Job summary
Band 2 Health Care Assistant HCA
Macmillan Brook Unit - Ward 21 - Full time position
Firstly a bit about us ....
Ward 21 is a medical ward specialising in blood disorders, blood cancers and solid tumour cancers; providing high quality compassionate care to our patients.
An exciting opportunity has arisen for a Healthcare Assistant to join our team on ward 21 at Queen Elizabeth Hospital.
We are seeking a caring and compassionate person who is dynamic, patient centred, hardworking and enthusiastic. The ideal candidate will have healthcare experience in a variety of care settings and will have current knowledge and skills.
Excellent communication skills and good IT skills are essential, together with a commitment to developing innovative ways of delivering integrated services. You must have effective time management, good organisational and interpersonal skills.
As an HCA you will play an integral part of a Ward 21 team working and learning from other colleagues within the multidisciplinary team. On occasion there may be a requirement to support the chemotherapy day unit or outpatient area within Macmillan Brook Unit as part of the HCA role.The HCA position is a full-time permanent position. So, if this is the field of nursing that you aspire to work in, this will be the ideal opportunity to develop your skills in cancer care and join our committed team on Ward 21.
Main duties of the job
- To assist and support the Macmillan Brook Unit Ward 21 staff in the safe, effective delivery of inpatient care.
- To work as part of the multidisciplinary ward team undertaking duties in relation to patient care and a full range of support functions including clerical duties.
- The post holder will undertake delegated, supervised work and duties assigned by a Registered Nurse as appropriate, ensuring that there is continual feedback to the Registered nurse about the patient's condition.
- The post holder will undertake the delivery of quality patient care to meet their physical, psychological and social needs maintaining privacy and dignity at all times
About us
Lewisham and Greenwich NHS Trust is a new organisation formed following the merger of Lewisham Healthcare NHS Trust and Queen Elizabeth Hospital Greenwich in October 2013By joining us now, you can play a role in shaping our organisation that continues to put patients first. Whatever the challenges ahead, we're prepared to face them as a team.
Our Vision is to work together to provide high-quality care for every patient, every day.
We treat everyone with respect and compassion
We work as a team to improve quality
We take responsibility for our actions
We work together for patients and colleagues
We learn, develop and share knowledge.
Job description
Job responsibilities
Post Title: Health Care Assistant
Department: Macmillan Brook Unit Ward 21, Allied Clinical services
Responsible to: Matron Cancer Services/Lead Nurse Chemotherapy
Grade: Band 2
Hours: 37.5 hours per week
Job Summary:
- To assist and support the Macmillan Brook Unit Ward 21 staff in the safe, effective delivery of inpatient care. To work as part of the multidisciplinary ward team undertaking duties in relation to patient care and a full range of support functions including clerical duties.
- The post holder will undertake delegated, supervised work and duties assigned by a Registered Nurse as appropriate, ensuring that there is continual feedback to the Registered nurse about the patients condition.
- The post holder will undertake the delivery of quality patient care to meet their physical, psychological and social needs maintaining privacy and dignity at all times.
Communications and Relationships:
- To be approachable and able to present him/herself in an effective, polite and helpful manner at all times.
- Orientate and welcome patients, visitors, relatives and new staff to the area.
- To answer the telephone, deal politely and appropriately with all callers and transmit messages accurately to staff, patients and colleagues.
- To be aware that any information regarding any patient is private and confidential and must remain so.
- To communicate effectively with patients, relatives, visitors and all members of the multidisciplinary team as directed by the Registered nurse.
- To work with the ward staff in addressing patients nutritional needs
- Ensure that complaints and problems are dealt with in the first instance and reported to the nurse in charge.
- Participate in self development in keeping with the Trusts individual performance review system.
Key Result areas:
Hygiene
In accordance with the individual care plan, support patients to meet personal hygiene and dressing needs by:
- Assisting patients with undertaking a bed bath, shower or bath.
- Assisting patient with undertaking dressing.
- Assisting patients with / undertaking the cleaning of teeth / dentures
- Offering regular mouth care particularly for those patients who are nil by mouth.
- Assisting patients with / undertaking the cleaning of hair and nails (finger and toe nails)
- Assisting patients with / undertaking eye care
- Removal, cleaning and re-insertion of prosthesis
Mobility
In accordance with the individuals ability support patients to meet their mobility needs and prevent the hazards of immobility by:
- Encouraging mobility and exercise where appropriate
- Provide supervision and assistance where necessary to assist patient mobility
- Ensure the correct equipment is readily available used by patients when mobilising
- Encouraging deep breathing where appropriate
- Positioning the patient to aid effective breathing
- Promoting patient comfort by adding / removing pillows / blankets and regularly changing patients position to maintain skin integrity.
Nutrition
In accordance with the individual care plan, support patients to meet their nutritional needs by:
- Assisting patients to eat and drink, ensuring that food is presented to encourage independence.
- Feeding patients as appropriate
- Monitoring, recording and maintain food and fluid intake record charts as directed
- Giving nutritional supplements as instructed, encouraging patients on an individual basis.
- To undertake the role of early morning and late evening drinks round in the absence of the Ward/Department Hostess.
Elimination
In accordance with the individuals needs, support patients to meet their elimination needs by:
- Assisting patients to use the appropriate toilet facilities regularly.
- Changing clothing if patient is incontinent.
- Performing / assisting the patient to perform catheter care, stoma site care.
- Applying penile sheaths as necessary to maintain patients skin integrity.
Maintaining a safe environment
Contribute to the provision of a safe environment for patients by:
- Ensuring ward / departmental equipment is cleaned and well maintained and report any repairs required in line with Trust policy.
- Adhering to any patient isolation requirements
- Safely disposing of blood and blood products, and sharps
- Cleaning up spillages, washing beds/tables/lockers/chairs in the absence of the ward /department domestic and between patients.
- Contribute to the resuscitation of a patient that is administering basic CPR following appropriate training.
Communication
Support effective communication by:
- Answering telephone and personal enquiries in a clear, polite and professional manner, taking messages and referring call or enquiries as appropriate, ensuring strict confidentiality at all times in line with trust policy.
- Participating in meetings as required.
- Supporting the transfer of patients to other wards and departments with the appropriate documentation.
- Communication with patients about the times of tests appointments.
- Preparation of medical notes for outpatient appointment, in line with trust policy, as and when provided.
- Provide clear verbal updates to members of the multi-disciplinary team relating to patient care.
Intravenous Therapy and Wound Care
In accordance with the individual care plan, support patients who are undergoing intravenous therapy or wound care by:
- General observation of an infusion site (peripheral, central and subcutaneous), reporting findings.
- Performing simple wound dressings that are non aseptic.
Contribute to the assessment of a patient by undertaking the following observations and recording/reporting findings to the registered nurse:
- Temperature
- Pulse
- Blood Pressure manual and electronic
- Respirations
- Peak Expiratory flow rate
- Oxygen saturation levels
- Check and use trust blood glucose monitoring equipment to measure and record patients blood sugar following appropriate training.
- Weighing patients
Contribute to the registered Nurse/Midwifes Assessment of a patient by undertaking the following assessment and reporting findings to the registered Nurse:
- Undertake patient at risk observations and scoring
- Undertake mouth care assessment
- Undertake nutritional scoring
- Undertake Waterlow scoring
- Undertake falls assessment
- Undertake moving and handling assessment
- MRSA Screening
Contribute to the registered Nurse/Midwifes assessment of a patient by undertaking the following tests and reporting findings to the registered Nurse/Midwife.
- Undertake urinalysis
- Obtain Mid Stream Urine specimens and Catheter Specimens of Urine
- Undertake Pregnancy testing (urine only) and report findings
- Collect specimens via invasive swabs as and when requested by a registered nurse/midwife/AHP; i.e., urine, faeces, sputum and wound. Pack and label same.
Ward Administration Housekeeping
Support the general day to day administration of the ward by:
- Putting away linen and stock items when delivered to the area.
- Reporting and recording any potential hazards and equipment repairs.
- Caring for patients property and clothing particularly dentures, hearing aids and glasses.
Personal
- Maintain confidentiality at all times
- Attend mandatory study sessions and training associated with the maintenance of the skills and knowledge required to fulfil the role.
- Participate in the staff appraisal process
- Provide a safe environment for the safety and welfare of patients, visitors and staff be ensuring compliance with:
- Health and Safety at Work Act
- Fire Prevention Management
- Infection Control procedures
- Risk Management
- COSHH
- Mandatory Training
Job description
Job responsibilities
Post Title: Health Care Assistant
Department: Macmillan Brook Unit Ward 21, Allied Clinical services
Responsible to: Matron Cancer Services/Lead Nurse Chemotherapy
Grade: Band 2
Hours: 37.5 hours per week
Job Summary:
- To assist and support the Macmillan Brook Unit Ward 21 staff in the safe, effective delivery of inpatient care. To work as part of the multidisciplinary ward team undertaking duties in relation to patient care and a full range of support functions including clerical duties.
- The post holder will undertake delegated, supervised work and duties assigned by a Registered Nurse as appropriate, ensuring that there is continual feedback to the Registered nurse about the patients condition.
- The post holder will undertake the delivery of quality patient care to meet their physical, psychological and social needs maintaining privacy and dignity at all times.
Communications and Relationships:
- To be approachable and able to present him/herself in an effective, polite and helpful manner at all times.
- Orientate and welcome patients, visitors, relatives and new staff to the area.
- To answer the telephone, deal politely and appropriately with all callers and transmit messages accurately to staff, patients and colleagues.
- To be aware that any information regarding any patient is private and confidential and must remain so.
- To communicate effectively with patients, relatives, visitors and all members of the multidisciplinary team as directed by the Registered nurse.
- To work with the ward staff in addressing patients nutritional needs
- Ensure that complaints and problems are dealt with in the first instance and reported to the nurse in charge.
- Participate in self development in keeping with the Trusts individual performance review system.
Key Result areas:
Hygiene
In accordance with the individual care plan, support patients to meet personal hygiene and dressing needs by:
- Assisting patients with undertaking a bed bath, shower or bath.
- Assisting patient with undertaking dressing.
- Assisting patients with / undertaking the cleaning of teeth / dentures
- Offering regular mouth care particularly for those patients who are nil by mouth.
- Assisting patients with / undertaking the cleaning of hair and nails (finger and toe nails)
- Assisting patients with / undertaking eye care
- Removal, cleaning and re-insertion of prosthesis
Mobility
In accordance with the individuals ability support patients to meet their mobility needs and prevent the hazards of immobility by:
- Encouraging mobility and exercise where appropriate
- Provide supervision and assistance where necessary to assist patient mobility
- Ensure the correct equipment is readily available used by patients when mobilising
- Encouraging deep breathing where appropriate
- Positioning the patient to aid effective breathing
- Promoting patient comfort by adding / removing pillows / blankets and regularly changing patients position to maintain skin integrity.
Nutrition
In accordance with the individual care plan, support patients to meet their nutritional needs by:
- Assisting patients to eat and drink, ensuring that food is presented to encourage independence.
- Feeding patients as appropriate
- Monitoring, recording and maintain food and fluid intake record charts as directed
- Giving nutritional supplements as instructed, encouraging patients on an individual basis.
- To undertake the role of early morning and late evening drinks round in the absence of the Ward/Department Hostess.
Elimination
In accordance with the individuals needs, support patients to meet their elimination needs by:
- Assisting patients to use the appropriate toilet facilities regularly.
- Changing clothing if patient is incontinent.
- Performing / assisting the patient to perform catheter care, stoma site care.
- Applying penile sheaths as necessary to maintain patients skin integrity.
Maintaining a safe environment
Contribute to the provision of a safe environment for patients by:
- Ensuring ward / departmental equipment is cleaned and well maintained and report any repairs required in line with Trust policy.
- Adhering to any patient isolation requirements
- Safely disposing of blood and blood products, and sharps
- Cleaning up spillages, washing beds/tables/lockers/chairs in the absence of the ward /department domestic and between patients.
- Contribute to the resuscitation of a patient that is administering basic CPR following appropriate training.
Communication
Support effective communication by:
- Answering telephone and personal enquiries in a clear, polite and professional manner, taking messages and referring call or enquiries as appropriate, ensuring strict confidentiality at all times in line with trust policy.
- Participating in meetings as required.
- Supporting the transfer of patients to other wards and departments with the appropriate documentation.
- Communication with patients about the times of tests appointments.
- Preparation of medical notes for outpatient appointment, in line with trust policy, as and when provided.
- Provide clear verbal updates to members of the multi-disciplinary team relating to patient care.
Intravenous Therapy and Wound Care
In accordance with the individual care plan, support patients who are undergoing intravenous therapy or wound care by:
- General observation of an infusion site (peripheral, central and subcutaneous), reporting findings.
- Performing simple wound dressings that are non aseptic.
Contribute to the assessment of a patient by undertaking the following observations and recording/reporting findings to the registered nurse:
- Temperature
- Pulse
- Blood Pressure manual and electronic
- Respirations
- Peak Expiratory flow rate
- Oxygen saturation levels
- Check and use trust blood glucose monitoring equipment to measure and record patients blood sugar following appropriate training.
- Weighing patients
Contribute to the registered Nurse/Midwifes Assessment of a patient by undertaking the following assessment and reporting findings to the registered Nurse:
- Undertake patient at risk observations and scoring
- Undertake mouth care assessment
- Undertake nutritional scoring
- Undertake Waterlow scoring
- Undertake falls assessment
- Undertake moving and handling assessment
- MRSA Screening
Contribute to the registered Nurse/Midwifes assessment of a patient by undertaking the following tests and reporting findings to the registered Nurse/Midwife.
- Undertake urinalysis
- Obtain Mid Stream Urine specimens and Catheter Specimens of Urine
- Undertake Pregnancy testing (urine only) and report findings
- Collect specimens via invasive swabs as and when requested by a registered nurse/midwife/AHP; i.e., urine, faeces, sputum and wound. Pack and label same.
Ward Administration Housekeeping
Support the general day to day administration of the ward by:
- Putting away linen and stock items when delivered to the area.
- Reporting and recording any potential hazards and equipment repairs.
- Caring for patients property and clothing particularly dentures, hearing aids and glasses.
Personal
- Maintain confidentiality at all times
- Attend mandatory study sessions and training associated with the maintenance of the skills and knowledge required to fulfil the role.
- Participate in the staff appraisal process
- Provide a safe environment for the safety and welfare of patients, visitors and staff be ensuring compliance with:
- Health and Safety at Work Act
- Fire Prevention Management
- Infection Control procedures
- Risk Management
- COSHH
- Mandatory Training
Person Specification
Qualifications and Training
Essential
- Minimum GCSE in Maths and English or equivalent.
Experience
Essential
- Experience of dealing with the general public.
Desirable
- Experience of working in a health care environment.
Person Specification
Qualifications and Training
Essential
- Minimum GCSE in Maths and English or equivalent.
Experience
Essential
- Experience of dealing with the general public.
Desirable
- Experience of working in a health care environment.
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).
