TB Outreach Coordinator

Job overview

North Central London TB Network is a well established service providing world class care to patients and their carers across the five north central London boroughs. We are a nationally recognised, innovative team of nurse specialists, outreach staff and administrators who work closely with the respiratory and infectious diseases teams at the Whittington, North Middlesex, Royal Free and University College London, hospitals. We are based in the outpatient setting.

This post is an exciting opportunity to work as a TB Outreach Coordinator alongside the wider TB multi-disciplinary team. You will be employed by Whittington Health but will work predominantly in the community setting.

You will be a motivated, energetic individual who works efficiently and enjoys working with a diverse patient group including homeless people, drug or alcohol users, vulnerable migrants and people who have been in prison. The primary purpose of the role is to coordinate care to support patients to take a full course of treatment and get cured. You will also have the opportunity to develop social care skills and this is an aspect of the role that can be developed.

You will be comfortable working across hospital sites in order to meet service needs and as part of your training and development. You will be well supported by the clinical a team and the wider MDT. You will receive a comprehensive induction and your training and development needs will be discussed and supported where appropriate.

Main duties of the job

Tuberculosis often affects vulnerable people with complex health and social care needs.The TB Outreach Coordinator will work directly with this patient group as an active member of the multidisciplinary TB team to provide a flexible and responsive high quality TB Service, to ensure effective, non-judgemental outreach and social care patient management and protection of public health.

The post holder will work as a member of the TB Outreach Team and will contribute to the delivery of North Central London TB service assisting in the prevention and control of TB.

Assist the team with ensuring TB treatment completion rate targets are met.

Coordinate the TB Outreach Workers and oversee the provision of directly observed therapy (DOT) across the network.

Support the TB Outreach Lead/Case worker with outreach/social care work as required.

Lead on the provision of TB specialist education in the community across the five boroughs, raising awareness and implementing initiatives to reduce stigma in all environments.

This post will involve travelling across NCL daily and therefore requires that the post holder to be willing and able to undertake a physically active role with a flexible approach to their working day.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

Main Duties

Provide support as per care plan and in liaison with patient’s TB Case Manager to ensure engagement, compliance to ensure successful completion of treatment.

Assist in the management of social care interventions provided to patients with support/supervision of the Outreach lead/case worker. This may involve liaison with external agencies/stakeholders.

Observe patients who have been identified as requiring DOT, self-dispense and swallow their TB medication.

Ensure the patient is observed taking the medication in accordance with the agreed protocol

Ensure accurate and up to date documentation of all outcomes of visits to patients and informing case manager of any missed medication in a timely manner and in line with agreed protocols.

Undertake follow up Home Visit Risk Assessments in line with the lone worker policy and monitor the timeliness of home visit risk assessments carried out by all TB outreach workers. Take action as appropriate. Communicate all concerns to all relevant staff.

• Provide agreed incentives to patients as per care plan. Establish a therapeutic, non-judgmental rapport with patients being aware of any changes in health status the patient may be experiencing and reporting immediately to the TB case manager. Report immediately any untoward incidents and any other relevant information to TB case manager. Report any change in social/lifestyle circumstances i.e. increased alcohol intake, eviction notice, which may affect ability to adhere to TB case manager. Ensure a courteous and helpful approach to patients and their relatives/carers in the community, adopting a sensitive approach whilst in patient’s home environment. Work with a difficult and sometimes challenging client group, including dealing with distress and emotional circumstances. Participate in or contribute to other activities such as observing clinic DOT, escorting patients to appointments relating to or affecting their diagnosis/treatment of TB, locating and encouraging patients to return to service, gathering information, community phlebotomy, basic administrative tasks, or any other activity requested by the clinical team and deemed within the expectations of the role. Refer patients to the TB Outreach Lead/TB Outreach Case Worker, when agreed by case manager, where assistance is required with societal factors that may impede progress through treatment, e.g. housing, benefits, employment, immigration/asylum status, etc. Accept referral from TB Outreach Lead/TB Outreach Caseworker when societal factors are no longer an urgent priority and the patient requires on going enhanced support from the outreach workers, e.g. where mental health issues or suspected drug/alcohol dependencies exist. Undertake any activity requested by the clinical team leader and deemed within the expectations of the role.

Management Responsibilities

Provide a weekly rota of DOT/Home visits for the TB Outreach Workers.

Work alongside and cover the TB Outreach Case Workers during periods of absence, e.g. annual Leave/sickness

Work with colleagues and partners to develop local policies and protocols to enhance the care of TB patients.

Identify clinical risk and ensure that appropriate action is taken, in accordance with the Trusts risk management/infection control policy to control the transmission of TB.

Communicate effectively with patients, relatives, carers, colleagues, both verbally and in writing.

Lead in the management of and co-ordinate the appropriate deployment of the outreach workers across the network to ensure DOT provision is always available e.g. to cover sickness/absence.

Implement and carry out timely appraisals for the outreach workers, ensuring training and future development needs are identified and staff is supported in achieving their training needs.

Hold regular team meetings with the outreach workers to standardise practice, encourage team working and plan future service development.

Liaise with TB Outreach Lead / TB Outreach Caseworker on progress, risks/issues and outcomes as they arise.

Promoting health and preventing ill health

Lead on the delivery of public TB awareness campaigns including the annual World TB day event.

Provide TB Awareness/Education within the local community and to external agencies. Including rolling programs.

Challenge prejudice and stigma associated with TB.

Co-facilitate TB education of Medical Students.

Partnership working

Liaise with other professional services involved in the care of the patient, and where appropriate encouraging the patient’s engagement with these services (e.g. DDUs, Hostels)

Attend and where appropriate, contribute to meetings, forums and case conferences, as appropriate including case review, cohort review and NCL TB Network Meetings.

Be flexible in the delivery of the role across the network.

Professional practice

Identify own training needs with their line manager through reflection and appraisal.

Maintain and update personal knowledge of TB associated health issues.

Participate in the Personal Development Review process.

Assist in induction of new outreach workers as required.

Contribute to the evaluation and development of new initiatives

Assist in the recruitment of TB Outreach Workers.

Coach, supervise and appraise TB Outreach Workers.

Participate in regular clinical supervision

Recognise the limits of own competence and area of responsibility and accountability.

Seek help and advice when needed.

Audit

Participate in and contribute to audit and evaluation of the TB Outreach Worker posts in conjunction with the TB Outreach Lead/Lead Nurses/Clinical Team Leader.

Ensure timely and accurate data collection as required.

Maintain patient records, both written and electronic.

Participate in TB audit alongside the clinical team.

Management of resources

Be responsible for the safekeeping and use of equipment.

Assist with the distribution of patient information

Use Trust resources effectively and encourage others to do the same.

Research and Development

Keep updated with relevant research and contribute to the development of protocols for patient care on up-to-date research findings.

Support junior staff with audit and research.