Continuity of Carer Advocate

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

Clinical responsibilities

 Work with a range of service users to provide enhanced support either alongside a midwife or independently whilst performing skills appropriate to the scope of the role. This will include but is not exhaustive to – urine dipstick, CO monitoring, BP monitoring, pulse, temperature check, venepuncture, newborn screening tests, newborn observations, TCB monitoring and weight.

Signpost women and their families to other areas of care that promote health and wellbeing, for example advocate services, tobacco dependency services

 Provide compassionate, inclusive, non-judgemental care to service users and their families. Ensure families are treated with dignity, confidentiality and always respecting individual needs. The post holder will fully understand the principles of informed consent in all aspects of care.

Understand and provide individualised care for service users in the antenatal and postnatal period and identify those that may require enhanced support.  

Support service users with their choice of infant feeding and have awareness of the options available.

Become a champion in maternal mental health and have an understanding of services available to signpost and support service users with. Recognise any deterioration in mental and emotional wellbeing and escalate and respond appropriately.

The post holder will identify concerns outside of normal for both maternal and neonatal wellbeing and be able to escalate effectively and promptly to ensure safety and prioritise high standards of care.

Ensure that local safeguarding policies and procedures are known and upheld.

Lead and support with parent education sessions either in a group or 1:1 environment.

Communicate effectively with service users and colleagues, always conveying an approachable and professional attitude.

Be aware of own professional limitations and ensure working within role remit, identifying any learning opportunities or further training needs.

 Administrative responsibilities

Be competent in the Trust IT system to deal with updating patient information, arranging appointments, accessing blood requests, responding to calls/emails and completing clinical documentation in line with the Trust's information governance record keeping policy and guideline.

Be able to access and use Language Line interpreting services

Support with audits as required for their team

Report any concerns or faulty equipment to team leader in a timely manner and organise replacement/ maintenance with EBME.

Report any incidents or concerns using the local InPhase risk management support system and escalate concerns in a timely manner.

 Education and training

 Attend all statutory and mandatory training as and when required

 Adhere to the local infection control policy

 Act responsibly and adhere to the health and safety policy and guideline

 General

The post holder has a general duty of care for their own health, safety and wellbeing and that of work colleagues, visitors and patients within the hospital, in addition to any specific risk management or clinical governance accountabilities associated with this post.

• To observe the rules, policies, procedures and standards of King's College Hospital NHS Foundation Trust together with all relevant statutory and professional obligations.
• We want to be an organisation where everyone shares a commitment to delivering the very best care and feels like their contribution is valuable and valued.
• At King’s we are a kind, respectful team:

Kind. We show compassion and understanding and bring a positive attitude to our work

Respectful. We promote equality, are inclusive and honest, speaking up when needed

Team. We support each other, communicate openly, and are reassuringly professional

• To observe and maintain strict confidentiality of personal information relating to patients and staff.
• To be responsible, with management support, for their own personal development and to actively contribute to the development of colleagues.
• This job description is intended as a guide to the general scope of duties and is not intended to be definitive or restrictive. It is expected that some of the duties will change over time and this description will be subject to review in consultation with the post holder.
• All employees must hold an 'nhs.net' email account which will be the Trust's formal route for email communication.

Safeguarding The Trust takes the issues of Safeguarding Children, Adults and addressing Domestic Abuse very seriously. All employees have a responsibility to support the organisation in our duties by;

• attending mandatory training on safeguarding children and adults
• familiarising themselves with the Trust's processes for reporting concerns 
• reporting any safeguarding child or adult concerns appropriately

Infection Control Statement

The post holder has an important responsibility for and contribution to infection control and must be familiar with the infection control and hygiene procedures and requirements when in clinical areas.

From 1st April 2022, there is a legal requirement for staff who have contact with patients and other service users in England to be fully vaccinated (received both doses of an MHRA approved vaccine) against COVID-19. If your role is covered by the regulations, you will be required to provide proof of your full vaccination status as part of your pre-employment checks prior to your start date.

The post holder has an important responsibility for and contribution to make to infection control and must be familiar with the infection control and hygiene requirements of this role. These requirements are set out in the National Code of Practice on Infection Control and in local policies and procedures which will be made clear during your induction and subsequent refresher training.  These standards must be always complied with.