Band 3 Health care assistant - Pre-Operative assessment

Job overview

Help patients feel prepared, informed and reassured before surgery

As a Healthcare Assistant in our Pre-Operative Assessment team, you'll play an important role in ensuring patients are fully prepared for their procedure while delivering compassionate, person-centred care.

This is a varied role where no two days are the same. You'll work closely with nurses and the wider multidisciplinary team, carrying out clinical observations, supporting assessments, performing diagnostic tests and helping patients feel informed and reassured ahead of surgery.

Please note that this is a fixed-term contract for 12 months.

Main duties of the job

As part of our Pre-Operative Assessment team, you'll:

• Support patients attending pre-operative assessment appointments
• Record and monitor observations including blood pressure, pulse, temperature, height and weight
• Carry out MRSA screening and other routine investigations
• Perform ECGs, blood glucose testing and other clinical procedures following training and competency assessment
• Support patients during examinations and investigations
• Provide health promotion information and practical guidance before surgery
• Assist with admission documentation and patient assessments within agreed parameters
• Escalate concerns promptly and work closely with registered nurses to ensure safe, effective care
• Help maintain a clean, safe and organised clinical environment

We're looking for someone who:

• Holds an NVQ Level 3 in Health & Social Care (or equivalent) and a Care Certificate
• Has at least six months' experience working as a Healthcare Assistant
• Has experience of phlebotomy, ECG recording, blood glucose monitoring and MRSA screening
• Is confident communicating with patients, relatives and colleagues
• Can work independently while knowing when to seek support
• Has strong organisational skills and can prioritise a busy workload
• Demonstrates kindness, professionalism and a genuine commitment to patient care

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

To perform accurate patient observations e.g. temperature, pulse, blood pressure, respiration, urine testing, height & weight and to record these correctly in the patient’s records, reporting any abnormality or change in these to a qualified nurse.

To request and undertake MRSA screening for all elective surgical patients.

To check routine investigation results including MRSA and urine MCS.

To transport, as required, clinical specimens, blood and blood-products as per Trust policy.

To support and reassure patients during clinical procedures or treatment.

To escort patients to and from other areas within the Trust e.g. X-Ray dept, transport lounge

Within agreed parameters will identify the need for further clinical investigations including ECGs, spirometry and blood glucose testing.

Applicant requirements

The postholder will have access to vulnerable people in the course of their normal duties and as such this post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975 (Amendment) (England and Wales) Order 2020 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service to check for any previous criminal convictions.