Senior Healthcare Assistant | The Christie NHS Foundation Trust in Manchester

We are currently looking to recruit enthusiastic, highly motivated Band 3 Healthcare Assistants in the Systemic Anti-Cancer Therapy (SACT) day unit who can deliver exceptional levels of care alongside a commitment to enhancing your personal and professional development. We provide extensive staff support and value staff for the individual qualities that they can bring to our service. We understand that changing jobs or embarking on your career can be daunting, but we will support you all the way.

The post holder is responsible for participating as part of the team within the unit/clinic/department. The post holder will assist in general care duties as specified below, under the overall guidance, supervision and direction of, and delegated by, a Registered Nurse. It is expected that some of the activities undertaken by the post-holder will be complex and non-routine, which will require the post holder to demonstrate the corresponding levels of knowledge, skills and taking increasing levels of responsibility/autonomy as competence is achieved and maintained.

The Christie is one of Europe’s leading cancer centres, treating over 60,000 patients a year. We are based in Manchester and serve a population of 3.2 million across Greater Manchester & Cheshire, but as a national specialist around 15% patients are referred to us from other parts of the country. We provide radiotherapy through one of the largest radiotherapy departments in the world; chemotherapy on site and through 14 other hospitals; highly specialist surgery for complex and rare cancer; and a wide range of support and diagnostic services. We are also an international leader in research, with world first breakthroughs for over 100 years. We run one of the largest early clinical trial units in Europe with over 300 trials every year. Cancer research in Manchester, most of which is undertaken on the Christie site, has been officially ranked the best in the UK.

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

• Clinical:

• Assists with the care of patients by:

• Under the delegation of the Registered Nurse undertake care delivery, record the patient interventions carried out utilising the patients nursing records. These records must be countersigned by the Registered Nurse who delegated the duties.
• Demonstrate respect for the individual patient, ensuring religious, cultural and social needs are considered at all times and acknowledge their individual rights.
• Where required, assist nursing staff if they are conducting procedures or investigations.
• Assisting patients in gaining access to, and in the use of, appropriate toilet facilities including catheter care, measuring and recording body waste/fluid balance accurately.
• Ensure patient’s nutritional needs are met by assisting in the preparation of patients prior to meals and beverages, giving help and assistance in feeding/drinking as necessary. Record intake on food charts, where in place. Support nutritional monitoring by weighing patients.
• Assist, direct and escort patients/visitors where and when appropriate.
• Ensuring a clean and safe environment for patients and escalating any concerns.
• Fluid balance monitoring.
• Handling patient’s personal possessions, ensuring money and valuables are kept securely.
• Specialing one-to-one as appropriate.
• Carrying out of cardio-pulmonary resuscitation as required.

• Where appropriate, to answer queries promptly and courteously, taking appropriate actions according to the mode of enquiry or the information required. As appropriate, inform or refer enquiries or problems to the relevant qualified staff.
• Assist the Registered Nurse in the process of undertaking clinical risk assessments e.g. recording height and weight, updating the nurse on any changes to a patient’s condition/ circumstances. Responsibility for undertaking the risk assessments lies with the Registered Nurse.
• Appropriately record and monitor dietary intake of patients, informing relevant staff of progress and/or any difficulties relating to dietary/fluid intake.
• Assist in providing conditions to meet the patient’s need for rest and sleep.
• Actively support and assist in alleviating distress and anxiety of patients or carers, consistent with their personal beliefs and preferences.
• Prepare trolleys for specific clinical procedures in line with trust policy utilising aseptic non-touch technique practices.
• Recognise and report abusive behaviour to an appropriate member of staff, documenting the same.

• Be responsible for self and others through identifying risks and undertaking work activities in a safe manner.
• Maintain cleanliness in the work environment, ensuring a clean and safe environment for patients, adhering to infection control policies and guidance in line with Trust health and safety policies.
• Prepare and maintain environments for clinical procedures.
• Contribute to the general tidiness and cleanliness of the clinical environment including the correct disposal of waste.
• Assist with the checking of clinic/department linen stock, where required. Contribute to the supply and maintenance of materials and equipment to ensure the efficient running of the clinical environment.
• Assist with the checking and recording of deliveries to the clinical areas against original orders. Ensure stock rotation is undertaken to minimise the risk of equipment becoming out of date.
• Assist in the transfer of materials and equipment as requested, including the maintenance of equipment as appropriate.
• Report faults on the clinic/unit/department as necessary.
• Reports all accidents and complaints according to the agreed policy to shift coordinator or senior staff.
• Contributes to the continuous improvement of services. May be required to demonstrate and assist more junior staff to gain clinical experience, skills and knowledge.
• Undertake all training required to perform duties effectively to the requirements of the post, including but not limited to attending all required mandatory training courses.
• Maintain own professional portfolio in accordance with personal development plans.
• Demonstrates the agreed set of values and accountable for own attitude and behaviour.

• Assist in preparing patients notes, relevant charts, nursing documentation, etc. and ensure that patient notes are available within the clinic/department and secure at all times.
• Undertake clerical duties as directed by the Registered Nurse in relation to all verbal and written communications, ensuring messages and communications are passed to other team members, storage of patient information and retrieval of such information.

These duties and responsibilities are neither exclusive nor exhaustive and staff may be required to undertake other duties and responsibilities consistent with the band.