Healthcare Assistant (SMH Band 2) - IPU

Job description

Job responsibilities

To work under the direction of a registered nurse both independently and as part of a Multi-Disciplinary Team. You will support the nursing team in the delivery of direct patient care with the aim of providing high quality, holistic, palliative and end of life care to patients and their families

You will actively engage with colleagues, patients, patients families and carers, volunteers and visitors.

The post will involve internal rotation on day and night duty.

Clinical

Contribute to multi-professional working and support the nursing team in the delivery of patient care within the In-Patient Unit.

Anticipate and respond to changing patient needs whilst maintaining their independence, privacy and dignity.

Understand and promote infection control practices and policies.

Assist in the implementation and delivery of patient care under the supervision and direction of a qualified nurse.

Ensure the rights of patients are adhered and that care choices are consented to.

Assist, as necessary, to ensure the nutritional intake of a patient is maintained.

Following the patients care plan, observe patients condition and report observations / changes to a registered nurse.

Update relevant documentation as required (both paper and electronic records)

Provide support and information to patients, patients families or carers and to colleagues, as appropriate and within the boundaries of your role, skills and knowledge allows.

Be responsible and accountable for the standard of care given.

Follow guidelines for safe systems at work and nursing procedures and maintain a safe working environment.

Participate in and contribute to service development, evaluation and changes.

Learning and Development

Positively commit to annual staff appraisals and regular performance / competencies reviews to ensure personal professional development.

Participate in educational programmes and specifically attend teaching identified to meet your development aims and objectives.

Engage in reflective practice and assessment of professional competencies.

Completion of the Care Certificate programme provided by the Hospice within required timescales.

Undertake all statutory and mandatory training, as required.

Professional

Work to maintain the values, vision and aims of St. Michaels Hospice.

Practice and always promote patient confidentiality.

Maintain accurate and timely documentation.

Practice safely, within hospice policies, procedures and guidelines.

Demonstrate efficient time management and flexible attitude to working patterns.

Participate in agreed methods of off duty rota, working flexibly to provide a 24-hour, 7 day a week service for patients.

Work within the limits of your own competency and responsibility and refer areas that are outside of your competency to a registered nurse.

Participate in any necessary training and updates required for the role.

Treat everyone with respect and dignity.

Communication

Communicate effectively within your team, and the wider Multi-Disciplinary Team, the care needs of the patients and families within your workload.

Communicate respectfully in an open, accurate, straightforward and confidential way with colleagues across the organisation.

Verbally alert the nurse in charge to any urgent, sensitive matters, or matters outside your role and competency or escalate to the appropriate level, if appropriate.

General Responsibilities

Work to maintain the values, vision and aims of St. Michaels Hospice.

Additional Duties In discussion with the line manager to undertake work, as and when required, in support of St. Michaels Hospice as an organisation.

Public Relations To represent St. Michaels Hospice in the community and public domain, including social media, appropriately.

Undertake all statutory and mandatory training, as required.

To be conversant with and adhere to all St. Michaels Hospice Policies and Procedures.

Be responsible for upholding and promoting St. Michaels Hospice safeguarding policies, ensuring the safety and well-being of all individuals, and promptly reporting any concerns or incidents in accordance with established procedures.

This is an outline job description and may be subject to change, according to the needs of the service, in consultation with the post holder.

Take responsibility for own personal safety and of others whilst at work. You will take appropriate action or report any concerns to address any health and safety issues that you or members of your team may be aware of.

This job description is an outline of the role and responsibilities. From time to time, due to the needs of the service, we may ask you to flexibly undertake other duties that are consistent with your role and banding, including project work, internal job rotation and absence cover.

Person Specification

Qualifications

Essential

• Care Certificate or willingness to work towards it.
• NVQ level 2 or willingness to work towards it.

Experience

Essential

• Experience of working in health care environment.
• Experience of working effectively in a multi-disciplinary team.
• Understanding of the nature of palliative care.

Desirable

• Experience of working with end of life patients in a generalist or an acute environment.

Attitude, Aptitudes, Personal Characteristics

Essential

• Demonstrate a flexible and adaptable approach.
• Able to work as part of a team.
• Efficient time management.
• Respectful and supportive of all colleagues.
• Professional, friendly and positive nature.

Other requirements

Essential

• Be physically able to undertake all nursing duties and responsibilities.
• Able to undertake full internal rotation of shifts.

Skills, Knowledge, Abilities

Essential

• Good verbal and written communication skills.
• Basic IT skills.
• Able to take initiative.
• Be able to reflect upon knowledge and skills.
• Able to encourage and enhance performance in others.

Desirable

• Ability to measure and record blood pressure, oxygen saturation, temperature, pulse and monitor fluid balance and show understanding of these measurements. Escalate when necessary.
• Blood sugar monitoring under the guidance of a trained nurse.

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

St Michael's Hospice (North Hampshire)

Address

Basil de Ferranti House

Aldermaston Road

Basingstoke

Hampshire

RG24 9NB

Employer's website

https://www.stmichaelshospice.org.uk/ (Opens in a new tab)