Senior Healthcare Assistant - Caldecot Centre

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King's College Hospital NHS Foundation Trust is one of the UK's largest and busiest teaching Trusts with a turnover of c£1.7 billion, 1.5 million patient contacts a year and more than 15,000 staff based across 5 main sites in South East London. The Trust provides a full range of local hospital services across its different sites, and specialist services from King's College Hospital (KCH) sites at Denmark Hill in Camberwell and at the Princess Royal University Hospital (PRUH) site in the London Borough of Bromley.

Job overview

An exciting opportunity has arisen for an enthusiastic Band 3 Senior Healthcare Assistant to join our small and friendly team.

The Caldecot Centre is a large HIV outpatient clinic managing more than 3000 HIV patients per year. The Service covers a diverse patient population such as HIV outpatient's clinic, Trans clinic (CliniQ) and complex contraception.

This role primarily focuses on supporting patients attending the department for routine appointments and investigations. This role provides a variety across the department and would require flexibility of the post holder who will carry out consultations autonomously with the support of the nursing staff along with assisting and chaperoning in the complex contraception Long-Acting Reversible Contraception clinic (LARC).

The post holder will work independently with indirect supervision of the nursing team in accordance with agreed protocols. The successful candidate on completion of competencies, perform venepuncture for routine blood tests, carry out routine asymptomatic screening for sexually transmitted infections, carry out microscopy, oversee specimen collection, record the patient's weight, BMI, blood pressure, support patients with psycho-social assessments and act as the patient's advocate.

Please note this post may close earlier than advertised if we have a high number of applications.

Main duties of the job
• To greet clients and visitors in a courteous, friendly and helpful manner.
• Deal with face to face enquired from the public about the range of services available and the registration and queue management process etc. To direct them to other services if necessary.
• Within clearly defined protocols and with full training, the post-holder will carry out venepuncture taking blood for routine patient appointments.
• Accurately measure and record observations of temperature, pulse, respirations, blood pressure, oxygen saturation levels, height and weight. Demonstrate an understanding of normal results and the importance of reporting abnormal readings to a qualified nurse.
• Participate in the admission of patients as appropriate. This may include arranging snacks and light refreshments for the patient.
• With full training and within clearly defined protocols, the post holder will carry out asymptomatic sexual health screens for both male and female patients.
• To stain and read microscopy slides and accurately record findings
• To demonstrate and distribute condoms to clients
• To provide health promotion information to clients accessing the centre for a range of health and wellbeing issues e.g. sexual health, weight management, smoking, addictions, and signpost clients to other.
• Provide chaperone duties as necessary or as requested by the nursing or medical staff.
• To ensure patients' property and valuables are kept safe

Working for our organisation

King's College Hospital NHS Foundation Trust is one of the UK's largest and busiest teaching Trusts with a turnover of c£1 billion, 1.5 million patient contacts a year and more than 15,000 staff based across South East London. The Trust provides a full range of local and specialist services across its five sites. The trust-wide strategy of Strong Roots, Global Reach is our Vision to be BOLD, Brilliant people, Outstanding care, Leaders in Research, Innovation and Education, Diversity, Equality and Inclusion at the heart of everything we do. By being person-centred, digitally-enabled, and focused on sustainability, we aim to take Team King's to another level.

We are at a pivotal point in our history and we require individuals who are ready to join a highly professional team and make a real, lasting difference to our patients and our people.

King's is committed to delivering Sustainable Healthcare for All via our Green Plan. In line with national Greener NHS ambitions, we have set net zero carbon targets of 2040 for our NHS Carbon Footprint and 2045 for our NHS Carbon Footprint Plus. Everyone's contribution is required in order to meet the goals set out in our Green Plan and we encourage all staff to work responsibly, minimising their contributions to the Trust's carbon emissions, waste and pollution wherever possible.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities
• Services as appropriate and assist clients in the use of electronic information facilities within the centre.
• To take receipt of urine samples and swabs with due regard to infection Control and to carry out the accurate and appropriate labelling preparation and storage, arrange transportation of specimens and samples.
• To maintain accurate record of care given in line with clinic and trust guidelines.
• To demonstrate knowledge and understanding of child protection issues, reporting areas of concern to the accountable professional practitioner.
• To locate and pull notes for existing clients and prepare all relevant documentation as required.
• To accurately record and amend client information to acceptable data quality standards using the manual systems in place and any new electronic systems as they are introduced.
• To accurately record and collate statistical data in the form of client attendance/activity and centre establishment levels.
• To ensure that the public areas are tidy at all times.
• To liaise with medical, nursing and other staff as required to ensure the smooth running of the centre and to understand the importance of teamwork.
• To ensure that telephone queries are dealt with promptly and efficiently, and relay messages to staff accurately.
• To train and support new and temporary staff.
• To participate and assist in evaluation and feedback including administration aspects of audit as required.
• To attend team and departmental meetings and actively participate in service improvement.
• Proactively participate in one to one meetings with line manager, identifying own learning needs, and ways that these may be met.
• Communicate issues of concern relating to the behaviour, conduct or practice of colleagues to a senior nurse as appropriate.
• Report untoward incidents and any other relevant information to a registered nurse and to complete an incident report if necessary.
• Inform a registered nurse if asked to carry out a task which the individual does not have the training or capacity to do.
• Undertake relevant training for electronic information systems in place and under development.
• To assist clients who require an interpreter and to book interpreters when necessary.
• Be able to order and maintain stock levels of provision used in the department.
• To maintain strict confidentiality of staff and client records and information, in line with 'The Code of Practice': any unauthorised breach of confidentiality will result in disciplinary action.
• To observe the general responsibility of all staff under the Health & Safety at Work Act.
• To ensure that acceptable standards of data protection are maintained, in accordance with the Data Protection Act.
• To observe the rules, policies and procedures of Kings College Hospital NHS Trust.
• To carry out duties as an employee and service-provider with due regard to the Trust's Equal Opportunities and diversity policy.
• To undertake any other duties appropriate to the grade which may be required from time to time
• The post-holder must act in such a way as to promote a positive image of Kings College Hospital NHS Trust at all times.
• This job description is not conclusive and will be regularly reviewed with the post-holder.
• To maintain high standards of personal appearance and presentation at all times, adhering to the Trust Uniform Policy.
• Inform a member of the clinical staff if a patient has questions pertaining to their visit to the department, which the support worker feels unable to answer.
• Ensure the maintenance of patients' privacy and dignity at all times, promoting and supporting patients' rights and choices with regards to their care.
• To set up and clean clinical areas, maintaining and recording cleanliness standards and contributing to the smooth running of clinical areas.
• To ensure clinical and public areas are adequately stocked with clinical supplies, stationery and client information.

Person specification

Education and Qualifications

Essential criteria

• Functional Skills Level 2 in Maths and English, or GCSE grade A-C or 4-9, O-level grade A-C or have a NARIC/ENIC which compares the qualification to UK GCSE.
• Level 3 Senior Healthcare Support Worker apprenticeship or equivalent healthcare qualification such as a NVQ Level 3, a Btec Level 3 or higher.
• Evidence of completion of the Care Certificate or clear commitment to complete within 3 months of joining the organisation.

Knowledge and Experience

Essential criteria

• Experience in Sexual Health & HIV.
• Evidence of being able to work well with other members of the team including communicating effectively, being kind and considerate, reliable and enthusiastic.

IMPORTANT

• Check your email account regularly as this is how we will communicate with you
• If you delete the job from any of your accounts, you may be prevented from accessing further communications
• To enquire about your application or inform us of any changes in your circumstances, please contact the named person on this advert
• Please provide email addresses for referees where possible
• Click here to see the range of benefits we offer
• Please review the documentation on our recruitment microsite, particularly the Trust's criminal records checking policy
• All staff have a responsibility for safeguarding children and vulnerable adults and for ensuring they are aware of the specific duties relating to their role.
• Due to a high volume of applications, this advert might close before the displayed closing date. It is therefore recommended that you apply promptly

King's College Hospital NHS Foundation Trust Annual Reports and Other Corporate Publications

King's Health Partners Academic Health Science Centre Website

King's College Hospital is part of King's Health Partners Academic Health Sciences Centre (AHSC), a pioneering collaboration between King's College London, and Guy's and St Thomas', King's College Hospital and South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trusts.

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

• JD (PDF, 376.4KB)
• Denmark Hill Site Map (PDF, 1.2MB)
• Visa and Sponsorship Information (PDF, 352.6KB)