Discharge and Settle Worker

Background to the role

Job description

Job Purpose

• The home and settle service works collaboratively with hospitals to support people when they are discharged from hospital to return home. You will provide temporary practical and emotional support to service users within their home and make sure they understand the care and treatment choices available to them. The service is time limited, usually up to 6 weeks, to adjust and settle back in their homes.

Key Tasks

• Assess the needs of service users in hospital before discharge, and in their homes, and understand what barriers and enablers there might be to moving home.
• Aid the discharge process and improve patient experience through tasks such as key cutting and co-ordinating with colleagues for the setup of the home environment.
• Provide (and/or arrange) the practical and emotional support needed to enable service users to move home and/or remain safely at home.
• Be vigilant and make referrals/signpost for additional needs that our wider team, or partners can support. E.g. for benefit checks, energy advice, carers support, befriending.
• Help maximise service user independence by adopting an enabling approach.
• Develop a listening and caring relationship with the service user and their families/carers.
• Provide domestic practical support within the home e.g. light cleaning, washing, ironing (service user clothing only) etc.
• Prepare and service drinks and simple meals with or for the service user customer ensuring nutritional needs are met in accordance with individual support plan.
• Accompany service user outside the home e.g. hospital/GP appointments etc.
• Support customers with other tasks e.g. making telephone calls on their behalf, reading and responding to correspondence, completing simple forms (training will be provided) as directed by the customer etc.
• Ensure services provided by AUKEL in the community are safe and person centred.
• Report safeguarding concerns, in accordance with AUKEL safeguarding procedures.
• Work within AUKEL s expectations of professional boundaries and confidentiality.
• Provide cover in the case of sickness and annual leave periods of colleagues.
• Support service user reviews, ensuring all visiting information is uploaded on to AUKEL s organisational case management system.
• Meet with volunteers to provide support and guidance.
• Work with a range of professionals including:
• Supporting health and social care professionals with patient discharge
• Liaising with the Hospital health and social care professionals to facilitate smooth supported discharge.

Administration

• Input all records, reviews, and visiting information to service user s case notes in a timely manner to maintain up-to-date and accurate records on AUKEL s case management system (currently Charity Log/Call-round App).
• Report all no access failed visits, or changes in service users condition or circumstances in accordance with AUKEL s policies and procedures.
• Ensure service user comment sheets are completed.
• Support the return of Customer Comment sheets and general feedback in respect of your own service users.

Quality

• Ensure services provided in the community are delivered in line with the Care Quality Commission (CQC) principles.
• Deliver all work in line with AUKEL quality mark standards.
• Commit to undertaking the Care Certificate, if not already held or in possession of NVQ level 2.
• Complete essential training as required by AUKEL to provide safe services.

Liaison

• Work in collaboration with other agencies providing support within the customer's home.
• Work under the direction of the service manager and project officers.
• Represent AUKEL and participate in appropriate external meetings and events to remain aware of local, regional, and national issues affecting quality and compliance issues affecting care and home support services. Head of Hospital and Home Services

General

• Meet regularly with your line manager for support, supervision, and appraisal.
• Attend team and staff meetings, (and other meetings) as required.
• Undertake any other duties within the competence of the post holder as may be required from time to time for the continued smooth running of AUKEL.
• Complete any training which is required to fulfil the role.
• Carry out the duties of the post in accordance with AUKEL policies and procedures including Equal Opportunities, Mental Capacity, Deprivation of Liberty, Food Hygiene, Health & Safety, Confidentiality, Complaints, GDPR (General Data Protection Regulation), Safeguarding Vulnerable Adults etc.
• Work within AUKEL s expectations of professional boundaries and confidentiality

Functional Links

• The post holder report to the Hospital Service Manager.
• Close working with NHS health & social care professionals.
• Close working with external partner agencies e.g. Age UK Redbridge, Barking & Havering, and Age UK Waltham Forest.
• Close working with AUKEL internal departments e.g. information and advice, advocacy, Take Home & Settle services, and volunteering department etc.

Person Specification

Research shows that while middle class white men tend to apply for job when they meet around 60% of the criteria, women, people from the global majority, and people from other marginalised groups that encounter systematic discrimination tend to apply only when they meet all criteria. So, if you think you have what it takes, but don t meet every single aspect of the job description, please still apply!

Experience

Essential

• Experience of one-to-one work with vulnerable service users, including those with multiple issues and needs either through paid or unpaid position.

Desirable

• Care Certificate or CQF Diploma NVQ Level 2, or equivalent, in Health & Social Care.
• Experience of working collaboratively with external partners.

Knowledge & Understanding

Essential

• Understanding and commitment to empowering individuals to reach their full potential.
• Understanding the principles of confidentiality in practice.
• Understanding of safeguarding and when to raise a concern.
• Understanding of stigma and discrimination, and the impact this has on people s lives.

Desirable

• Knowledge of local services available to adults and their carers
• Understanding of hospital discharge procedures.

Skills/Attributes

Essential

• Excellent interpersonal skills
• Good English verbal and written communication skills
• Good planning and organisational skills.
• Ability to work independently and as part of a team
• Ability to prioritise and manage time and resources in a competent manner
• IT skills to the level of being able to use Word, email, internet, mobile phone apps and logging information on AUKEL s CRM
• Can demonstrate AUKEL values (accountable, kind, flexible, inclusive, collaborative) in the way the service is delivered.

Desirable

• Ability to speak community languages e.g. Bengali, Urdu, Punjabi, Turkish etc.
• Able to use Charity Log (CRM used by AUKEL). Training will be provided as necessary.
• Ability to drive with use of own vehicle (mileage and essential car users will be paid).

Additional Requirements

• This post is subject to the relevant check through the Disclosure & Barring Service (DBS)
• Flexibility in working hours to meet organisational needs.
• The role is required travel across East London