A care coordinator job is often the single most important role involved in the care of any patient. Supervising interdisciplinary care by bringing together the different specialists whose help the patient may need, the coordinator is also responsible for monitoring and evaluating the care delivered.
You'll find that educational requirements for the position vary depending on the care coordinator job description for each posting. A nursing degree is often needed but, in some cases, a degree in a related field, such as healthcare administration, will suffice and can take your career to the next level.
care coordinator job responsibilities
Given the wide remit of the job, a care coordinator’s responsibilities and regular duties can be quite varied. Each piece of work they do begins by meeting with the patient, kinship carers and other family members to discuss the needs of the individual, the services available to them and the help they want.
Following the meeting, the care coordinator will then draw up a care plan. Once this is created, they are responsible for contacting other care departments or agencies to ensure that services are delivered appropriately.
Some of the main day-to-day care coordinator responsibilities include:
- Developing care plans and rearranging them as necessary when difficulties arise
- Visiting patients, checking on the care they've received and documenting it accordingly
- Working with the care team to evaluate interventions and identify where and when further ones will be required
- Reading, attending workshops and liaising with professional bodies to stay abreast of developments in the field
As in other careers in this sector, care coordinator roles require interpersonal skills as well as adherence to best practices. This means having the ability to listen to patients and respect their rights while also ensuring they're following relevant laws and the standards of care are upheld.
Care coordinator responsibilities also extend to always ensuring the safety of team members too, so this is a diverse role with lots of opportunities to grow and develop.
typical working environments for care coordinator jobs
Care coordinators are needed across multiple fields and within several different working environments. They may be office-based and focused on providing care to elderly patients in the community or hospital-based and responsible for organising the care of people with a particular sort of health problem. Some care coordinators are based in specialist clinics where they are visited by patients instead of, or in addition to, visiting them at home.
the importance of the role
From the patient’s perspective, nobody is more highly valued than the care coordinator. They are their go-to person if their needs change or if something goes wrong with service delivery. Many elderly and disabled people have highly complex needs and would struggle to coordinate with all the relevant services directly. The care coordinator role relieves them of this burden and ensures there are no gaps in service provision.
Seamless service provision significantly decreases the risk of the patient deteriorating and thereby reduces the overall cost of care and the likelihood that additional interventions will be needed. At its best, this work enables a patient to recover some independence to the point where some interventions may no longer be needed. It's ultimately the care coordinator who can make this happen.
find your care coordinator role with randstad
If you're ready to tackle new challenges and change lives, we have several care coordinator roles that could be perfect for you.
When you choose Randstad to help you find your next job, you're choosing a company that cares about your future. We'll work with you to understand your needs and pair you with the companies we feel best fit your skills, experience and requirements.
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