Health Care Support Worker

Job description

Job responsibilities

You will carry out a range of clinical and non-clinical healthcare, or therapeutic tasks, under the direct or indirect supervision of the registered healthcare practitioner, in accordance with the Trust values.

There will be opportunities to develop your knowledge and skills, specific to your needs. Training will be provided to ensure you have the required core skills and skills set specific to your area of work. You will also be supported to obtain your care certificate if you do not have this qualification

Starting grade and condition of appointment

As a condition of appointment, you will remain on NHS Agenda for Change (AFC) Band 2 until succesfull completion of the Care Certification. The Care Certification includes a series of mandatory training modules covering essential skills and knowledge required for providing high-quality care. These modules typically encompass areas such as patient safety, infection control, communication skills, and basic clinical procedures.

It is expected that the Care Certification will be completed during the probationary period of 6 months from your contracted start date. Failure to complete the Care Certification within this timeframe may result in termination of employment. If you already possess a Care Certification, it will be reviewed during the recruitment process to determine its validity and relevance. Upon successful completion (or accepted evidence) of the Care Certification, you will be promoted to NHS AFC Band 3.

Duties and responsibilities

• Obtain consent prior to giving care in accordance with Trust policies.
• Duties are delegated to you in line with care plans by interventional radiology team
• Not all duties are routine and you will need to use your knowledge, experience and understanding to take decisions within your area of responsibility
• To carry out a limited range of clinical duties with minimal / no supervision, including for example; blood pressure monitoring, oxygen saturation levels, body temperature, pulse rate and respiration rate, glucose monitoring, collection and testing of urine samples / faecal samples / sputum samples and wound swabs ensuring delivery of high-quality patient care at all times. NB: this list is not exhaustive and will vary depending on area of work.
• Deliver effective nursing care to patient receiving care in interventional radiology.
• Participate in the Trust Appraisal process to ensure that you receive and give constructive feedback to enhance personal skill set
• Take all reasonable precautions to ensure that you do not endanger yourself or others by act or omission
•  Assist Registered Nurses and clerical staff in administrative duties, such as conveying information from telephone or personal enquiries, maintaining a courteous manner at all times
• Participate in patient assessment providing high quality holistic patient care and escalating unwell patients to other clinical staff
• Maintain patient privacy and dignity at all times in the delivery of compassionate and personalised care
• Practice safe standards of care to patients following Trust guidelines and policies
• Provide clinical care in accordance with the infection prevention and health and safety policies and procedures.
• Maintain the work environment in line with Trust infection control and patient safety policies
• Develop the skills to actively promote self-care and independence with patients to enable timely discharge.
• Promote health education specific to the clinical area and in line with national and local policies. 
• Maintain accurate records relating to communication with patients, relatives, and members of the Multidisciplinary team regarding all aspects of care demonstrating a range of appropriate communication skills.
• Work effectively as part of a team.

Training

• Undertake the Trust’s corporate and local induction and maintain your learning and compliance with training requirements
• Complete mandatory training. This will vary depending on area of work.
• Attend In-service Training
• Successful completion of the Care Certificate

Professional

• Demonstrate ability to access Trust policies and procedures and comply with those relevant to role.
• Act, at all times, in a manner which demonstrates respect for privacy, dignity and confidentiality.
• Embrace the Trust values and work in an inclusive way.
• Act within limits of competence, ensuring actions support care, protection, and wellbeing.
• Responsible for maintaining own skills, knowledge, and competence for the role.
• Ensure all mandatory training is undertaken in line with Trust policy.
• Participate in team discussions / meetings as an integral member of the team.
• You are accountable for your work and for reviewing the effectiveness of care provided. Adapting, or escalating as required.
• To support or guide new team members as support colleagues.

Administration

• Competent in the use of IT systems within the workplace environment.
• Participate in the induction and orientation of newly appointed staff, learners and other visitors to the department.
• Comply with Trust policy regarding information governance and the care of patient property.

This job description may be subject to change according to the varying needs of the service. Such changes will be made after discussion between the post holder and the manager. All Duties must be carried out under supervision or within Trust policy and procedure.

Person Specification

Qualifications

Essential

• National care certificate or Level 3 (SCQF 6): - City and Guilds 3 or NVQ 3 or BTEC National Diploma
• Level 2 Functional skills in English and Maths, or equivalent
• Completion of Level 3 Diploma in Healthcare Support (that maps to the Apprenticeship Standard for Senior Health Care Support Worker)

Experience

Essential

• Effective and appropriate communication skills both written and verbal
• Able to complete appropriate documentation accurately
• Demonstrate an awareness of healthcare work and policies and procedures
• Committed to providing high quality patient care
• Ability to work with minimum supervision to a high standard
• IT skills, basic word, Email, keyboard skills
• Ability and willingness to undertake appropriate training within given time frames
• Flexible and adaptable to change, able to work a range of shifts and moving across wards/unit dependant on clinical need
• Able to demonstrate calm, caring patient manner / approach
• Enthusiasm and commitment to working within the healthcare setting
• Able to meet the physical and developmental demands of the role *

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

The Princess Alexandra Hospital NHS Trust

Address

The Princess Alexandra Hospital

Harlow

Essex

CM20 1QX

Employer's website

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