Job Description
Carer Officer – Hospital Discharge Support Service

Job Title:

Location:

Salary:

Carer Officer

Llanelli office /PPH/ hybrid working

£25,419 per annum pro rata

Length of Contract:  Fixed Term until 31 March 2026

Hours:

21 hours per week

Pension:

3%

Responsible to:

Hospital & Community Discharge Service Co-ordinator

DBS:

Enhanced DBS required with Adult Barring Check

Purpose of the role

  This post is part of a wider team working  in  hospitals across the Hywel Dda University  Health

Board area.

  To raise awareness and provide information, support and informal training / awareness sessions to

Hospital Workers on the issues facing carers.

  To provide support to unpaid carers while the person they care for is in hospital.

Main duties:
Carer Awareness Training

  To work closely with all hospital-based teams to provide information and awareness of unpaid
carers highlighting the issues faced by unpaid carers and raising awareness of the support
available in Carmarthenshire. To include:
o  Adult inpatient areas
o  Community hospitals
o  Mental Health areas
o  Other groups / settings as appropriate

  To evaluate carer awareness sessions and training to hospital staff

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  To help hospital workers understand and improve carers’ (of all ages) experience of discharge /

transfer of care.

  To be a point of contact for hospital staff, providing information and responding to carer related

enquiries.

  Helping to identify unpaid carers earlier or more readily who might need support from the

service

  To promote the Investors in Carers scheme to wards and hospital settings and support them to

achieve the bronze level where appropriate

Carer Support

  To listen to and understand unpaid carers and their circumstances providing tailored one-to-one

support to help build on their strengths to identify what is most important to them.

  Provide carers with information including information on Carer Rights
  To provide one-to-one person-centred support to carers to enable them better to manage the impact

of caring on their own health, financial and social situation.

  Signpost and / or make referrals to appropriate community-based services and organisations for

further information and/or support as agreed with the carer.

  Work with the carer to develop a bespoke action plan to address the identified areas of need.
  Support unpaid carers to plan for hospital discharge, liaising closely with hospital staff and

facilitating positive communications between hospital staff and the carer specifically enabling
carers to have input to the patient’s care and discharge planning process.

  Visit unpaid carers in the community to help with the home end of discharge planning and post-

discharge welfare checks.

  Make referrals for carers needs assessments and any other referrals to help the carer put things in

place to maintain their own wellbeing and that of the person they care for.

  Be a point of contact for any queries or difficulties unpaid carers may be experiencing pre or post

discharge.

  Support new unpaid carers with information and advice to help them adapt to their new or

changed role

Monitoring, reporting and administration
  Coproduce  an  action  plan  for  Carers  to  help  them  achieve  their  identified  outcomes  and  to

demonstrate and record outcomes achieved for carers.

  To maintain accurate case records on our Customer Relationship Management data base.
  To assist in the preparation of information reports as required by Hywel Dda and external partners.
  To assist in collating carer feedback and information to evidence need for improvement of existing

carers services and/or development of new services.

  Monitor carer progress in line with action plan, providing support to achieve identified outcomes.
  Monitor case records and statistics on our central database as required for the project.
  Complete your own timesheets, expenses forms and administration duties.
  Produce unpaid carer case studies and unpaid carers stories to highlight unpaid carers Issues and

the difference made to unpaid carers.

Team working/Networking and Liaison

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  To facilitate weekly drop-in information stands within the hospitals in order for staff and carers to

readily access information and support

  To be aware of opportunities for new partnership working and help to develop clear protocols for joint

working.

  To foster and maintain existing partnerships with a wide range of statutory, voluntary and community

groups and forums across Carmarthenshire.

  To  attend  and  participate  in  regular  team  meetings,  reflective  practice  and  wider  organisational

meetings.

  To represent CTCWW from time-to-time in events, meetings, etc. as required
  To provide team cover and continuity of services to carers to cover absence i.e. annual leave etc.
  To develop effective teamwork through informal and formal communication with colleagues
  To have a visible presence within the hospitals including during hospital visiting hours to facilitate

ease of access to carers requiring support.

  This role might involve some evening and/or weekend work tbc.

Evaluation and learning

  Share learning and insights from your practice to enable us to refine our approach to

supporting unpaid carers.

  Link with equivalent Carer Officers workers based in Ceredigion & Pembrokeshire.
  Work in partnerships and feedback to Hywel Da University Health Board with any issues,

barriers and best practice.

General

  To be committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of vulnerable adults and

children.

  To work at all times within the philosophy and policies and procedures of Carers Trust

Crossroads West Wales, also complying with HDUHB policy at all times while working
within a hospitals or health setting.

  To comply with the Health & Safety at Work Act 1974 and with Carers Trust Crossroads
West Wales policy, paying particular attention to the reporting of accidents, incidents and
near misses.

  To respect personal choice and lifestyles of colleagues, carers, and people with care needs,

ensuring that Equal Opportunity principles are applied at all times.

  To comply with the staff Code of Conduct.
  To undertake any other duties that may be considered commensurate with the level of the

post.

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Person Specification

Post of: Carers Officer – Hospital Based
Essential

Desirable

Qualifications
  Professional qualification and/or

experience of working with supporting
people or community development.

  Level 3 in Health and Social Care would be

advantageous.

  Level 3: Advice & Guidance.

  Experience of providing support to

individuals with health/social care needs

  Giving talks to small groups of people
including carers and professionals

Experience:
  Must be able to establish and maintain

constructive relationships dealing with a
wide range of people including Carers,
family members, colleagues, hospital staff
and individual service users while
maintaining appropriate professional
boundaries.

  Multi-agency and partnership working
  Experience of working with unpaid Carers.

Knowledge:
  An understanding of the Social Services
and Wellbeing Act 2014 and related
legislation.

  Knowledge of statutory and third sector

services and sources of support for unpaid
carers in the area.

  Knowledge of Carers Rights within the

Social Services and Wellbeing Act 2014
and Charter for Unpaid Carers

  Must have an understanding of the social

care needs of people and those who care for
them.

  Experience of person-centred support and
promoting individual’s independence and
wellbeing through this.

  To understand responsibilities of

safeguarding and promoting the welfare of
vulnerable adults and children.

  Understanding of the importance of
confidentiality and data protection.

  An understanding of the health and social

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care system and pathways to accessing
statutory and third sector services

Ability:

  Ability to work positively with other

  Welsh language skills desirable.

agencies and develop strong
partnership relationships with a wide
range of people including individual
partner providers in external agencies.

  Excellent written and verbal
communication skills.

  Excellent time management skills with
ability to multi-task, prioritise and
manage own case work.

  Can work independently and take

initiative.

  Evidence of strong problem solving

skills

  Must be able to keep accurate and

concise Carer and service
administration records in line with
GDPR guidance.

  Must be computer literate.
  Must be car owner with full license and
access to own car for travel for work
purposes.

Values:
  Those who use services being enabled to

have greater opportunities to exercise their
rights. This includes receiving the right
care, at the right time in the right place.

  Promoting and exercising understanding of
diversity and equality issues as barriers to
social inclusion.

  Promoting Racial Equality and challenging

institutional racism.

  To be committed to safeguarding and
promoting the wellbeing of vulnerable
adults and children.

  Understanding the need for confidentiality.

  Promote dignity and respect.

  Able to demonstrate reliability and

commitment.

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