Patient and Family Advisor

PHYLLIS TUCKWELL JOB DESCRIPTION POST

Patient and Family Advisor (Patient and

Family Services) Accountable to

Patient, Family, Carer Manager and

Safeguarding Lead Job purpose

The Patient and Family Services Team deliver emotional, social, and practical support to patients and their families facing life-limiting illness and bereavement. They work in conjunction with the Phyllis Tuckwell (PT) multi-disciplinary team, to facilitate the provision of high quality compassionate and holistic care. The role involves coordinating and delivering social care for patients with advanced illnesses and their families, either at home or in care settings. 1.0

Key Areas of Responsibility

1.1

Care Planning and Delivery

Develop and implement personalised care plans following best practices, focusing on advocacy, empowerment, and individual needs. Provide options for patients and carers affected by social, financial, or emotional challenges. Support patients and families in care planning, including guidance around sources of funding, care options, Lasting Power of Attorney (LPA), and wills. 1.2

Care Coordination and Advocacy

Advocate on behalf of patients to ensure their preferences are central to care decisions. Act as a link between Phyllis Tuckwell (PT) and external agencies like Local Authorities, NHS, and other organisations. Connect patients and families with other internal services and signpost to external organisations (mental health, housing, legal services). 1.3 Family and

Carer Support and Advice

Undertake holistic assessment and regular review of carer needs, exploring appropriate support options tailored to each situation.

Provide individualised 1

1 support to carers, including emotional support, practical guidance, care alternatives, and funding advice, while signposting to other relevant agencies or services. Support carers through key transitions in a patients care journey such as hospital discharge, changes in care setting, or changes in care needs, offering emotional reassurance, practical information, and coordination to help them navigate these changes with confidence. Deliver training sessions and guidance to families to equip them for the challenges of caring at the end of life. 1.4

Emotional and Psychosocial Support

Provide immediate crisis intervention and emotional support for patients and families during times of distress or uncertainty. Monitor emotional wellbeing throughout a patients journey, identifying distress early and offering timely support or referral to counselling / psychological services. 1.5 Support for Children, Young People, and

Families

Deliver age-appropriate support to children and young people experiencing anticipatory grief or bereavement. Facilitate group programs such as bereavement cafe or bereavement support groups for children and young people. Collaborate with schools, alongside the counselling team, to provide educational workshops and guidance on supporting bereaved students. 1.6

Team Collaboration

Work with multidisciplinary teams, including attendance to MDTs (multi-disciplinary meetings) and volunteers to reflect on and enhance patient care. 1.7

Community Engagement

Participate in local community initiatives to raise awareness of PT services. Build and maintain partnerships with external organisations (i.e. hospitals, schools, voluntary groups). 1.8

Safeguarding

Identify and escalate safeguarding concerns appropriately. Identify and escalate safeguarding concerns appropriately, in line with statutory guidance and organisational policy. Take a proactive approach to early intervention and prevention by recognising early signs of vulnerability, supporting individuals and families to navigate complex care situations, and helping to reduce risks before harm occurs. 1.9

Group Work

Lead and/or co-facilitate group work with patients and/or carers. 1.10

Diversity

Ensure sensitivity to cultural, ethnic, and religious backgrounds. 2.0

Managerial

2.1 Effective time and workload management. Adherence to PT) policies (especially around patient safety and governance). Appropriate escalation of concerns or risks. 3.0 Training and Development 3.1 Contribution to staff and volunteer training, and to a collaborative learning environment. Participation in activities to share good practice. Attendance to multi-disciplinary meetings both internal and external as and when necessary. Engaging in relevant training activities and keeping current with professional developments. Review and commitment to developing own learning needs through the appraisal process. 4.0 Research 4.1 To be aware of key developments in policy, research and practice, participating in research projects should opportunities present themselves. 4.2 To actively contribute and take part in any quality measuring systems that Phyllis Tuckwell is involved with, relating to patient care. 5.0 Safeguarding, Equality, Diversity and Inclusion 5.1 Role holders are required to ensure the safeguarding of vulnerable adults and that all legal requirements relating to Mental Capacity Act 2005, Mental Health Act 1983 (amended 2007), and Liberty Protection Safeguards (2020) are considered and adhered to in relation to patient care. 5.2 Phyllis Tuckwell is committed to equal opportunities and inclusivity, valuing and respecting everyone as individuals, with diverse opinions, cultures, lifestyles, and circumstances. This job description is underpinned by Phyllis Tuckwells philosophy, culture, and core values, which actively embrace diversity and inclusion, and promotes total team spirit. This job description is a broad reflection of current duties, but it is not exhaustive. It will be regularly reviewed to reflect priorities and developments during the year.