise with colleagues to find ways to optimise and improve services, identifying resources required
• Work in collaboration with statutory health, voluntary sector, private education and welfare services, housing agencies and community groups to share knowledge and experience. As well as to provide effective support to meet the complex mental health care needs of the patients
• Maintain professional standards, flexibility and positive attitudes. Contribute to the daily running of the service as per the service aims, objectives, policies and procedures
• Provide information about mental health needs related services and facilities to enable access. Promote individual rights to represent own interests and needs

COMMUNICATION AND LIAISON

• Communicate with patients and their social network (families, friends, carers), referring them to the shift co-ordinator where necessary
• Promote and maintain good working relationships with colleagues
• Be aware of how verbal and non-verbal communication can be interpreted by others, and ensure that a polite approach is maintained at all times
• Contribute to shift handovers and use the established communication systems to ensure information is used effectively
• Maintain strict confidentiality of service user information at all times
• Report to qualified staff in difficult situations
• Take part in team handovers and meetings as directed by senior practitioner
• Keep up-to-date with HTT, Divisional and Trust developments by reading circulars, memos and information
• Receive telephone calls and record messages, making sure they are passed on to the person concerned
• Be involved in keeping clinical records, ensuring that they are up-to-date and tidy
• Communicate accurately and appropriately, both orally and in writing to provide evidence, judgements and sharing of information with others as per the care / risk plan, and for the presentation of CPA (Care Programme Approach) meetings
• Promote joint working, effective communication and relationships with professionals, external agencies, patients and family members
• Work in collaboration with statutory health and social services, voluntary agencies, private education, welfare services, housing agencies and community groups. Share knowledge and experience and provide effective support to meet the complex mental health care needs of patients.

PERSONAL DEVELOPMENT

• Work in partnership with your supervisor to facilitate effective management supervision
• Ensure attendance at Mandatory Training as required
• Participate in training where needs are identified
• Participate in special projects, research and surveys related to the clinical area, as directed
• Participate in managerial and clinical supervision and annual appraisal
• Reflect on own practice, knowledge, skills, and abilities, to improve performance and professional standards. Develop new knowledge to enhance mental health practice
• Work as a team member to promote and maintain positive communication and joint working practice to develop skills, knowledge and own safe and systematic practice, in line with joint working practice, policies and procedures
• Reflect upon and develop positive working practice using supervision and support services to develop skills, knowledge and own safe and systematic practice, in line with joint working practice, policies and procedures.

HEALTH AND SAFETY

• Deal with matters relating to patient.
• Participate in the maintenance of a clean tidy and safe environment
• Be aware of and adhere to Trust policies and procedures
• Carry out non-clinical duties as directed, including care of patient property and clothing
• Report to the shift co-ordinator / Team Manager any areas of concern, which may affect the safe delivery of care and/or the safe working of other members of the team
• Report any accidents / incidents as per the reporting procedures of the service.

This is an outline of the post holder’s duties and responsibilities.  It is not intended as an exhaustive list and may change from time to time in order to meet the changing needs of the Trust and Division.