Healthcare Assistant

Job description

Job responsibilities

Patient Care Duties

Under the direction of the Registered Healthcare Professional, provide high quality personalised care in accordance with agreed local and national standards using a wide range of skills.

Achieve and maintain core and specific competencies as per HCSW Development pathway and agreed by manager.

Assist with the safe moving, handling and mobilisation of patients when required.

Communicate effectively with kindness, warmth and compassion recognising when there are barriers to communication where support may be required.

Act as a patient and staff advocate, escalating concerns and challenging poor behaviour or practice appropriately.

Maintain accurate records of care within area of responsibility.

Involve patients and carers/relatives in delivery of care.

Provide reassurance and support to patients, carers/family.

Support the maintenance and cleanliness of the clinical environment by attending to general tidiness of the area including unpacking and storage of stock deliveries. Report any estates issues appropriately.

Support clinical teams to fulfil cleaning responsibilities as identified in the National Cleaning Standards framework.

Contribute to minimising the effects of disruptive abusive behaviour and the protection of individuals from abuse.

To answer the telephone and relay messages appropriately.

To support administrative functions as directed by the nurse in charge.

Develop own skills and knowledge and contribute to the development of others.

Assist with the induction of new Health Care Support Workers

Recognise and respond appropriately to urgent and emergency situations.

Ensure the effective and efficient use of resources and contribute ideas to cost improvement programmes.

Report any incidents, concerns, complaints or accidents to the Nurse in Charge completing adverse incident forms as required.

Attend and participate in team/ward/department meetings.

Support the psychological and emotional wellbeing of patients, carers and families.

To ensure that no action or omission on your part is detrimental to the condition, safety, well-being and interest of the patients.

Clinical Duties

Must be able to undertake other tasks appropriate to the clinical environment with necessary training and as directed by the Ward Manager or Department Lead:

Undertake physiological observations: blood pressure, pulse, temperature, respirations and oxygen saturations as directed by the nurse in charge and record appropriately on EPR and Medisight.

Attend training in the use of equipment and devices appropriate to role and reports faulty equipment promptly.

Departmental equipment cleaned and labelled.

Participate in audit activities at the request of the Ward manager / Department lead

Act as a chaperone to support privacy and dignity of patients when required.

Patient Safety and Experience

Understand importance of individual role and contribution in ensuring that patients, service users and carers have a positive experience of care.

To ensure appropriate escalation of concerns and use of incident reporting system.

Take responsibility for adapting communication style to meet the needs of patients, service users and carers adopting basic de-escalation techniques when needed.

Ensure up to date knowledge of risks in the area and any key safety messages as communicated by the Ward Manager/ Department Lead.

Ensure active participation in safety initiatives in the ward or department such as safety briefs.

Ensure compliance with infection prevention and control practices reporting any concerns to the nurse in charge.

Understand own contribution in creating a psychologically safe environment by displaying appropriate behaviours and treating colleagues and service users with respect and civility.

Communication

To establish and maintain good working relationships with members of the multi -disciplinary team.

Ensure effective communication using professional language and ensuring that conversations take place in an appropriate setting.

Communicate with patients, service, users and carers at a pace and tone that is understood, using communication aids as required.

Ensure high standard of written communication in areas of responsibility.

Takes an active part in Team Meetings.

Give clear and concise advice to people on the procedures in place e.g. PALS, complaints.

Introduces self to patients.

Person Specification

QUALIFICATIONS / TRAINING

Essential

• English and Math GCSE grade 9-2 (A*-E) or equivalent or high level of literacy and numeracy skills demonstrated within application
• Competence based level 2 Qualification e.g. NVQ or Diploma in Care or The Care Certificate issued by an employer
• Willingness to undertake any training or development relevant to the role
• Competent in cannulation /venepuncture/plaster training and specialist dressings

Desirable

• Moving and Handling
• Infection Control
• Customer Care
• Competent / able to evidence the completion of Health Care Assistant core competencies
• Competence based level 3 Qualification e.g. NVQ or Diploma in Healthcare Support

KNOWLEDGE, EXPERIENCE & EXPERTISE

Essential

• Previous employment with a healthcare setting (18 months)
• Insight into the roles of responsibilities of the post
• Demonstrate a commitment to a caring profession
• Understand the importance of record keeping
• Literacy Skills
• IT skills

Desirable

• Experience of record keeping

COMMUNICATION AND RELATIONSHIPS (INCLUDING MANAGEMENT RESPONSIBILITIES

Essential

• Ability to work as a team member
• Ability to work in a busy environment
• Able to use own initiative
• Aware of own limitations/ level of competence
• Good communication Skills

Desirable

• Plan delegated workload

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

Calderdale and Huddersfield NHS Foundation Trust

Address

Calderdale Royal Hospital and Huddersfield Royal Infirmary

Huddersfield

HD3 3EA

Employer's website

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