Healthcare Assistant

Job responsibilities

Responsibility for People Management

To be involved in the continued development of the Senior Health Care Assistant role and other Health Care Assistants

To provide guidance and support to junior staff or students

To provide supervision/mentorship to Health Care Assistants as required.

To receive line management support

Responsibility for financial and/or physical resources

The post holder will have no direct responsibility for finances; however, they will adhere to the relevant trust policies on financial issues.

The post holder will use Livewell Southwest resources responsibly.

Responsibility for administration

To ensure competencies in record keeping.

Report any changes in the patients condition or care needs to the supervising trained nurse and / or relevant therapist and document accordingly.

Maintain accurate and complete patient records in accordance with organisational guidelines.

Maintain confidentiality of information being aware of Livewells policies and local protocols and keeping up-to-date with changes.

To access email and other information through Livewell Southwest intranet.

Responsibility for people who use our services.

Support peoples care through provision of key skills including emotional and spiritual care, positioning, communication, tissue viability, oral and personal hygiene, and nutritional awareness.

Assist people to achieve their optimal level in their physical health care maintaining their comfort and dignity at all times.

To support patients to identify and overcome fears within a relationship of empathy and trust.

To monitor mental health of service users and report changes to qualified staff so that the care plan can be kept fully up to date. Be aware of fluctuations in mental health. To work with patients and carers to work towards recovery.

The post holder will promote better mental health by acting as a suitable role model.

The post holder is required to comply with all infection prevention and control policies and guidance, attend relevant updates and report issues of concern to their immediate line manager (if no action or explanation received, then it is the individuals responsibility to escalate to Director of Operations/Chief Executive Office.

Be able to respond effectively to any concerns of abuse and know procedures they need to follow to escalate their concerns.

To participate in, support and maintain positive interventions and planned activity programmes to improve the persons quality of life. To record contacts, interventions and observations on the electronic record systems.

Contribute to the assessment, planning, implementing, and evaluating care to patients. This to include participation in case review and assessment for admission / discharge process.

Escort patients to other wards / departments or other areas designated by trained staff, which may include the community settings.

Record and manage patients property.

Responsibility for implementation of policy and/or service developments

To comply with Livewell southwest policies and procedures relevant to the role.

This will include adherence to Uniform & Dress Code Policy when worn.

To report any observed incident of unprofessional behaviour, accidents/incidents, untoward occurrences, or faulty equipment.

To participate professionally in service development and proposed service changes

Comply with universal infection control precautions and procedures.

To behave in a manner which does not bring Livewell Southwest into disrepute.

To complete all Mandatory training and other training pertinent to the role, as agreed by line manager.

Other Responsibilities

The post holder will be aware of and work within their own limits, and competencies.

Be punctual for work and conduct themselves in a professional manner in accordance with Livewell southwest policies.

To participate in induction and support programmes in relation to new staff and volunteers as directed by the nurse.

To actively engage in clinical supervision both as a supervisor and supervisee if appropriate. In line with local guidelines review, reflect and develop own practice and performance through effective use of professional and operational supervision and appraisal.

To demonstrate ongoing personal and professional development through participation in internal and external development opportunities, reflecting and recording learning outcomes in a professional portfolio. This would include support groups and induction opportunities.

To know how to report accidents and untoward incidents and to do so promptly.

COMMUNICATIONS AND RELATIONSHIPS

To act as an ambassador for Livewell with external agencies and partner organisations.

Always address staff, patients and members of the public in a polite and respectful manner either in person or on the telephone.

Be conversant with and comply with all relevant organisational protocols and policies and have valid organisational IT access.

Compassionate, caring and kind in their practice.

De-escalation skills

To support the team in promoting a recovery orientated environment by identifying recovery focused activities and imparting information and education as required.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS OF THE JOB

The post holder will be competent in computer skills

The post holder may be exposed to some working conditions including exposure to vomit, sputum and body fluids.

The post holder will be expected to travel around Plymouth in the course of their duties as appropriate whether working ward or community based.

To undertake and be competent in physical intervention and breakaway training

Shift work including night shifts if working in a ward-based scenario.

The post holder will be exposed to a working environment that is challenging because of systems and procedures that are in place to protect patients and staff. The post holder may be exposed to the risk of physical assault and injury and will have to carry an alarm with them at all times and work within the constraints of the safety procedures in the unit or community-based area (clients homes).

The post holder may be exposed to emotionally distressing situations on a frequent basis as some people with mental illness have physical disabilities and complex health needs. These include challenging and unpredictable behaviour and learning disability issues. Also there is a need to develop rapport and effective therapeutic working in a pressured environment with a high turnover of patients whose needs are many and varied.

Emotional and mental resilience

Qualifications

Essential

• NVQ level 3, QCF level 3 in Health and Social care or equivalent experience or qualification.
• Care certificate
• Other evidence of training or development relevant to working within mental health settings.
• Ability to participate in activities with patients
• Ability to contribute to the process of and the delivery of high standard of care as planned in care programme

Desirable

• Vocational Qualification Level II or able to demonstrate the skills, knowledge and ability to work to that level
• Other evidence of training or development relevant to working within mental health settings

Experience

Essential

• Experience of one year in a Mental Health setting
• Band 2 level or equivalent or
• Band 3 level or equivalent
• Awareness of vulnerable adult / protection issues and guidance
• Recent experience of working in a care setting
• Team working
• Clinical governance
• Ability to work with minimum of supervision
• To undertake baseline physical observations
• Evidence of continuing professional development

Desirable

• Experience of variety of Mental Health settings
• Previous experience working in a multidisciplinary team.
• Working within an NHS setting
• Experience of actively supporting individuals to identify and work towards achieving personal goals in a related social care or health setting

Knowledge

Essential

• Knowledge of mental health Knowledge of a range of therapeutic approaches and application to people with a learning disability/mental health problems
• Awareness of safeguarding principles
• Basic IT skills
• A basic understanding of physical health presentation
• Good communication and listening skills
• Continual assessment of patient
• Organisational skills
• Problem solving skills
• An awareness to maintain professional Boundaries
• Awareness of own limits and boundaries in relation to own job role
• Good written communication
• Sensitive understanding of diversity issues and ability to promote anti-discriminatory practice/ equal opportunities
• Resilience
• Willingness to positively share your own life experiences, personal experiences of your own ill health with service users and carers.
• Ability to problem solve and create innovative solutions to help empower patients and carers
• .
• Demonstrates an empathy of people

Desirable

• Has the ability to provide supervision / mentoring to junior staff
• Knowledge of government initiatives that shape mental health practice
• Willingness to undertake training in relation to required skills
• Knowledge of the triangle of care
• Knowledge of CPA

Skills

Essential

• Demonstrate effective communication skills with a range of people in various situations where there may be barriers in understanding for clients/carers
• Ability to engage patients in activities off the Unit
• Ability to manage time and plan work.
• To complete clinical records
• To take leadership and direction from qualified staff
• To participate in unsupervised tasks and provide accurate feedback to relevant parties.
• Ability to work in a team effectively
• Should have ability to demonstrate basic IT skills
• Awareness of personal safety
• Able to work in challenging and unpredictable environmental conditions alone and with others effectively managing dynamic risks of our individual patient group.
• Physical Intervention in a ward environment
• Care plans and risk assessments
• Confidentiality
• De-escalation skills
• Motivated
• Compassionate
• Empathetic
• Reliable
• Confidence in dealing with patients
• Ability to work in stressful conditions
• Ability to work as part of a team

Desirable

• Current driving licence
• Flexible approach to working arrangements

Other requirements

Essential

• Friendly and caring manner
• Approachable
• An appreciation of working with a wide age group of clients
• Flexible approach
• To work rotational shift pattern over 24 hours

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.

Certificate of Sponsorship

Applications from job seekers who require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website (Opens in a new tab).

From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants, applying for entry clearance into the UK, have had to present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Adult dependants (over 18 years old) are also subject to this requirement. Guidance can be found here Criminal records checks for overseas applicants (Opens in a new tab).