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Job summary

Main area
Support Worker
Grade
NHS AfC: Band 3
Contract
Permanent
Hours
Full time - 37.5 hours per week
Job ref
346-FMH-188-23-C
Employer
Tees, Esk and Wear Valleys NHS Trust
Employer type
NHS
Site
HMP Durham
Town
Durham
Salary
£22,816 - £24,336 per annum
Salary period
Yearly
Closing
08/05/2024 23:59

Employer heading

Tees, Esk and Wear Valleys NHS Trust logo

Activities Co-ordinator

NHS AfC: Band 3

We are the Mental Health & Learning Disability NHS Trust for County Durham and Darlington, Teesside, North Yorkshire, York and Selby.

From education and prevention, to crisis and specialist care —our talented and compassionate teams work in partnership with our patients, communities and partners to help the people of our region feel safe, understood, believed in and cared for.

We nurture the recovery journey of anyone in need of our help. In Our Trust, everyone has a say in how they are supported and treated because we listen to every person in our care until they feel understood. Our patients, their families and carers work together with us towards better mental health.

We’re committed to new thinking that improves the wellbeing of our region. We connect with our communities and partners to get mental health care right, in areas that really need it.

We won’t rest until everyone in our region has the mental health care they need, to lead their best possible life.

Job overview

We are looking for people who can work relatively independently, using their own skills (arts and crafts, cooking/baking, gardening, music and exercise, puzzles and games) to support patients in engaging with meaningful activity, and through this promote wellbeing using a client centred approach.

You will need to be able to communicate well with a wide range of individuals, adapting your communication style according to individual need in a responsive manner.

 

Main duties of the job

We will be looking for  individuals to join our fantastic teams on the Integrated Support Unit.  ISU is an 11 bedded unit within HMP Durham which offers patients from a range of prisons, a period of assessment and treatment with the aim to prevent the need for referral to secure hospital. 

We have a range of new and exciting opportunities for you to join our team/s as an activity co-coordinator, working alongside staff in the integrated Support Unit within HMP Durham and within the established multidisciplinary team which include occupational therapists and speech and language therapists. Successful candidates will be joining the organisation at an exciting time, as we develop and streamline new ways of approaching risk. Join us on our journey to change as we co-create great experiences for our colleagues.

You will be responsible for planning and providing appropriate activities to meet the general therapeutic, social and recreational needs of individual service users. This includes working with others to develop and establish a framework of activities which can be delivered across the ward both individually and within groups. This will need to be flexible and patient centred, changing regularly according to the needs of a patient cohort, and according to the interests of individuals at any given time.

Working for our organisation

You will be offer varied opportunities for training and development, with CPD needs being identified and monitored through appraisal.  Well defined and supportive supervision systems are in place both clinically and through line management.

Applicants should hold a relevant level 3 or above qualification e.g. in health and/or social care, communication, teaching and Numeracy, Literacy and ITQ Level 2 (or equivalent) .

For any questions, please contact Lauren Edwards (ISU Manager). 

[email protected]

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

Activity Co-ordinators are a critical element of overall therapeutic provision for service users who are following the ISU pathway. They are often able to quickly develop positive therapeutic relationships with service users, and make valuable contributions to discussions regarding patient care and safety.You will be responsible for planning and providing appropriate activities to meet the general therapeutic, social and recreational needs of individual service users. This includes working with others to develop and establish a framework of activities which can be delivered across the ward both individually and within groups. This will need to be flexible and patient centred, changing regularly according to the needs of a patient cohort, and according to the interests of individuals at any given time.

In addition to this you will also be expected to:

To provide the best possible experience for patients/clients/carers and families.

To assist in the delivery of patient care as directed by the nurse in charge of the unit/ward, undertaking duties and activities, with limited or indirect supervision.

Communicate with patients, carers and families in order to facilitate the implementation of care plans as a member of the care team.

Communicate with patients with mental ill health and/or learning disabilities, and their carers, overcoming barriers to understanding by effective listening and observation.

To assist patients in the provision of personal care

Identify change in patients/clients presentation and act, report and record appropriately.

Complete assessment tools.

Participate in the observation and engagement of patients as delegated by qualified staff.

Make an electronic case note entry from own clinical observations of patient. Complete assessment tools and accurately summarise within patient care records To promote at all times a positive image of people with mental health conditions and learning disabilities.

 

Person specification

Qualifications

Essential criteria
  • Relevant level 3 or above qualification in health & social care and/or teaching
  • Numeracy, Literacy Level 2 (or equivalent)
Desirable criteria
  • Experience of paid, voluntary or personally of working with people with a learnin

Experience

Essential criteria
  • Ability to plan and implement activities

Knowledge

Essential criteria
  • Awareness of needs of service users with Mental Health conditions or learning disabilities

Employer certification / accreditation badges

We are a Living Wage EmployerApprenticeships logoNo smoking policyPositive about disabled peopleAge positiveImproving working livesMindful employer.  Being positive about mental health.Disability confident employer

Applicant requirements

This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975 (Amendment) (England and Wales) Order 2020 and it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service.

Documents to download

Apply online now

Further details / informal visits contact

Name
Lauren Edwards
Job title
Team Manager
Email address
[email protected]
Telephone number
0191 332 3567