Associate Practitioner for Dementia - Activity Coordinator

Associate Practitioner for Dementia - Activity Coordinator

The Associate Practitioner for Dementia Activity Coordinator will be responsible for developing, organising, and facilitating in the delivery of high quality therapeutic activity programmes for elderly patients including those with dementia across the Trust. The aim is to improve patient experience and to prevent and reduce delirium for some of our most frail and vulnerable patients.

The post holder will work alongside the Associate Practitioner in Dementia and is under the supervision of the Dementia Clinical Nurse Specialist. The role is also expected to assist in providing dementia awareness training to all hospital staff and ensuring carers are signposted to relevant dementia support. The post holder will have a specific site as a base but can work cross site to undertake a range of delegated tasks and delegated authority to improve the dementia service.

Its key purpose is to improve patient experience for people living with dementia who are admitted to hospital through therapeutic activities and mental stimulation. It also assists the team to ensure that patients aged 65 and over admitted as an emergency case for more than 72 hours in FHFT are appropriately assessed for dementia and referred on to specialist services.

Visa Sponsorship: This position is not eligible for Skilled Worker visa sponsorship. Applicants must already hold the right to work in the UK for the full duration of the contract. Main duties of the job

The post holder provides support to the Dementia Clinical Nurse Specialist for a caseload of patients living with dementia admitted at FHFT by delivering therapeutic activities, psychosocial interventions, and interventions enhancing mental stimulation. The post holder will also undertake regular reviews, offer signposting, and provide support to the person living with dementia and/or their carers, assist with the hospital journey, and signpost to community support.

In addition, the role will contribute to promoting a dementia aware culture across the organisation by assisting in the delivery of dementia awareness training for hospital staff and ensuring carers are informed and signposted to relevant support networks. The post holder will also carry out a range of delegated tasks and exercise delegated authority as required to support service improvement and the delivery of high quality dementia care.

Qualifications

• Educated to GCSE level or equivalent.
• Knowledge and understanding of the management of dementia.
• Knowledge of Clinical Audit.
• Completion of level 1 and 2 Adult Safeguarding training.
• Foundation Degree in Health Care or working towards or access to courses with a special interest in dementia.
• Level 3 healthcare related qualification.
• Registered Nursing Associate with NMC register.
• Completion of level 1 Safeguarding Children training.

Experience

• Minimum of 3 years of dementia care professional experience in an acute clinical area.
• Experience of ensuring that values, including care, compassion, competence, courage, and commitment are adhered to daily, and any concerns are raised to relevant Line Manager.
• Evidence of working independently.
• Experience of providing and receiving complex sensitive information.
• Highly motivated with a positive attitude.
• Flexible, diplomatic and politically astute.
• Experience of delivering therapeutic activities in professional capacity in group and individually with people with dementia / cognitive problems.
• Experience in delivering training to other staff members or colleagues.
• Hospital environment work experience.
• Experience of working with older adults with dementia in a professional capacity.
• Experience of reading and understanding outcome measures.
• Experience working in the NHS.
• Understanding NHS/social care policies and practices relating to Mental Health.
• Experience in providing training and delivering presentations.

Skills and Knowledge

• To be knowledgeable about dementia and preferred treatment methods and interventions.
• Knowledge and understanding of the key issues and problems relating to care for people with dementia in hospital, person centred care, and effects of therapeutic activity.
• Knowledge of relevant national and local policy such as the National Dementia Strategy.
• Demonstrate an understanding of the key sections of the Mental Capacity Act and its use in practice.
• Health and safety; awareness of risk.
• Demonstrate a sound understanding of the needs and difficulties of people with dementia and their family carers.
• Understanding of professional conduct and confidentiality.
• Basic computer skills and understanding of electronic patient records.
• Ability to comprehend and communicate verbally and in writing highly sensitive information in a manner appropriate to a range of settings and audiences, including highly emotive situations and those with significantly impaired communication capacities.
• Able to work across professional and organisational boundaries.
• Ability to influence others and facilitate change.
• Ability to work autonomously, proactively and as part of a team.
• Ability to assess, deliver, and evaluate quality care.
• Ability to plan and prioritise workload and respond to changing priorities to meet deadlines.
• Ability to deal with non routine and unpredictable nature of workload and individual patient contact.
• Ability to influence others at all levels.
• Ability to demonstrate initiative.
• Advanced knowledge of the multidisciplinary approach to dementia care.
• Knowledge of medical and surgical conditions and procedures.
• Knowledge of medical terminology.
• Supervisory skills.
• IT literate with different programs such as Microsoft PowerPoint, Excel, Word, Outlook.
• Knowledge and understanding of the cognitive assessment tools such as AMTS and 4AT used to assess dementia and delirium.

Special Requirements

• Ability to travel.
• Flexible and reliable as the role may require covering bank holidays and some weekends.

Disclosure and Barring Service Check

This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.

£29,812 to £32,715 a year (incl HCAS).