Senior Healthcare Assistant

Job responsibilities

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

Clinical:

1. Assists with the care of patients by:

- Under the delegation of the Registered Nurse undertake care delivery, record the patient interventions carried out utilising the patients nursing records. These records must be countersigned by the Registered Nurse who delegated the duties.

- Demonstrate respect for the individual patient, ensuring religious, cultural and social needs are considered at all times and acknowledge their individual rights.

- Where required, assist nursing staff if they are conducting procedures or investigations.

- Assisting patients in gaining access to, and in the use of, appropriate toilet facilities including catheter care, measuring and recording body waste/fluid balance accurately.

- Ensure patients nutritional needs are met by assisting in the preparation of patients prior to meals and beverages, giving help and assistance in feeding/drinking as necessary. Record intake on food charts, where in place. Support nutritional monitoring by weighing patients.

- Assist, direct and escort patients/visitors where and when appropriate.

- Ensuring a clean and safe environment for patients and escalating any concerns.

- Fluid balance monitoring.

- Handling patients personal possessions, ensuring money and valuables are kept securely.

- Providing enhanced therapeutic observation as appropriate.

- Carrying out of cardio-pulmonary resuscitation as required.

2. Complete all appropriate documentation relevant to care provided and update patients named nurse / shift coordinator where required.

3. Assist patients in maintaining their personal hygiene, grooming and dressing needs with specific concern for their religious, cultural and personal preference, ensuring privacy and dignity at all times. Undertake oral hygiene procedures for patients as per trust protocol.

4. Perform and record patients vital signs as directed, reporting findings to Registered Nurse on duty, or in their absence to Medical staff. Perform and record temperature, blood pressure, respiration and pulse, oxygen saturation, modified early warning scores, height & weight, urine testing (including Midstream Specimen, 24Hr urine collection, etc.) as per Trust policy, reporting results to a Registered Nurse.

5. Provide a clinical phlebotomy service demonstrating expertise according to Phlebotomy guidelines and ensure that the samples and specimens are forwarded to appropriate laboratory services. Perform venous cannulation. Carry out central venous catheter bloods and central line care as per trust policy. Have a basic understanding of normal and altered blood values and escalate results as appropriate.

6. Perform electrocardiograms (ECG) in line with Trust policy and reporting to the Registered Nurse and/or medical staff once completed.

7. Assist patients in their mobility requirements, help move and position appropriately to maximise their physical comfort utilising equipment as directed by the multi professional team. Assist in the care of patients pressure areas and prevention of pressure sores. Assist patients to improve and maximise their mobility, utilising equipment as directed by the multi professional team.

8. Assist in meal service as required in line with Trust hygiene and food handling policy.

9. At the delegation of the Registered Nurse transfer the patient/client from one care area to another, i.e. ward environment to discharge lounge/ other ward. Chaperone the patient as required ensuring appropriate support.

10. Welcome and orientate patients, visitors and others to the ward/department and ensure that all communications result in effective customer care.

11. Assist in the correct procedure of duties relating to last offices for deceased persons. Ensure that all religious and cultural wishes, obligations are adhered with.

12. Communicate well within the team at all times. Demonstrate a pleasant and approachable manner and help create and promote a good team working relationship. Proactively help patients and carers to take an active role in care delivery.

Clinical Support:

1. Assist the Registered Nurse in the process of undertaking clinical risk assessments e.g. recording height and weight, updating the nurse on any changes to a patients condition/circumstances. Responsibility for undertaking the risk assessments lies with the Registered Nurse.

2. Appropriately record and monitor dietary intake of patients, informing relevant staff of progress and/or any difficulties relating to dietary/fluid intake.

3. Assist in providing conditions to meet the patients need for rest and sleep.

4. Actively support and assist in alleviating distress and anxiety of patients or carers, consistent with their personal beliefs and preferences.

5. Record patients items of property, ensuring valuables are correctly placed into safekeeping.

6. Prepare trolleys for specific clinical procedures in line with trust policy utilising asceptic non touch technique practices.

7. Recognise and report abusive behaviour to an appropriate member of staff, documenting the same.

Environment Support:

1. Be responsible for self and others through identifying risks and undertaking work activities in a safe manner.

2. Maintain cleanliness in the work environment, ensuring a clean and safe environment for patients, adhering to infection control policies and guidance in line with Trust health and safety policies.

3. Prepare and maintain environments for clinical procedures.

4. Contribute to the general tidiness and cleanliness of the clinical environment including the correct disposal of waste.

5. Assist with the checking of ward linen stock, where required. Contribute to the supply and maintenance of materials and equipment to ensure the efficient running of the clinical environment.

6. Assist with the checking and recording of deliveries to the clinical areas against original orders. Ensure stock rotation is undertaken to minimise the risk of equipment becoming out of date.

7. Assist in the transfer of materials and equipment as requested, including the maintenance of equipment as appropriate.

8. Report faults on the ward as necessary.

9. Reports all accidents and complaints according to the agreed policy to shift coordinator or senior staff.

10. Contributes to the continuous improvement of services. May be required to demonstrate and assist more junior staff to gain clinical experience, skills and knowledge.

11. Undertake all training required to perform duties effectively to the requirements of the post, including but not limited to attending all required mandatory training courses.

12. Maintain own professional portfolio in accordance with personal development plans.

13. Demonstrates the agreed set of values and accountable for own attitude and behaviour.

Administration:

1. Assist in preparing patients notes, relevant charts, nursing documentation and identity bracelets prior to, and on admission.

2. Undertake clerical duties as directed by the Registered Nurse in relation to all verbal and written communications, ensuring messages and communications are passed to other team members, storage of patient information and retrieval of such information.

These duties and responsibilities are neither exclusive nor exhaustive and staff may be required to undertake other duties and responsibilities consistent with the band.

Qualifications

Essential

• Vocational healthcare qualification at level 3 or equivalent experience.
• Evidence of competency in band 3 clinical skills.
• Basic literacy and numeracy skills

Desirable

• Speciality specific training

Experience

Essential

• Experience of working in a healthcare environment, undertaking a range of clinical commitments.
• Experience of working with a multi-disciplinary team

Desirable

• Experience of working within more than one speciality within a health care environment.
• Oncology experience

Skills

Essential

• Good communication skills (written and verbal)
• Competent in clinical skills appropriate to the job role (including taking and recording vital signs, ECGs, phlebotomy, cannulation)
• Basic IT skills

Desirable

• Ability to demonstrate care skills to more junior healthcare support workers.

Knowledge

Essential

• In-depth understanding of the healthcare support worker role.
• Participate in personal development.

Desirable

• Evidence of recent training.

Values

Essential

• Ability to demonstrate the organisational values and behaviours.

Personal Attributes

Essential

• Committed to delivering high standards of patient/ customer care.
• Empathetic and caring.
• Professional outlook and positive attitude.
• Honest and trustworthy.
• Able to meet the flexible needs of the role and duty roster (including nights and weekend working)

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.

Certificate of Sponsorship

Applications from job seekers who require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website (Opens in a new tab).

From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants, applying for entry clearance into the UK, have had to present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Adult dependants (over 18 years old) are also subject to this requirement. Guidance can be found here Criminal records checks for overseas applicants (Opens in a new tab).