Health Care Support Worker Band 2

Job description

Job responsibilities

Main Duties At all times treat patients, service users, families, visitors andcolleagues with dignity and respect to deliver compassionate care,exercising discretion and behaving in a manner consistent withAiredale NHS Foundation Trust Right Care Values. To maintain confidentiality in all aspects of work and work within theHealthcare Support Worker Code of Conduct. Work in a collaborative and co-operative manner with othermembers of the care team to meet the holistic needs of patients andcarers. To establish and maintain effective communication and relationshipswith the multi-disciplinary team, respecting the equality and diversityof each and every person he/she/they comes into contact within thecourse of his/her/their business. Uphold the privacy and dignity of patients at all times. Work in line with Trust policies and procedures and within scope ofcompetence, undertaking mandatory training and essential skillstraining as identified for the role. Contribute to the development of the clinical area, throughcontribution of new ideas to improve patient care/experience and byescalating concerns appropriately. Under the direction of the Registered Healthcare Professional,provide good quality personalised care in accordance with agreedlocal and national standards using a wide range of skills. Achieve and maintain core and departmental specific competenciesas a HCSW as agreed with manager. Participate in the admission, transfer and discharge of patients.

Assist with the service of meals . Assist with the safe moving, handling and mobilisation of patientsensuring that care plans are followed to minimise risk. Communicate effectively with kindness, warmth and compassionrecognising when there are barriers to communication wheresupport may be required. Act as a patient and staff advocate, escalating concerns andchallenging poor behaviour or practice appropriately. Maintain accurate records of care within area of responsibility. Observe and report any changes in a patients condition to theNurse in Charge. Provide reassurance and support to patients, carers/family. Support the maintenance and cleanliness of the clinical environmentby attending to general tidiness of the area including unpacking andstorage of stock deliveries. Report any estates issues appropriately. Support clinical teams to fulfil cleaning responsibilities as identifiedin the National Cleaning Standards framework. To answer the telephone and relay messages appropriately. In the absence of administrative support, support administrativefunctions as directed by the nurse in charge. Develop own skills and knowledge and contribute to thedevelopment of others. Once experienced assist with the induction of new Health CareSupport Workers. Recognise and respond appropriately to urgent and emergencysituations. Ensure the effective and efficient use of resources and contributeideas to cost improvement programmes. Report any incidents, concerns, complaints or accidents to theNurse 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

Clinical Duties Must be able to undertake other tasks appropriate to the clinicalenvironment with necessary training and as directed by the WardManager or Department Lead: Recording of patient information e.g., completion of fluid balanceand food charts, stool charts, and recording on physiologicalobservation charts (vital signs) Attend training in the use of equipment and devices appropriate torole and reports faulty equipment promptly Record all care provided in the Trust standard format Beds made & changed in a timely manner to keep patients cleanand comfortable and bed areas correctly prepared for newadmissions Ward equipment cleaned and labelled e.g. commodes, medicaldevices Completion of property checklists and disclaimers To undertake physiological observations recording blood pressure,pulse, temperature, respirations and oxygen saturations. Calculation of National Early Warning Score (NEWS) score,reporting any abnormalities to the Nurse in Charge. Empty drainage bags such as catheter bags, stoma bags usingappropriate infection prevention and control precautions Test patient blood glucose levels from capillary samples recordingresults and escalating when required To assist patients in completing ward menus To accompany patients to other departments as deemedappropriate by the nurse in charge in line with Trust transfer policy Remove cannulas and apply dressings as directed by the nurse incharge Provide patients with appropriate activities and stimulation topromote wellbeing and recovery in particular when providingenhanced care. Participate in audit activities at the request of the Ward manager /Department lead Act as a chaperone to support privacy and dignity of patients duringintimate cares and examinations

Patient Safety and Experience Understand importance of individual role and contribution inensuring that patients, service users and carers have a positiveexperience of care. To ensure appropriate escalation of concerns and use of AdverseEvent Form (AEF) reporting system. Take responsibility for adapting communication style to meet theneeds of patients, service users and carers adopting basic deescalationtechniques when needed. Ensure up to date knowledge of risks in the area and any key safetymessages as communicated by the Ward Manager/ DepartmentLead. Ensure active participation in safety initiatives in the ward ordepartment such as safety briefs. Ensure compliance with infection prevention and control practicesreporting any concerns to the nurse in charge. Understand own contribution in creating a psychologically safeenvironment by displaying appropriate behaviours and treatingcolleagues and service users with respect and civility. Ensure that call bells are responded to in a timely way and thatintentional rounding is completed in line with local guidelines.Communication To establish and maintain good working relationships with membersof the multi -disciplinary team Ensure effective communication using professional language andensuring that conversations take place in an appropriate setting Communicate with patients, service, users and carers at a pace andtone that is understood, using communication aids as required Ensure high standard of written communication in areas ofresponsibility Takes an active part in Team Meetings Support ward activity by answering the telephone to supportcommunication and enhance the care environment Gives clear and concise advice to people on the procedures inplace eg PALS, complaints. Introduces self to patients at the start of each shift. Visitors are welcomed in a manner which promotes a positive imageof self, the ward/department and the team.Mandatory Training Be aware of and undertake mandatory and other trainingrequirements necessary for the successful and safe performance ofyour job, including relevant updates

Equal OpportunitiesCarry out your duties in line with Trust Equality policies andprocedures, including relevant legislation, to deliver and promoteequity of access to healthcare and equality of opportunity.Infection Prevention and ControlBe familiar with and follow the Trust Infection Control Policies anddesignated hand hygiene procedures appropriate to your post. Inaddition, you should take action to report to your manager orappropriate person any incidents or poor practice that may result in thespread of infection.Information GovernanceMaintain and process all information concerning patients, staff,contractors or the business of the Trust to which the post holder hasaccess, without divulging such information to any third party or makeuse of information gained in the course of employment, except wherethis is clearly within the remit of the post holder and the other partysresponsibility. The Trust recognises the importance of reliableinformation. The quality of this data is crucial in that it should give acomplete, accurate and timely representation of events to supportpatient care, clinical governance, monitoring performance,management and service agreements for healthcare planning andaccountability. All information entered onto any record whether manualor electronic or any other media (film, tape etc.) should be accurate,timely, complete, valid, defined, appropriately sought, appropriatelyrecorded and should be stored securely and confidentially. Furtherinformation on the Trusts Health Records Policy can be obtainedfrom the Trusts Intranet site.Manual HandlingManoeuvre light goods and equipment in accordance with manualhandling regulations and good practice.Safeguarding Adults & ChildrenUnderstand and work within policies and local procedures relating toSafeguarding Children and the Protection of Vulnerable Adults.Personal DevelopmentDemonstrate the suitability to undertake an appropriate care awarerelevant to the department.Demonstrate the commitment to achieving the award through periodicPDR review.Health & SafetyYou are required to: co-operate with supervisors, managers and otheremployees to achieve a healthy and safe environment, to takereasonable care of your own health and safety and that of otherpersons who may be affected by your actions, to carry out yourresponsibilities in ways that help to ensure a safe and healthy place ofwork.You are to bring to the attention of your supervisor or manager:Any situation which reasonably could be considered to represent aserious or immediate danger to the health and safety of any person.Any matter which reasonably could be considered to represent ashortcoming in the Trusts health and safety protection arrangements.

Person Specification

Qualifications

Essential

• Possess or be willing to work towards the care certificate
• Be able to demonstrate basic literacy and numeracy skills required for the post

Desirable

• Level 2 diploma in Health and Social Care
• Functional skills level 1 numeracy

Experience & Achievements

Desirable

• Experience of working in a formal care setting or as an informal carer
• Previous experience of dealing with the public

Knowledge

Essential

• Understanding of what 'confidentiality' is and how you put into practice
• Good listening, written and verbal communication skills
• Be well organised happy to work in a team but also able to use own initiative
• Able to follow direct instructions
• Understanding of equality and diversity and how you put it into practice

Desirable

• Demonstrate literacy in IT

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

Airedale NHS Foundation Trust

Address

Airedale NHS Foundation Trust

Airedale NHS trust

keighley

BD20 6TD

Employer's website

https://www.airedale-trust.nhs.uk (Opens in a new tab)