Clinical Support Worker (CSW) in Oxford

Patient Care

• Undertake a range of delegated and specific clinical skills for patients that demonstrate an enhanced level of competency/technical expertise documented in the plan of care.
• Prepare patients, families/carers and the environment for clinical activities, supporting and reassuring patients and their families/carers and preparing specific equipment as necessary.
• Monitor closely patients having undergone a clinical activity ensuring their safety, comfort and well-being.
• Assist all patients of all genders with their personal care needs, empowering patients, and/or families/carers and actively encouraging participation.
• This may involve maintaining hygiene needs for individuals such as helping patients to wash and dress themselves and assisting with toileting needs, maintaining privacy and dignity at all times.
• Assess and monitor the patients' skin integrity and report and document immediately any changes or concerns in their condition.
• Demonstrate clinical competence in order to undertake minor dressings and treatment as specified in the plan of care and in consultation with the registered practitioner.
• Actively encourage all patients, families/carers to share the responsibility for maintenance of their health and to promote healthy living where appropriate and identified as part of the care plan.
• Assist patients to mobilise safely taking account of developmental/physical needs, using equipment and techniques as prescribed and record in plan of care.
• Contribute to the falls and moving and handling risk assessment.
• Assist in the care of a patient requiring end of life care in accordance with their spiritual and cultural needs.
• Assist as appropriate in the support of families/carers of patients receiving end of life care.
• Recognise when a patient's condition changes and seek advice and expertise from registered practitioners in accordance with Trust policy.
• Contribute to, understand and report identified patient risk assessments, e.g. nutritional assessment scores, slips, trips and falls assessment, use of medical devices as appropriate in line with Trust policy.
• Perform clinical observations accurately recording using agreed electronic national early warning systems and report and escalate any concerns appropriately by reporting to the registered practitioner immediately.
• Participate in the initial assessment of patient needs under the direct supervision of a registered practitioner.
• Assist patients to meet their food and fluid intake giving attention to special diets, supplements, enteral feeding and cultural requirements, recognising and understanding the importance of adequate nutrition and hydration.
• Ensure an age-appropriate nutritional assessment is undertaken, for example, MUST.
• All food, nutritional supplements and fluid intake should be recorded accurately as required.
• Seek support for self and others following an untoward incident.
• Report and raise concerns in relation to poor practice, attitude and behaviour of any health care professional through appropriate channels.
• Undertake patient transfer and escort duties between departments as appropriate as per policy.
• Recognise where a patient or family member/carer is becoming agitated, disorientated or appears non-compliant with care or treatment; support colleagues and report immediately to a registered practitioner.
• Respond swiftly to individuals who require immediate assistance, e.g. those who are in pain or are distressed, reporting to a registered practitioner in a timely manner.
• Competently obtain specimens as requested ensuring accurate labelling and transportation as per Trust policy.
• Demonstrate a good understanding of safeguarding children, the Mental Capacity Act/Deprivation of Liberties and apply principles to everyday practice seeking advice/guidance from the registered nurse or registered care professional as required.

Communication

• Communicate effectively with patients, families/carers, recognising there may be a need to utilise alternative methods of communication.
• Where there are barriers to understanding, arrange access to information, support and other services to aid effective communication.
• Greet all patients and visitors to the department with courtesy and respect, being mindful of age-specific body language and tone of voice.
• Demonstrate sensitivity and empathy.
• Help patients, families/carers and visitors orientate themselves to their surroundings when admitted to the ward specific to their needs, providing written and verbal information where required.
• Answer telephone calls and bleeps appropriately and efficiently, accurately relaying messages to both colleagues and patients using SBARR as appropriate.
• Maintain a high standard of personal behaviour, acting as a role model and ensure effective communication with all members of the multidisciplinary team, patients, families/carers and relatives.
• Use paper and electronic systems to retrieve and record patient information in line with Trust documentation standards and operational systems.
• Ensure information is accurate and securely maintained.
• Apply the principles of information governance and patient confidentiality to all aspects of your role.
• Obtain age/capacity appropriate consent from the patient/family/carer/guardian before any clinical intervention is undertaken; where this is not given report this to a registered practitioner.
• Actively participate and contribute to discussions about patient care and ward and departmental issues at handover and ward/departmental meetings.
• Encourage more junior members of staff to contribute.
• In instances when a patient, family/carer or visitor feels the need to raise a concern or complain attempt to deal with this locally initially, but always inform a registered practitioner.
• Support families, carers and colleagues following a patient bereavement, or when bad news has been shared.
• Seek and acknowledge constructive feedback and encourage others to do so.
• Seek support for self and others following an untoward incident as required.
• Escalate concerns regarding any health care professional through the appropriate routes and channels.
• Maintain professional boundaries and working relationships with patients and colleagues.
• Ensure patients, families and carers are kept informed of delays with their treatment, investigations and clinic times in a professional manner.
• Actively participate in the handover process to ensure continuity of care and accurately feedback to a registered practitioner the care given to patients during the shift and of any changes in the patients' condition.