About this role
Job summary
Are you dynamic, creative, caring and passionate about making a positive difference to patient care and experience?
We have an exciting opportunity for an enthusiastic Activities Co-ordinator to join our team at Weston General Hospital, supporting patients across our inpatient wards.
This is a 12-month fixed-term position, kindly funded by the League of Friends, our hospital charity, to expand the meaningful activities and engagement opportunities available to patients during their hospital stay.
You will work alongside our existing Activities Co-ordinator and closely with nursing and therapy teams to provide meaningful, therapeutic and recreational activities, particularly for older patients and those living with dementia, delirium or other complex needs.
We are looking for someone with excellent communication skills, a compassionate approach and a creative mindset, who can bring new ideas and enthusiasm to improving the daily experiences of our patients.
Working Pattern: This charity-funded position is for core daytime hours, Monday to Friday only. There is no requirement to work evenings, nights, weekends or bank holidays, and no unsocial hours.
Visa Sponsorship: Please note that this is a non-clinical Band 3 position which is not eligible for Skilled Worker visa sponsorship. The Trust is therefore unable to provide a Certificate of Sponsorship (CoS) for this vacancy. Applicants must already have the right to work in the UK without requiring sponsorship for this role.
Main duties of the job
The successful candidate will
- Plan and deliver meaningful individual and group activities, including arts and crafts, music, games, reminiscence therapy and gentle physical activities.
- Support patients with dementia, delirium and other complex physical or mental health needs, adapting activities to individual abilities and preferences.
- Work closely with nursing, therapy and wider multidisciplinary teams to identify patients who would benefit from additional engagement and support.
- Encourage activities that promote independence, mobility, emotional wellbeing and reduce deconditioning during hospital stays.
- Support positive mealtime experiences and nutritional engagement alongside nursing staff, within the boundaries of the role.
- Provide companionship, reassurance and meaningful distraction to reduce isolation and improve patient experience.
- Liaise with patients and families to understand personal interests and preferences, including completing 'This is Me' documentation.
- Organise group activities and social opportunities to create a positive and stimulating ward environment.
- Work alongside the existing Activities Co-ordinator to develop and expand activities across inpatient wards.
- Maintain records of patient engagement and gather feedback to support service improvement.
About us
Bristol NHS Foundation Trust brings together more than 28,000 staff to deliver over 160 clinical services across thirteen hospital locations,operatingfrom three main sites at Southmead, Bristol citycentreand Weston.
With an annual turnover of £2.3 billion, we are now one of the largest NHS trusts in the United Kingdom. Our hospitals are spread across Bristol and Weston, join us and you can enjoy the very best of both worlds; city living within a stone's throw of the countryside or beside the seaside, both with easy access to all that theSouth Westhas to offer. Bristol NHS Foundation Trust values all people as individuals. As an equal opportunities employer actively working towards a diverse workforce we aim to recruit and retaina workforce whichrepresentsthe rich diversity of the local population at all levels and are committed to designing our services around the needs of individual patients and those around them. Anonymous information will be used from your application in order to ensure we're meeting our pledge.
Job description
Job responsibilities
For a more detailed job description and main responsibilities, please refer to the job description document attached to this vacancy.
Person Specification
Qualifications
Essential
- Qualification to level 3 or equivalent experience in relevant subject.
- GCSE English or equivalent qualification
- GCSE Maths or equivalent qualification
Desirable
- Qualifications in exercise, complementary therapies etc.
Experience
Essential
- Experience delivering social and recreational activities to groups and individuals
- Experience working effectively as part of a team
Desirable
- Experience working with people with cognitive, physical or learning disabilities
- Previous NHS experience
Skills and Abilities
Essential
- Understanding of the needs of older patients, including those living with dementia or experiencing delirium
- Practical or creative activity skills, e.g. arts, crafts, music, cookery or horticulture
- Effective verbal and written communication and basic IT
- Ability to maintain clear electronic activity records
- Good organisation, time management and prioritisation skills
- Ability to work independently, use initiative and adapt to changing patient needs
Disclosure and Barring Service Check
This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.
Employer details
Employer name
Bristol NHS Foundation Trust
Address
Weston General Hospital
Grange Road, Uphill
Weston-Super-Mare
BS23 4TQ
United Kingdom
Employer's website
https://www.uhbw.nhs.uk/ (Opens in a new tab)