Job summary
Are you looking for a role where you can make a real difference every day? Our Portering Department is at the heart of hospital life, running a vital 24/7 service across two large hospital sites. With a team of 126 dedicated staff, we support more than a million patient contacts each year--ensuring our staff, patients, and visitors receive a first-class experience from the moment they enter our doors.
At Guy's and St Thomas', we believe in delivering high-quality, personal care for everyone. That commitment shapes everything we do, and our porters play a key part in bringing it to life.
If you're passionate about helping others, thrive in a busy setting, and want to be part of a team that truly matters, we want to hear from you.
Please note:
- These positions are based at Guy's Hospital, St Thomas' Hospital, and various Community sites
- We are recruiting to a number of posts with a variation of working hours and site locations
Please be aware: Candidates will be required to work a variety of shifts, including covering annual leave and other staff absences. Flexibility with working hours is essential.
If your application is shortlisted, you'll be invited to attend an assessment and interview day on either 1 April or 2 April.
Apply today and help us keep Guy's and St Thomas' moving.
Main duties of the job
Your duties will include safely transporting patients, specimens, blood products, and gas cylinders throughout the hospital. You will also assist with the dignified transfer and preparation of bodies for viewing, along with other responsibilities appropriate to the role.
About us
Guy's and St Thomas' NHS Foundation Trust comprises five of the UK's best known hospitals - Guy's, St Thomas', Evelina London Children's Hospital, Royal Brompton and Harefield - as well as community services in Lambeth and Southwark, all with a long history of high quality care, clinical excellence, research and innovation.
We are among the UK's busiest, most successful foundation trusts. We provide specialist care for patients including heart and lung, cancer and renal services as well as a full range of local hospital and community services for people in Lambeth and Southwark.
We have a long tradition of clinical and scientific achievement and - as part of King's Health Partners - we are one of England's eight academic health sciences centres, bringing together world-class clinical services, teaching and research. We have one of the National Institute for Health Research's biomedical research centres, established with King's College London in 2007, as well as dedicated clinical research facilities.
We have around 22,700 staff, making us one of the largest NHS Trusts in the country and one of the biggest employers locally. We aim to reflect the diversity of the communities we serve and continue to develop new and existing partnerships with local people, patients, neighbouring NHS organisations, local authorities and charitable bodies and GPs.
Job description
Job responsibilities
- To maintain proper care and attention to patients at all times
- To communicate sensitively and courteously with patients, visitors and staff at all levels and at the same time deal with ongoing enquiries
- Use reassurance and persuasive skills to promote cooperation from patients and relatives during transfers and negotiate with patients to consent to attend clinics
- Use local knowledge and expertise of the built environment to ensure the safest and best patient experience during transfers and to maintain patient dignity at all times
- To manage and maintain patient dignity and to minimise distress, assure and assist during transfers
- To be responsible for transporting vulnerable, unwell patients to and from any Trust area/department/ward safely and securely
- To be responsible for the safe and efficient transfer of critically unwell patients from the intensive care units
- To assist in the physical transfer of patients between beds and trolleys, and support clinical staff with transferring patients
- Secure transportation of specimens from wards and departments to any Trust location(s), in addition to Pathology and the laboratories in accordance with policy and quality procedures (PID 03)
- Secure transportation of bloods to and from any Trust area / department / ward ensuring that cross reference is made against request form, blood book and blood component/product to meet blood collection legislation including collection and distribution of crash blood in line with legislation
- Safe transportation of medical gas cylinders and associated equipment for use throughout the Trust, following implicitly the set health & safety protocols. (PID 12)
- Transfer of beds, trolleys in line with quality document (PID 07) and other medical and non-medical equipment to any Trust location
- Safe transportation of medications and pharmaceuticals out of hours when the procurement/stores team no longer provide this service
- Safe transportation of patient meals when requested
- Preparing and cleaning patient trolleys in STH theatre and Cath. Lab. area on a daily basis
- Answer bleep for crash calls and Major Haemorrhage
- Removal and transfer of bodies including adults and children from any Trust location to the mortuary in a dignified and respectful manner including checking of jewellery at ward level in presence of a clinician for audit trail purposes and logging the deceased details on the mortuary refrigerator in line with quality documents (PID 04 and 05) and mortuary policy
- Prepare bodies including adults and children for viewing by relatives ensuring that deceased patient is suitable for viewing purposes in line with quality document (PID 06) and mortuary policy and where necessary assist the nurse when escorting relatives to the chapel of rest for viewing purposes
- To be responsible for delivering life-saving equipment to an arrest e.g. running heart defibrillators to any location within the hospital and to be on standby at cardiac arrests to collect and deliver anything required for the patient
- To monitor and report portering equipment for defects and cleanliness
- Utilise the trust EPIC smartphone system to receive work and to report on work in progress
- To carry out the cleaning of wheelchairs on a daily basis in accordance with the trust Infection Control policy
- To ensure that wheelchairs are gathered throughout the day and parked at the appropriate location
- To take corrective action when required adhere observed report defects and unsafe conditions
- Observe and adhere to all Trust policies and procedures
- Staff will attain all quality standards and systems laid down in the quality procedures
- To inform the Portering Team Leader/Supervisor of any delay on the ward / department and seek advice
- Staff will maintain the highest standards of courtesy and respect to patients, relatives and each other at all times
- Ensure the highest standards of personal hygiene and tidiness at all times, including the wearing of uniforms provided in line with the GSTT uniform policy
- To undertake training programmes at any time deemed appropriate by the Trust
- Staff will ensure that they have a current I.D. badge and that it is worn at all times in a prominent place while on duty
- Staff will refrain from alcohol and mood-altering substances, and must not, in any way be under the influence of alcohol or mood-altering substances whilst on duty
- Under no circumstances shall staff take any form of reward or remuneration from patients, escorts, relatives or anyone associated with the patient
- Staff will ensure that any complaints received are passed on promptly to the Portering Team Leader
- The post-holder will be expected to fulfil any duties allocated that are commensurate with the role
- To maintain the high standard of cleanliness in the mess room and locker room provided at all times
- To carry out the delivery of patient belongings from Surgical Admission Lounge (SAL) to the wards/departments in a secured trolley as per procedure and training
- Ensure that the handover of patient upon arriving to the clinic/department and wards are correctly followed in line with the trust protocol
Job description
Job responsibilities
- To maintain proper care and attention to patients at all times
- To communicate sensitively and courteously with patients, visitors and staff at all levels and at the same time deal with ongoing enquiries
- Use reassurance and persuasive skills to promote cooperation from patients and relatives during transfers and negotiate with patients to consent to attend clinics
- Use local knowledge and expertise of the built environment to ensure the safest and best patient experience during transfers and to maintain patient dignity at all times
- To manage and maintain patient dignity and to minimise distress, assure and assist during transfers
- To be responsible for transporting vulnerable, unwell patients to and from any Trust area/department/ward safely and securely
- To be responsible for the safe and efficient transfer of critically unwell patients from the intensive care units
- To assist in the physical transfer of patients between beds and trolleys, and support clinical staff with transferring patients
- Secure transportation of specimens from wards and departments to any Trust location(s), in addition to Pathology and the laboratories in accordance with policy and quality procedures (PID 03)
- Secure transportation of bloods to and from any Trust area / department / ward ensuring that cross reference is made against request form, blood book and blood component/product to meet blood collection legislation including collection and distribution of crash blood in line with legislation
- Safe transportation of medical gas cylinders and associated equipment for use throughout the Trust, following implicitly the set health & safety protocols. (PID 12)
- Transfer of beds, trolleys in line with quality document (PID 07) and other medical and non-medical equipment to any Trust location
- Safe transportation of medications and pharmaceuticals out of hours when the procurement/stores team no longer provide this service
- Safe transportation of patient meals when requested
- Preparing and cleaning patient trolleys in STH theatre and Cath. Lab. area on a daily basis
- Answer bleep for crash calls and Major Haemorrhage
- Removal and transfer of bodies including adults and children from any Trust location to the mortuary in a dignified and respectful manner including checking of jewellery at ward level in presence of a clinician for audit trail purposes and logging the deceased details on the mortuary refrigerator in line with quality documents (PID 04 and 05) and mortuary policy
- Prepare bodies including adults and children for viewing by relatives ensuring that deceased patient is suitable for viewing purposes in line with quality document (PID 06) and mortuary policy and where necessary assist the nurse when escorting relatives to the chapel of rest for viewing purposes
- To be responsible for delivering life-saving equipment to an arrest e.g. running heart defibrillators to any location within the hospital and to be on standby at cardiac arrests to collect and deliver anything required for the patient
- To monitor and report portering equipment for defects and cleanliness
- Utilise the trust EPIC smartphone system to receive work and to report on work in progress
- To carry out the cleaning of wheelchairs on a daily basis in accordance with the trust Infection Control policy
- To ensure that wheelchairs are gathered throughout the day and parked at the appropriate location
- To take corrective action when required adhere observed report defects and unsafe conditions
- Observe and adhere to all Trust policies and procedures
- Staff will attain all quality standards and systems laid down in the quality procedures
- To inform the Portering Team Leader/Supervisor of any delay on the ward / department and seek advice
- Staff will maintain the highest standards of courtesy and respect to patients, relatives and each other at all times
- Ensure the highest standards of personal hygiene and tidiness at all times, including the wearing of uniforms provided in line with the GSTT uniform policy
- To undertake training programmes at any time deemed appropriate by the Trust
- Staff will ensure that they have a current I.D. badge and that it is worn at all times in a prominent place while on duty
- Staff will refrain from alcohol and mood-altering substances, and must not, in any way be under the influence of alcohol or mood-altering substances whilst on duty
- Under no circumstances shall staff take any form of reward or remuneration from patients, escorts, relatives or anyone associated with the patient
- Staff will ensure that any complaints received are passed on promptly to the Portering Team Leader
- The post-holder will be expected to fulfil any duties allocated that are commensurate with the role
- To maintain the high standard of cleanliness in the mess room and locker room provided at all times
- To carry out the delivery of patient belongings from Surgical Admission Lounge (SAL) to the wards/departments in a secured trolley as per procedure and training
- Ensure that the handover of patient upon arriving to the clinic/department and wards are correctly followed in line with the trust protocol
Person Specification
Qualifications
Essential
- Able to take and record information accurately
Previous Experience
Essential
- Experience of working within a large team 100+.
- Experience working with the general public
Desirable
- Previous Portering experience
- Experience in a health care environment
Skills/Knowledge/ Ability
Essential
- Good command of the English language including oral & Written communication skills
- Excellent interpersonal skills
- Highly motivated
Physical requirements
Essential
- The ability to lift and move patients in line with manual handling training.
- The ability to stand/walk for extended periods of time.
Person Specification
Qualifications
Essential
- Able to take and record information accurately
Previous Experience
Essential
- Experience of working within a large team 100+.
- Experience working with the general public
Desirable
- Previous Portering experience
- Experience in a health care environment
Skills/Knowledge/ Ability
Essential
- Good command of the English language including oral & Written communication skills
- Excellent interpersonal skills
- Highly motivated
Physical requirements
Essential
- The ability to lift and move patients in line with manual handling training.
- The ability to stand/walk for extended periods of time.
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.
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).
Additional information
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.
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).
