POSITION DESCRIPTION – Alfred Health DATE REVISED:
9 January 2017
POSITION:
Carer Support Worker
AWARD/AGREEMENT:
Victorian Public health Sector (Health Professionals, Health and allied Service Managers and Administrative Officers) Multiple Enterprise Agreement 2011 - 2015
CLASSIFICATION TITLE:
Health Professional Grade 2
DEPARTMENT/UNIT:
Alfred Health Carer Services
CLINICAL PROGRAM:
Nursing Services
DIVISION:
Nursing Services
ACCOUNTABLE TO:
Coordinator – Dementia Programs
ALFRED HEALTH Alfred Health is the main provider of health services to people living in the inner southeast suburbs of Melbourne and is also a major provider of specialist services to people across Victoria. The health service operates three outstanding facilities, The Alfred, Caulfield, and Sandringham. Further information about Alfred Health is available at www.alfredhealth.org.au
OUR PURPOSE To improve the lives of our patients and their families, our communities and humanity.
OUR BELIEFS Our staff are expected to demonstrate and uphold the beliefs of Alfred Health:
Patients are the reason we are here – they are the focus of what we do
How we do things is as important as what we do. Respect, support and compassion go hand in hand with knowledge, skills and wisdom. Safety and care of patients and staff are fundamental
Excellence is the standard we work to everyday. Through research and education we raise the bar for tomorrow
We work together. We play vital roles in a team that achieves extraordinary results
Our leadership shares ideas and demonstrates behaviours that inspire others to follow
DEPARTMENT Alfred Health Carer Services (Carer Services) reports to the Executive Director Nursing Services and participates in Community & Ambulatory Services meetings at Caulfield Hospital. Carer Services is a carer support, respite and
AH - Carer Support Worker Dementia (Jan 17)
Page 1 of 5
information service which began in 1997, incorporating a framework of services funded by the Commonwealth Department of Health and Department of Social Services, and the Victorian Department of Health and Human Services. Carer Services provides carer support, respite services, links to the service system, service development and community information. Programs of the service are designed to support carers accessing the aged, disability and mental health service sectors. Carer Services operates from various sites across the southern region – Caulfield Hospital, Dandenong and Frankston. For more information, visit www.carersouth.org.au.
POSITION SUMMARY The Dementia Program is part of a suite of services for carers of older people provided within the Centre’s Aged Services. Other programs include Access & Referral, Dementia Connections, Aged & Residential Respite Options, Commonwealth Home Support Program, Service Development and Carer Education & Training. The Dementia Program is a regional service that aims to assist carers and people with dementia understand and adjust to changes in behaviours and abilities and access appropriate supports. The program is staffed by Carer Support Workers located at each of the Centre’s district offices (Caulfield, Dandenong and Frankston). Carer Support Workers work closely with staff of other programs to provide coordinated and targeted support to carers across the region. Provide short-term, individually tailored casework support to carers and the care recipient who has dementia, including:
Strategies to reduce carer stress associated with caring for someone with dementia and challenging behaviour, and increase coping resources
Education and practical interventions to reduce the frequency of challenging behaviour
Strategies to minimise the impact of challenging behaviour on the carer and others involved in the care recipient’s care
Improving opportunities to access or maintain attendance at respite and social programs
Resource Carer Services staff and key service providers with general information/education, and provide casework consultancy around behavioural issues, strategies and support planning
Develop effective relationships with key dementia services to maintain knowledge of the range of care models, and facilitate access to appropriate services.
The carer support role should be broken into:
75% casework and other carer groupwork activities, including related documentation and case conference
25% to other activities, such as site and program meetings, and other networking activities.
Allocation of cases will depend on referral patterns and may include cases from other programs within the stream or from other districts across the Southern Region.
DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES
AH - Carer Support Worker Dementia (Jan 17)
Page 2 of 5
Casework The Carer Support Worker – Dementia is responsible for providing intensive, short-term, community-based behavioural support, in accordance with program guidelines and policies, procedures and professional standards. The focus is on the caring ‘unit’, working with both the carer, care recipient and others involved, including service providers. Specifically, the Carer Support Worker – Dementia will:
Conduct a comprehensive assessment of the care recipient and the carer
Provide the carer with a plan outlining goals for involvement including actions and strategies
Develop and document individually tailored strategies to reduce targeted behaviours
Support the carer/family and relevant services to ensure strategies are implemented
Provide information/education on dementia within the individual context
Provide emotional support to the carer around the meaning and impact of the behaviour on themselves, and ways to manage this
Assist carers/clients with planning for longer-term support, including facilitating referrals to other community services for ongoing supports and opportunities for respite.
Purchase additional services for a limited period in order to meet an immediate/short-term need, or until ongoing services are commenced
Encourage client feedback and address issues as they arise, follow up on the effectiveness of brokered services
Ensure all casework is promptly and accurately recorded in the database
Consultancy Work closely with other program staff, and respite providers, to support carers of people with dementia and changed behaviour, and maintain access to respite services. This may include:
Information on the particular needs and issues of this client group
Specialist input or joint casework (with other program staff) to address behavioural issues.
Providing consultation, education and resources to other staff on out-of-home respite issues and the work of the Program.
Carer Education & Group Events In addition to individual education, the Carer Support Worker: Resources carers, respite providers and staff with information/education and support around respite issues, options and support planning
Delivers the Creative Ways to Care- strategies for carers of people living with dementia edcuation program, as part of the annual Aged Services Carer Education Program, and other workshops, carer retreats and events as required
Identifies opportunities for improvement to the Education Program for carers and people with dementia.
General
Attend all training and meetings relevant to the position, establishing collaborative relationships with Carer Services staff, community service providers, peak bodies, aged and carer networks
AH - Carer Support Worker Dementia (Jan 17)
Page 3 of 5
Participate in activities to promote the Program, in coordination with the Carer Services promotional strategy
Develop and maintain a diversity approach to planning, delivery and evaluation of services and programs to ensure they are appropriate to all diverse and special needs groups in the community
Plan and manage own workload to ensure adequate time to achieve the position’s primary objectives
Provide regular work plan reports and activity data, participate in monthly supervision and develop annual performance development plan
A flexible approach to working outside normal working hours, which may involve responding to the needs of carers or the organisation for in-situ assessment of behaviours, family meetings, educational activities, carer retreats and promotional events.
KEY CAPABILITIES
Adaptability and focus on continuous improvement
Plans and organises
Strong problem solving capability
Carer/client/customer focus
Teamwork and collaboration.
Accountability and initiative.
Please refer to the Alfred Health Capability Framework for details of expected behaviours. QUALITY, SAFETY, RISK and IMPROVEMENT
Maintain an understanding of individual responsibility for patient safety, quality & risk and contribute to organisational quality and safety initiatives
Follow organisational safety, quality & risk policies and guidelines
Maintain a safe working environment for yourself, your colleagues and members of the public.
Escalate concerns regarding safety, quality & risk to appropriate staff member, if unable to rectify yourself.
Promote and participate in the evaluation and continuous improvement processes.
Comply with principles of Patient Centred Care.
Comply with Alfred Health mandatory continuing professional development requirements.
Comply with requirement of National Safety & Quality Health Service Standards and other relevant regulatory requirements.
OTHER REQUIREMENTS FOR ALL ALFRED HEALTH STAFF:
Ensure compliance with relevant Alfred Health clinical and administrative policies and guidelines. Comply with relevant privacy legislation. Protect confidential information from unauthorised disclosure and not use, disclose or copy confidential information except for the purpose of and to the extent necessary to perform your employment duties at Alfred Health.
Comply with Alfred Health medication management and medication safety policies and guidelines.
In this position you must comply with the actions set out in the relevant section(s) of the OHS Roles and Responsibilities Guideline.
AH - Carer Support Worker Dementia (Jan 17)
Page 4 of 5
Research activities will be undertaken commensurate with the role
QUALIFICATIONS/EXPERIENCE REQUIRED Essential
Current Victorian Driver Licence
Successful applicants must undergo a police check
Tertiary qualifications in Health, Behavioural Sciences, Social Sciences, Welfare, Aged Care or Dementia
Practice knowledge of dementia, associated behaviours and strategies to manage these behaviours, including knowledge of current best practice approaches
Demonstrated understanding and awareness of working with people from diverse communities
Knowledge of the framework of services for people with dementia and their carers, and of the broader aged service system
Extensive experience in managing a caseload, with advanced skills in needs assessment & support planning, and behavioural assessment and intervention
High level of competence in the provision of emotional support in a casework setting, meeting carers’ needs and maintaining role boundaries
Experience in working with a broad service system
Demonstrated ability to contribute to planning processes and service improvement
Proven ability to work autonomously, show initiative and think creatively
Sound organisational and time management skills
Competent information technology and computer skills
Ability to develop sound working relationships and cooperative work practices with a wide range of people
Demonstrated communication and problem solving skills
Commitment to a team approach and to contributing to a supportive work environment
Energy, enthusiasm and commitment to creating and promoting a quality services and a carer friendly work environment
A proactive approach to ongoing self-education and professional development
A flexible approach to working outside normal working hours, that may involve responding to needs of carers or the organisation for family meetings, educational activities, carer retreats and promotional events.
Desirable
Professional development / training in counselling techniques.
Position Description authorised by: Alison Wright, Program Manager – Aged Services th
Date: 9 January, 2017
AH - Carer Support Worker Dementia (Jan 17)
Page 5 of 5
