About this role
Job summary
The Dementia and Frailty Enrichment Coordinator is a key member of the Countywide Trust Dementia Team, working under the direction and supervision of the Lead CNS. The post holder provides non clinical, therapeutic, and meaningful engagement for older patients and those living with dementia and or frailty, supporting wellbeing and improving the inpatient experience.
The role focuses on person centred activity, emotional reassurance, social interaction, and gentle functional engagement to reduce distress, boredom, delirium risk, and deconditioning during hospital admission. The post holder does not undertake independent clinical assessment or decision making and will escalate concerns to registered staff as appropriate.
Main duties of the job
As a Dementia and Frailty Enrichment Coordinator, you will play a vital role in improving the hospital experience for people living with dementia and or frailty. Working as part of the Trust Dementia Team, you will support patients through meaningful engagement, emotional reassurance, and person centred activities that promote wellbeing, orientation, and independence during hospital admission.
You will deliver individual and small group enrichment activities such as reminiscence, sensory engagement, music and creative therapies, helping to reduce distress, boredom, and delirium risk. You will also work closely with ward teams and families, sharing observations, encouraging involvement, and supporting personalised care through tools such as the About Me booklet.
The role includes supporting gentle movement, hydration, comfort, and dignity, particularly for vulnerable or end of life patients, alongside accurate documentation of patient engagement. This is a varied, hands on role for someone who is compassionate, adaptable, and motivated to make a positive difference to the lives of older people across the Trust.
About us
Worcestershire Acute Hospitals NHS Trust is a large acute and specialised hospital trust that provides a range of local acute services to the residents of Worcestershire and more specialised services to a larger population in Herefordshire and beyond.
The Trust operates hospital-based services from three sites in Kidderminster, Redditch and Worcester
Our workforce is more than 7,000 strong, and our caring staff are recognised as providing good and outstanding patient-centred care. You could be one of them.
We are committed to recruiting the best people to work with us. Our values, which we ask all staff to demonstrate, underpin our everyday work and remain firmly at the heart of all we do.
Being open and honest
Ensuring people feel cared for
Showing respect to everyone
We are committed to developing a culture of continuous improvement by embedding the principles of our Improvement System.
We are proud to have achieved Timewise accreditation - this means we are committed to embedding flexible working within our organisation as a flex positive employer.
DBS Checks and Costs
Any applicants who are offered posts requiring a DBS check as part of their employment check will have the cost of this check (at the current rate) deducted from their salary. Please see link in Supporting Information section for more details on DBS checks and costs.
Job description Job responsibilities
General Responsibilities
Actively contribute as a member of the Trust Dementia Team.
Carry out allocated tasks, as delegated by the Lead Dementia Clinical Nurse Specialist.
Participate in team meetings, service development work, and Trust dementia initiatives.
Work flexibly across wards, departments, and Trust sites in line with service needs.
Maintain professional boundaries and confidentiality at all times.
Patient Engagement and Enrichment
Deliver structured and spontaneous one to one and group activities that support cognitive stimulation, reminiscence and life story work, sensory engagement, and emotional comfort and reassurance.
Use personalised approaches informed by patient preferences, abilities, and life history.
Promote orientation through conversation, signage, calendars, clocks, and familiar cues.
Encourage hydration prompts, social interaction, and calm engagement to reduce delirium risk.
Support gentle movement and mobility friendly activities to maintain physical function.
Contribute to a calm, structured ward environment, minimising distress and overstimulation.
Use therapeutic interventions such as doll therapy, completing appropriate risk assessments to ensure safe and suitable use.
Use music therapy for reminiscence.
Promote art based therapies for creativity and expression.
Supporting Ward Teams and Families
Support nursing and multidisciplinary staff to engage patients in meaningful activity.
Communicate observed changes in mood, behaviour, or engagement to registered staff.
Support relatives and carers, encouraging their involvement in activities and reminiscence where appropriate.
Assist with completion of the About Me booklet, in partnership with patients and families.
Support patient dignity, privacy, and comfort at all times.
Aspects of Patient Care
Assist with safe mobilisation and positioning, under guidance.
Assist with occupational, physiotherapy, and recreational activities.
Support basic personal care activities, such as hair, mouth, and nail care.
Prepare and assist with beverages.
Assist in the care of patients in isolation.
Provide comfort measures for patients receiving end of life care, such as hand massage or taste for pleasure.
Documentation and Record Keeping
Accurately document all patient interactions using the Trusts Electronic Patient Record.
Ensure documentation is timely, factual, and reflects the patients engagement and response.
Health Safety and Infection Control
Maintain a safe environment for patients, staff, and visitors.
Adhere to Manual Handling, Health and Safety, and Infection Prevention policies.
Clean and maintain therapeutic resources and activity equipment, in line with Trust standards.
Participate in mandatory training and updates.
Professional Responsibilities
Work within own competence, and escalate concerns appropriately.
Maintain confidentiality, trust, and professionalism.
Actively contribute to risk management and incident reporting.
Promote safeguarding of adults at risk.
Uphold Trust values, equality, diversity, and dignity principles.
Person Specification
Experience Essential
Experience working with older people, people living with dementia, frailty, or cognitive impairment. Experience providing meaningful engagement, emotional support, or reassurance to vulnerable individuals. Experience of working as part of a multidisciplinary or support team. Experience of direct patient contact within a health, social care, or support setting.
Desirable
Experience delivering enrichment, activity, or therapeutic engagement, one to one or groups. Experience working within an acute hospital environment. Experience supporting families, carers, or visitors. Experience working flexibly across wards, departments, or sites.
Personal Qualities Essential
Compassionate, patient, and empathetic approach. Calm, resilient, and emotionally aware when working with distressed patients and families. Reliable, well organised, and flexible in response to service needs. Respectful of dignity, individuality, privacy, and choice. Strong commitment to person centred dementia and frailty care.
Desirable
Enthusiasm for dementia friendly practice and service development. Willingness to learn, reflect, and develop within the role.
Values, Governance and Professional Standards Essential
Commitment to Trust values and behaviours. Commitment to equality, diversity, and inclusion. Understanding of personal responsibility for health & safety and infection prevention. Commitment to safeguarding children and vulnerable adults. Ability to work within Trust policies, procedures, and codes of conduct.
Knowledge and Understanding Essential
Understanding of dementia, frailty, and the impact of hospital admission on older people. Knowledge of person centred care and dignity focused practice. Awareness of safeguarding responsibilities for vulnerable adults. Awareness of health & safety and infection prevention principles. Understanding of the emotional, psychological, and social needs of people living with dementia and frailty.
Desirable
Knowledge of delirium, hospital acquired functional decline HAFD, and deconditioning. Awareness of the Dementia and Delirium Care Bundle and About Me documentation. Basic understanding of the Mental Capacity Act and Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards, within role boundaries.
Qualifications Essential
Education to a good general standard. Good level of literacy and numeracy, with the ability to communicate effectively and accurately record information. NVQ Level 2 or Level 3 in Health & Social Care, or relevant field, or willingness to work towards this qualification within an agreed timeframe.
Desirable
Care Certificate. Dementia specific qualification or training. Training or qualifications relevant to wellbeing enrichment or therapeutic activity delivery.
Physical and Practical Requirements Essential
Ability to undertake light physical tasks associated with activities and patient engagement, in line with Moving and Handling training. Ability to work in environments where exposure to bodily fluids, noise, or distressed behaviour may occur. Ability to work flexibly across Trust sites and clinical areas.
Skills and Abilities Essential
Excellent interpersonal and communication skills. Ability to build rapport and provide calm, reassuring support to distressed patients. Ability to adapt communication to meet the needs of people with cognitive impairment. Ability to work independently within delegated responsibilities and clear boundaries. Ability to recognise changes in mood, behaviour, or engagement and escalate to registered staff appropriately. Ability to accurately document patient interactions using electronic patient records. Ability to maintain confidentiality and professional boundaries at all times.
Desirable
Ability to facilitate small group activities and structured engagement. Creative or practical skills relevant to enrichment, e.g. art, music, reminiscence, sensory activities. Confidence supporting gentle functional or mobility friendly activities under guidance.
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 Worcestershire Acute Hospitals NHS Trust
Address Charles Hastings Way
Worcester
Worcestershire
WR5 1DD
United Kingdom
Employer's website https://www.worcsacute.nhs.uk/ (Opens in a new tab)