Community Health Care Assistant in Haslemere

Are you a Healthcare Assistant wanting to gain the skills, knowledge, and competencies relevant to the community? Do you want to develop your career within a clinically led organisation, at the forefront of the revolution of adult community nursing? Are you passionate for high quality patient care and experience? This unique position offers you the opportunity to work as part of a highly skilled community workforce who are the cornerstone of safe patient care. You will work collaboratively with the multi-disciplinary team to visit patients in their own homes and care homes to avoid unnecessary hospital admissions. We have lots of training and development pathways at every level through from band 3 to band 8. We provide a preceptorship program to support you in your role and ongoing training and development. We use electronic clinical records through EMIS and a work iPad and iPhone will be provided.

Main duties of the job

• We are seeking a highly motivated and ambitious healthcare assistant to join the wider Community Nursing Team which includes Community Matrons, District Nurses, Registered Nurses, Nursing Associates and Healthcare Assistants.
• You will work without direct supervision under the direction of a Registered Nurse.
• This post holder will need to ensure that all relevant policy, protocols, guidelines, and Standard Operating Procedures (SOP’s) are followed.
• The post holder will need to have health care assistant skills in basic wound care, venepuncture, catheter care etc and have a level 2 NVQ or equivalent.
• Post holders will be available to work Monday to Sunday between 8am and 8pm.
• A full UK driving license and vehicle for business use if required for this post, however reasonable adjustments will be made for disabled individuals in line with the Equality Act 2010.

Communication / IT

• Communicates effectively with patients, carers, and colleagues maintaining positive working relationships.
• Ensures that patients are always treated safely and courteously.
• Uses empathetic and effective communication skills for a wide range of patients, including those with mental or physical impairment or where there may be language barriers; and where information may be sensitive.
• Able to use electronic communication and keep accurate patients records in line with policy and procedures.
• Documents accurate and concise information on all care given to patients in the patient’s electronic care record on EMIS and on clinical paper records.
• Respects confidential information obtained in the course of work and refrain from disclosing such information to anyone other than professional staff directly concerned with the patients care or other authorised person.
• Aware of and work within the Data Protection Act and follow local codes of practice to ensure appropriate action is taken to safeguard confidential information.
• Record activity data accurately, ensuring that the deadline for entry on to the computer system is met.
• Uses clinical IT systems for the recording, monitoring and compilation of training, audits and service records.
• Implements, monitors, maintains and records agreed standards of care.
• Encourages feedback from colleagues, patients, and carers.
• Attends and actively participate in staff and multi-disciplinary locality meetings.

Quality / Safety / Patient Care

• Delivers nursing care within patient’s homes as delegated by the Registered Nurses within the District Nurse team and in accordance with own competencies and under a care plan written by a Registered Nurse.
• Able to work unsupervised, planning, and organising tasks and home visits as delegated by the lead nurse, recognising that there may be a need for visits to be reprioritised throughout the day.
• Promotes the safety and wellbeing of patients, colleagues, and other persons, and assists in ensuring a safe working environment.
• Assists in the technical aspects of nursing care e.g. wound dressings, blood glucose monitoring etc. following a period of training and when deemed competent to do so.
• Assists with continence re-assessments, following agreed training in competencies, reporting to the nurse in charge any changes in care packages required.
• Undertakes phlebotomy in clinical settings and patients own homes following training and achievement of competency.
• Able to take, label and transport correct specimens for requested blood tests in a safe and competent manner, ensuring that all samples are stored correctly and sent for testing within the correct timescale following policy and procedures.
• Reports any changes in condition of the patient to the District Nurse or in their absence the designated nurse in charge of the caseload.
• Identifies and concerns regarding patient’s health and report in a timely manner to the lead nurse and / or GP.
• Takes immediate action to ensure patient safety and follow up as required with other services as working as a lone worker in patient’s home, this may require you to contact GP, District Nurse, and other services.
• Aware of the procedure to be followed in cases of Fire, Cardiac Arrest, collapse, and any other emergency.
• Ensures all untoward incidents, accidents and areas of clinical risk are identified and reported to the lead nurse and on the electronic incident reporting system in accordance with policy.
• Participates in surveys and audits as required.
• Provides clerical and administrative support to the team as delegated by the District Nurse.
• Responsible for the ordering of stock, checking of equipment and any other reasonable duties as delegated by the District Nurse.
• Aware of budgetary issues and the needs for effective use of resources.

Medicines Management and infection control

• Undertake all aspects of medicines management related activities in accordance within the company’s medicines policies to ensure the safe, legal and appropriate use of medicines.
• Following a successful probationary period to undertake insulin training and competency sign off, in order to administer insulin to patients on a named patient basis under the delegation of the District Nurse.
• Able to have a clear understanding of all the Organisational policies in relation to infection control.
• To have a clear understanding of the sharps policy and action to take if any needle stick injury occurs.
• To demonstrate good infection control measures, including donning and doffing PPE.

Development of Self and Others

• Achieves the daily workload requirements of the adult community nursing service.
• Works unsupervised and is accountable for own actions while providing direct patient care.
• Maintains knowledge and works within policies and procedures.
• Responsible for the self-development of skills and competencies through participation in learning and development activities, completion of the care certificate and maintains up to date relevant knowledge / skills.
• Keeps up to date with job knowledge by participating in educational opportunities, reading professional publications, and maintaining training portfolio.
• Works within Lone Worker Policy and reports when in / off duty as per service requirements.
• Actively participates in internal and external training as appropriate to personal and team skills development.
• Develops skills to undertake other duties as required by the service and consistent with the responsibilities of the role e.g. blood pressure monitoring, urine sample collection, phlebotomy.
• Responsible for ensuring mandatory training is kept up to date according to legislation and to local policies.
• Ensures that own annual appraisal is completed, and objectives are set each year.
• Ensures adequate stock levels, and is aware of budgetary issues and the need for effective use of resources.
• Ability to work flexibly to provide an innovative and effective service to meet the needs of the patients.
• Participates in the orientation and induction of new staff and students.

Person specification

• NVQ Level 3, or equivalent.
• Insulin training and competency up to date or willingness to undertake.
• Certificate of competence in adult venepuncture.
• A full UK driving license and vehicle for business use if required for this post, however reasonable adjustments will be made for disabled individuals in line with the Equality Act 2010.
• Experience in health care assistant role within community/acute hospital setting.