Home and Settle Project Officer

Job Purpose

To support the manager and deliver on the home and settle services across two hospitals, supporting the wider team, and provide leadership when necessary. You will work in collaboration with AUKEL, the hospitals, and other community health and social care colleagues.

The service supports people returning home after a stay in hospital, helping them to settle back at home, regain confidence and support with some practical tasks, e.g. shopping / cleaning. You will manage referrals, carry out assessments, and with the Manager, allocate service users to Discharge and Settle Worker caseloads. You will provide direct frontline support and co‑ordinate visits to the service users’ home in preparation for their return home, as necessary. You will work collaboratively to lead and manage your team to support the smooth transition from hospital to home for service users. The service is time limited, usually up to 6 weeks, to adjust and settle back in their homes.

Key Tasks

Act as the first point of contact for all referrals across the hospital they are attached to.

Meet with patients in the community and / or hospital and carrying out assessments and risk assessments

Enter referrals on to AUKEL’s case management system (currently Charity Log) in accordance with GDPR guidelines.

Allocate referrals to Discharge and Settle workers using tech available (currently the Call Round App), training will be available.

Collecting feedback from service users and uploading to case management system.

Prepare and keep stock of AUKEL Welcome Packs and service leaflets.

Deputise for the Manger at discharge planning and other meetings as directed.

Support the hospital to improve the patient’s experience of the discharge process

Monitor the case loads of each of the Discharge and Settle workers (DSW) to ensure they are evenly and fairly balanced.

Work collaboratively with other agencies providing support services.

Work with people with a range of needs, dealing with issues ranging from social isolation and keeping people engaged in their community, to preventing unnecessary admission to hospital.

Plan and develop person centred interventions to provide short term support for people after hospital discharge.

Deliver the front‑line services as required e.g. when there is high demand, sickness or staff shortages.

Provide occasional weekend cover for the A / L of other Project Officers

Work with people with a range of needs, dealing with issues ranging from social isolation and keeping people engaged in their community, to preventing unnecessary admission to hospital.

Supervise, support and develop DSWs and volunteers in your service.

Liaise with the handyperson service about referrals and jobs for service users.

Ensure DSW are resourced to sign post service users to other services when the home and settle service intervention ends.

Administration

Keep AUKEL case management system up-to-date, input all data, and ensure all referrals, interventions, time spent with service users are recorded.

Allocate referrals to DSW using tech available (currently - Charity Log ‘Call Round’ App).

Ensure wards have good supply of service leaflets and referral forms.

Ensure data collected meets the requirements of the service’s contract monitoring and key performance indicators.

Ensure customer feedback questionnaires are sent at the end of each intervention and record returns.

Ensure admin tasks relating to service users, Discharge and Settle workers or general admin is carried out in a timely and efficient manner.

Provide weekend cover as needed, i.e. annual leave and sickness, for the services you manage and other hospital settle services provided by AUKEL

Carry out monitoring of the service ensuring it meets the contractual requirements of commissioners.

Quality

Be familiar with and to implement AUKEL policies and procedures.

Ensure the service is delivered in accordance with Care Quality Commission fundamental standards.

Ensure integration with other AUKEL projects, and service users are referred / sign‑posted to appropriate support services available to them.

Respond to safeguarding or other concerns and make appropriate reports and management action

Liaison

Represent Age UK East London and participate in appropriate external meetings and events to remain aware of local, regional and national issues affecting quality and compliance affecting care and home support services.

Work in collaboration with hospital colleagues including discharge teams, A&E, ward staff, community teams to support the successful discharge of people and reduce readmission.

Liaise with other AUKEL home and settle services and work collaboratively to maintain effective services, including sharing staff where appropriate.

Work closely with the AUKEL handyperson service to meet contractual obligations where a handyperson service is provided as part of the service.

Liaise with contractors to arrange deliveries and works to service user’s homes.

General

Meet regularly with your line manager for support, supervision and appraisal.

Attend team and staff meetings, (and other meetings) as required.

Undertake any other duties within the competence of the post holder as may be required from time to time for the continued smooth running of AUKEL.

Undertake any training required to fulfil the post.

Carry out the duties of the post in accordance with AUKEL’s policies and procedures including : Equal Opportunities, Health & Safety, Confidentiality, Complaints, GDPR, Safeguarding Vulnerable Adults.

Arranging access visits to service user’s homes

Work within AUKEL’s expectations of professional boundaries and confidentiality.

Functional Links

The Home and Settle Project Officer is supervised directly by the Home and Settle Manager.

Close working is required with AUKEL Finance Team, Information, Advice, Advocacy & Befriending Services, AUKEL Community services directorate, and other home and settle services across east London.

Person Specification

Research shows that while middle class white men tend to apply for job when they meet around 60% of the criteria, women, people from the global majority, and people from other marginalised groups that encounter systematic discrimination tend to apply only when they meet all criteria. So, if you think you have what it takes, but don’t meet every single aspect of the job description, please still apply!

Experience

Essential

Minimum of 2 years’ experience of working within a health or care setting.

Experience of using IT systems to record work done.

Experience of supporting colleagues (this could be in a non‑managerial position)

Desirable

Experience of working within a hospital setting

Experience of managing and developing staff.

Experience of working with older people

Knowledge & Understanding

Essential

Understanding of the impact of discrimination and disadvantage on the lives of people and ability to work in a trauma‑informed manner.

Understanding of the needs of patients who may lack family or other support.

Understanding of the needs of lone workers whilst working in the community.

Understanding and commitment to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of vulnerable adults and their carers.

Understand of and commitment to equity, diversity, inclusion and dignity.

Desirable

Knowledge of CQC fundamental standards

Understanding of NHS hospital discharge procedures

Experience of conducting assessments and risk assessments.

Skills / Attributes

Essential

Excellent interpersonal skills

Excellent verbal and written communication

Intermediate IT skills

Excellent planning and organisational skills

Ability to work calmly under pressure.

Additional Requirements

This post is subject to the relevant check through the Disclosure & Barring Service (DBS)

The role is required travel across East London

Flexibility in working hours to meet organisational needs

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