Healthcare Support Worker - HMP Low Newton

Main Responsibilities

Healthcare Support Worker

HMP Low Newton, Durham

£16,968 - £19,852 per annum

Full Time - 37.5 hours per week

"HMP/YOI Low Newton is an all female closed prison situated in a semi-rural location 4 miles North East of Historic Durham City. It caters for females aged 18 and over who are on remand, as well as sentenced female prisoners who are 18 or over; the prison takes all categories of prisoners including those serving life sentences . HMP/ YOI Low Newton has an operational capacity of 348 and serves the courts in the catchment area from the Scottish Borders to North Yorkshire across to North Cumbria.

A full range of Primary Care Services and preventative services are provided to the women who are held at Low Newton. The team works closely with GPs, the Integrated Mental Health Team, Drug and Alcohol Services, dental services, opticians, podiatrists, physiotherapists, sexual health services, and Prison Staff to ensure that the health and wellbeing of the prison population are met.  In addition HMP/YOI Low Newton has an inpatient unit, as well as a Substance Misuse Unit .

Our nursing team consists of Qualified and Unqualified Primary Care Nursing staff, Registered Nurses and Health Care Support Workers. Choosing to work alongside us presents a unique opportunity to work in a rewarding, challenging and interesting environment in the only female prison in the North East of England".

Job Outline:

To provide care, under supervision, for the physical needs of offenders in line with professional, contractual and company requirements

Responsibilities:

• Provide health and social care, under supervision / or as delegated by a registered nurse, to ensure an efficient health and social care service is delivered in line with professional, contractual and company standards.
• To contribute to the assessments of offenders to report observations to registered nurse or other qualified healthcare professional as required.
• Provide advice, within area of competence to offenders as agreed with qualified healthcare professional.
• Work alongside qualified healthcare professionals to deliver clinics and treatments, including health promotion initiatives as agreed by Line Manager.
• Liaise with key stakeholders, including external agencies, to assist in ensuring the delivery of an effective health and social care service.
• Clean equipment and other items, as required, so that they remain safe, serviceable and ready to use at all times.
• Act in accordance with current procedures in order to maintain security and Health & Safety at all times.
• Complete all relevant documentation to deadline in accordance with professional, contractual and company requirements.
• Ensure the maintenance of security within the prison environment by compliance with security instructions.
• To work at all times within the bounds of confidentiality, adhering to data protection and maintaining Caldicott Guidelines.
• Communicate effectively with appropriate others to minimise risk.
• To operate within the equality and diversity framework.
• Participate in bi annual Employee Development Review (EDR).
• Operate in accordance with G4S policies and procedures, adhering to legislation and best practice, undertaking further training as identified in conjunction with Line Manager.
• Any additional duties as negotiated with your Line Manager.

The Ideal Candidate

Essential Skills:

• NVQ Level 2 or equivalent
• Experience of working within a team
• Experience of working within a healthcare environment
• Able to demonstrate a good standard of literacy and numeracy
• Able to provide examples of diversity in practice
• Able to work within challenging and complex situations
• Experience of working with potentially aggressive people
• Evidence of ability to develop and maintain effective working relationships at all levels

Desirable Skills:

• Experience of working within a secure environment
• Evidence of working within a ‘value for money’ service
• Driving Licence