General Porter

Job overview

GENERAL PORTER – Permanent

Full time 37.5 hours - rotational shift pattern (nights/days/weekends)

Applicants must be physically fit, have good communication skills and the ability to work on their own initiative and as part of a team.  Self-motivation, commitment to customer care and quality issues is essential.

Flexibility is required in this busy department to cover Annual Leave and Sickness. The successful candidate will be trained to cover all aspects of the portering role.

Full training and uniform will be provided.

For further information please contact:

Mrs Dawn Mitchell - Portering Senior Supervisor - 01253 953770

This post will be closed at the discretion of the appointing manager so early application is advised.

Main duties of the job

Main Principle Job Duties/Key Performance Areas:

To transfer patients, medical equipment and associated medical sundries as  delegated by line management by use of bed, chair, trolley etc.

To transfer furniture and assist in relocating equipment during office  relocations and or new developments.

To distribute and collect linen/laundry to designated locations as in agreed  schedules. This includes soiled and infected linen.

To undertake refuse collections of clinical, household, confidential and  specialist waste.

Collect, distribute and document for audit and security purposes  specimens/bloods for pathology, including emergency collections and  distributions as and when required by the service.

Provide the exchange, transfer and testing of portable medical gas cylinders and document a record of the usage. Report any identifiable faults.

Undertake hospital mortuary duties in the measuring, transfer, preparation  and documentation of the deceased, also the laying out of the deceased in the absence of mortuary personnel. Assist the police and ambulance with access to the mortuary.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

Role Summary:

To provide and maintain a flexible, dedicated, comprehensive frontline support service to the staff and patients and provide a support service to other departments of the Trust.  This involves undertaking a wide range of duties including moving and handling that enable the clinical and non-clinical departments to function effectively.

Principle Job Duties/Key Performance Areas:

The post holder will work as part of a team to provide an efficient portering service to the Trust.

To provide and to contribute to, a first class customer care service to all users of the Trust.

To transfer patients, medical equipment and associated medical sundries as delegated by line management by use of bed, chair, trolley etc.

To transfer furniture and assist in relocating equipment during office relocations and or new developments.

To distribute and collect linen/laundry to designated locations as in agreed schedules.  This includes soiled and infected linen.

To undertake refuse collections of clinical, household, confidential and specialist waste, and changing of the clinical waste bags on A&E unit as and when required.

To transfer furniture and equipment for disposal.

Collect, distribute and document for audit and security purposes specimens/bloods for pathology, including emergency collections and distributions as and when required by the service.

Provide the exchange, transfer and testing of portable medical gas cylinders and document a record of the usage.  Report any identifiable faults.

Provide the exchange & transfer of manifold medical gas cylinders and document a record of the usage.  Report any identifiable faults.

Undertake driving duties as necessary in accordance with service needs.

Undertake hospital mortuary duties in the measuring, transfer, preparation and documentation of the deceased, also the laying out of the deceased in the absence of mortuary personnel. Assist the police and ambulance with access to the mortuary.

Ensure that the expectations of service users are met through the compliance with the Portering Service Standards.

Attend training as required to meet statutory and service needs within the Portering Service.

Ensure compliance with written procedures for all aspects of Portering Services, these forming the basis of Portering Service Standards and induction training.

In the absence of supervisor to answer any telephone calls, and undertake/distribute work as necessary.

To carry the bleep(s) when supervisors or acting supervisor are on a break.

To assist in the case of a missing patient.

To unlock hospital entrances in the unlikely event, if Security personnel are dealing with security incidents. Ensuring staff have access to hospital at 6am and hospital is locked down at 10pm

In the event of the baby abduction being activated staff to assist

Bed Management procedures daily at 8am, Monday to Sunday

To attend incidents of fire in line with operational procedures.

To provide an immediate on call response to Medical emergencies.

From time to time it may be required for the post holder to work in other areas of the Trust, in particular the Linen Services and Transport Departments. In such instances staff the post-holder will receive the appropriate training

Have responsibility for the safe and effective utilisation of equipment used by the Portering Service.

As directed, assist newly appointed porters during the local induction phase, in awareness and familiarisation of the services provided and the processes that enable the service to function effectively, safely and securely.

The Portering Services operate throughout the year and as such the post-holder will be under a contractual obligation to work on National Public/Bank Holidays, if rostered to do so.