Bilingual Healthcare Advocate

Advocate To ask for relevant information from the client before and during the consultation, to enable the Health Care Professional to make a full assessment of the clients health and social needs To relay to the Health Professionals any other issues raised by the client during the consultation, ensuring that the client receives the required support and is assisted in accessing other appropriate services, if necessary, via referral. To represent and interpret for patients in accordance with their needs and to contact the Health Professional on behalf of the client if necessary. To respond directly to clients queries, seeking out appropriate information for them from the appropriate agencies. To undertake joint home visits with Health Care Professionals to advocate for the client and to facilitate the consultation.
To carry out brief written translation, when it is part of communication with patients assisting the Health Professional. To advise Health Professionals about relevant community and cultural support groups this may be appropriate for the patient. To liaise with other services to ensure that patients attend their appointments. To empower patients to articulate their health needs in relation to health services explaining rights and entitlements.
Advocates should provide information and respect patient choices, as well as sign posting clients who wish to learn English to access language classes. To challenge discriminatory behaviour towards patients, communities and staff in a professional manner, informing the manager about any issues of concern and seeking advice about how to resolve them. If required, assist patients to raise their concerns and provide information about the complaints process. To initiate contact with local community groups to build links with communities and their representatives.
To provide information sessions for these groups about the availability of, and access to, health services. To assist with recruitment of bilingual workers in the services, testing language skills, as required. 1.15 To identify and refer to the Health Professionals any concerns arising from clinic sessions or home visits. Health promotion and clinical To organise and facilitate or assist other Health professionals in the setting up and facilitating health promotion events with community groups, e.g.
Diabetes awareness, Weaning, prevention obesity etc. To participate in Health Clinics, advising clients on aspects of childcare and child health under the supervision of the health visitor and School Health Nurses, following specific training. To contribute to the development of health promotion material that is evidence based and culturally appropriate, in collaboration with other colleagues. To review health promotion literature and audio-visual material for its appropriateness to the Tower Hamlets and Waltham Forest communities.
To disseminate educational materials and resources (e.g. videos, leaflets and posters) ensuring that all resources are accessible to local needs. To identify and refer to relevant parties any concerns arising from clinical settings and home visits such as adult or child protection or other health concerns. To provide advice to Health Care Professionals in relation to relevant communities and their cultural issues.
To participate in house training sessions for Health Professionals providing a perspective on working with particular cultural groups. To provide support for health screening and health protection campaigns, giving accurate information to clients, e.g. regarding breast and cervical screening, immunisation programmes, control of infectious diseases. To assist health care professionals with development, facilitation and provision of health education sessions for community groups.
To ensure that Advocates have the most recent health promotion and service information available during their contact with clients. To organise and run specific health promotion events at the request of Health Professionals and as guided by them. To undertake specific project work in relation to Health Care, in conjunction with the manager and health professionals. Clinical governance To have an awareness of identification of vulnerable children and adults who may be Subject to abuse, and to follow GP Care Group Child and Adult Protection procedures and guidelines, referring any concerns to the health care professional.
To participate in quality improvement e.g. through use of Essence of Care quality benchmarking and standards. To contribute to the provision of regular reports on the service, including activity, audit and evaluation. To report all untoward accidents or incidents promptly and, when necessary, co-operate with any investigation undertaken.
To consider clinical and non-clinical risk management in all day-to-day work, adhering to policies aimed at minimising risks. To have responsibility for the health, safety and welfare of self and others and to comply at all times with individual re