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Job summary

Main area
Palliative Care
Grade
NHS AfC: Band 2
Contract
Permanent
Hours
Part time - 32.5 hours per week (8.30am - 3.30pm Monday to Friday)
Job ref
407-COMMUNITY-8364117
Employer
Walsall Healthcare NHS Trust
Employer type
NHS
Site
Fair Oaks Day Hospice
Town
Walsall
Salary
£25,272 per annum
Salary period
Yearly
Closing
25/11/2026 23:59

Employer heading

Walsall Healthcare NHS Trust logo

Diversional Therapist/Clinical Support Worker

NHS AfC: Band 2

Walsall Manor Hospital is a busy district general hospital offering compete range of acute services. The Trust primarily serves the immediate population of Walsall with some patients requiring more specialised treatment at other, neighbouring Trusts. The Trust continues to invest in its facilities and services, supporting high-quality care for the communities it serves.

 

This role offers the opportunity to work within our integrated care model, contributing to high-quality services that help people remain independent in their own homes and communities.

 

We are committed to investing in our workforce and creating an environment where colleagues can learn, contribute and develop. Our new Urgent Emergency Care Centre, opened in March 2023, demonstrates our ongoing investment in facilities and services.

 

As an employee, you’ll benefit from an attractive salary and comprehensive benefits package (detailed in Employer Description above), plus access to NHS pension arrangements and staff accommodation where available.

 

Walsall Healthcare NHS Trust is proud to be part of the Armed Forces Covenant, currently holding the Bronze Award, underlining our commitment to supporting the Armed Forces Community.

 

RESPECT  –  COMPASSION  –  TEAMWORK  –  PROFESSIONALISM

Job overview

Diversional Therapist/Clinical Support Worker within Fair Oaks Day Hospice.

We are seeking to appoint a highly motivated individual who can facilitate both group and individual activities tailored to meet patients’ needs and preferences, alongside providing support to nursing staff with appropriate clinical tasks to enable safe and effective day to day patient care.

The individual will be able to demonstrate empathy and compassion, whilst providing companionship and social support to patients. The postholder should be able to establish rapport quickly and communicate effectively with patients from a range of backgrounds and with varying needs.

The successful postholder will plan, coordinate and facilitate a range of meaningful therapeutic and social activities designed to enhance the wellbeing and quality of life of patients attending Fair Oaks Day Hospice.

The role will support registered nursing staff to provide quality palliative care to patients within Fair Oaks Day Hospice.

This role will also contribute to the maintenance of the care environment and quality initiatives to enhance patient care.

Main duties of the job

1.Undertaking activities of living in accordance with the care plan prescribed by qualified staff. These duties will include the delivery of hygiene care, nutrition and hydration, continence care, pressure area care, mobility and rehabilitation and offer psychological support.

2.Plan, co-ordinate and facilitate a range of diversional activities across the week which will include options for patients who have a disability. You will take ownership of many of these activities working closely alongside qualified staff for support and development of appropriate competencies

3.Assist in the taking and recording of patient’s observations.

4.Report changes to patient’s health status to trained nurse for action.

5.Support registered nursing staff with clinical treatments and investigations as appropriate to the level of knowledge and skill. This may include the escort of patients to other departments within the centre and on occasion to other departments and specialist units off site

6.Record diversional therapy and clinical input in patients care plans with clear and concise notes.

Working for our organisation

Walsall Healthcare NHS Trust is an integrated Trust and the only provider of NHS acute care in Walsall, serving a population of 284,300. It provides inpatient and outpatient services at the Manor Hospital as well as a wide range of services in the community. Walsall Manor houses the full range of district general hospital services under one roof. The £170 million development was completed in 2010, and ongoing upgrades ensure the Trust now has state-of-the-art facilities, including a Critical Care Unit, Neonatal Unit, Obstetric Theatre, and Integrated Assessment Unit. A new Urgent and Emergency Care Centre, opened in March 2023, has significantly improved emergency care facilities and capacity, providing almost 5,000 square metres of additional clinical space.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

Other Duties

In addition to the clinical element of this role there are also other essential components that the jobholder will be required to fulfil.

1. Assist in the maintenance of general clerical activities to support the clinical environment and patient care. These duties will include answering the telephone, taking and passing on of messages to the relevant person, filing, patient feedback, keeping patient’s records tidy, environmental audits etc.

2.Support registered nursing staff in ensuring communication systems meet the needs of patient’s carers and staff.

3.Updating notice boards and leaflet racks.

4.Attending staff meetings and where necessary acting as a ward representative at specific meetings at the managers request.

5.Maintain confidentiality in relation to patients be the information obtained either verbally, written or electronically

Person specification

Qualifications

Essential criteria
  • Must have completed Level II HCA training or willing to undertake NVQ training.

Knowledge and Experience

Essential criteria
  • Skills and abilities in care necessary for the safe and effective performance of the job.
  • Be able to deliver care to patients with life limiting condition that are approaching end of life.

Key Competencies

Essential criteria
  • Demonstrates a caring, compassionate and patient-centred approach
  • Ability to establish and maintain therapeutic relationships with patients
  • Ability to work effectively as part of a multidisciplinary team
  • Ability to work independently and use initiative within agreed boundaries
  • Flexible and adaptable approach to meeting patient and service needs
  • Commitment to maintaining dignity, respect, confidentiality and privacy
  • Understanding of equality, diversity and inclusion principles
Desirable criteria
  • Experience of supporting patients with life-limiting illness or palliative care needs

Skills and Aptitudes

Essential criteria
  • Good verbal and written communication skills
  • Ability to facilitate and support group and one-to-one therapeutic activities
  • Ability to engage, motivate and support patients with varying needs and abilities
  • Good observation skills with the ability to recognise and report changes in patient condition
  • Ability to maintain accurate written and electronic records
  • Good organisational and time-management skills
  • Basic IT skills, including use of electronic patient records and Microsoft Office applications
  • Ability to undertake delegated clinical and personal care tasks safely and effectively
Desirable criteria
  • Ability to adapt activities to meet the needs of patients with differing physical, cognitive and emotional abilities
  • Experience of developing or delivering therapeutic, recreational or diversional activities

Flexibility

Essential criteria
  • Flexible approach to working practice and service requirements
  • Ability to adapt to changing patient needs and clinical priorities
  • Willingness to undertake a range of clinical, therapeutic and administrative duties appropriate to the role
  • Willingness to work across different areas within palliative care as required
  • Willingness to participate in training and development opportunities

Other

Essential criteria
  • Car Driver Essential

Employer certification / accreditation badges

Apprenticeships logoNo smoking policyPositive about disabled peopleInvestors in PeopleMindful employer.  Being positive about mental health.Disability confident employerStonewall equality policy. Equality and justice for lesbians, gay men, bisexual and trans people.Armed Forces Covenant Bronze AwardArmed Forces Covenant

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.

Application numbers

Please note this vacancy may close early due to high volume of applications

Documents to download

Apply online now

Further details / informal visits contact

Name
Charlotte Morris
Job title
Clinical Lead - Fair Oaks Day Hospice
Email address
[email protected]
Telephone number
01922602580