Healthcare Support Worker / Senior Healthcare Support worker

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Detailed job description and main responsibilities

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

Clinical:

1. Assists with the care of patients by:
- Participating in basic nursing care and procedures by providing personal care to patients, responding to nurse call as required.
- Assisting patients in gaining access to, and in the use of, appropriate toilet facilities including catheter care, measuring and recording bodily waste/fluid balance accurately.
- Assisting in meeting the nutritional needs of patients by assisting in the preparation of patients prior to meals and beverages, giving help and assistance in feeding/drinking as necessary. Support nutritional monitoring by weighing patients.
- Assist, direct and escort patients/visitors where and when appropriate.
- Ensuring a clean and safe environment for patients and escalating any concerns.
- Recording accurate fluid balance
- Handling patient's personal possessions, ensuring money and valuables are kept securely.
- Enhanced care observation as appropriate
- Support the team in ensuring that patients receive basic cardio-pulmonary resuscitation as required.

2. Complete all appropriate documentation relevant to care provided and update patient's named nurse / shift coordinator where required.

3. Assist patients in maintaining their personal hygiene (inc. skin assessments), grooming and dressing needs with specific concern for their religious, cultural and personal preference, ensuring privacy and dignity at all times. Undertake oral hygiene procedures for patients as per trust protocol.

4. Assist patients in their mobility requirements, help move and position appropriately to maximise their physical comfort utilising equipment as directed by the multi professional team. Assist in the care of patients' pressure areas and prevention of pressure ulcers.

5. Assist in meal service as required in line with Trust hygiene and food handling policy, covering hostess role as required.
6. At the delegation of the Registered Nurse transfer the patient/client from one care area to another, i.e. other ward or department. Chaperone the patient as required ensuring appropriate support.

7. Welcome and orientate patients, visitors and others to the ward/department and ensure that all communications result in effective customer care.

8. Assist in the correct procedure of duties relating to last offices for deceased persons. Ensure that all religious and cultural wishes, obligations are adhered with.

9. Communicate well within the team at all times. Demonstrate a pleasant and approachable manner and help create and promote a good team working relationship. Proactively help patients and carers to take an active role in care delivery.
Clinical Support:

1. Assist with the admission of patients, and during their stay, by undertaking screening swabs, taking and labelling of pathology samples, excluding bloods.

2. Assist the Registered Nurse in the process of undertaking clinical risk assessments e.g. recording height and weight, updating the nurse on any changes to a patient's condition/circumstances. Responsibility for undertaking the risk assessments lies with the Registered Nurse.

3. Appropriately record and monitor dietary intake of patients, informing relevant staff of progress and/or any difficulties relating to dietary/fluid intake.

4. Assist in providing conditions to meet the patient's need for rest and sleep.

5. Actively support and assist in alleviating distress and anxiety of patients or carers, consistent with their personal beliefs and preferences.

6. Record patient's items of property in the ward property and valuables book, ensuring valuables are correctly placed into safekeeping.

7. Prepare trolleys for specific clinical procedures in line with trust policy utilising aseptic non touch technique practices.

8. Recognise and report abusive or inappropriate behaviour to an appropriate member of staff, documenting the same.

Environment Support:

1. Be responsible for self and others through identifying risks and undertaking work activities in a safe manner.

2. Maintain cleanliness in the work environment, ensuring a clean and safe environment for patients, adhering to infection prevention control policies and guidance in line with Trust health and safety policies.

3. Prepare and maintain environments for clinical procedures.

4. Undertake cleaning of equipment/environment as per Trust policy, including drip stands / suction points etc.

5. Participates in maintaining overall cleanliness of ward areas and follows schedules and procedures for the ward around room cleaning.

6. To check the ward linen stock is adequate until the next due delivery, in the absence of a housekeeper. Contribute in the supply and maintenance of materials and equipment to ensure the efficient running of the clinical environment.

6. Ensure patient beds linen is changed daily as a minimum. Participate in ensuring that the bed space and associated equipment is cleaned and checked upon patient discharge. Ensure patients receive clean towels daily. Collect full bags of soiled linen and move to collection points.

7. Assist with the checking and recording of deliveries to the clinical areas against original orders. Ensure stock rotation is undertaken to minimise the risk of equipment becoming out of date.

8. Assist in the transfer of materials and equipment as requested, including the maintenance of equipment as appropriate.

7. Report faults on the ward as necessary.

8. Reports all accidents and complaints according to the agreed policy to shift coordinator or senior staff.

9. Contributes to the continuous improvement of services.

10. Undertake all training required to perform duties effectively to the requirements of the post, including but not limited to attending all required mandatory training courses.

11. Maintain own professional portfolio in accordance with personal development plans.

12. Demonstrates the agreed set of values and accountable for own attitude and behaviour.

Administration:

1. Assist in preparing patients notes, relevant charts, nursing documentation and identity bracelets prior to, and on admission.

2. Undertake clerical duties as directed by the Registered Nurse in relation to all verbal, digital and written communications, ensuring messages and communications are passed to other team members, storage of patient information and retrieval of such information, in line with the Trust Information Governance policy.

These duties and responsibilities are neither exclusive nor exhaustive and staff may be required to undertake other duties and responsibilities consistent with the band. Skills development is encouraged and you may wish to consider additional skills/duties as part of your appraisal/PDR process.

Person specification

QUALIFICATIONS

Essential criteria

• Holds National Care Certificate or willing to undertake and complete the Christie Care Certificate within 12 weeks of starting.
• Basic literacy and numeracy skills

EXPERIENCE

Essential criteria

• Experience of working with people in a customer service environment

Desirable criteria

• Experience of working in a health or social care setting

SKILLS

Essential criteria

• Good communication skills (written and verbal)
• Able to follow instructions and carry out defined routine tasks.
• Able to work on own initiative, following direction/ supervision from a Registered Healthcare Practitioner.

Desirable criteria

• Computer skills

KNOWLEDGE

Essential criteria

• Evidence of understanding of the healthcare support worker role

VALUES

Essential criteria

• Ability to demonstrate the organisational values and behaviours

The closing date for this post may be extended if there are insufficient applicants or brought forward if there is a high volume of applicants.

We want to ensure that everyone who works at the Christie or uses our services is welcomed, valued and treated with dignity and respect. The Christie values diversity and is committed to ensuring equal opportunities for all and fair representation across the organisation at all levels. In support of these commitments, we particularly welcome applications from Black, Asian and other ethnic minority people and people with disabilities for this post. Appointment will be only on merit.

We are committed to creating a balanced and diverse workforce. As such we welcome and encourage applications from people of all backgrounds. Together we will foster inclusion and tackle inequity and health inequalities in cancer care.

As users of the disability confident scheme, we guarantee to interview all disabled applicants who meet the minimum criteria for the vacancy.

The Christie NHS Foundation Trust is committed to the highest standards of ethical conduct and integrity in all our activities. We have a zero-tolerance approach to modern slavery in any of its forms, including slavery, servitude, forced or compulsory labour, and human trafficking. We are fully committed to acting ethically and with transparency in all our business dealings and relationships, and to implementing and enforcing effective systems and controls to ensure modern slavery is not taking place anywhere in our organisation or supply chains.

All positions within the Christie are subject to the receipt of satisfactory written references, medical clearance and evidence of your Right to Work in the UK. Some roles will require a Disclosure & Barring Service (DBS) check. Please note if you are successfully appointed to a post with this Trust, you will be required to pay for your own DBS Disclosure.

By applying for this post you are agreeing to The Christie NHS Foundation Trust transferring the information contained in this application to its preferred applicant management system. If you are offered a job information will also be transferred into the national NHS Electronic Staff Records system. Please note, all communication regarding your application will be made via email, please ensure you check your junk/spam folders as emails are sometimes filtered there.

If you have not heard from us within four weeks of the closing date, I regret that on this occasion your application will have been unsuccessful.

The Inter-Authority Transfer (IAT) process is a critical and beneficial component of ESR and will form part of the recruitment process. In the event that you are successful following interview your previous NHS employment data, if applicable will be transferred from your current / most recent employer.

Overseas candidates wishing to apply for this position and who would require immigration sponsorship, may wish to self-assess the likelihood of obtaining a Certificate of Sponsorship for the post on the UKVI website.

You should be aware the Trust operates a No Smoking Policy and therefore employees are not permitted to smoke at work.

Employer certification / accreditation badges

Applicant requirements

This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975 (Amendment) (England and Wales) Order 2020 and it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service.

Documents to download

• Job Description & Person Specification Band 3 (PDF, 709.6KB)
• Job Description & Person Specification Band 2 (PDF, 799.4KB)
• The Christie Values and Behaviours (PDF, 919.5KB)
• Strategy Brochure (PDF, 1.0MB)
• Travel to The Christie (PDF, 3.8MB)