Burns Unit Healthcare Support Worker | Queen Victoria Hospital NHS Foundation Trust

The Clinical Support Worker; Higher Level will work as part of the team with minimal supervision of registered practitioners to provide effective and safe patient centred care with the additional responsibility of undertaking a range of delegated clinical care duties, such as basic observations, blood glucose monitoring, and phlebotomy.

Contribute to the development of the care environment with a positive, professional attitude. Contribute to the maintenance of daily provision of service and care to meet the individual needs of patients and department. To support the smooth running of the department and ensuring that service users are treated in a friendly and efficient manner. Opportunities are available to develop your career within health care.

To undertake any other reasonable duties, responsibilities or projects as requested commensurate with the postholder’s skills, knowledge and experience.

Rated GOOD overall with outstanding care by the CQC. A specialist NHS hospital providing life-changing reconstructive surgery, burns care and rehabilitation services across the South of England and beyond. We specialise in conditions of the eyes (corneoplastics), hands, head and neck cancer and skin cancer, reconstructive breast surgery, maxillofacial surgery and prosthetics, providing regional and national services in these areas of clinical expertise.

Our world-leading clinical teams also treat more common conditions of the eyes, hands, skin, and teeth for the people of East Grinstead and the surrounding areas. In addition, QVH provides a minor injuries unit, expert therapies, a sleep service, and a growing portfolio of community-based services. Patients consistently rate QVH amongst the top hospitals in the country for quality of care. Our success is underpinned by the skills and enthusiasm of our staff and a strong culture of partnership. We are fully committed to training and development of the workforce with support for continuing education and learning.

Clinical/ Clinical Governance:

• Exchange factual information with patients using verbal and non-verbal communication skills to ensure patient understanding.
• Assess patient’s health, safety, wellbeing and comfort while undertaking personal care.
• Under direction of a registered practitioner, support a comprehensive level of care, maintaining high standards and provide a safe and effective environment for the continuity of care to patients and their relatives/friends/carers.
• Prioritise and plan own work activities.
• Assist in the orientation of patients to the care environment and available facilities.
• Undertake personal care duties, including bathing, toileting, dressing, assisting with personal appearance, assistance with meals, emotional and physical support ensuring privacy and dignity are maintained.
• Support patients to maintain function and normal activities of daily living.
• Assist patients to achieve rest and sleep by attending to comfort needs.
• Undertake a range of delegated clinical care duties and observations; blood pressure, pulse, pulse oximetry, neurological assessment, ECG, respirations, urinalysis, blood glucose monitoring, pregnancy and specimen taking and escalate any concerns.
• Carry out any other duties relevant to the post within own capability such as venepuncture, cannulation, wound assessments, simple dressings, removal of catheters.
• Assist with the admission and discharge of patients such as valuables and property.
• Assist with eating and drinking in line with care plan from registered professional and completion of relevant documentation.
• Assist in the evaluation of new equipment and resources.
• Assist to ensure the department is restocked and have shared responsibility for maintaining the cleaning of clinical areas e.g. making beds, cleaning furniture and equipment, and disposal of general waste.
• Assist with the provision of the day to day management of clinical equipment and report any problems to senior colleagues, completing the necessary documentation.
• Ensure a safe environment in the department for patients, staff and visitors and inform the Ward/Department manager or Nurse in Charge of potential hazards.
• Comply with COSHH regulation and other Health and Safety legislation.
• Effective communication with colleagues and other members of the MDT.
• To ensure patient documentation is factual, timely and accurate in both written and electronic formats.
• Ensure patients, visitors and staff are dealt with sensitively and professionally with due regard to ethnic origin, culture, religion, disability and sexual orientation.
• To deal with queries and problems from patients and staff, both on the telephone and personally, in a positive and helpful manner and escalate as appropriate.
• Support and overcome barriers to understanding using effective communication for patients with physical or mental impairments.
• Escalate any concerns about the patient to the relevant practitioner immediately and report on datix.
• Recognition of deteriorating patient and escalation process.