Healthcare Support Worker, Band 3- Outpatients

Job description

Job responsibilities

Knowledge, Skills & Experience Required

- Certificate in Adult Literacy and Numeracy.

- Experience of working in a health or education setting.

- Appropriate verbal and written communication and interpersonal skills.

- Ability to deal with non-routine and unpredictable nature of the workload and individual patient contact and be flexible and responsive to working environment

- Practical ability, prioritisation and time management.

- Demonstrate potential for further development.

Communication, interpersonal skills and personal qualities

- The ability to communicate with colleagues, patients and their relatives with sensitivity and empathy

- Be able to work under pressure

-Be pro-active and take initiative

- Understanding of the importance of the promotion of health and wellbeing (Making Every Contact Count).

- Ability to work effectively as a team member and as part of a multi-disciplinary team.

- Ability to communicate with members of the public and health and care providers.

- To communicate effectively, especially where patient ability to do so is compromised. On occasions, the job holder may be exposed to distressing or emotional circumstances.

- Communicate effectively across a wide range of channels and with a wide range of individuals.

- Communicate with individuals, carers and other visitors in a courteous and helpful manner, whilst being mindful that there may be barriers to understand.

Clinical Practice

As a Healthcare support worker, the expectation is that, with adequate training, supervision and assessment, you will be able to;

- Be competent in the use of all relevant Trust IT systems including the use of electronic patient record, email, and Trak-Care

- Maintain regular use of emails to keep abreast of information disseminated in the Trust

- Working within the multidisciplinary team supporting the delivery of assessed and evaluated programmes of family centred care.

- Maintain discretion and understanding of confidentiality and data protection.

- Support individuals with all aspects of care including daily living, providing person-centred care

- Perform and record clinical observations with competency including blood pressure, temperature, respirations and pulse.

- Maintain accurate and contemporaneous patient records

- Ensure the privacy, dignity and safety of individuals is maintained at all times

- Provide enhanced care for patients requiring this level of care

- Recognise issues relating to safeguarding vulnerable children and adults and report any problems or raise concerns to the appropriate Registered Care professionals.

- Demonstrate the ability to recognise changing priorities, seeking advice and guidance from the Registered Nurse or other registered care professionals as appropriate.

- Assist in maintaining a safe and healthy environment, by ensuring orderliness and hygiene and safety of the ward/department

- Assist the smooth running of the ward by carrying out other duties including unpacking stores, tidying and cleaning equipment

- To support nursing team in the care delivery of patients across specialities

- To deliver safe care within a challenging and changing clinical environment, using equipment and resources safely and as appropriate.

- To adhere to all Trust policies and procedures and professional code of conduct

- To deliver and receive information, which may cause emotional distress to all parties.

- Time management skills and prioritising

- Insight into own skills and knowledge and know when to signpost or ask for advice

- Keeping up to date with own skills and changes to clinical practices

Leadership and management

- Report any accidents or incidents and raise any concerns as per organisational policy.

- Promote health and safety maintaining best practice in health, safety and security.

- Share ideas with colleagues to improve care and suggest areas for innovation.

- Participate in audit activities being undertaken in area of practice.

- To assist in meeting service delivery targets.

- No budgetary responsibility.

- No direct management responsibility, but a requirement for collaborative working.

- Comply with Trust and Departmental policies and procedures e.g. Health and Safety at Work Act (1974), Manual Handling, clinical equipment competency, risk management, Data Protection Acts and patient confidentiality at all times.

- Report near misses and untoward incidents, complaints, clinical emergencies, injury as detailed in the departmental and Trust protocols. Assist lead staff in investigating incidents as required.

Physical, Mental & Emotional Effort & Working Conditions

- Will be required to utilise recognised manual handling techniques and guidelines

- May be expected to frequently manoeuvre patients/objects over 15 kg using appropriate aids

- Will have frequent exposure to unpleasant working conditions and will be required to follow policies and procedures pertaining to bodily fluids, infection control, infestations and COSHH regulations

- Frequent exposure to distressing and emotionally demanding situations involving patients and relatives

- Some exposure to patients displaying verbal and physical abuse

- There is the on-going requirement to maintain excellent standards of care whilst working under pressure in an ever-changing and challenging environment

- May be required to work in confined spaces.

Person Specification

Qualifications

Essential

• Minimum of 4 GCSE's (or equivalent) including English, Mathematics and preferably a Science, Physical Education or Health and Social care based subject
• Basic knowledge of Microsoft Office Word and email programmes

Desirable

• Evidence of Care Certificate completed
• Evidence of Enhanced care training completed

Experience

Essential

• Experience (through placement or employment) of working in the hospital setting

Desirable

• Previous experience in a healthcare environment

Knowledge

Essential

• A desire to work in a hospital environment caring for acutely unwell people with kindness, compassion and with dignity and respect
• Ability to work on own initiative, independently and as part of a team
• Clear communication skills; verbally, in writing and the use of IT
• To get on well with people at all levels, communicate and work effectively as a team member
• Knowledge of physical and psychological needs of people (patients)

Desirable

• Awareness of Safeguarding policies and procedures.

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

Gloucestershire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust

Address

Oral, Orthodontic and Maxillofacial Outpatients department

Great Western Road

Gloucester

GL1 3NN

Employer's website

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