Health Care Assistant in Lanchester

The Health Care Assistant will cover the Helen McArdle Wing Inpatient Unit and Sir Tom Cowie Day Centre Service within the Clinical Services department and will deliver a range of care duties under the supervision of RGNs providing basic patient care for Willow Burn Hospice. To care for people with a life limiting illness with palliative or end of life care needs.

Main duties of the job:

• Assist in the provision of efficient, supportive nursing service to patients.
• Provide an empathetic and compassionate approach to patients and their relatives.
• Apply appropriate knowledge and understanding of patients' individual needs in accordance with their specific care.
• Support trained nurses in their role and work as a member of the nursing team.
• Ensure the highest level of individual patient care is achieved at all times in the most cost effective manner.
• Be involved in a multidisciplinary approach to patient care together with other healthcare professionals and the clergy.
• Ensure correct use and due economy is made to equipment and resources.
• Develop and extend knowledge of specialist palliative care through accessing available training.
• Maintain a high standard of patient care ensuring policies and procedures are adhered to.
• Provide practical assistance, as required, with all aspects of personal hygiene e.g. bathing and dressing.
• Give individualised patient care under the direction and supervision of the trained nursing staff.
• Work as a member of the nursing team under the supervision of trained staff reporting changes in patients' conditions and needs as they occur.
• Develop skills in caring for terminally ill patients and their families.
• Display and develop good interpersonal skills, including the ability to be a good listener.
• Protect patients' dignity, choices, self-esteem and wellbeing at all times.
• Participate in meetings related to families and staff by communicating information on patient care and related matters as required.
• Maintain a safe, clean and secure environment for patients, their families, visitors and staff.
• Maintain accurate records and assist in submitting verbal and written reports on matters concerning patient care.
• Carry out any reasonable duties requested by the management.

Person specification:

• Communicate positively and effectively.
• Take personal autonomy and critically reflect in all actions undertaken.
• Base all decision making and judgements on moral reasoning.
• Solutions driven approach to all tasks.
• Courage to challenge.
• Personally credible.
• Proactively think outside the box by being able to see the bigger picture.

Experience and Qualifications:

• Qualification - NVQ Level 3 in Health and Social Care.
• Care certificate completed.
• Medicines Management calculations training & experience are essential for this role.
• Effective written and verbal communications including negotiation skills.
• Ability to manage difficult situations and use initiative.
• Ability to work independently without constant supervision in delivering role outcomes.
• Ability to adapt to change and undertake self-development and training.
• Compliance with mandatory training requirements.

This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service to check for any previous criminal convictions.