Health Care Assistant

Job overview

We are excited to share this opportunity for band 3 Healthcare Assistants to work within our Emergency Department and Emergency Admission Unit at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital in Gateshead.  These roles are for experienced Healthcare Assistants who already have at least 6 months NHS experience who are interested in enhancing their skills by joining our Emergency and Acute care teams. These roles involve supporting the registered nurse workforce in the initial assessment, investigations and treatment for patients who attend our Emergency Department and Emergency Assessment Unit, as well as providing ongoing patient care for patients during their acute and emergency care journey.

Main duties of the job

Each individual has different needs however the list below outlines just some of the  practical duties that the post holder will undertake, support and enable people to/with: - Using appropriate assessment tools under supervision to assist the registered practitioner in assessment of the patients’ health and wellbeing needs.

- Initiate and carry out patient investigations when directed by registered staff - Initiate emergency action when required e.g cardiac arrest, fire - Identify/contribute to their own goals to improve their quality of life - Participate in clinical skills as trained in line with role e.g recording ECG’s

- Participate in clinical skills as trained in line with role e.g phlebotomy - Contribute to their own care/support/recovery plans - Support individuals to express their needs and wishes - Promote their personal hygiene and physical health. - Actively engage in health promotion - Engage in meaningful and enjoyable activity - To support individuals with external activities/appointments under indirect supervision - May have responsibility for patient monies/valuables which need to be handled within GHFT guidelines - Assist individuals with activities of daily living encouraging active  participation and independence

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

Key responsibilities: - To abide by trust policies and procedures - Build and maintain safe and effective therapeutic relationships - Support individuals to contribute to collaborative care/support/recovery plans - Support the named nurse to develop collaborative individual, patient centred care plans and implement them creatively using initiative. - Communicate effectively with a wide range of people using a range of preferred methods  - Contribute to monitoring, observing and engaging with individuals,  communicating outcomes and conclusions with the rest of the team - Gain an understanding of a person’s experiences in relation to their mental health, learning disability and/or dementia.  - Understand a person’s coping strategies and strengths and support people to use these at times of distress or difficulty - Contribute to reflective practice and encourage compassion and understanding  - Be able to recognise increasing risk and alert significant others and the team to respond as needed - Undertake a range of practical tasks and duties in support of the Team and individual needs.  - Follow principles of diffusion and de-escalation and where physical interventions or restraint are required, to approach in line with approved techniques considering the safety and dignity of the individual throughout. - To feel confident to be able to report untoward incidents and areas of concern as soon as they arise - To document any relevant information in an electronic record following relevant policy and legislation - Contribute to individual reviews and team meetings