Job summary
The Assistant Practitioner will function at a higher competency level than that of other Healthcare Support Workers with responsibility for actively participating as part of the Multi Disciplinary Team within the ward/dept, to provide a seamless service to patients with proximal supervision from a registered nurse/practitioner.
The Assistant Practitioner will provide general/specific care as specified below for a specific client group and will be competent to work across professional disciplines, referring patients for Allied Health Professional assessment and treatment or to other agencies as required.
The post holder will work in support of qualified nurses, doctors and allied health professionals within an inpatient setting. Supervision and teaching of junior staff will be part of the role.
Main duties of the job
Ability to undertake and interpret a range of patient observations as required in clinical area e.g. temperature, pulse, respiration, blood pressure, oxygen saturation levels, ECG. Ability to undertake a range of procedures and interventions relevant to area of work. Full training for specialist practice will be provided to include venepuncture, cannulation, nasogastric tube insertion, SC injections, administer specified prescribed medications to patients after the appropriate level of competence has been achieved (appendix 1).
Ability to provide nursing/therapeutic care for a group of patients.
About us
Why work with us
This post involves working across the inpatient and outpatient service for our paediatric patients with a variety of shift patterns to include long days/nights/SSPAU/OPs hours/weekends/bank holidays.
The ward, short stay assessment unit and outpatients work, closely together and also with the wider services team.
Job description
Job responsibilities
Communication and working relationships
- Provide verbal reports and maintain written reports on the patients condition for professionally qualified workers
- Maintain confidentiality at all times
- Provide concise handovers to other members of the MDT using the SBAR format
- Communicate effectively with patients, staff and relatives
- Report all accidents and incidents involving self, patients, staff or visitors according to trust procedure
- Participate in ward/unit and multi-disciplinary meetings
- Use of IT. Communicate effectively using computer systems within the Trust e. PAS, Infoflex, Cyberlab, E-Mail
Responsibility and accountability
- Undertake and interpret a range of patient observations as required in clinical area e.g. temperature, pulse, respiration, blood pressure, neurological observations, early warning score, oxygen saturation levels, ECG. Reporting adverse signs to registered Nurse/Doctor/Therapist
- Administer specified prescribed medications to patients after the appropriate level of competence has been achieved (appendix 1)
- Initiate the sepsis, asthma neutropenic care pathway in consultation with the registered healthcare professional
- Obtain requested specimens and ensure transportation to appropriate department urine, faeces, sputum, and exudates e.g. swabs from nose, eye, wound
- Order routine bloods/investigations if required within area of work, have a basic understanding of normal and altered values, report adverse results
- Assist with basic and where agreed intermediate cardio-pulmonary resuscitation procedures
- Maintain intravenous therapy safely as per Trust policy, report abnormalities to registered Nurse
- Be responsible for and demonstrate competence utilising mechanical infusion pumps devices
- Perform equipment and alarm checks at shift change
- Undertake the duties relating to last offices for deceased persons. Ensure that all religious, cultural wishes and obligations are adhered to
- Undertake nutritional screening as per protocol referring to dietician as appropriate
- Monitor and care for patients receiving oxygen therapy as directed by the registered practitioner
- Undertake verification of consent in specific areas as per Trust policy
Responsibility for patients and client care
Following a period of preceptorship:
- Ability to function as an assistant practitioner without direct supervision
- Ability to undertake a range of diagnostic tests relevant to area of work
- Excellent written and verbal communication skills, report writing
- Able to undertake detailed patient assessments within agreed protocols
- Able to plan, implement and evaluate patient care
- Teaching and assessing skills to non-professional staff
- Able to prioritise and organise own workload
Responsibility for supervision, leadership and management
- Demonstrate procedures to and supervise qualified/unqualified staff
- Contribute to the learning environment on the ward and team mentoring at an optimum level
- Supervise, assess and mentor Trainee Healthcare Support workers, trainee Assistant Practitioners, assist in the supervision and learning of other students with the exception of their assessment
- Participate in the induction of new members of staff to impart specific local knowledge of the ward/dept
- Promote and participate in the Health Education both personally and with all patients and relatives as appropriate
Information technology and administrative duties
- Clerical and IT skills
- Ability to work as part of a team and work under instruction, able to develop good relationships with colleagues, patients and visitors
- Effective utilisation of day cancer services resources
Responsibility for research and development
- To care for patients who are enrolled in clinical trials and assist research nurses with clinical skills as requested
Job description
Job responsibilities
Communication and working relationships
- Provide verbal reports and maintain written reports on the patients condition for professionally qualified workers
- Maintain confidentiality at all times
- Provide concise handovers to other members of the MDT using the SBAR format
- Communicate effectively with patients, staff and relatives
- Report all accidents and incidents involving self, patients, staff or visitors according to trust procedure
- Participate in ward/unit and multi-disciplinary meetings
- Use of IT. Communicate effectively using computer systems within the Trust e. PAS, Infoflex, Cyberlab, E-Mail
Responsibility and accountability
- Undertake and interpret a range of patient observations as required in clinical area e.g. temperature, pulse, respiration, blood pressure, neurological observations, early warning score, oxygen saturation levels, ECG. Reporting adverse signs to registered Nurse/Doctor/Therapist
- Administer specified prescribed medications to patients after the appropriate level of competence has been achieved (appendix 1)
- Initiate the sepsis, asthma neutropenic care pathway in consultation with the registered healthcare professional
- Obtain requested specimens and ensure transportation to appropriate department urine, faeces, sputum, and exudates e.g. swabs from nose, eye, wound
- Order routine bloods/investigations if required within area of work, have a basic understanding of normal and altered values, report adverse results
- Assist with basic and where agreed intermediate cardio-pulmonary resuscitation procedures
- Maintain intravenous therapy safely as per Trust policy, report abnormalities to registered Nurse
- Be responsible for and demonstrate competence utilising mechanical infusion pumps devices
- Perform equipment and alarm checks at shift change
- Undertake the duties relating to last offices for deceased persons. Ensure that all religious, cultural wishes and obligations are adhered to
- Undertake nutritional screening as per protocol referring to dietician as appropriate
- Monitor and care for patients receiving oxygen therapy as directed by the registered practitioner
- Undertake verification of consent in specific areas as per Trust policy
Responsibility for patients and client care
Following a period of preceptorship:
- Ability to function as an assistant practitioner without direct supervision
- Ability to undertake a range of diagnostic tests relevant to area of work
- Excellent written and verbal communication skills, report writing
- Able to undertake detailed patient assessments within agreed protocols
- Able to plan, implement and evaluate patient care
- Teaching and assessing skills to non-professional staff
- Able to prioritise and organise own workload
Responsibility for supervision, leadership and management
- Demonstrate procedures to and supervise qualified/unqualified staff
- Contribute to the learning environment on the ward and team mentoring at an optimum level
- Supervise, assess and mentor Trainee Healthcare Support workers, trainee Assistant Practitioners, assist in the supervision and learning of other students with the exception of their assessment
- Participate in the induction of new members of staff to impart specific local knowledge of the ward/dept
- Promote and participate in the Health Education both personally and with all patients and relatives as appropriate
Information technology and administrative duties
- Clerical and IT skills
- Ability to work as part of a team and work under instruction, able to develop good relationships with colleagues, patients and visitors
- Effective utilisation of day cancer services resources
Responsibility for research and development
- To care for patients who are enrolled in clinical trials and assist research nurses with clinical skills as requested
Person Specification
Qualifications and training
Essential
- NVQ 3 in healthcare related subject or equivalent
- Evidence of continuing professional development
- Literacy and numeracy to National Qualification Framework level 2
Desirable
- Foundation degree in health studies
- Courses/further study attended to demonstrate evidence of personal development
Knowledge and experience
Essential
- Good written and verbal communication skills
- Excellent communication skills
- Able to learn and assimilate information quickly
- Proven ability to work to deadlines, prioritise and multi-task
- To have awareness of limitations and boundaries
Desirable
- Computer literacy
- Knowledge of computer systems-Cyberlab, Infoflex, Ultragenda
- Aseptic technique CVC care
- Venepuncture and cannulation
Person Specification
Qualifications and training
Essential
- NVQ 3 in healthcare related subject or equivalent
- Evidence of continuing professional development
- Literacy and numeracy to National Qualification Framework level 2
Desirable
- Foundation degree in health studies
- Courses/further study attended to demonstrate evidence of personal development
Knowledge and experience
Essential
- Good written and verbal communication skills
- Excellent communication skills
- Able to learn and assimilate information quickly
- Proven ability to work to deadlines, prioritise and multi-task
- To have awareness of limitations and boundaries
Desirable
- Computer literacy
- Knowledge of computer systems-Cyberlab, Infoflex, Ultragenda
- Aseptic technique CVC care
- Venepuncture and cannulation
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.
