Job responsibilities
Communicate clearly, effectively and appropriately with the multidisciplinary team, patients and their family/visitors/carers including when patient/client has physical impairment, mental health condition or learning disabilities.
Respond appropriately to queries, take phone messages, and pass on written and verbal information to patients.
Provide basic information to patients, family/visitors/carers and colleagues
Aware of the importance of accurate documentation and contribute to reports of patients activity and progress
Accept constructive feedback
Give constructive feedback to colleagues
Participate in discussions about patient care and ward/departmental development, including handover and team meetings
Maintain patient confidentiality
Maintain professional boundaries and working relationships with patients and colleagues
Understand own level of responsibility and accountability in relation to trained staff
Identify own learning needs and produce a personal development plan in conjunction with the ward sister/charge nurse
Participate in annual staff appraisal, staff development and in-service training activities in line with the Knowledge and Skills Framework
Attend Trust/local orientation programmes, mandatory training sessions and annual updates
Take part in reflection and appropriate learning from practice, in order to maintain and develop competence and performance
Assist in maintaining a clean environment that is conducive to safe practice
Report any issues at work that may put health, safety and security at risk
Summon immediate help for any emergency and take appropriate action to contain it
Understand the principles and practice of Infection Control as per trust policy
Work within own personal/professional limitations and seek help of others to maintain safe practice.
Identify potential risks for all staff, patients and visitors and assist with relevant incident reporting procedures
Clean patient equipment as required
Handle and dispose of all body fluids in accordance with trust policy
Undertake administrative and clerical tasks associated with patient care to facilitate the smooth running of the ward/department
Maintain adequate levels of stock, equipment and materials and facilitate the efficient, effective use of resources; report when availability falls below an acceptable standard or level
Pass on constructive views and ideas for improving services to ward sister/charge nurse
Ensure a welcoming, caring and safe environment is provided for the patient and their family/visitors/carers
Aware of and maintains required standard of care
Ensure that patient areas are kept clean and tidy
Comply with Trust/local policies and procedures Carry out duties and responsibilities with regard to the Trusts Equal Opportunity policy
Recognise the importance of peoples rights and act in accordance with legislation, policies and procedures
Act in ways that acknowledge and recognise peoples expressed beliefs, preferences and choices; respecting diversity and valuing people as individuals
Take account of own behaviour and its effect on others
Maintain and improve the patients mobility using appropriate equipment and handling techniques
Assist the patient to be as comfortable as possible, i.e., help with moving and positioning the patient using appropriate equipment
Assist with checking pain levels and requesting pain relieving medication on patients behalf
Involve the patient in shared decision-making and obtain their consent before undertaking nursing procedures
Prepare appropriately for the activity to be undertaken
Support and encourage the patient to meet their own health and wellbeing needs
Undertake care activities to meet individuals health and wellbeing needs, once competence demonstrated:
Work co-operatively as part of the multi-disciplinary team, helping nursing, midwifery and other clinical staff in routine work associated with patient care
Support qualified nurses in the implementation of programmes of care within the limits of the Healthcare Assistants knowledge and competence
Provide comfort, reassurance, and support to patients and/or their carers if anxious or distressed
Providing care for the deceased patient
Assist with essential patient care, e.g., making beds, sorting clean linen, distributing menu cards, helping patients to complete menu cards, ensuring patient areas are kept clean and tidy etc.
Assist patients to become as independent as possible by giving the appropriate level of support as delegated and under supervision
Maintain patients personal and oral hygiene, e.g. help with dressing / undressing, giving bed baths
Help patients to move and assist with pressure area care / awareness of SSKIN bundle
Documents patient care, which is witnessed and countersigned by registered staff (note: Patients with oxygen can only have 3L or less in progress for an HCA escort)
Chaperone patients
Have a basic understanding of special dietary needs and implications for the patients condition
Ensure adequate hydration and nutritional intake including feeding patients
Record accurately intake and output, e.g., food and fluid charts, informing registered staff where deficit is observed
Record routine observations as designated by the nurse in charge (following training and having been assessed as competent, e.g. TPR and BP, urinalysis, ECG, blood glucose monitoring)
Assist patients to access and use appropriate toilet facilities, ensuring privacy and dignity are maintained. Support patients to maintain continence
Alert trained staff promptly of changes in the patients condition or any possible risks
Carry out training of clinical procedure as required under supervision and where service requires:
Complete and record routine vital signs as delegated by registered staff
Completion of simple wound dressings, cannula, and catheter removal
Perform bowel management for patients by inserting suppositories, performing manual evacuation and record and report outcomes to a registered nurse.
Alert registered staff promptly of changes in the patients condition or any potential risks
Perform hoisting and transferring safely of a patient from; bed chair commode.
Apply brace and splints as necessary.
Have knowledge and perform appropriate management of Autonomic Dysreflexia, Chocking, Emergency Turning, Orthostatic Hypotention, Vaso-vagal attack.
Perform passive limb exercises for patients, EG. Upper and lower limb stretches.
Perform tracheal suction for patients who require domiciliary ventilation under the supervision of registered nurses.
Care of patient exhibiting aggressive behaviour.
Demonstrates work and supervises new starters
Able to use IT (Information Technology) at a basic level to input and retrieve information
Competence in appropriate use of electronic patient records following training
The job description is not intended to be exhaustive, and it is likely that duties may be altered from time to time in the light of changing circumstances and after consultation with the post holder.
You will be expected to actively participate in annual appraisals and set objectives in conjunction with your manager. Performance will be monitored against set objectives.
Safeguarding Children and Vulnerable Adults At Risk
The Trust recognises its duty to safeguard and promote the welfare of children, young people and adults. Staff must at all times treat patients with dignity and respect protecting, young people and adults at risk from abuse and neglect.
Employees have a responsibility to ensure that prompt and appropriate action is taken when concerns have been made about a child, young person or adults at risk. Employees should be aware of their responsibilities as detailed in the Local Safeguarding Children Procedures and Safeguarding Adults at Risk Policy.
The Trust will assist you by providing mandatory training, support and advice.
Safeguarding children and adults is everyones business
The post holder will be expected to behave in a way that is actively anti-racist, anti-discriminatory and facilitate equality and equity at all times within their role.
We are a Level 2 Disability Confident Employer. If you have a Disability (including conditions that affect your mobility, senses, mental health, neurodivergence or long-term health) and require support to make the workplace accessible, we will make reasonable adjustments to support you. Therefore, we encourage you to declare your disability, identify what support you need and we will make the workplace accessible to your needs.
We are an organisation that supports flexible working and are able consider and offer a range of flexible working practices. Depending upon the nature of your role, this can include hybrid home working, part-time roles and job shares.
IT Skills
All staff are required to demonstrate a level of IT literacy skills appropriate to their job, as the use of IT is fundamental in delivering good quality efficient health care.
Effort and Environment
The following information has been designed to assist the recording of the effort and environment factors required for Agenda for Change.
Mental
Frequent periods of concentration. Ability to manage interruptions.
Emotional
May occasionally deal with sensitive issues, and/or support staff who may be upset or in distress.
