ST. LUKE’S HOSPICE
NAME OF POLICY: JOB DESCRIPTION CARERS SUPPORT COORDINATOR
DATE: NOVEMBER 2014
BY WHOM: SHARON QUINN SUPPORTIVE CARE AND DEVELOPMENT MANAGER
REVIEW DATE: NOVEMBER 2016
TOTAL NUMBER OF PAGES: 8
St. Luke’s Hospice Registered Charity No. 289466
ST. LUKE’S HOSPICE
Page 1 of 8 REVISION: 01/2014 Carers Support Coordinator S. Brinn JOB DESCRIPTION CARERS SUPPORT COORDINATOR
Our Statement of Purpose is:
“In partnership with the community and the multidisciplinary team our organisation is committed to providing high quality, safe and supportive specialist palliative care services that will enable people to live as independently as possible and die with dignity and choice”.
CONTROLS ASSURANCE STATEMENT
The purpose of this job description is to outline the level of responsibility and accountability of this post. This will ensure that all work undertaken by our staff is identified and lines of accountability made clear.
POST TITLE: Carers Support Coordinator
GRADE: Scale 7 (£ 22,492 to 31,047)
HOURS OF WORK: 37.5 hours per week fixed term contract for 3 years This post is funded by the National Lottery through the Big Lottery Fund
ACCOUNTABLE TO: Supportive Care & Development Manager (SCDM)
RESPONSIBLE TO: Supportive Care & Development Manager (SCDM)
LOCATION: Based at main Hospice site but the post is expected to work across satellite sites and at external events
PURPOSE OF ROLE: The Carers Support Coordinator will provide information, advice and support to carers across all Hospice services. The post is a three year fixed term contract to implement a new role within the Hospice. In year one there will be a specific focus on promotion of the service and the creation of referral pathways.
MAIN DUTIES:
1.1 To ensure that all carers in contact with Hospice services have access to the wide range of advice, information and support services available and are offered the level of support appropriate to their needs and throughout their caring journey.
1.2 To work with all Hospice services, community and statutory agencies to increase awareness, and early identification of carers and ensure that all carers are given access to a carers assessment.
Page 2 of 8 REVISION: 01/2014 Carers Support Coordinator S. Brinn 1.3 To support and initiate the development of services for carers across the Hospice.
1. CLINICAL
1.1. Provide personalised advice and support to carers of Hospice Service Users via telephone calls, email, one to one and group sessions.
1.2. Provide information on a range of relevant subjects including, but not exclusively, access to social care, respite, education and employment.
1.3. To identify and assist carers to access support services both within the organisation and externally.
1.4 To use empathetic listening skills to offer carers the opportunity to understand issues about the impact of caring on their life and their options for the future.
1.5 To advocate on behalf of carers in respect of their social, cultural, financial, emotional and practical needs and actively contribute to MDT discussions.
1.6 To work with individual carers to provide time limited support plans promoting well-being, choice and control.
1.7. To liaise and network proactively with other agencies to raise awareness of carers needs.
1.8. To undertake Carers Support Needs Assessments, identify actions, implement plans, review regularly and produce an annual report on the same.
1.9. To undertake regular analysis of the Carers Needs Assessment Tool, identify themes, disseminate findings, devise an action plan depending on outcomes to enhance carer support.
1.10. To attend the monthly Carers Support Group within Day Hospice.
1.11. To promote and participate in innovative methods for engaging and supporting carers, including development and carers support delivery programmes, Drop in Sessions and training courses.
1.12 To be responsible for the development of service literature as agreed with line manager.
1.13. To act as a lead on Hospice raising awareness activities for National Carers Week campaigns etc.
1.14. To work closely with the Youth Worker to identify and address the needs of Young Carers across the organisation.
2. ORGANISATIONAL
2.1. Map and understand the support networks that carer’s access and evaluate these to help inform future service developments
Page 3 of 8 REVISION: 01/2014 Carers Support Coordinator S. Brinn 2.2. To develop and maintain a high level of knowledge and understanding of carers needs and the services and benefits available to them.
2.3. To provide advice to staff on current issues and developments affecting carers support.
2.4. To maintain clear, accurate and comprehensive carer records and activity statistics.
2.5. To actively promote the concept of carers as expert ‘partners in care’.
2.6. To ensure that carer choice and control shapes support and service delivery and enable carer experiences and preferences to be fed back through monitoring.
2.7. To utilise different methods to gain feedback from carers e.g. surveys, engagement events, social media, established Hospice website and electronic forums.
2.8. To recognise diversity within our community and implement innovative and inclusive initiatives for carers.
2.9. To engage with existing support agencies who are already supporting hard to reach groups to identify under represented carers to ensure a seamless approach.
2.10. To participate in the collation, regular governance reporting and analysis of impact data and contribute to the evaluation of the effectiveness of the role in meeting agreed outcomes.
2.11. To provide a key role with coordinating and supporting the Carers Champions within each department, including facilitating regular Carers Champions meetings, formulating a work plan and produce an annual report on the same.
2.12. To take the lead on updating the Hospice Carers Support Strategy.
2.13 To understand and comply with the Hospice Safeguarding Policy and procedures as part of everyday work with carers.
2.14 To be an active member of the Hospice Clinical Development Team.
4. GENERAL
4.0 To work across all hospice sites and other settings.
4.1 To be flexible in approach and undertake other duties as appropriate, including some working in the evenings and at weekends.
4.2 To participate actively in supervision, appraisal and support sessions with line manager.
4.3 To undertake continuing professional development as agreed.
Page 4 of 8 REVISION: 01/2014 Carers Support Coordinator S. Brinn 4.4 To participate in the development of innovative practice.
NOTES: (Applicable to all Hospice posts) i) You must be sympathetic to and able to project the philosophy and concept of the Hospice. ii) You will potentially have access to confidential data on staff and/or patients and/or services within the Hospice. Failure to maintain confidentiality will lead to disciplinary action which could ultimately lead to dismissal. iii) You will be required to assess all risks to your systems, processes and environment and contribute towards the clinical and/or corporate governance agenda as appropriate. iv) You will be expected to produce work to a high standard and to promote quality in all areas at all times. v) The managerial and clinical philosophy of the Hospice is based on a multidisciplinary approach. Staff regardless of grade or discipline are required to participate in this concept. vi) You will be expected to keep yourself updated on all matters relating to Hospice policy. You are responsible for familiarising yourself with matters relating to Health & Safety management as they affect you personally, your department and/or the Hospice. vii) You will be expected to participate in an Individual Performance Review for yourself and/or the staff you manage. viii) There is an expectation that you will attend some functions and events outside your normal working hours from time to time for which no additional payment will be made. ix) The above job description does not purport to be an exhaustive list of duties and responsibilities. The post holder will be expected to undertake additional duties as the requirements of the department and/or post change and/or develop.
SMOKING POLICY
St. Luke’s is committed to a policy which actively discourages smoking while allowing for patient choice.
EQUAL OPPORTUNITIES
St. Luke’s Hospice operates an Equal Opportunities Policy and expects staff to have a commitment to equal opportunity policies in relation to employment and service delivery.
Page 5 of 8 REVISION: 01/2014 Carers Support Coordinator S. Brinn CHANGES TO THIS JOB DESCRIPTION: You have the responsibility to discuss any job changes with your Line Manager at the time the change occurs and agree any permanent substantial change.
DATE COMMENCED IN POST: ………………………………………………..
SIGNATURE: (new employee) …………………………. DATE: ……………
SIGNATURE: (Line Manager) …………………………. DATE: …………….
and Title: ……………………………………………………
ST. LUKE’S HOSPICE
Page 6 of 8 REVISION: 01/2014 Carers Support Coordinator S. Brinn JOB TITLE: CARERS SUPPORT COORDINATOR
PERSON SPECIFICATION
REQUIREMENTS ESSENTIAL DESIRABLE QUALIFICATIONS A good standard of education Professional qualification in to ‘A’level or above – health or social care equivalents acceptable Qualification in basic listening skills or similar GENERAL In depth understanding of Experience of planning and EXPERIENCE carers needs and issues leading events to engage with Substantial experience in a care the public environment Experience of facilitating groups Experience of interacting with Experience of working for a carers and/or patients charity Experience of managing Experience of undertaking emotional distress assessments with clients Experience of working in a multi-disciplinary environment or 1:1 interviews
JOB RELATED Knowledge of Government Able to influence change SKILLS, KNOWLEDGE Health and Social Care Knowledge of local services & ABILITIES. legislation relating to carers available to support carers IT literate Confidence to design and deliver Excellent organisational skills training Able to demonstrate a high Experience of using and level of communication skills developing outcome within a variety of mediums measurement tools Counselling skills Ability to network and build professional relationships Displays a caring disposition Able to work unsupervised/manage own caseload Demonstrate a calm and logical approach to problem solving Ability to prioritise work and deal with competing demands Ability to maintain professional boundaries
OTHER Empathy with Hospice REQUIREMENTS philosophy and aims Be prepared to work flexibly and across all settings with some out of hours and weekend work A commitment to equal
Page 7 of 8 REVISION: 01/2014 Carers Support Coordinator S. Brinn opportunities A commitment to high quality carer focussed services Ability to travel across the locality independently by car
Page 8 of 8 REVISION: 01/2014 Carers Support Coordinator S. Brinn