Nursing Support Worker (Critical Care/High Dependency) in Pontyclun

Job overview

An exciting opportunity has arisen to join the Critical Care Unit (ITU/HDU) at the Royal Glamorgan Hospital is now looking to recruit a Nursing Support Worker - Band 3

The Critical Care Unit at the Royal Glamorgan Hospital is an 10 bedded unit providing level 2 and 3 care to a wide cohort of patients including Surgical, Medical, Renal and Trauma Orthopaedics . We also care for critically ill patients requiring stabilisation before transfer to regional services.

The post holder will be required to ensure the highest standard of patient centred care. This will reflect the high-quality standards and values and behaviours of the University Health Board, and contribute to the implementation of policies and procedures within their sphere of responsibility.

The post holder will work alongside the Multi Disciplinary Team supporting with clinical care and service delivery.

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· Work as part of the multidisciplinary team delivering care to patients within critical care/high dependency under supervision provided by a registered health care professional.

· Work alongside the registered health professional, undertaking personal care activities and clinical care duties as delegated by a registered healthcare professional in accordance with the HEIW All Wales Guidelines for Delegation.

· Give technical assistance in the setting up, maintenance and testing of a range of critical care equipment.

· Ensure the working environment is safe and hygienic, following infection prevention and control policies and processes.

· Contribute to the teaching and supervision of students and junior staff.

· Delivers role in accordance with Health Board/Trust Values and Code of Conduct for HCSW’s in Wales.

This post is advertised as Welsh Desirable Whilst the candidate doesn't need to have skills in Welsh, we'll consider it an advantage when short-listing and selecting candidates. This isn’t ‘fluency’, just Speaking & Listening skills at Level 3 (equivalent to CEFR B2) or above. Level 3 means being able to use Welsh in routine workplace situations, such as greeting customers, answering calls, responding to routine enquiries, providing information, arranging appointments and taking messages. Have a look at our ‘Croeso Candidate’ booklet below for more information. If you have these Welsh language skills, please apply

Working for our organisation

Cwm Taf Morgannwg (CTM) University Health Board, part of NHS Wales, serves a large population across a diverse and beautiful region, steeped in history and heritage. With nearly 13,500 staff, our health board is one of Wales’s largest employers.

Together, we are Team CTM; a workforce dedicated to offering excellent patient care and support to the 450,000 people across our three regions, Bridgend, Merthyr Tydfil, and Rhondda Cynon Taf. We operate three District General hospitals, several community hospitals, primary and community care facilities.

CTM’s location offers the best of South Wales, just 20 minutes from Cardiff’s vibrant city life, the natural beauty of the Brecon Beacons, and the serene coastline at Ogmore. Whether you enjoy lively urban amenities, peaceful countryside, or seaside escapes, our location makes an ideal setting for both work and personal life.

Our CTM 2030 Strategy—Our Health, Our Future—focuses on uniting our region around shared health and wellbeing goals. Our values guide us daily:

• We listen, learn, and improve

• We treat everyone with respect

• We work together as one team

CTM employees enjoy benefits including; a leading pension, generous leave, flexible work, career growth, and access to ongoing learning and development.

At CTM, you’ll find a welcoming, team-oriented workplace that values diversity and compassion, where you can take pride in your work and the difference it makes.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

Planning and Design: Plan and prioritise own delegated workload, ensuring tasks are completed efficiently, safely and effectively, using your initiative to prioritise the work based on the needs of patients, adjusting to ensure emergencies and priority tasks are completed to deadlines.

Work within established procedures when delivering care; and under the supervision of a registered healthcare professional.

Clinical: In undertaking all clinical tasks within the critical care or high dependency setting, the nursing support worker will work alongside the registered healthcare professional, within the course of their duties the post holder will: Support the provision of personal care to patients/clients. Depending on the patient’s condition, this may include using the shower or bath, washing facilities, dressing, supporting patients to meet their oral hygiene needs, accessing and using toilets, collecting and disposing of bodily waste, ensuring that privacy, dignity, and security is maintained. This may involve using hoists, wheelchairs or other mobility aids. Where appropriate, support patients to eat and drink through choosing appropriate food and drinks, and enabling them to prepare for eating and drinking, assisting them when required. Assist in pressure area care and support the registered healthcare professional to regularly check skin condition. This may include assisting as a member of the multidisciplinary team to reposition the unconscious patient/encourage the conscious patient to change their position or be repositioned., reporting any concerns to the registered healthcare professional without delay. Participate in manual handling of patients and transferring them between trolleys and beds, including the positioning and re-positioning of the patient, this will include using appropriate manual handling equipment for example Patslide. Help to orientate patients to time, place and physical location, and enable a therapeutic relationship with patients through engagement and activities as deemed appropriate to the patient. Support the registered healthcare professional to ensure the safety of patients/clients requiring increased level of supervision in the critical care setting, for example patients at risk of falls, patients with memory impairment, behavioral needs, mental health/ learning disabilities care needs, reporting any changes to the registered healthcare professional without delay. Obtain diagnostic samples, for example collecting urine samples / faecal samples/ sputum samples, wound swabs, obtaining venous blood samples ensuring the correct handling and sending of specimens whilst adhering to infection control and local guidance polices. Undertake Point of Care testing, for example carrying out urinalysis and escalating any abnormalities, recording blood glucose, including conducting compliance with both internal and external quality assessment of equipment. Undertake and record delegated duties, for example recording body temperature, blood pressure, pulse, oxygen saturation level, pulse and respiratory rate, under the supervision of a registered healthcare professional.

Undertake delegated care duties as directed by a registered healthcare professional, examples of which may include but not limited to, recording Electrocardiogram (ECG), care of and removal of urinary catheters, care of stomas, undertaking simple wound dressings and wound observation, removal of peripheral cannula. Obtain informed consent prior to providing care, understanding the actions required if care is declined. Recognise and report observed changes in the patient’s physical and psychological needs to a registered healthcare professional. Undertake high standards of infection prevention control in the healthcare setting, through effective hand hygiene practices, maintaining a clean environment and cleaning of equipment. Demonstrate care and compassion to patients, carers and relatives to help ensure high-quality person-centered patient care is delivered at all times, advocating for them if required. Record accurate and timely information in the appropriate documentation including documenting for example weight, height, body mass index (BMI), and recording of nutrition and hydration. Assist the registered healthcare professional in the preparation and transfer of the critically ill. Support the registered healthcare professional when chaperoning is required for patients during medical interventions or procedures. Adhere to, and follow the principles of safeguarding children and adults, promptly reporting any concerns to the registered healthcare professional. Participate in clinical emergencies, summoning assistance and following local or national guidance, working as a member of the multi-disciplinary team within scope of practice. Act on own initiative within their scope of practice recognising and reporting observed changes in the patient’s physical and psychological needs to a registered healthcare professional. As part of the multidisciplinary team, sensitively care for dying patients and their families. This may include difficult and emotive situations, for example, patients involved in the organ donation process.

Stock and Equipment: Prepare bed areas for the admission of critically ill patients ensuring all equipment is available, correctly assembled and functional.

Give technical assistance in the setting up, maintenance and testing a range of critical care equipment, checking the functionality of equipment that is used by patients and clients and report any issues to an appropriate team member Support the registered healthcare professional in the preparation of trolleys for procedures. As part of the critical care team contribute to the cleaning, stocking, assembly, dismantling, maintenance and preparation of clinical equipment and clinical areas in order to maintain a high standard of cleanliness. Maintain adequate levels of stock, equipment and materials and facilitate the efficient, effective use of resources; reporting when availability falls below an acceptable standard or level. This may include the ordering of individual stock items where required, for example, sutures, drains, feeding tubes etc. Maintain the cleanliness of equipment in all clinical and non-clinical areas, this includes cleaning all types of equipment, and rooms/areas within the care setting. Undertake safe custody, return or disposal of individual’s property. Ensure the correct disposal of linen and used clinical waste, and cleaning of the clinical environment of care.

Communications: Provide appropriate support to patient and relatives during visiting and protected rest periods and assist the registered healthcare professional with any areas for improvement that would enhance the relatives/visitors visiting experience. Provide appropriate routine information effectively to patients, carers and other staff, using appropriate communication techniques to overcome any barriers to understanding and providing support using empathy and tact during distressing or emotional events. This may include interacting with patients/families who have additional needs, for example learning disabilities or language/communication barriers. Communicate clearly and effectively with the multi-disciplinary team, accepting instructions and giving feedback on patient care and activities to relevant registered health care professionals where required. Respond appropriately to routine queries, take phone messages and pass on written and verbal information to patients and staff in a timely manner.

Improvement and Monitoring: Required to follow all legislation and organisational policies and procedures, will be asked to comment on procedures for own area of activity, and suggest improvements which will contribute to the efficient running of the service supporting better patient experience. Adhere to standard operating procedures, guidelines and policies whilst delivering care, for example if working in community settings adhere to the lone worker policy/procedure in order to maintain own and others personal safety. Contribute to research, audits, quality improvement initiatives and clinical trials programmes as required carried out within the area of work.

Management, Leadership and/or Training:Supervise the work of Band 2 Nursing Healthcare Support workers and apprentices. Work alongside student nurses, those on work experience placement and nurse cadets providing support. Delegate work to appropriate staff to ensure services are met.

Digital and Information: Maintain accurate records in both written and electronic formats, adhering to data governance, confidentiality, and cybersecurity policies. Where appropriate, demonstrates proficiency in selecting and using digital tools for daily tasks, training, communication, and supporting individuals in safely using digital healthcare methods.