Health Care Support Worker - Bank in Manchester

Department: Bank Cross sites.

Reporting Relationships:

• Reports directly to: Ward Manager or Nurse in charge of duty
• Responsible to: Temporary Staffing Manager

Role of Department:

As a team promotes and ensures the best possible care for patients in an organised and safe environment. Working across 3 sites on an ad hoc basis.

Main Purpose of Job:

Under the direction of the Ward Manager carries out assigned tasks to ensure a high standard of patient care and that individual patient care needs are met.

Main Duties & Responsibilities:

The Health Care Assistant is responsible for any action undertaken in the course of duty and is aware of his/her responsibilities and reports promptly to appropriate personnel any matter that falls outside these responsibilities. The Health Care Assistant is responsible for ensuring they understand any jobs delegated to them by Registered Nurses and that they are carrying out these tasks under the staff nurses registration and accountability. Behaves in a manner appropriate to the clinical setting and respects the authority of the qualified person in charge. Must respect each patient's individuality and assist them in maintaining their identity, dignity, independence, and safety. Is aware that any information regarding patients, their social circumstances, conditions, or treatment is confidential and must remain so. Is sensitive to the needs of patients, relatives, and other members of the multi-disciplinary team.

Clinical:

After initial shadowing/voluntary shifts and after already having a minimum of 6 months experience - be able to undertake the following tasks as allocated to ensure that patients' individual needs are met:

• Assist with and ensure that patients maintain personal hygiene in the following ways: must be aware of patients' oral hygiene needs and how to meet them; assists with washing, bathing, or showering as necessary; assists in the care of finger nails (not toe nails unless training completed) and assists patients in the care of their hair.
• Must be aware of methods preventing pressure area breakdown.
• Supervise and assist patients with dressing as necessary and maintain their clothes in good order.
• Make beds both occupied and unoccupied.
• Can record and document patient temperature, Blood Pressure, Pulse, Respiratory Rate, O2 Sats, Blood sugar Measurements. Is aware of what is normal and what is abnormal. Will report any abnormalities to a qualified person.
• Weigh patients and chart as appropriate.
• Communicate any changes observed in the condition of the patient to a qualified member of staff.
• Be aware of patients' elimination needs and give appropriate assistance. Record and chart bladder and bowel movements as appropriate.
• Will be able to ward test urine and take faecal samples only. Is aware of what is normal and what is abnormal in the observation of urine, faeces, and sputum. Should report abnormalities observed to a qualified person.
• Be aware of special orders relating to patients' dietary and fluid requirements. Hand out meals as appropriate to individual patients. Encourage and assist patients with their dietary and fluid intake as appropriate. Record and chart diet and fluid intake as appropriate.
• At the discretion of the Nurse in charge of the ward will accompany patients to and from departments i.e. X-ray. UNDER NO CIRCUMSTANCES WILL AN HCA ESCORT A PATIENT FROM THEATRES OR RECOVER A PATIENT FOLLOWING SEDATION.
• Recognises the need to direct problems identified when communicating with patients or relatives to a qualified member of staff.
• Ability to collect blood from the blood bank when assessed competent (Blood product training).
• Ability to complete basic record keeping i.e. completion of nursing front sheet documenting observations on the appropriate charts.
• Will give support to the nurse in charge to ensure that information on the computer system is correct and that other administration is complete on each shift (after training has been given).
• Ability to carry out Basic Life Support.
• Will undertake last offices for patient.
• Will work with the ward team to ensure that the clinical area is kept clean and tidy at all times. Will ensure that cupboards and store rooms are kept clean and tidy and will ensure stocks of disposable items used are replenished.

Professional:

• Will be aware of the Directorate or Trust policies and procedures relating to your ward/department.
• Will attend relevant study days and courses appropriate to his/her role.
• Will adhere to the Current Uniform policy.
• Will know the current sickness reporting policy both the bank office and the ward where booked.
• Will observe and continually promote equal opportunities in compliance with the Trust's policies on Equality and Diversity and Dignity at work.

Health & Safety:

• Observe and comply with the Trust's policies and procedures for Health and Safety ensuring the environment in which you work is safe, clean, and tidy and comply with standard infection control precautions to prevent or minimise the spread of micro-organisms and communicable diseases to patients, staff, and surrounding community.
• Within 24 hours of commencing duty in the ward will be familiar with emergency procedures relating to fire and resuscitation.
• Will be sure of their role within the team and be able to safely participate in an emergency.
• Will attend annual training for fire and resuscitation.
• Will know the Moving and Handling policy and attend annual training.
• Is aware of his/her working environment and reports any area of concern to the appropriate personnel.
• Assists with and monitors all aspects of patient safety.

Clinical Governance:

Will participate in ward or departmental quality assurance activities. This job description is intended to be a guide only to the general scope of the post and not an exhaustive list of duties; you may therefore be required to undertake other duties commensurate with your grade. This will be periodically reviewed and updated to ensure that the job description fully reflects the duties and responsibilities required. This will be done by the line manager in consultation with the postholder.

Person Specification:

Education qualifications and training: Educated to GCSE standard or equivalent or NVQ in Health & Social Care.

Experience: Minimum six months experience within a general NHS hospital.

Job Skills knowledge and abilities: Good communication skills both written and verbal; team player; prioritise care/work load; provide holistic care; caring; work well under pressure; positive role model; motivated to learn.