Job summary
Do you believe you can provide high standards of care, with compassion, empathy, respect and dignity?
We will provide you with the skills and training to enhance our overall patient care and staff experience.
You could be new to care or an experienced Healthcare Support Worker. We are keen to talk to you about opportunities here as an Healthcare Support Worker on Ward 15 supporting our registered nursing staff.
We provide care 7 days a week, 24 hours a day, so you will need to have the flexibility to work days, nights, weekend and bank holidays.
Main duties of the job
Your role as a Healthcare Support Worker is to support the registered nurses with the preparation of
environments and to assist assistance during diagnostic activities. Communicating
with the whole multidisciplinary team, patients and carers ensuring all
protocols and standards are maintained.
- To support registered health care staff to deliver high quality, compassionate health care to patients in accordance with assessed needs and care plans.
- To support the clinical team with day-to-day supervision of junior staff and students.
- To have the ability to use your own initiative, independently and as part of a team, in order to accommodate changing demands on the wider clinical team.
- To support the ward / department staff to provide a high quality service.
- To undertake a range of delegated clinical care duties, acting on own initiative where appropriate, supported by accessible supervision.
About us
Worcestershire Acute Hospitals NHS Trust is a large acute and specialised hospital trust that provides a range of local acute services to the residents of Worcestershire and more specialised services to a larger population in Herefordshire and beyond.
The Trust operates hospital-based services from three sites in Kidderminster, Redditch and Worcester
Our workforce is more than 7,000 strong, and our caring staff are recognised as providing good and outstanding patient-centred care. You could be one of them.
We are committed to recruiting the best people to work with us. Our values, which we ask all staff to demonstrate, underpin our everyday work and remain firmly at the heart of all we do.
Being open and honest
Ensuring people feel cared for
Showing respect to everyone
We are committed to developing a culture of continuous improvement by embedding the principles of our Improvement System.
We are proud to have achieved Timewise accreditation - this means we are committed to embedding flexible working within our organisation as a flex positive employer.
Job description
Job responsibilities
Key Duties:
Your delegated daily duties will be varied but may include:
- Assist with the maintenance of patient hygiene, including washing bathing and mouth care.
- Assist with patients elimination needs, including recording outputs where appropriate and collecting and testing urine and stool samples.
- Supporting registered staff by undertaking delegated clinical tasks.
- Assisting with the recording and safe keeping of patients property/valuables.
- Moving and repositioning of patients.
- Dressing/undressing of patients.
- Making of occupied and unoccupied beds, tying up of dirty linen bags and despatching to laundry and replenishing of linen and stock cupboards.
- Cleaning and tidying examination rooms/clinic areas.
- Assist with patients mobilisation, ensuring safe environment and using appropriate techniques.
- Assist in the care of relatives and visitors.
- Chaperone professional staff where appropriate and accompany patients to other departments as necessary.
- Be involved in patient booking in/admission procedures by introducing patients to ward/department area as directed by registered nurse.
- Be adaptable and flexible to working in various areas of the department/ward as required.
- Assist the multi professional team to prepare and support patients undergoing treatment and/or investigation maintaining privacy and dignity at all times.
- Replenishing (including ordering of) stock / resus trollies.
- Carry out equipment checks on blood glucose monitoring device.
Communication and relationships
- The Healthcare Support Workers relationship with both staff and patients should be discreet, bearing in mind that all information regarding patients must be kept confidential.
- Report to the Radiographer in charge of the department matters of concern relating to patients and the department environment.
- Answering the telephone and referring to the appropriate person.
- Attend to department reports and meetings when appropriate.
- Be aware of the need to greet visitors to the department and ascertain the purpose of their visit.
- Demonstrate knowledge and understanding of health and safety at work in order to maintain a safe environment.
- Undertake duties outside your working area (e.g. delivery and collection) to assist in maintaining good communication.
- Participate in patient handovers.
- Follow Trust and national policies, participating in discussions on proposed changes to procedures as appropriate.
- To use a range of verbal and no-verbal communication strategies to support patients, including potential occasional exposure to patients exhibiting challenging or aggressive behaviour.
Clinical Support
- Assess patient condition through observations, test result, assess comfort of patient and instigate emergency procedures as indicated.
- Where training has been provided and competence assured, your delegated daily duties will be varied depending on area in which you are working. These may include (but are not restricted to):
- Taking and recording and monitoring of patient observations to include, blood pressure, pulse, oxygen saturations, temperature and respirations. This includes accurate calculation and recording of NEWS 2 (early warning score) and escalation to registered staff as indicated by score.
- Blood glucose monitoring.
- Support registered staff and the ward team in responding to emergency situations
- Measuring and recording of patient height and weight.
- Apply a simple range of dressings using both clean and aseptic techniques and taking of wound swabs as indicated.
- Collect blood samples (peripheral or venous) as directed by a registered nurse, ensuring its safe storage, transport or disposal as appropriate.
- Collection of sputum samples.
- Undertake an associate link/link nurse role where appropriate.
- Recording actions accurately and contemporaneously in relevant IT systems
Cleaning
- Maintain tidiness and cleanliness of areas and equipment as instructed.
- Clerical duties
- Undertake a range of clerical duties service, this may involve:
- Reception/telephone duties
- Basic computer skills
- Assist in the preparation of medical and nursing notes for clinics
- Assist booking co-ordinator as required
- Take responsibility for confidential waste collection within the radiotherapy treatment area
Education
- To engage in and complete relevant short courses to support patient care and clinical duties. This should include the completion the National Care Certificate and any other internal development opportunities.
- To support other Health Care Support Workers and junior staff through mentorship and local induction.
Job description
Job responsibilities
Key Duties:
Your delegated daily duties will be varied but may include:
- Assist with the maintenance of patient hygiene, including washing bathing and mouth care.
- Assist with patients elimination needs, including recording outputs where appropriate and collecting and testing urine and stool samples.
- Supporting registered staff by undertaking delegated clinical tasks.
- Assisting with the recording and safe keeping of patients property/valuables.
- Moving and repositioning of patients.
- Dressing/undressing of patients.
- Making of occupied and unoccupied beds, tying up of dirty linen bags and despatching to laundry and replenishing of linen and stock cupboards.
- Cleaning and tidying examination rooms/clinic areas.
- Assist with patients mobilisation, ensuring safe environment and using appropriate techniques.
- Assist in the care of relatives and visitors.
- Chaperone professional staff where appropriate and accompany patients to other departments as necessary.
- Be involved in patient booking in/admission procedures by introducing patients to ward/department area as directed by registered nurse.
- Be adaptable and flexible to working in various areas of the department/ward as required.
- Assist the multi professional team to prepare and support patients undergoing treatment and/or investigation maintaining privacy and dignity at all times.
- Replenishing (including ordering of) stock / resus trollies.
- Carry out equipment checks on blood glucose monitoring device.
Communication and relationships
- The Healthcare Support Workers relationship with both staff and patients should be discreet, bearing in mind that all information regarding patients must be kept confidential.
- Report to the Radiographer in charge of the department matters of concern relating to patients and the department environment.
- Answering the telephone and referring to the appropriate person.
- Attend to department reports and meetings when appropriate.
- Be aware of the need to greet visitors to the department and ascertain the purpose of their visit.
- Demonstrate knowledge and understanding of health and safety at work in order to maintain a safe environment.
- Undertake duties outside your working area (e.g. delivery and collection) to assist in maintaining good communication.
- Participate in patient handovers.
- Follow Trust and national policies, participating in discussions on proposed changes to procedures as appropriate.
- To use a range of verbal and no-verbal communication strategies to support patients, including potential occasional exposure to patients exhibiting challenging or aggressive behaviour.
Clinical Support
- Assess patient condition through observations, test result, assess comfort of patient and instigate emergency procedures as indicated.
- Where training has been provided and competence assured, your delegated daily duties will be varied depending on area in which you are working. These may include (but are not restricted to):
- Taking and recording and monitoring of patient observations to include, blood pressure, pulse, oxygen saturations, temperature and respirations. This includes accurate calculation and recording of NEWS 2 (early warning score) and escalation to registered staff as indicated by score.
- Blood glucose monitoring.
- Support registered staff and the ward team in responding to emergency situations
- Measuring and recording of patient height and weight.
- Apply a simple range of dressings using both clean and aseptic techniques and taking of wound swabs as indicated.
- Collect blood samples (peripheral or venous) as directed by a registered nurse, ensuring its safe storage, transport or disposal as appropriate.
- Collection of sputum samples.
- Undertake an associate link/link nurse role where appropriate.
- Recording actions accurately and contemporaneously in relevant IT systems
Cleaning
- Maintain tidiness and cleanliness of areas and equipment as instructed.
- Clerical duties
- Undertake a range of clerical duties service, this may involve:
- Reception/telephone duties
- Basic computer skills
- Assist in the preparation of medical and nursing notes for clinics
- Assist booking co-ordinator as required
- Take responsibility for confidential waste collection within the radiotherapy treatment area
Education
- To engage in and complete relevant short courses to support patient care and clinical duties. This should include the completion the National Care Certificate and any other internal development opportunities.
- To support other Health Care Support Workers and junior staff through mentorship and local induction.
Person Specification
Skills and personal qualities
Essential
- Ability to demonstrate excellent communication skills (Verbal, Listening and Written skills).
- Be able to demonstrate an understanding of the concept of confidentiality.
- Reliable, good timekeeping and time management skills.
- Self-awareness in terms of assessing own knowledge and competence and understanding own boundaries.
- Self-awareness in terms of recognising the impact of their behaviour and others.
- Able to present a professional image appropriate to the working environment.
- Committed.
- Enthusiastic.
- Ability to cope with stress.
- Team worker.
- Must be flexible with shift patterns and internal rotation.
- Must be prepared to attend meetings out of hours if necessary.
- Confidentiality.
- This post requires the post holder to undertake core skills as soon as is practicable.
- Fitness and mobility in order to be physically active throughout a shift and undertake manual handling activities.
Desirable
- Keyboard / computer knowledge / skills
- Venepuncture / Cannulation skills
Experience
Essential
- Experience of working in a health care/ hospital environment as a HCA
- Experience/ exposure of acutely ill patients and looking after them.
- Working in a team environment
Desirable
- Previous experience of working as a Health Care Assistant in a healthcare or social setting.
- Experience working in a Acute Ward
Qualifications
Essential
- GCSE grade A to C in English and Maths, NVQ level 2 in health and social care.
Desirable
- NHS Care Certificate
- Experience in Decontamination
- Qualified in phlebotomy
- NVQ Level 3 in health and social care
Personal Qualities
Essential
- Ability to demonstrate a caring and compassionate approach.
- Organisational skills, with the ability to plan and prioritise own and others workload efficiently.
Person Specification
Skills and personal qualities
Essential
- Ability to demonstrate excellent communication skills (Verbal, Listening and Written skills).
- Be able to demonstrate an understanding of the concept of confidentiality.
- Reliable, good timekeeping and time management skills.
- Self-awareness in terms of assessing own knowledge and competence and understanding own boundaries.
- Self-awareness in terms of recognising the impact of their behaviour and others.
- Able to present a professional image appropriate to the working environment.
- Committed.
- Enthusiastic.
- Ability to cope with stress.
- Team worker.
- Must be flexible with shift patterns and internal rotation.
- Must be prepared to attend meetings out of hours if necessary.
- Confidentiality.
- This post requires the post holder to undertake core skills as soon as is practicable.
- Fitness and mobility in order to be physically active throughout a shift and undertake manual handling activities.
Desirable
- Keyboard / computer knowledge / skills
- Venepuncture / Cannulation skills
Experience
Essential
- Experience of working in a health care/ hospital environment as a HCA
- Experience/ exposure of acutely ill patients and looking after them.
- Working in a team environment
Desirable
- Previous experience of working as a Health Care Assistant in a healthcare or social setting.
- Experience working in a Acute Ward
Qualifications
Essential
- GCSE grade A to C in English and Maths, NVQ level 2 in health and social care.
Desirable
- NHS Care Certificate
- Experience in Decontamination
- Qualified in phlebotomy
- NVQ Level 3 in health and social care
Personal Qualities
Essential
- Ability to demonstrate a caring and compassionate approach.
- Organisational skills, with the ability to plan and prioritise own and others workload efficiently.
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.
