TB Community Healthcare Support Worker

Swydd-ddisgrifiad a phrif gyfrifoldebau manwl

• 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 duties will change over time and this description will be subject to review in consultation with the post holder. 
• To support the community TB team with outbreak management in the identified cohort, liaising with the case manager for individual patients and wider TB team members; to be guided by them and be available to provide support with other patients as requested.
• To support TB nurse specialists in collecting prescriptions and liaising with pharmacies, informing patients when to collect medicines or delivering them as part of the agreed care package.
• To have a basic level of knowledge about TB and the standard medication/treatment programme so they are able to recognise deviation from  this and inform the TB  case manager as soon as possible, or other appropriate delegated health professional in their absence.
• To provide on-going support to patients to encourage effective adherence and completion of treatment as directed by the TB Nurse Specialists and in line with agreed protocols. In particular, to assist the TB nurse specialists with the delivery of  adherence strategies such as daily or otherwise planned Directly Observed Therapies (DOT).
• To observe patient taking medicines and record this observation in the patient’s notes and to report concerns e.g. patient concerns raised about drug side effects and any concerns noted around adherence with therapy.
• To work with the patient to understand the reasons for treatment non-compliance and to work to overcome the barriers to treatment non-compliance. 
• To ensure accurate and up to date documentation made in a timely fashion in patient records and problems communicated to the TB Nurse Specialists at the next available opportunity.
• To visit non-compliant patients at home or in a location they frequent following discussion and risk assessment with case manager and encourage the patient to comply with treatment.
• Plan and organise own work including planning home visits, clinics and DOTs
• To act as a first point of contact for dealing with enquiries and take action as necessary liaising with clinical and non-clinical staff, effectively communicating at all levels using written, oral and electronic methods. 
• To ‘input information onto TB databases’ assisting case managers by ensuring all necessary patient data, demographics and screening results are collated and entered on local database for quarterly statistics, activities and reports as required by Lead TB Nurse.
• To look up patient sensitive information and patient results for case managers to action and record actions generated by case managers on local database; Prolonged concentration maybe required to ensure accuracy of data inputting and VDU required. 
• To participate in the development and contribute to the implementation of service changes as required. This will require undertaking any project work as directed, including obtaining information from the Internet, collation and reporting of data in order to produce reports and spreadsheets utilising relevant Trust IT systems, as determined by the role, ensuring all relevant patient data is collected and input accurately in line with Trust guidelines. These systems may include iPM, CRRS. Share ideas for potential service improvement. 
• To carry out tasks in delivering and supporting patients care delegated by and supervised by the patient’s case manager. This will involve supporting patients with treatment, attending appointments, locating patients who fail to attend appointments encouraging them to attend for ongoing care and treatment.
• Become skilled on phlebotomy and assist in TB screening incidents, contact tracing and New Entrant TB screening.
• Assist in the delivery of TB awareness campaigns & be a source of information regarding the signs and symptoms pf tuberculosis. 
• When required be flexible and provide administrative support for the Community TB Nursing Team as directed using own judgement and with the ability to manage and prioritise own work load. Assist TB administrator in the ordering and restocking of supplies and maintenance of equipment and general office duties, handling post, photocopying etc.

For further details/informal visit contact:  Kam Hallett, TB lead and CNS Nurse: 02476964169

Secondment will be considered for internal candidates – If you are successful after interview, you must obtain approval from your current line manager to accept the offer.

For further details of the role please see the attached job description.