Ward & Mealtime Support Helper - Intermediate Care Unit, Horsham Hospital

Who Are We?

Sussex Community NHS Foundation Trust (SCFT) is the largest provider of community health services across Sussex. We want to ensure SCFT is a great place to work for all team members, as they provide medical, nursing and therapeutic care to people from their earliest moments to their last.

Patients and service users are at the heart of everything we do, and we want to reduce the service inequities that exist across our jurisdiction. Other key initiatives include boosting our sustainability credentials and becoming a digital leader. We are ambitious about what we can and will do better for patients, communities and our people.

There are over 5,500 of us in the Trust, from clinicians and therapists to managers, board members to maintenance staff, facilities staff to administrators as well as over 500 dedicated volunteers. Each of us is working together towards the same goal: delivering excellent care at the heart of the community.

The Role:

We are looking for Ward Helpers to volunteer in our Intermediate Care Units at Horsham Hospital, where our patients are offered short-term recovery and rehabilitation. SCFT’s aim is to keep patients out of hospital where we can and supporting patients to leave hospital.

If you are a people person with good communication skills and a caring nature we look forward to receiving your application.

What you will be doing:

• Speaking to patients in a friendly and caring manner, being guided by ward staff on who to approach.
• Support patients with dementia, and patients with a possible diagnosis of dementia in engaging with ‘Reminiscence’ activities. This includes using RITA: ‘Reminiscence Interactive Therapy Activities' technology (you will be fully trained to use this simple piece of equipment). Use of activity bags to help patients occupy their time and relieve boredom.
• Support patients identified by ward staff, before, during and after their mealtimes. This includes offering companionship at meal times if the patient wishes to have a companionable chat.
• At mealtimes, clear patients bedside table to accommodate food tray and make sure that patients are in an appropriate position to eat. Encourage patients to wash their hands, issuing hand wipes if required.
• Supporting facilities/ward staff to hand out the correct trays to patients.
• Changing and filling water jugs when needed.
• Spotting any difficulties and providing support to patients, including opening packets and cutting food. Also alerting ward staff of any concerns.
• Tidy up patients bedside tables after eating, including cleaning/wiping surfaces and encouraging hand washing after eating.
• After the meal, collect trays from any patients you have been asked to do this for. Feedback to ward staff if a patient has left a lot of food/not touched their meal.
• Making/distributing hot drinks to appropriate patients, following Health and Safety guidance on this.
• Depending on the ward, help identified patients, complete ‘Menu Choices Cards’ prior to meals and return to ward staff.

What skills do I need?

• Interest in supporting older people
• Self-motivated; with an ability to think on your feet and work independently
• Punctual and dependable
• Professional and friendly demeanour
• Excellent communication skills
• Demonstrates empathy and compassion
• To maintain boundaries and confidentiality at all times
• To keep good timekeeping and show regular commitment.
• To comply with Trust policies