Job overview

The Frailty team in Wirral University Teaching Hospital (WUTH) comprises of a multi disciplinary team (MDT) involving consultant geriatricians, Junior doctors, advanced nurse practitioners (ANP's), Specialist nurses for older persons (SNOP), Clinical support workers (CSW's), Physiotherapists, Occupational therapists, integrated discharge team (IDT), Social workers and third party representation from Age UK. 

The Clinical Support Workers are an integral part of the frailty service within Wirral University Teaching Hospitals and are often the first members of the team that patients meet alongside the SNOPs when attending the Emergency Department (ED), The Older Person’s Assessment Unit (OPAU) or The Urgent Medical Assessment Unit (UMAC). 

The aim of the Frailty Team, as a whole, is to provide a rapid, holistic assessment of frail patients attending Wirral University Hospital and to formulate a management plan for their care adopting a ‘Home First’ approach. 

The role support with duties to support the SNOP to facilitate early discharge from hospital and admission prevention where it has been identified that patients can be managed in community settings.

The SNOP team currently comprises x6 Band 6 nurses, x2 Band 6 Physiotherapists, x2 Band 6 Occupational Therapists and x3 Band 3 CSW's.

Main duties of the job

• Assist patients in meeting hygiene, toilet and protection needs using own initiative under the guidance of a team leader.
• Assists patients to promote independence.
• Uses hoist to lift heavy patients to transfer from bed to chair / wheelchair.
• Assists patients onto commode.
• Access patient condition, records basis observations of temperature, pulse, blood pressure and respiration rate.
• Use judgement to inform senior staff of abnormal findings.
• Assists in the care of the dying patient, including providing support to relatives.
• Provides support for relatives.
• Assists with last offices.
• Assists with patient transfer to CT scanner, MRI, and theatre.
• Assists with patient transfer with intra and inter discharges from the hospital.
• Able to prepare equipment in an emergency.
• Maintains effective communication with patients and staff.
• Able to communicate effectively to agitated and confused patients including patients with physical and mental disabilities.
• To be aware of and maintain requirements for patient confidentiality in the clinical setting. 

Working for our organisation

All new colleagues can expect to receive a warm and friendly Wirral welcome from the very first time they make contact with us. We are described as “competent and caring staff” by our patients.

Wirral University Teaching Hospital NHS Foundation Trust is situated on The Wirral peninsula which has a stunning coastline and beautiful countryside surroundings, with great activities for its residents.

We are one of the largest and busiest acute Trusts in the North West of England, comprising of the Wirral’s only Emergency Department. We provide a high quality range of acute care services and employ over 6,000 staff, who serve a population of approximately 400,000 people across Wirral, Ellesmere Port, Neston, North Wales and the wider North West footprint.

We have approximately 855 beds trust-wide and our financial turnover is in excess of £337m.

The Wirral is easily accessible with excellent transport links including motorway, train, bus or ferry and within easy reach to the major cities of Liverpool, Chester and Manchester as well as neighbouring North Wales.