1
applicant
Health and Wellbeing Health Care Assistant
at Via London in London (Published at 21-08-2024)
Role Purpose To offer harm reduction advice and information including overdose prevention, wound awareness, and naloxone. To carry out DBST, and referral for Hepatitis C treatment if required. To carry out Healthcare Assessments for new and people already in services. Use appropriate infection control procedures and maintain work areas in each clinical room so that they are clean, safe and free from hazards reporting any potential risks identified.
Record information and activities undertaken with service users in an accurate and timely manner, maintaining confidentiality and data security at all times. Key duties and activities of the role Clinical Practice Undertake initial physical and mental health screening for people who use our services and ensure appropriate sign posting/referral to primary care or appropriate secondary health care services for identified health issues. Following training and competency sign off undertake interventions such as blood pressure, pulse, temperature monitoring, height/weight recording and ECGs for individuals who use our services as indicated or requested. Assist and carry out appropriate toxicology screening processes including urine and saliva tests.
Assist in the titration process for opioid individuals who use our services as required by service need. Provide education, health promotion and screening for blood borne viruses (BBV). Following training and competency sign off provide Hepatitis A and or B vaccinations under a patient specific direction (PSD) when indicated. Work as part of the integrated care and treatment pathways for individuals who are identified as being infected with BBVs (Hepatitis B, Hepatitis C and/or HIV).
Support community alcohol detoxification either at the service or at the service users home. Support opioid detoxification in the community. Undertake phlebotomy following training and competency sign off, as required, ensuring adherence to identified pathways for blood sample labelling, collection, obtaining results and signposting. Support in the referral to specialist inpatient services (including detoxification) and liaise with hospital and inpatient unit staff as required.
Contribute to Vias Naloxone Strategy by training staff and individuals who use our services in the use of naloxone. Ensuring naloxone is distributed to individuals who use our services at every opportunity. Ensure vaccines are stored correctly and the cold chain is maintained as per current Department of Health Guidance. Maintain clinic fridge and room temperature checks and record as required.
Maintain required standards of infection control and hygiene as per Via policies and procedures. Undertake regular clinic room checks, report and address, as directed, all variances from expected standards. Provide evidence-based harm reduction services, including needle exchange. Undertake basic life support and anaphylaxis training so you are confident and competent to assist in a medical emergency including the administration of anaphylaxis medication and naloxone if required.
Understand and adhere to the legislation surrounding the use of PSDs (Patient Specific Direction). Utilise psychosocial intervention to promote engagement in treatment services and ownership of each individuals recovery journey. Complete the Care Certificate if not already undertaken. Communication Develop therapeutic alliances with people who have substance misuse problems and develop effective partnerships with them to support their individual recovery journeys, offering health promotion and harm reduction advice.
Ensure that there is good communication of treatments offered, treatment progress and outcome of any investigations to other members of the clinical team. Liaise with and take direction from other members of the team to provide the best possible specialist care for individuals who use our services, ensuring co-ordination and continuity of care. Provide health education, regarding problematic alcohol and drug use and alcohol and drug detoxification. Attend meetings appropriate to the development and maintenance of the role in agreement with and under the direction of the nurse.
Actively promote and participate in working with partnership organisations to develop and sustain effective treatment pathways. Delivering a Quality Service The post-holder will contribute to the service to ensure that people who use substances consistently receive high quality services that adhere to the best practice guidelines and to the highest professional standards. Work as part of the nursing team to ensure that procedures are constantly reviewed to promote best practice and evidenced based practice in accordance with UK Guidelines on Clinical Management, NICE guidance, and Via clinical protocols and procedures. Support colleagues by providing coaching and teaching around harm reduction and BBVs.
Team Working To work with others to ensure individuals who use our services have timely access to safe and effective prescribing for community detoxification from substances across operational sites. Contribute to the overall performance of the service to ensure that contractual output targets are achieved. Working with colleagues in the service to deliver a community opioid and alcohol detoxification plan utilising a care co-ordinated approach to service user care. Risk Management Provide harm reduction advice to individuals who inject drugs, providing information and equipment and ensure all equipment is disposed of safely.
Undertake risk assessments and contribute to risk management plans for individuals who use our services engaged in the service. Utilise appropriate prevention techniques to reduce substance misuse related harm and to aid in the prevention of multiple physical harms caused by drugs and alcohol. Managing Information Record and input client data and information in order that the service operates within contractual, administrative, and financial requirements. Ensure that all data requirements in relation to individuals who use our services are met within defined deadlines.
Record information and activities undertaken with service users in an accurate and timely manner, maintaining confidentiality and data security at all times. Key duties and activities of the role Clinical Practice Undertake initial physical and mental health screening for people who use our services and ensure appropriate sign posting/referral to primary care or appropriate secondary health care services for identified health issues. Following training and competency sign off undertake interventions such as blood pressure, pulse, temperature monitoring, height/weight recording and ECGs for individuals who use our services as indicated or requested. Assist and carry out appropriate toxicology screening processes including urine and saliva tests.
Assist in the titration process for opioid individuals who use our services as required by service need. Provide education, health promotion and screening for blood borne viruses (BBV). Following training and competency sign off provide Hepatitis A and or B vaccinations under a patient specific direction (PSD) when indicated. Work as part of the integrated care and treatment pathways for individuals who are identified as being infected with BBVs (Hepatitis B, Hepatitis C and/or HIV).
Support community alcohol detoxification either at the service or at the service users home. Support opioid detoxification in the community. Undertake phlebotomy following training and competency sign off, as required, ensuring adherence to identified pathways for blood sample labelling, collection, obtaining results and signposting. Support in the referral to specialist inpatient services (including detoxification) and liaise with hospital and inpatient unit staff as required.
Contribute to Vias Naloxone Strategy by training staff and individuals who use our services in the use of naloxone. Ensuring naloxone is distributed to individuals who use our services at every opportunity. Ensure vaccines are stored correctly and the cold chain is maintained as per current Department of Health Guidance. Maintain clinic fridge and room temperature checks and record as required.
Maintain required standards of infection control and hygiene as per Via policies and procedures. Undertake regular clinic room checks, report and address, as directed, all variances from expected standards. Provide evidence-based harm reduction services, including needle exchange. Undertake basic life support and anaphylaxis training so you are confident and competent to assist in a medical emergency including the administration of anaphylaxis medication and naloxone if required.
Understand and adhere to the legislation surrounding the use of PSDs (Patient Specific Direction). Utilise psychosocial intervention to promote engagement in treatment services and ownership of each individuals recovery journey. Complete the Care Certificate if not already undertaken. Communication Develop therapeutic alliances with people who have substance misuse problems and develop effective partnerships with them to support their individual recovery journeys, offering health promotion and harm reduction advice.
Ensure that there is good communication of treatments offered, treatment progress and outcome of any investigations to other members of the clinical team. Liaise with and take direction from other members of the team to provide the best possible specialist care for individuals who use our services, ensuring co-ordination and continuity of care. Provide health education, regarding problematic alcohol and drug use and alcohol and drug detoxification. Attend meetings appropriate to the development and maintenance of the role in agreement with and under the direction of the nurse.
Actively promote and participate in working with partnership organisations to develop and sustain effective treatment pathways. Delivering a Quality Service The post-holder will contribute to the service to ensure that people who use substances consistently receive high quality services that adhere to the best practice guidelines and to the highest professional standards. Work as part of the nursing team to ensure that procedures are constantly reviewed to promote best practice and evidenced based practice in accordance with UK Guidelines on Clinical Management, NICE guidance, and Via clinical protocols and procedures. Support colleagues by providing coaching and teaching around harm reduction and BBVs.
Team Working To work with others to ensure individuals who use our services have timely access to safe and effective prescribing for community detoxification from substances across operational sites. Contribute to the overall performance of the service to ensure that contractual output targets are achieved. Working with colleagues in the service to deliver a community opioid and alcohol detoxification plan utilising a care co-ordinated approach to service user care. Risk Management Provide harm reduction advice to individuals who inject drugs, providing information and equipment and ensure all equipment is disposed of safely.
Undertake risk assessments and contribute to risk management plans for individuals who use our services engaged in the service. Utilise appropriate prevention techniques to reduce substance misuse related harm and to aid in the prevention of multiple physical harms caused by drugs and alcohol. Managing Information Record and input client data and information in order that the service operates within contractual, administrative, and financial requirements. Ensure that all data requirements in relation to individuals who use our services are met within defined deadlines.
