Health Care Assistant - Complex Rehabilitation Unit in Southport

Care duties and support for patients in meeting hygiene needs and completing personal care and grooming, including emptying catheter bags. Support with toileting, ensuring privacy and dignity is maintained. Manage incontinence and monitor fluid intake and output using fluid balance charts, reporting information to the Registered Nurse.

Prepare and serve meals, drinks and snacks, and assist with feeding as necessary. Assist patients with menu choices and liaise with the Catering Team on meal numbers. Report dietary intake as indicated in the patient’s plan of care.

Carry out movement and handling within safe practice guidelines from mandatory training and in relation to the patient’s manual handling risk assessment and care plan. Enable mobility through exercises and mobility aids as directed by individual care plans. Help prevent pressure sore development as directed by the Registered Nurse and the patient’s plan of care.

Obtain specimens for ward or laboratory testing. Escort patients to clinical departments and assist the Registered Nurse in performing last offices where required. Conduct general observations and report anything untoward to Nursing Staff. Recognise and escalate changes in patient condition to Nursing Staff. Initiate Basic Life Support techniques as appropriate and assist the Registered Nurse in prolonged resuscitation.

Consider patients’ customs, values and spiritual beliefs of patients and carers. Support all individuals through effective communication. Undertake general duties such as bed making, preparing beds for new admissions, maintaining a clean and safe environment, stocking supplies, and safe disposal of clinical waste and sharps as per Trust policy.

Support nursing team in managing abusive and aggressive behaviour with supervision. Participate in orientation of less experienced staff and demonstrate own duties. Acknowledge limits of knowledge and complete required competencies. Seek appropriate advice and support as needed.

Administration Duties: Undertake a range of administrative duties to support the ward, which may include answering the telephone and passing on messages, basic computer skills, retrieving charts and care documentation, acting as messenger, completing maintenance repair forms and reporting to the engineering department. The post holder may provide cover for absent colleagues and will follow all organisational policies and procedures.