Neighbourhood Nurse Senior Health Care Assistant

Job responsibilities

Duties and Responsibilities

You will be responsible for the provision of care to a defined group of patients and contributing to discussions with colleagues to manage your patients and the good functioning of the team. As there is no hierarchy within the team, you will self-organise as a team to ensure all local management duties are undertaken effectively with support from a Nurse Coach Manager.

Clinical Duties

• Provide excellent customer care skills to ensure patients come first.
• Undertakes a range of delegated clinical care duties to deliver agreed plans of care, acting on own initiative.
• To ensure that patients receive high quality clinical care and a good patient experience, having regard for their customs, religious beliefs and doctrines.
• Recognise and avoid situations that may be detrimental to the health and wellbeing of the individuals.
• To act as an advocate for patients within the department, to ensure a patient orientated approach to the delivery of care and to meet standards within the NHS Plan and other relevant guidelines.
• Provides support and assistance to professionals in the implementation of plans of care for individual patients.
• Assist with fluid and dietary needs of patients including recording intake and output of fluids and solids if needed.
• As directed to collect specimens from patients and to record routine observations of weight, blood pressure, temperature, pulse, respiratory rate. Report any abnormalities and concerns to a Registered Nurse.
• Recognise when patients are in pain and discomfort and report to nurse in charge.
• To undertake venepuncture/cannulation.

Under the direction of trained staff maintain and develop own skills including:

• Monitoring and recording of vital signs to include blood pressure, temperature, pulse, respirations, sats and compiling a NEWS2 score and escalating accordingly.
• Administering insulin and helping patients manage their diabetes.
• Simple, aseptic and clean technique dressings.
• Catheter and continence care and management.
• Supporting patients with oral and other medication.
• Monitoring and recording of blood glucose levels.
• With guidance, study and supervision gain extra clinical skills as required.
• To respond appropriately to clinical emergencies to ensure the patient receives appropriate care.
• To assist the Registered Nurse with the safe handling and mobilisation of patients.
• Provide reassurance, support to patients, carers and family.
• Ensure own actions help to maintain quality.
• To respond to patient requests for non-clinical information to improve communication.
• Establish and maintain communication with people on routine and operational matters.
• To act always in a manner which, promotes positive working relationships and maintains the professional image of the Trust.
• Understand and adhere to all Trust polices, guidelines and procedures in particular, Health and Safety, Fire Safety, Waste Management and Resuscitation policies to maintain a safe working environment for patients and staff.

Staffing

With support from registered nurses:

• Contribute ideas and solutions with rest of the team on day-to-day co-ordination of workload and provision of patient care.
• Discuss with qualified staff the staffing level requirements to aid them in decision making.
• Participate in recruitment and interviews to ensure you are comfortable with the choices of team members to join the team.
• Undertake as a team the process of continuous performance review, highlight to qualified team members where you have seen practice below expected standards and document.
• Give and receive feedback in relation to practice, skills, competence and team-working.
• Contribute to the investigation of complaints and incidences as required to give details to aid the staff investigating.
• To actively implement learning from complaints / incidences.
• To ensure Health and Safety and Risk requirements are met.
• To assist in monitoring the quality of the Neighbourhood Nursing Service.
• Contribute to the development of quality measures.
• To maintain statistical and written records as required by the GSTT.
• Attend and participate in locality and GP meetings and with other teams as well as wider meetings across Health and Social Care.
• To be aware of and work with GSTTs Policies and Procedures.

Education and Development

With support from registered nurses:

• To participate in the learning programmes for students on community placements.
• To assist team members to facilitate the learning of other members of the team.
• To champion and actively participate in organisational learning and organisational change.
• To take responsibility for your own professional development.
• To participate in clinical supervision in accordance with community services within GSTT and neighbourhood nursing team.
• Act as mentor and/or co-mentor to students and junior staff.

Housekeeping and Clerical Duties

• Assist in the organisation and running of the area by undertaking housekeeping and clerical duties as appropriate.
• Take pride in the workplace in keeping it clean and tidy.
• To receive visitors in a hospitable manner to encourage good working relationships.
• Assisting the nursing staff with admissions and discharge procedures and ensuring that follow up appointments are scheduled and organised.

Health and Safety

Report and accidents or incidents to the nurse in charge and complete the appropriate reporting measures in line with Trust Policy.

• Reporting and recording any potential hazards and equipment repairs.
• Assist in the cleaning of clinical areas and equipment, ensuring that the area is clear of potential hazards, removing clinical waste and contaminated items to relevant collection areas.
• To assist in the maintenance of a safe and clean clinical environment to reduce the risk of infection.

Infection Control

• Accept personal responsibility and accountability for your infection prevention and control practice.
• Ensure that you are familiar with, and comply with, all relevant clinical and HR policies.
• Ensure that you receive mandatory updates in infection control.

Local Area Variation to Core Job Description

• To complete competencies specific to the post.
• This job description forms the basis of the healthcare assistants duties. You should be aware that there might be other specific assigned tasks relevant to a particular area of work.

Qualifications/ Education

Essential

• Evidence of general education e.g. GCSE's or equivalent.
• NVQ III in Health care or equivalent qualification in the area of speciality
• Phlebotomy qualification

Previous experience

Essential

• Previous experience of working as a healthcare assistant in a hospital, or registered care setting
• Experience of taking clinical observations
• Customer care experience

Desirable

• Experience of working in community

Skills/Knowledge/ Ability

Essential

• Knowledge of care and related procedures to area
• Clear and accurate written and verbal communication
• Excellent communication skills including written and verbal
• IT literate, able to use patient IT systems, email and mobile technology
• Ability to feedback to colleagues
• Good organisational skills
• Ability to interpret and analyse data and reports
• Ability to undertake venepuncture
• Proven ability to work within a team as well as on own initiative
• Able to listen effectively and demonstrate a sympathetic /sensitive approach, and be able to speak effectively to colleagues, staff and patients.
• Proven ability to understand and comply with detailed procedures and follow instructions.
• Demonstrate ability to manage priorities under pressure.
• Proven ability to adapt to new ideas, knowledge and skills.
• Demonstrate ability to use own initiative and work without close supervision
• Understanding of the requirements of patient confidentiality
• Punctual and reliable

Additional Information

Essential

• Manual handling of patients, using lifting aids
• Able and willing to work flexible shift patterns and unsocial hours, according to service and patient needs
• Physically able to travel to patient homes and meet the demands of the job

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).