Senior Healthcare Assistant - Child Health Department

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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£1.8 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
• Do you have experience working with children?
• Do you have the desire to contribute to the provision of quality care to children and their families?

We are looking for dynamic, passionate, Senior Health Care Assistants to join the team on Children's Outpatients, Ray of Sunshine, Children Ward and Local Neonatal Unit across Child Health at Kings College Hospital and Princess Royal Hospital.

You will be required to work closely with the nursing and multidisciplinary team to provide care and support to children accessing services at Variety Children's Hospital.

You will be working with various specialities across child health to assist in the delivery of a variety of procedures and treatments .

For more information about Child Health please watch our video - https://vimeo.com/795290612/ae443fa495

Main duties of the job

As a Senior Healthcare Assistant, you will:

Assist under supervision, with the delivery of fundamental nursing care in liaison with nursing and multi-disciplinary team.
Assist with clinical duties to ensure effective running of the department or ward.
Be required to monitor and record patients clinical observations and escalate as required.
Ensure ward/department is appropriately stocked at all times .
Undertake clinical skills such as completion of ECGs, venepuncture, Nasogastric tube feeding.
Complete point of care testing such as HbA1c, blood glucose testing.
Assist families and carers including escorting to other departments and orientating to ward/department as required .
Assist with administrative tasks within the ward/department to ensure effective delivery of care.
Assist with maintaining infection control, hygiene and cleanliness.
Develop additional skills with further training provided by the team.

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

Clinical Responsibilities

• To assist patients with activities of daily living whilst encouraging independence, as appropriate.
• Demonstrate encourage and assist patients in undertaking therapeutic activities within parameters of agreed care plans and under guidance of registered practitioners.
• To monitor and record patient's clinical observations, escalating appropriately to a registered nurse as required.
• To assist with patient nutritional needs - eating, drinking, menu selection, meal delivery and special diets according to the individual patient's needs.
• To assist in the maintenance of up to date, comprehensive and accurate records in accordance with current legal requirements both written and digital.
• To assist in the admission and discharge of patients including any necessary risk assessments.
• To escort patients and families to other departments within the hospital as required.
• Undertake electrocardiogram (ECG) recording and point of care testing (e.g. blood sugar, urinalysis).
• After appropriate training, to assist in the collection of specimens including blood samples (including fixed central lines and established arterial lines - specialist areas only).
• After appropriate training; insert, secure and remove female catheters; empty drainage bags and accurately measure and record urinary output.
• After appropriate training assist in the implementation of advanced wound care (e.g. skin closure using adhesive sutures, wound drainage care).
• To participate in maintaining standards of hygiene, cleanliness and infection control, reporting problems as appropriate.
• To ensure that equipment is clean at all times, stored safely when not in use and report faults as appropriate.
• To assist in setting up and preparing patient areas appropriately to the clinical area (this may include the set up and calibration of devices e.g. ventilators, pumps - (after appropriate training).
• To ensure that stock levels of linen, sterile supplies and stationery are maintained at all times in conjunction with the senior sister/ward receptionist.
• To assist in the maintenance and safekeeping of patients property in line with Trust policy.
• To assist ward staff with general collection/delivery of items necessary to ensure effective operational management of ward/department.
• To assist in performing the last offices as requested.
  To ensure that all patients and relatives are welcomed and orientated to the ward environment.
• To assist with the care of distressed or bereaved relatives.
• To demonstrate an awareness of the different cultural, ethnic and religious needs.
• To participate effectively in multidisciplinary case conferences as required.

Administrative Responsibilities

• To assist with clerical and ward administrative duties, including data management, photocopying, transporting of equipment/data/ paperwork to other departments, booking patient transport, sending referrals and administration of appointments.
• To provide clear and effective information and communication, both verbally and in writing. Promptly referring enquiries to the relevant person.
• To maintain confidentiality at all times, in and out of the hospital environment.

Education and Training

• To be able to identify with support your own development needs, completing a competency document and learning objectives within a specified time frame and as agreed by manager.
• To ensure own attendance at mandatory study days and training (BLS, manual handling etc.) as required by ward/departmental manager.
• To update skills and knowledge as required by the Trust.
• To actively participate in annual individual performance review.
  Sign off HCA's for Care Certificate.
• Once assessed as competent in a specific skill to demonstrate those skills to less experienced staff, providing practical training and basic assessments under oversight of senior registered colleagues.

Leadership

• To adhere to, and work within the National Code of Conduct for clinical support workers at King's College Hospital
• To manage an agreed workload with supervision and support from colleagues and senior staff
• To work within and support the multidisciplinary team, contributing ideas toward future developments
• To act as a role model and advisor to less experienced staff demonstrating and promoting the Trusts Values and Behaviours
• To provide day-to-day supervision and co-ordination of junior staff (e.g. healthcare assistants (band 2), apprentices, work experience) supporting their local induction.
• Take personal ownership in giving and receiving feedback.
• To participate in reflection and or clinical supervision sessions as provided.
• To observe personal and collective responsibility for resource management.
• To be responsible with others for any specific risk management associated with the post, reporting and taking appropriate actions as necessary.

Research and Service Development

• Assist with audits, surveys and research and developmental activities as instructed.
• Provide care to patients taking part in clinical trials as directed by registered healthcare professionals in line with relevant research protocols.
• To act as a liaison with specialist teams and services as a link practitioner enhancing communication and collaborative working by attending meetings and disseminating relevant information (via face to face teaching and written/digital briefings)

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 organization.

Knowledge and Skills

Essential criteria

• Previous experience working with children/babies.
• Significant experience within a care setting/environment.
• Able to communicate with the multi-disciplinary team, update others in the team and use handover effectively.
• Work well with other members of the team including 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.
• Please note that the closing date is given as a guide. On occasion, we might close a vacancy early due to a high number of applications being received. You are advised to submit your application as early as possible to avoid disappointment.

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

You must have appropriate UK professional registration.

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, 336.4KB)
• Denmark Hill Site Map (PDF, 1.2MB)
• Princess Royal (PRUH) Site map (PDF, 1.4MB)
• Visa and Sponsorship Information (PDF, 352.6KB)