Assistant Practitioner

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

To assist the caseload holder in the management and delivery of care to clients autonomously.  Duties may include:

Building on existing assessment of families’ needs and deliver packages of planned care with no direct supervision

To provide and receive complex and sensitive child related information from health and social care staff to decline referral if not appropriate which requires excellent negotiation skills and appropriate sign posting

Support to clients with more complex/additional needs

To demonstrate ability for motivation and behaviour change with children and families enabling self-efficacy, resilience and strength based relationship

To recognise and report any health and safety or risk issues

To write records in a concise, accurate and timely manner in line with Cambridgeshire Community Services ‘Record Keeping Policy’

To independently carry out specified assessment and intervention as allocated and discussed with the Health Visitor/ School Nurse and using own initiative and experience to modify according to the clients’ needs

To hold own caseload with support from Specialist Community Public Health Nurse (SCPHN) for those families with planned packages of care

To hold a special interest role and support other staff within the locality and service

To promote people’s equality, diversity and rights

To contribute to the care of all clients, ensuring safety and dignity at all times

To be aware at all times of the needs of client groups and to promote and encourage positive health choices

To plan and manage own day to day tasks which may include organisation of health education events

Job Purpose:  
 
Cambridgeshire Community Services provides the 0-19 Healthy Child Programme. The post holder will work as part of skills mix team to promote the health and wellbeing of children, young people and families using an early help and partnership approach at every opportunity and contribute to improving health outcomes.  
 
The post holder will be expected to: 
 
•    Be able to act autonomously 
•    To support the integrated 0-19 Healthy Child Programme (HCP) locality team in providing an innovative and high quality service in an environment that enhances client care and promotes child and family wellbeing 
•    To support the ongoing assessment and review of clients 
•    To work without direct supervision to a specified caseload of clients who are identified as needing further support as part of the universal and universal plus aspects of the service provision 
•    To act as first contact in clinics and outreach locations ensuring a high standard of client care 
•    To liaise regularly with the caseload holder to assist in the co-ordination and development of the service 
•    To develop specialist interest areas in order to enrich the knowledge and skills set within the 
•    Cambridgeshire Children & Young Peoples Service 
•    To facilitate health programmes independently or in partnership with health and locality teams 
•    Participate in continuous service improvement within the organisation/ service priorities 
 
Main Duties and Responsibilities  
 
To assist the caseload holder in the management and delivery of care to clients autonomously. Duties may include: 
•    Building on existing assessment of families’ needs and deliver packages of planned care with no direct supervision 
•    To provide and receive complex and sensitive child related information from health and social care staff 
•    To decline referral if not appropriate which requires excellent negotiation skills and appropriate sign posting 
•    Support to clients with more complex/ additional needs 
•    To demonstrate ability for motivation and behaviour change with children and families enabling self-efficacy, resilience and strength-based relationship 
•    To recognise and report any health and safety or risk issues 
•    To write records in a concise, accurate and timely manner in line with Cambridgeshire Community Services ‘Record Keeping Policy’ 
•    To independently carry out specified assessment and intervention as allocated and discussed with the Health Visitor/ School Nurse and using own initiative and experience to modify according to the clients’ needs 
•    To hold own caseload with support from Specialist Community Public Health Nurse (SCPHN) for those families with planned packages of care 
•    To hold a special interest role and support other staff within the locality and service 
•    To promote people’s equality, diversity and rights 
•    To contribute to the care of all clients, ensuring safety and dignity at all times 
•    To be aware at all times of the needs of client groups and to promote and encourage positive health choices 
•    To plan and manage own day to day tasks which may include organisation of health education events 
 
Specific duties 
 
•    Duties will include working independently in a variety of settings and at times dealing with emotional and distressing circumstances 
•    Undertaking independent decision making regarding specific referrals in relation to the 6 high impact areas to improve outcomes for children, young people and families within Cambridgeshire’s 0-19 HCP Teams 
•    To attend mandatory and relevant training courses and to maintain up to date clinical knowledge and skills in order to perform in the role 
•    To provide support and guidance, and practical training to new members of staff 
•    To engage in weekly allocation meetings and to work across a specific locality according to service need 
•    To assist in the prioritisation of referrals and booking appointments and independently assess clients in clinic and outreach locations 
•    To identify unmet needs and gaps in service provision and highlight these to SCPHN or Team Manager. 
•    Ensure all equipment used is safe, clean and suitable standard according to policies 
 
General duties 
  
•    To provide timely data on referrals and clinical activity 
•    To take individual responsibility for any health and safety issues and undertake obligations under the Health and Safety Act 
 
Communication  
 
•    To liaise as appropriate with members of 0-19 HCP locality team 
•    Develop good working relationships and liaise as appropriate with parents/ carers, and other health, social or voluntary agencies 
•    To communicate effectively with clients in complex situations. Communication skills of engagement, negotiation, motivation and explanation will be required to enable the management of potential barriers to communication 
•    To be actively involved in the communication of complex information regarding clients’ needs and any other useful information to the Health Visitor/ School Nurse or other members of the team 
 
Budgetary Responsibility  
 
Take responsibility to minimise incurred expenditure e.g. Mileage, telephone calls use of stationary etc. 

People Management 
 
•    Actively participate in annual performance reviews providing evidence of attaining the relevant knowledge and skills required for the job 
•    To attend mandatory and relevant training courses and to maintain up to date clinical knowledge and skills in order to perform in the role 
•    To participate in staff and service development through attendance at service meetings and in service training 
 
Clinical and Practice Governance 
 
•    Observe and maintain strict confidentiality with regards to any information in line with the requirements of the Data Protection Act 
•    Any data that is taken/shared as part of a phone call or transported, faxed or transferred electronically must be undertaken with regard to the Trust Information Governance and Information Security policies 
•    The post holder must adhere to the Trust risk assessment and risk management processes 
•    To contribute in programmes of support for new staff or students 
•    To actively participate in programmes of supervision to maintain own development and reflective practice 
•    To actively engage in developing own practice through annual clinical observations 
•    The post holder must adhere to infection control policies and procedures 
•    The post holder must participate in Clinical & Safeguarding audits as required 
•    The post holder is required to participate in relevant emergency preparedness process for their team