Health Care Assistant (Cardiology)

Blackpool Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust is situated on the west coast of Lancashire, with services covering the local authority areas of Blackpool, Fylde and Wyre. The Trust is part of the Lancashire and South Cumbria Integrated Care System (ICS) supporting a population of around 1.6 million people. We have three main hospitals providing acute services to around 330,000 local residents. The organisation also provides specialist tertiary care for cardiac and haematology services, delivers community health services to over 445,000 residents including those in North Lancashire and hosts the National Artificial Eye Service across England. Plus, we provide urgent and emergency care services to an estimated 18 million people who visit the seaside resort each year. We employ over 7000 people from 68 different countries.

We welcome and encourage applications from anyone with protected characteristics, as well as supporting reservists and Veterans who are looking for a rewarding and challenging career within the NHS. Blackpool Teaching Hospitals encourages flexible working in all our roles to support staff in maintaining a healthy home-life balance. Working patterns such as part-time working, self-rostering, compressed hours, annualised hours, term time, reverse term time and flexitime working can be explored.

We are excited to offer a Healthcare Assistant position within Ward 37, a 33-bed cardiology unit within the Tertiary Division. The posts available are one full-time position of 37.5 hours per week. Ward 37 is a busy and dynamic environment that specialises in Cardiology, but also cares for a broad range of patients. While many of our patients are admitted with acute cardiac conditions requiring cardiac monitoring, we also care for medical outlying patients from other specialities and patients requiring enhanced care.

You will be joining a friendly, supportive team dedicated to delivering the highest standards of care, with a strong focus on compassionate care, teamwork and professional development.

Main duties of the job

• Supporting registered nursing staff in delivering safe and effective care
• Assisting patients with activities of daily living such as washing, dressing, toileting, eating and mobilising
• Providing care with empathy, compassion and dignity
• Maintaining professional standards of care and behaviour in line with ward and trust policies
• Accurately documenting patient care and reporting any changes in condition to the nursing team
• Supporting the ward in achieving and maintaining our accreditation scheme standards
• Being an active part of the multidisciplinary team, contributing to a positive and safe environment for patients and staff alike.

Working for our organisation

Joining Ward 37 means becoming part of a welcoming team within a leading Tertiary hospital setting. We pride ourselves on:

• A strong team culture focused on support, kindness and professional respect
• Providing structured training and development, including supernumerary period at the start of your role
• Encouraging all staff to develop their potential
• A positive and inclusive workplace where every member of staff is valued

You'll be working alongside experienced professionals who are passionate about patient care and staff wellbeing.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

• Deliver direct patient care alongside your team
• Promote independence and comfort in all care activities
• Support patients with nutritional and hydration needs
• Observe, monitor and record clinical observations as required (training provided)
• Use appropriate infection prevention and control measures at all times.

Communication and Teamwork

• Communicate clearly and sensitively with patients, families and colleagues
• Report any concerns or changes in a patient's condition to the nurse in charge
• Work effectively as part of a multidisciplinary team

Professional Development

• Participate in ward training sessions and competency development
• Complete all required mandatory training and the Care Certificate (if applicable)
• Engage in reflective practice and continuous learning

Maintaining Standards

• Uphold Trust values and ensure high-quality care at all times
• Contribute to achieving ward quality standards and participate in audits and feedback initiatives
• Help maintain a clean, safe and welcoming environment for all patients and visitors

Person specification

• National Vocational Qualification (NVQ) Level 2 or 3 in Care (or equivalent)
• Basic level of general education (GCSEs in Maths and English)
• Excellent command of English – particularly in verbal communication
• Care Competency Certificate

Experience

• Experience of working within a team
• Experience of working with people
• Experience of working in an acute hospital trust
• Experience as a Healthcare Assistant

Skills/Attributes

• Understanding of quality and change in the clinical setting.
• Ability to communicate in a variety of settings with patients of varying levels of understanding.
• Able to present factual information and refer questions to others where appropriate.
• Able to deal with sensitive issues with tact and diplomacy.
• An understanding of organisation of nursing care.
• Basic I.T. skills in email.
• Basic understanding of NHS issues.
• Ability to develop effective interpersonal relationships with colleagues in the health care setting.
• Carry out clinical interventions as delegated by a RN or Doctor as agreed by local protocols.
• Able to perform a wide range of duties
• Able to perform ECGs
• Able to undertake venepuncture
• Able to monitor basic observations (Blood Pressure, Heart Rate, Oxygen Saturations etc)

Any invitation to interview will be sent to the email account stated on your application form. If the role you have applied for requires a Disclosure and Barring Services (DBS) check we will administer this as part of your pre-employment checks. Please note, you will be required to repay the cost on appointment. This will be collected via a salary deduction. You can choose whether to pay this over 1-3 months from your salary or as a one-off payment on commencement in post. The level of check required depends on the role that you have been offered. Currently the charges are - Basic DBS check £25.50, Standard DBS check £25.50 and Enhanced DBS check £53.50. You are encouraged where possible, to register for the DBS update service. This is an annual registration fee of £16. By registering for the update service you will not have the additional cost of repeated disclosures. Should you withdraw your application, you may be required to reimburse the cost of the DBS check. DBS checks remain free of charge for volunteer positions.

By submitting an application for this vacancy you are confirming your agreement to the above in the event you are successfully appointed. The DBS Code of Practice can be accessed here. Please ensure that you read the Person Specification attached below as your application will be judged against this. Please note that every effort will be made to keep the vacancy live until the published closing date, though there may be instances where such interest is generated, that for administrative reasons the post may close earlier. Please note that in line with national NHS guidelines this Trust operates a strict non-smoking policy. Members of staff are not permitted to smoke on Trust premises or grounds at any time nor take breaks during working hours for the purposes of smoking. The Trust does not offer interview expenses to shortlisted candidates unless indicated in the advert.