Senior health care assistant PD Team

University Hospitals Plymouth NHS Trust

The closing date is 15 May 2025

Job summary

Are you looking for a new challenge? Would you like to develop your knowledge and skills? Would you be interested in becoming a valued member of our Peritoneal Dialysis team?

We are looking to appoint an enthusiastic Band 3 to join our friendly and highly skilled nursing team. This role involves training patients and their carers to undertake peritoneal dialysis and visiting patients homes to set up their APD machines. We are situated approximately 1 mile away from the main Derriford site and we located in Estover. There is parking on unit's grounds which are free of charge.

Plymouth Dialysis Unit it's a light, spacious purpose build unit which opened its doors to patients and staff in July 2011. We are a Nurse Led unit and we take great pride in offering patient centred care to all our patients from Devon and Cornwall. We are fully committed to providing a supportive learning environment for all of our staff.

We aim to provide a friendly and professional working environment. Good verbal and written communication skills and good time management is essential. Previous experience in renal is desired but not essential. It is essential that the successful applicant has completed the Level 3 HCA training or NVQ 3 equivalent

Main duties of the job

Take part in peritoneal dialysis in the community/unit and haemodialysis at the unit

To assist in the delivery of care, planned and assessed by the Registered Nurses.

To carry out care / other duties under indirect supervision.

To supervise junior health care assistants contributing to their training and development.

To undertake specific extended skills.

To undertake home visits as part of the assisted PD program

Support care on a day-to-day basis for all patients in the community and clinical area under indirect supervision.

Working within the dialysis team to assess patients prior to dialysis session.

Setting up the peritoneal dialysis machines

Connection of patients to Peritoneal dialysis machines, perform CAPD exchanges

Contribute to resource management.

About us

We are a people business - where every member of staff matters and can make a difference. Patients are at the heart of everything we do. Joining University Hospitals Plymouth NHS Trust means becoming part of a team of dedicated staff, who are committed to leading the way through innovation, clinical excellence and great customer care. The Trust has great opportunities for career development in a highly progressive working environment. We offer all of this in a vibrant, modern city with a historic reputation for adventure. PLEASE NOTE THAT ALL COMMUNICATION WILL BE ELECTRONIC, PLEASE CHECK YOUR EMAIL ACCOUNT REGULARLY. If you have any issues with applying online and need additional support including reasonable adjustments with the application process please contact the recruitment team on 01752 432100. We recognise that work life balance is important for our colleagues and so we invite requests from applicants around less than full time/flexible working for our advertised roles. Please contact the recruiting manager to discuss this prior to your application submission. We commit to giving this full consideration in each case. We encourage people from diverse backgrounds to apply for our roles, as diversity strengthens our teams. It is sometimes necessary to close vacancies before the closing date. If you have not heard from us within 4 weeks of the closing date, please assume that you have not been shortlisted.

Date posted

01 May 2025

Pay scheme

Agenda for change

Band

Band 3

Salary

£24,625 to £25,674 a year Per Annum

Contract

Permanent

Working pattern

Full-time, Part-time

Reference number

216-SF-M7180520

Job locations

Plymouth Dialysis unit

184 Plymbridge Road, Estover,

Plymouth

PL6 7FL


Job description

Job responsibilities

PRIMARY DUTIES & AREAS OF RESPONSIBILITY

  • Provide and deliver a high standard of care, recognising and meeting the specific needs of renal patients, to include peritoneal dialysis parameters and pre and post haemodialysis.
  • Commencement and termination of peritoneal dialysis
  • Commencement and termination of haemodialysis dialysis,
  • Care of exit site for Peritoneal dialysis patients
  • The preparation of highly complex machines.
  • Interpret any machine alarms and correct when appropriate, informing the Registered Nurse.

  • To undertake home visits to strip and reline APD machines and review patients
  • To manage, under indirect supervision, own workload within the community and/or clinical area and competencies of the post.
  • To carry out clinical observations on patients, recognising, recording and reporting all changes in patients condition, including the early recognition and intervention of dialysis side effects.
  • To recognise the importance of health education and teaching of patients and carers, and to be able to advise and refer patients on where to access information.
  • Document and sign for all observations and care given with counter signature from a registered practitioner.
  • To maintain his/her own professional development, attending courses/further training to enhance and optimise his/her role within the work area.
  • To participate in the training and development of junior staff on the unit and participate in the supervision and support of trainee Health Care Assistants.
  • Act as a mentor to new Health Care Assistants & HCA Trainees, participating in induction programmes, and on-going development of their practice.
  • To promote and safeguard the well-being of patients, their families, and colleagues.
  • To participate in the development and implementation of Unit area policy and nursing strategies.
  • To supervise and share responsibility in the care and maintenance of all equipment and stock control within the unit and/or community for peritoneal dialysis patients
  • Participate in unit research and audit work to include data collection
  • To respect confidential information, in line with Trust policy Data Protection Act.
  • To be familiar with and adhere to Trust and Departmental policies and procedures, mindful of responsibilities to self, colleagues, and patients.
  • Report untoward incidents, complaints, clinical emergencies to senior staff.
  • Following patient assessment by registered staff, undertake extended skills specific to individual competence under the indirect supervision of registered staff.
  • To be familiar with Trust infection control, decontamination and cleanliness polices.
  • To undertake the decontamination and cleaning of department equipment and community machines.

COMMUNICATIONS & WORKING RELATIONSHIPS

  • Work collaboratively within a multi-disciplinary team
  • Ward Sisters/Charge Nurses and all ward-based nursing staff
  • Modern Matron
  • Educational staff
  • Clinical Nurse Specialists, Nurse Consultants, Nurse Practitioners.
  • Infection control team
  • Consultants in area of responsibility.
  • Patients and their support network
  • Housekeeping and domestic staff
  • Dieticians
  • Bank/Agency Nurses and Healthcare Assistants

Job description

Job responsibilities

PRIMARY DUTIES & AREAS OF RESPONSIBILITY

  • Provide and deliver a high standard of care, recognising and meeting the specific needs of renal patients, to include peritoneal dialysis parameters and pre and post haemodialysis.
  • Commencement and termination of peritoneal dialysis
  • Commencement and termination of haemodialysis dialysis,
  • Care of exit site for Peritoneal dialysis patients
  • The preparation of highly complex machines.
  • Interpret any machine alarms and correct when appropriate, informing the Registered Nurse.

  • To undertake home visits to strip and reline APD machines and review patients
  • To manage, under indirect supervision, own workload within the community and/or clinical area and competencies of the post.
  • To carry out clinical observations on patients, recognising, recording and reporting all changes in patients condition, including the early recognition and intervention of dialysis side effects.
  • To recognise the importance of health education and teaching of patients and carers, and to be able to advise and refer patients on where to access information.
  • Document and sign for all observations and care given with counter signature from a registered practitioner.
  • To maintain his/her own professional development, attending courses/further training to enhance and optimise his/her role within the work area.
  • To participate in the training and development of junior staff on the unit and participate in the supervision and support of trainee Health Care Assistants.
  • Act as a mentor to new Health Care Assistants & HCA Trainees, participating in induction programmes, and on-going development of their practice.
  • To promote and safeguard the well-being of patients, their families, and colleagues.
  • To participate in the development and implementation of Unit area policy and nursing strategies.
  • To supervise and share responsibility in the care and maintenance of all equipment and stock control within the unit and/or community for peritoneal dialysis patients
  • Participate in unit research and audit work to include data collection
  • To respect confidential information, in line with Trust policy Data Protection Act.
  • To be familiar with and adhere to Trust and Departmental policies and procedures, mindful of responsibilities to self, colleagues, and patients.
  • Report untoward incidents, complaints, clinical emergencies to senior staff.
  • Following patient assessment by registered staff, undertake extended skills specific to individual competence under the indirect supervision of registered staff.
  • To be familiar with Trust infection control, decontamination and cleanliness polices.
  • To undertake the decontamination and cleaning of department equipment and community machines.

COMMUNICATIONS & WORKING RELATIONSHIPS

  • Work collaboratively within a multi-disciplinary team
  • Ward Sisters/Charge Nurses and all ward-based nursing staff
  • Modern Matron
  • Educational staff
  • Clinical Nurse Specialists, Nurse Consultants, Nurse Practitioners.
  • Infection control team
  • Consultants in area of responsibility.
  • Patients and their support network
  • Housekeeping and domestic staff
  • Dieticians
  • Bank/Agency Nurses and Healthcare Assistants

Person Specification

Knowledge and Experience

Essential

  • oDemonstrable Experience of providing care in a healthcare or social setting
  • oDemonstrable Experience of time management and prioritising work
  • oBe able to work as a member of a team

Qualifications

Essential

  • oOne of the following oLevel 3 (SCQF - 6): - City and Guilds 3 oNVQ 3 oBTEC National Diploma oExperience equivalent to the above qualifications oLevel 2 Functional skills in English and Math's, or equivalent
  • oEquivalent Demonstrable experience
  • oCompletion of Level 3 Diploma in Healthcare Support (that maps to the Apprenticeship Standard for Senior Health Care Support Worker)

Aptitude and abilities

Essential

  • oEffective and appropriate communication skills both written and verbal
  • oDemonstrate an awareness of healthcare work and policies and procedures
  • oAble to complete appropriate documentation accurately
Person Specification

Knowledge and Experience

Essential

  • oDemonstrable Experience of providing care in a healthcare or social setting
  • oDemonstrable Experience of time management and prioritising work
  • oBe able to work as a member of a team

Qualifications

Essential

  • oOne of the following oLevel 3 (SCQF - 6): - City and Guilds 3 oNVQ 3 oBTEC National Diploma oExperience equivalent to the above qualifications oLevel 2 Functional skills in English and Math's, or equivalent
  • oEquivalent Demonstrable experience
  • oCompletion of Level 3 Diploma in Healthcare Support (that maps to the Apprenticeship Standard for Senior Health Care Support Worker)

Aptitude and abilities

Essential

  • oEffective and appropriate communication skills both written and verbal
  • oDemonstrate an awareness of healthcare work and policies and procedures
  • oAble to complete appropriate documentation accurately

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).

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.

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).

Employer details

Employer name

University Hospitals Plymouth NHS Trust

Address

Plymouth Dialysis unit

184 Plymbridge Road, Estover,

Plymouth

PL6 7FL


Employer's website

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


Employer details

Employer name

University Hospitals Plymouth NHS Trust

Address

Plymouth Dialysis unit

184 Plymbridge Road, Estover,

Plymouth

PL6 7FL


Employer's website

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


For questions about the job, contact:

Junior sister PD

Sharon Lang

sharonlang@nhs.net

01752431694

Date posted

01 May 2025

Pay scheme

Agenda for change

Band

Band 3

Salary

£24,625 to £25,674 a year Per Annum

Contract

Permanent

Working pattern

Full-time, Part-time

Reference number

216-SF-M7180520

Job locations

Plymouth Dialysis unit

184 Plymbridge Road, Estover,

Plymouth

PL6 7FL


Supporting documents

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