Duty Worker

Job overview

• The post-holder will be responsible for the clinical and operational day to day service delivery ensuring that an individualised comprehensive assessment and Care Management service is effectively delivered by the Duty Team.
• Responsibilities include the clinical and operational supervision of junior nursing staff and students as delegated by the team manager.
• To be accountable for delivering a quality services that is effective and efficient in line with the organisations objectives and performance indicators.
• To contribute to strategic service development working collaboratively with other agencies.

Main duties of the job

• To work alongside the Duty Manager as the qualified Duty Worker each day
• To undertake comprehensive health needs and risk assessments (including capacity assessments) and develop a care plan (Health Action Plan) in accordance with identified needs establishing specialist course of responsibilities/actions based on Recovery Principles.
• To carry out joint assessment with other MDT as required.
• To be aware of and comply with the relevant mental health and work related legislation and policy at all times.
• To provide relevant up to date evidence based information about treatment/intervention that enables service users to make informed choices about their care.
• To deliver evidence based care in a timely manner.
• To make reactive recommendations as necessary when working alone in the community.

• To undertake health promotion activities with individuals and groups.
• To promote physical health and well-being by providing health checks/screen and monitoring.
• Where necessary to administer prescribed medication or to supervise its administration and assess the service user for desired and non – desired effects.
• To maintain robust clinical records and prepare reports as required.
• To provide and facilitate specialist help and advice to other professionals agencies and carers.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

Duties and Responsibilities:

Service User Care

• To work alongside the Duty Manager as the qualified Duty Worker each day
• To undertake comprehensive health needs and risk assessments (including capacity assessments) and develop a care plan (Health Action Plan) in accordance with identified needs establishing specialist course of responsibilities/actions based on Recovery Principles.
• To carry out joint assessment with other MDT as required.
• To be aware of and comply with the relevant mental health and work related legislation and policy at all times.
• To provide relevant up to date evidence based information about treatment/intervention that enables service users to make informed choices about their care.
• To deliver evidence based care in a timely manner.
• To make reactive recommendations as necessary when working alone in the community.

• To undertake health promotion activities with individuals and groups.
• To promote physical health and well-being by providing health checks/screen and monitoring.
• Where necessary to administer prescribed medication or to supervise its administration and assess the service user for desired and non – desired effects.
• To maintain robust clinical records and prepare reports as required.
• To provide and facilitate specialist help and advice to other professionals agencies and carers.

Analytical and Judgemental

• The post holder will be able to undertake assessment of need of service users who meets the service eligibility criteria, and their family.
• To formulate a care plan and risk assessment, review its effectiveness and re-plan using evidence based interventions to best effect in partnership with the service user.
• The post holder will be expected to identify and respond to acute presentations in order to manage risk and promote the safety and well-being of the service user.
• Utilise clinical judgement to evaluate service user’s physical and psychological responses to treatment.
• To initiate, plan and deliver effective risk management systems within the clinical area.
• To ensure a consistent and timely response to safeguarding cases in line with departmental procedures.
• To provide a responsive effective service to individuals in crisis.

Planning and Organisation

• To plan, organise and prioritise resources and tasks on a daily basis to meet service and organisational needs.
• To take a leading role in the day to day management of the service supporting the Team Leader, including recruitment retention, rostering and attendance management as required.
• To work in conjunction with and alongside colleagues and partners within the organisation.

• To plan and deliver treatment interventions in line with Best Practice and local and National Guidelines.
• To act as a Care Coordinator ensuring high quality care delivery at all times.
• To take a leading role in designated projects/service development as allocated.
• To support the line manager/service line lead in the effective and timely management of complaints and serious untoward incidents.
• To identify the training needs of junior staff highlighting this to the Team Leader.
• To plan, develop and deliver training to others as needed.
• To undertake Approved Mental Health Professional (AMHP) duties or be willing to undertake AMHP training.

Physical & Emotional Working Conditions and Environment

• Document service user care by recording information on electronic care record, demonstrating keyboard skills.
• To have the ability to sit with service users for extended periods of time, often within pressurised circumstances and to sustain frequent, intense concentration.
• To be adaptable to the physical environment, particularly when meeting service users in their homes, continually being aware of Trust Health & Safety Policies within this context.
• Ability to cope with the physical demands of frequent travel across the Trust.
• To drive own vehicle between bases.
• The post holder may be involved in physical procedures including administration of oral and injectable medications, the storage and transportation of them, and the monitoring of people’s physical responses to medications, such as blood pressure, glucose and weight monitoring.
• The post holder will be expected to drive between appointments across a wide geographical area in order to manage numerous visits each day, across the west and south of the county and occasionally further.
• The post holder will be expected to share office space in a hot desk arrangement and work in an open plan environment. Visits to service users occur mainly within their own homes and can therefore include exposure to a range of environments.
• Work frequently in distressing, challenging and emotionally demanding situations requiring mental effort to undertake duties effectively.
• The post holder may be exposed to unpleasant and distressing working conditions; some service users may exhibit aggressive and abusive behaviour.

Information Resources

• To gather and record statistical data relevant to service provision and development and to input data as required. This is carried out in order to provide statistical data for research and audit for the service.
• To provide relevant data on treatment provision required by HPFT, whilst complying with the Data Protection Act 1984.
• To maintain effective service user records primarily within the Trust Electronic Patient Record Tool in line with Trust and NMC policies and procedures, to include electronic diary entries and computerised data base system to facilitate collection of statistical information.

Leadership and Staff Management Responsibility

• To provide effective professional supervision of junior staff and students assessing proficiencies of practice as required.
• To maintain one’s own Professional Registration and development.
• To actively participate in and seek clinical and professional supervision and appraisal in line with organisational policy.

Financial Responsibility

• To ensure effective and economic use of resources available.
• To comply with the relevant Trust and service financial policies and procedures.

Service Development and Improvement

• To remain up to date concerning relevant clinical, social and legal issues.
• To be aware of relevant research findings and assist the Team Leader in the development of the team, incorporating evidence based practice.
• To adhere to quality initiatives compatible with national targets and local standards applicable to practice.
• To be involved in the development and use of quality assurance systems contributing to and participating in audits/outcomes, evaluation and lesson learning.

Communications

• To support the Team Leader in establishing and maintaining effective inter-team and inter agency communication.
• To provide effective liaison/communication throughout the care pathway to service users, their carers and others, responding sensitively to all needs especially in highly emotive settings.

For further information of the role, please see attached the JD and PS.