General Porter | Bristol NHS Foundation Trust (BFT)

To work as part of the operational team responsible for providing a comprehensive patient support service in the hospital environment. This will involve carrying out the following Facilities Management functions:

• The primary function is the movement of patients, consumable products, waste, furniture, medical equipment, gasses, beds, mattresses etc.
• The cleaning of all Portering equipment, delivery of blood products and responding to Major incidents.
• Allocate jobs to peers on a ‘next person’ basis to warrant fairness.
• Communicate to public, staff and peers.

To provide a high quality responsive, efficient and effective patient support service to wards and departments in North Bristol NHS Trust acting in a caring and professional manner and working in line with the Facilities and departmental operating procedures.

A Full, Clean, UK Manual Driving license is essential for this post.

Knowledge

• Understanding of Portering activities.
• Understanding of Department and Trust Health and Safety policies, written safe systems of work and Department rules and procedures.
• Understanding of Portering equipment processes.
• Understanding and knowledge of pathology procedures for movement of blood products.
• Check signing in sheets and record staff on levels.
• Allocate jobs as they arrive on a ‘next person’ basis to ensure fairness.
• Paperwork to be checked and signed off as necessary.
• Produce blood track form (pink slip) from the blood tracking system.
• Allocate to ‘next person’ in line – (trained staff).
• Complete blood tracking paperwork to confirm receipt.

Training

• Customer and support services or equivalent experience to an NVQ Level 2.
• Mandatory training as required for the role.
• Collection and transportation of blood products.
• Trust, Patient Support/Directorate Services induction training.
• On the job induction training.

Experience

• Working in a busy multi-faceted environment.
• Working in a team-based environment.

Bristol NHS Foundation Trust brings together more than 28,000 staff to deliver over 160 clinical services across thirteen hospital locations, operating from three main sites at Southmead, Bristol city centre and Weston. With an annual turnover of £2.3 billion, we are now one of the largest NHS trusts in the United Kingdom. Our hospitals are spread across Bristol and Weston, join us and you can enjoy the very best of both worlds; city living within a stone’s throw of the countryside or beside the seaside, both with easy access to all that the South West has to offer.

Bristol NHS Foundation Trust values all people as individuals. As an equal opportunities employer actively working towards a diverse workforce we aim to recruit and retain a workforce which represents the rich diversity of the local population at all levels and are committed to designing our services around the needs of individual patients and those around them.

Physical Effort

• Duties involve standing/walking for long periods of time during the shift.
• Duties may involve undertaking physically demanding tasks e.g. moving cages of approximately 300kg in weight as and when required.

Mental Effort

• Being aware of health and safety implications involved in duties and their potential effect on others e.g. Ensuring that equipment is stored appropriately.
• At ward level keeping a professional distance from patients and always ensuring confidentiality.
• Working to schedules which may be subject to change.

Emotional Effort

• Whilst working at ward level being able to cope with witnessing distressing sights of patients who are very ill and may be at the end stages of life.
• Whilst working in the Emergency Department witnessing traumatic injuries.
• In the course of your duties you will need to be sensitive when coming into contact with patients and members of the public who may be experiencing high levels of stress and anxiety, are confrontational or under the influence of alcohol/drugs.

Working Conditions

• You will be expected to display a professional image at all times.
• You will be required to wear clean official uniform and covered in low-heeled footwear.
• You will be expected to comply with the department and trust policies relating to uniform and the wearing of jewellery, nail polish etc.
• You will be expected to act in a courteous manner to all staff, visitors and patients.
• Duties will involve working bank holidays when required to meet the needs of the service.
• When working at ward level you will be expected to use alcohol gel on entering the ward and to thoroughly wash hands frequently and after completing tasks.
• When working within the retained estate be subject to extreme weather conditions.

Shortlisting Criteria

• Education/Training/Qualifications: English and maths GCSE.
• Full clean driving License.

Work Experience:

• Working as part of a team in a busy environment.
• A role where you must complete multiple tasks daily.

Customer Care

Personal Qualities/Special Circumstances:

• Excellent personal values and an interest in having a positive impact on patient experience.