Stroke Services Coordinator. Chest, Heart and Stroke

Job/Role Summary

This post is part funded by HPSS Trust and Chest, Heart and Stroke

• Information support for carers/clients
• Liaison with hospital and community staff
• Provision of information to community groups about lifestyle and healthy living
• Assessing and referral of all stroke clients to a suitable programme of rehabilitation
• Provision of support to group coordinator
• Liaison with community stroke groups.

Specific qualifications and experience required

• Medical/Nursing background an advantage but not essential
• Evidence of good communication skills
• Evidence of networking
• The ability to work on your own initiative
• Evidence of an ability to share ideas with other team members/clients and volunteers.

Career Milestones

My experience as a registered nurse gave me the underpinning knowledge and thus confidence to lead the project to develop the Volunteer Stroke Scheme (VSS) which has now developed into a Family Support Service for clients who have had a stroke. Initially the role of VSS Co-ordinator was challenging as it required me to develop my communication and networking skills very quickly. As this was a new service, I had to articulate my vision for the service to both healthcare professionals and the families of stroke patients in order to gain referrals to the service. I also had to develop literature to inform people about the service. I changed from working within a team environment to working on my own, developing my own objectives. The skills I feel this role has helped me develop include; Communication skills both written and verbal, developing promotion literature, speaking to community groups, multi-professional meetings, using local media and fund-raising initiatives. I have learned to work and network with representatives from both multi professional and multi-agency groups whilst providing support and help to patients and their families.

What attracted you to this job?

• Background of working with clients with stroke – I wanted to gain experience working in the community
• Better work/life balance
• Opportunity to establish and develop a Volunteer Stroke Scheme which I felt would be an interesting and challenging opportunity to use my own initiative
• Opportunity to work from home, be self-managing yet have the vision for how this service could be developed

Enjoyable aspects of the job/role

• The variety of work and flexibility, particularly as I am able to use my own initiative
• Involvement in supporting clients
• The Health Promotion aspect where I have to opportunity to educate the public and raise awareness of issues related to my field of work within Chest, Heart and Stroke.

Important success factors

• Having a supportive line manager
• Having a good relationship with other healthcare colleagues
• The freedom to work on my own initiative.

Advice for those considering the type of job/role?

You should be willing to have a go at this if you enjoy the challenge of developing new services or engaging in projects. You should have the confidence to believe in your ability but network to build your contacts and maintain these relationships to provide you with support as you will be working largely on your own. You will need to be sensitive to manage the patient’s expectations of recovery. You will need skills in communication but also skills in listening to others. If you feel something will work, then try it.

Key skills that can be gained within this job/role?

• Communication skills
• Negotiation skills
• How to manage my own time effectively and manage a budget
• Confidence in my own ability and working with families
• Development of the ability to see things from a wider perspective ‘see the bigger picture’
• Skills in working with people such as listening skills and empathy
• Skills in assessing the support needs of families e.g. support through care management, support through home adaptations
• Skills in communicating with Social Security to validate DLA applications
• Skills in helping clients with establishing questions to ask their GP.

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