Health Care Assistant - RAPS (Swansea & Neath) Swansea, Wales
Job description
*WE DO NOT ACCEPT APPLICATIONS VIA INDEED, PLEASE APPLY VIA OUR WEBSITE ONLY:
https://kaleidoscope68.org/job-list/
*A valid UK driving licence, and use of car licensed for business use is essential for this role*
Location: Cover across Swansea and Neath
Hours: Full time, 37.5 hours per week, including some weekend as per rota. (Approximately one Saturday in four / five). Saturday hours can be claimed via overtime or TOIL (time off in lieu).
Background and Service
Kaleidoscope is a pioneering substance misuse treatment provider, offering evidence-based treatment and holistic support to individuals who access its services. Staff teams work collaboratively with partner agencies including G4S, Local Health Board, South Wales Police, HMPPS (Her Majesties Prison and Probation Service), PHW (Public Health Wales), and other third sector support agencies.
Clinical services include substitute prescribing for opiate dependence, harm reduction initiatives including the provision of take home Naloxone; family planning and sexual health screening; Blood Born Virus testing and referral on to specialist support.
Key Duties and Responsibilities
Healthcare Assistants are responsible for administering methadone to clients accessing prescribing services, whilst adhering strictly to dispensing procedures. You will work as part of a multidisciplinary team within Swansea and Neath.
This is a great opportunity for those interested in such clinical services and those who want to make a different to people's lives.
The post holder will be expected to work as part of a larger substance misuse multiagency team, supporting on site dispensing of methadone, oral lyophilisate (Espranor) and subcutaneous buprenorphine (Buvidal) and also attending Multiagency / Multidisciplinary housing options and homelessness care planning meetings at various community and outreach sites
The Health Care Assistant will:
- Administer methadone to clients accessing prescribing services, adhering strictly to dispensing procedures (SOPS).
- Supervise medication consumption by individuals accessing our prescribing services.
- Ensure administrative responsibilities, such as completing the daily dispensing log, are maintained according to legal and organisational requirements.
- Maintain an awareness of personal responsibilities in relation to medication administration.
- Perform other dispensary tasks as appropriate, such as keeping the area clean, organised, and sufficiently stocked with required items.
- Maintain full and accurate records of all dispensing transactions incorporating the use of computers when available and appropriate database maintenance.
- Ensure that telephone calls from outside agencies, clients and internal staff are dealt with promptly and courteously, transferring calls to appropriate personnel when necessary.
- Support reception and administration staff for visitors and service users.
- Ensure case notes and other statutory records are up to date and kept in accordance with Kaleidoscope policies and procedures/regional information sharing protocols.
- Update case management system with dose-missed daily.
- Ensure that work is underpinned by sound up to date knowledge of health promotion theory and making sure that initiatives are based on evidence of effectiveness.
- Provide support and cover colleagues delivering services when required.
- Participate in clinical audits, service reviews and the evaluation of service user satisfaction, implementing resulting recommendations, to improve and develop the service.
- Support the nursing team’s health promotion initiatives and communicate any changes in need/circumstances to the appropriate people.
- Enable individuals to maintain and improve their knowledge to support the improvement of their health and wellbeing.
- Actively encourage service user involvement and feedback and ensure views are considered in informing the development of the service via co-production.
- Collate data and contribute to service reports.
- Work within the parameters of NICE guidelines, NMC Professional Code of Conduct and Welsh Government core standards
- Complete drug screen testing (urine and oral fluid).
- Complete initial clinical assessments under nurse supervision and report assessment into prescribing medic review and nurse monitoring processes.
- Complete DBST (Dry Blood Spot Testing) Blood Born Virus Screening.
- Provide training and dispensing of Naloxone in line with PHW fatal and non-fatal drug poisoning prevention guidance.
- Administer Naloxone and CPR in the event of an emergency suspected overdose (fatal / non-fatal drug poisoning).
- Provide harm reduction advice including safer injecting advice and guidance in line with Needle Exchange (Needle Syringe Programme) policies and procedures.
- Be willing to participate in Outreach to service users homes/hostels
- Following training and once assessed as competent be responsible for undertaking and recording patient observations, and where appropriate reporting to a registered nurse/professional of any observed change in the service user’s condition.
Staff Benefits - What we Offer:
- 25 days annual leave per year, rising to 27 after 1 years service and increasing by 1 day per year worked to a maximum of 32 days annual leave.
- 8 paid bank holidays per year
- The option to 'buy' or 'sell' up to 5 days annual leave per year
- Additional leave - Wellbeing day and 'You Day'
- Simply Health - cash back healthcare plan
- Cycle to work scheme
- Electric car scheme
- Up to 5 days paid dependency leave
- Paid sick leave
- Planned parental leave
- Employee recognition schemes
Job Types: Full-time, Permanent
Salary: £22,500.00 per year
Benefits:
- Additional leave
- Company events
- Company pension
- Cycle to work scheme
- Sick pay
- Wellness programme
Schedule:
- Monday to Friday
- Weekend availability
Education:
- GCSE or equivalent (required)
Work Location: One location
Application deadline: 14/05/2023
