Senior Clinical Support Worker

Job description

Job responsibilities

JOB PURPOSE/SUMMARY

The jobholder will be actively involved in providing direct and indirect compassionate care for patients in support of the multidisciplinary team. The jobholder will undertake a range of delegated clinical patient care duties under the support and supervision of a registered practitioner.

The jobholder will assist in the overall implementation and evaluation of care as part of the multi professional team. The jobholder is expected to plan, implement, deliver and maintain high standards of patient care. The jobholder will be skilled in taking appropriate action(s) and acting on own initiative to achieve the planned outcome.

The jobholder will contribute to the maintenance of an environment for effective care.

The jobholder will be expected to lead a team of clinical support workers and apprentice clinical support workers.

The jobholder will be expected to practice in accordance within Trust policies, guidelines, standards and statutory requirements and operate within defined competency boundaries.

The jobholder will work within a ward, clinical department or community setting as part of a multidisciplinary team.

The jobholder must comply with the wearing of PPE as appropriate to the clinical situation - this may involve wearing face masks for a considerable length of time.

PRINCIPAL DUTIES & AREAS OF RESPONSIBILITY

Communication and Working Relationship

Establish and maintain effective communication with patients, families, carers and patient groups

Develop and maintain appropriate relationships, communication and teamwork with members of the multi-disciplinary team within the ward/department

Assist in the welcome and reception of patients into the clinical area

Demonstrate a variety of communication skills with patients who may have communication needs and difficulties e.g. confusion, dementia or other linguistic issues

Communicate effectively with all health, social care providers, voluntary sectors and emergency services

Maintain clear, concise and legible documentation adhering to standards in accordance with Trust policies and guidance

Ensure compliance with Trust policies and procedures regarding confidentiality of data and data security

Communicate with colleagues and members of the multi-disciplinary team clearly and effectively in written, verbal and electronic format (this may include accessing and updating patient records on central databases or electronic systems).

Participate in and contribute to local audits (e.g. hand hygiene audit)

Escalate concerns with regards to patients physical or psychological needs, or changes in their clinical condition to a registered practitioner within appropriate time frames

Effective use of communication skills when responding to patients, relatives or carers concerns and complaints, contributing to the ward, unit or department team action plan to achieve local resolution.

Ensures, in liaison with registered practitioners that interpreters are utilised as appropriate to support patients understanding and communication needs.

Ability to answer phone, effectively managing the enquiry

Clinical Responsibilities

Provide and deliver a high standard of compassionate nursing care recognising and meeting the specific needs of the patients

Following training and assessment, competently undertake clinical activities relevant to the post and clinical area as agreed

Acknowledge any limitations of competence in accepting care activities outside agreed limitations and inform a registered practitioner

Assist in planning, implementation and evaluation of individual programmes of care for patients

Document interventions performed and care delivered, ensuring that record is countersigned by a registered practitioner where appropriate.

Assist in the recording of fluid balance, reporting discrepancies to a registered practitioner.

Assist the patient with all aspects of their personal hygiene.

Assist in the safe moving and handling of all patients utilising appropriate equipment.

Assist the patient with their elimination needs; including bowel and urinary catheter care.

Provide care for patients with reduced mobility; to include skin integrity, pressure area care and measurement and application of anti-embolic stockings

Assist in ensuring patients nutritional needs are met.

Carry out clinical observations on patients, recognising, recording and reporting abnormalities and changes in patients condition to the registered practitioner

Utilise early warning score indicators (e.g. NEWS) to recognise any patient deterioration/sudden change in condition, reporting immediately to the registered practitioner.

Prepare and undertake interventions consistent with evidence based practice, through applying knowledge and skills to determine nature of the clinical care intervention required to meet patients requirements for care.

Assist in the provision of patient centred enhanced care, utilising a range of therapeutic interventions based on the enhanced care risk assessment. Reporting any deterioration, or changes in condition to the registered practitioner.

Evaluate and review the effect of any interventions and the patients agreed plan of care and report outcomes of interventions to the registered practitioner.

Collect equipment for clinical procedures as directed by the registered practitioner. Safely dispose of equipment, post procedure, restocking where appropriate

Assist in safe and appropriate use and maintenance of equipment

Assist in the correct handling and dispatch of specimens

Safe disposal of soiled linen and clinical waste from the ward or department

Participate in the process of involving relatives and or carers in the provision of patient care

Contribute to the psychological and or spiritual needs of patients using diversionary and comfort measures as appropriate

Acts as a chaperone as per chaperone policy.

Assist in the performing of last offices for deceased patients.

Undertake the escort of patients to other departments and ward as instructed by a registered practitioner

Organise and prioritise time effectively

Undertake duties on different wards, departments or clinical areas as and when required by service demands or patient need.

Act in such a way that safeguards the health and wellbeing of children & vulnerable adults at all times. Is familiar with and adheres to, the LTHT safeguarding policies.

Person Specification

Experience

Essential

• Significant experience of working within a healthcare setting delivering personal and clinical care.

Desirable

• Significant experience of working within the speciality or department.

Qualifications

Essential

• NVQ 3 in Health and Social Care
• Diploma in Health Level 3
• Diploma in Health and Social Care Level 3 or equivalent experience
• The Care Certificate or in the absence of this the jobholder must successfully attain the Care Certificate within the first 3 months of employment.

Desirable

• Basic skills Maths and English Level 2 (equivalent of GCSE 4-9 (A*-C))

Additional Requirements

Essential

• Able to fulfil Occupational Health requirements for the post (with reasonable adjustments if necessary), including clearance on blood borne viruses in compliance with Trust Policy
• Ability to travel in between Trust premises and patient homes for posts that involve community visits.

Skills & behaviours

Essential

• Utilisation of planning and organisational skills
• Interpersonal skills, confident and enthusiastic
• Competent in written, electronic and verbal communication skills
• Ability to organise and prioritise workload
• Team working
• Caring and motivated
• Compassionate, Courageous
• Reliable and trustworthy
• Willingness to learn and develop their 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

Leeds Teaching Hospitals

Address

Leeds General Infirmary

Great George Street

Leeds

LS1 3EX

Employer's website

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