Dermatology Health Care Assistant

Job description

Job responsibilities

Trust Vision & Values:

We expect all our staff to share the values that are important to the Trust, being Responsible, Respectful, Kind and Excellent, and to behave in a way that reflect these.

Main Duties/Key Results Areas:

Communication

Maintain accurate, legible, detailed and comprehensive records of all client care activities according to Trust policies and procedures and relevant professional/ clinical guidelines. Document and report any changes in observations to the appropriate interdisciplinary team member.

Ensure effective communication with clients and their carers, including the provision of health information about services where appropriate.

Act as an advocate, where appropriate, to represent client/carer needs/ views.

Adapt communication methods when working with people who may have communication difficulties and identify actions to overcome any problems with communication.

Establish and maintain effective communication with all interdisciplinary team members primary and secondary care services and across external agencies and services, where appropriate.

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Support other team members in the development of communication skills and in the level of knowledge concerning relevant policies and procedures.

Actively contribute to team meetings and with other members of the team.

Demonstrate competence in use of clinical IT systems used for patient care, email and word processing software.

Ensure confidentially at all times, only releasing confidential information obtained during the course of employment to those acting in an official capacity in accordance with the provisions of the Data Protection Act and its amendments.

Personal and people development

Reflect on and evaluate own practice, identifying personal learning requirements in order to improve the delivery of client care.

Provide an effective and competent role model for other HCAs, work experience students and student nurses, demonstrating appropriate skills, behaviours and attitudes.

Support and contribute to the development of new and current band 2 / 3 HCAs, support students and visiting staff.

Participate in the development and implementation of induction programmes for temporary and learner health care assistants, student nurses and visiting clinicians.

Participate in identifying the learning and training needs of Health Care Assistants within the department.

Discuss practice issues confidently to demonstrate competence.

Share experiences with colleagues to encourage sharing of learning and to promote good practice.

Assist in implementing effective learning and development opportunities for learners and other staff.

Actively participate in learning opportunities and feedback learning to others e.g. studies days, competency assessments.

Supervise health care assistants and unqualified staff in clinics that do not require the presence of a Registered Nurse.

Participate in and contribute to the supervision of self.

To ensure skills are up to date and relevant to the role, to follow relevant Trust policies and professional codes and to maintain registration where this is a requirement of the role.

Health, safety and security

Monitor, maintain and promote a safe work environment for patients, relatives and staff.

Identify health emergencies and act accordingly.

Support staff in monitoring, fitting of equipment and in observing safe practice.

Work within Health and Safety Guidelines.

Always comply with infection control procedures and guidelines.

Identify a safe workload and report areas of concern/ ask for advice appropriately.

Report all incidents and near misses according to Trust policy.

Ensure that cleanliness standards are maintained throughout period of duty for areas within your sphere of responsibility.

To have responsibility for the Health, Safety and Welfare of self and others and to always comply with the requirement of the Health and Safety Regulations.

Service Improvement

Reflect on and evaluate ones own practice to improve the delivery of patient care. Identify areas where practice could be changed.

Participate in service improvements and service evaluations.

Assist in and contribute to clinical governance issues/ audit, maintaining standards and the review of standards monitoring and assist other team members to do so.

Work within limits of own competence and according to legislation and relevant policies and procedures.

Prioritise and manage own workload to promote quality.

Use and maintain resources effectively.

Monitor quality of work and alert relevant team members to quality issues.

Take responsibility for individual clinics according to level of competency required.

Promote the equality, diversity and rights of patients and colleagues.

Health and wellbeing

Perform clinical skills following appropriate training, supervision and assessment of competency by a qualified nurse in the relevant areas e.g.

i. Preparing of Patch tests.

ii. Application of patch tests under supervision.

iii. Simple wound care/ dressings/ including redressing (not compression bandaging) as delegated by RN and under supervision.

iv. To safely apply topical coal tar , paste bandaging or dithranol dressings under supervision.

v. Can deliver Iontophoresis after period of training and reaching competency.

vi. Blood Glucose Monitoring.

vii. Measuring and monitoring the physical condition of patients.

viii. Observations blood pressure, pulse, skin integrity.

ix. Obtaining and testing various dermatological specimens.

x. Assisting with minor operative procedures either as scrub or assisting nurse.

Can perform venepuncture or undergone training (if applicable).

Actively develop new clinical skills and competencies relevant to the post.

Monitor and support the emotional well-being of the patients.

Demonstrate an appreciation of the patients illness/disease process, taking account of the individuals rehabilitation/continuing care requirements and their individual lifestyle and personal goals.

Promote a patients independence when providing care through observation, supervision, support or hands on assistance, where appropriate.

Evaluate the prescribed plan of care, in partnership with patient and their carers and report any changes to the Registered nurse.

Participate in medicines management under the direct instruction and supervision of registered nurses.

To work in accordance with the Trusts Equal Opportunities policy to eliminate unlawful discrimination in relation to employment and service delivery.

To undertake such duties as may be required from time to time as are consistent with the responsibilities of the grade and the needs of the service.

This job description is not an exhaustive document but reflects the current position. Details and emphasis may change in line with service needs after consultation with the post holder.

Person Specification

Qualifications and Training

Essential

• Evidence of training at NVQ Level 2
• Knowledge of relevant health/ nursing procedures and practice relevant to dermatology specialty
• Willing to undertake further relevant training & development

Desirable

• Foundation Degree level relevant to the post (level 6 HEI) with competency to practice or willingness to undergo foundation degree

Experience

Essential

• At least two years experience of working in outpatient setting.
• Has a flexible attitude to role and willing to adapt to meet service needs.
• Will be willing to undergone training to meet this role including assisting within minor surgery, iontophoresis and patch testing.

Desirable

• At Least two years proven experience within dermatology /relevant outpatients setting at band 2 or above

Skills

Essential

• Ability to work effectively with supervision of registered nurse.
• Able to communicate efficiently and effectively both verbally and in writing.
• Able to work effectively as a team worker and use initiative to ensure patients are treated in line with Trust values.
• Able to manage priorities and plan own workload.

Desirable

• Clinical skills relevant to the post.

Knowledge

Essential

• Numeracy and literacy to required HCA/HCSW minimum standards.
• Basic Computing skills - Word, Email.
• An awareness of relevant health and nursing issues.
• An understanding of evidence-based practice.

Other

Essential

• Accountability/ Responsibility
• Criminal Records Bureau Clearance
• Willingness to work varying shifts including some Saturdays and Evening clinics.

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 George's University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust

Address

Clinic B Lanesborough Wing, St George's University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust

Blackshaw Road London

Tooting

SW17 0QT

Employer's website

https://www.stgeorges.nhs.uk/ (Opens in a new tab)