Health Care Support Worker - Elective Surgery (Band 2)

Specific Duties & Responsibilities

• Assist with the service of meals and support patients who may need assistance with eating and drinking in line with their plan of care.
• Assist with the safe moving, handling and mobilisation of patients ensuring that care plans are followed to minimise risk.
• Communicate effectively with kindness, warmth and compassion recognising when there are barriers to communication where support may be required.
• Act as a patient and staff advocate, escalating concerns and challenging poor behaviour or practice appropriately.
• Maintain accurate records of care within area of responsibility.
• Observe and report any changes in a patient's condition to the Nurse in Charge.
• Involve patients and carers/relatives in delivery of care.
• Provide reassurance and support to patients, carers/family.
• Support the maintenance and cleanliness of the clinical environment by attending to general tidiness of the area including unpacking and storage of stock deliveries.
• Report any estates issues appropriately.
• Support clinical teams to fulfil cleaning responsibilities as identified in the National Cleaning Standards framework.
• Assist and contribute to the movement and treatment of patients to achieve physical comfort and minimise the adverse effects of pressure according to the plan of care.
• Contribute to minimising the effects of disruptive abusive behaviour and the protection of individuals from abuse.
• Answer the telephone and relay messages appropriately.
• In the absence of administrative support, support administrative functions as directed by the nurse in charge.
• Develop own skills and knowledge and contribute to the development of others.
• Once experienced assist with the induction of new Health Care Support Workers.
• Recognise and respond appropriately to urgent and emergency situations.
• Ensure the effective and efficient use of resources and contribute ideas to cost improvement programmes.
• Report any incidents, concerns, complaints or accidents to the Nurse 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 clinical environment with necessary training and as directed by the Ward Manager or Department Lead:
• Recording of patient information e.g., completion of fluid balance and food charts, stool charts, and recording on physiological observation charts (vital signs).
• Support the Registered Nurse in the delivery of end-of-life care and care of the deceased.
• Attend training in the use of equipment and devices appropriate to role and report faulty equipment promptly.
• Record all care provided in the Trust standard format.
• Beds made & changed in a timely manner to keep patients clean and comfortable and bed areas correctly prepared for new admissions.
• Ward equipment cleaned and labelled e.g. commodes, medical devices.
• Participate in regular patient checks known as Intentional rounding. Ensuring that patient comfort is maintained, skin checks are undertaken and recognising, reporting and recording changes to condition of skin.
• Order equipment as directed by the registered nurse using appropriate system e.g.: Use of E-trace for ordering appropriate mattress.
• 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 using appropriate infection prevention and control precautions.
• Test patient blood glucose levels from capillary samples recording results and escalating when required.
• To collect specimens of urine, sputum or faeces as requested and according to ward/ department procedures.
• To assist patients in completing ward menus.
• To accompany patients to other departments as deemed appropriate by the nurse in charge in line with Trust transfer policy.
• Remove cannulas and apply dressings as directed by the nurse in charge.
• Provide patients with appropriate activities and stimulation to promote wellbeing and recovery in particular when providing enhanced 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 during intimate cares and examinations.