Health Care Support Worker

Job overview

Please note that the following are essential requirements for this post:

• A valid Care Certificate issued by an NHS provider organisation (Care Certificates issued by private organisations are not accepted).
• An NVQ Level 3 in Health and Social Care qualification obtained from a UK college.

Applicants should ensure that they clearly demonstrate how they meet these requirements within their application.

Please note that we are unable to offer sponsorship or a Certificate of Sponsorship (CoS) for this post.

The Healthcare Support Worker (HCSW) is an important part of the multidisciplinary team delivering direct care to patients under the support and supervision of a Registered Nurse. The Healthcare Support Worker carry out a range of personal care activities and tasks in support of and supervised by a Registered Nurse. To achieve this, the HCA will:

• Competently perform the necessary aspects of care for patients.
• Ensure effective delivery of personal care in line with patient activities of daily living is provided to patients and that an acceptable standard is maintained.
• Follow all Trust policies and provide a safe and person-centred environment for the treatment of patients.
• Participate in personal and practice development activities to maintain standards of care.

Main duties of the job

Key Result Areas & Performance:

Demonstrates care and compassion to patients, carers and relatives to help ensure high quality-person-centred patient care is delivered at all times.

Assist patients with activities of daily living. This will include all basic care including the feeding, bathing and repositioning of all patients under the supervision of a trained nurse.

Provide support to the registered nurse and, where appropriate, other members of the Clinical Team as required.

To co-operate with and maintain good relationships with team colleagues and staff in other disciplines that are attending and treating patients to maximise patient care.

Maintain good relationships and an empathic approach to the patient’s’ family, relatives and carers and refer them to a trained nurse for any questions they may have on the client’s condition or for any suggestions or complaints that they wish to raise.

Report observed changes in the patient’s physical and psychological needs.

Accurately document care delivered to patients

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

Patient care and clinical duties

Demonstrates care and compassion to patients, carers and relatives to help ensure high-quality person-centred patient care is delivered at all times.

Communicates/liaises with members of the multi-disciplinary team to ensure high standards of patient care.

Demonstrates care and compassion to patients, carers and relatives to help ensure high quality person centred patient care is delivered at all times.

Assist patients with activities of daily living. This will typically include all basic care including the feeding, bathing and repositioning of the patient under the supervision of a trained Professional.

Provide support to the registered professional and, where appropriate, other members of the Clinical Team as required.

To co-operate with and maintain good relationships with team colleagues and staff in other disciplines that are attending and treating clients to maximise patient care.

Maintain good relationships and an empathic approach to the patient’s’ family, relatives and carers and refer them to a trained professional for any questions they may have on the client’s condition or for any suggestions or complaints that they wish to raise.

Policies, procedures and standards

To maintain patient confidentiality at all times and follow information governance policies and procedures.

To participate in maintaining accurate and up-to-date records, e.g. fluid intake charts to ensure effective communication.

To follow Trust policies and procedures to ensure maintenance of safe working practices for patients and colleagues.

To follow ward and unit procedures for the use of supplies and equipment in order to promote the effective and efficient use of resources.

Equipment and resources

Adhere to department procedures for the use of supplies and equipment in order to promote the effective and efficient use of resources.

Share responsibility for key aspects of housekeeping and stock control demonstrating a good awareness of cost efficiency and safety.

Undertakes routine and regular checks on patient trolleys and bed spaces ensuring all relevant equipment is clean, in good working order and in-tact and reports faults to Registered Professional.

Personal development and learning

To participate in personal career development plan to maintain skills and develop personal growth through training and education.

Equipment, Systems and Machinery

The post holder is expected to demonstrate and act on the responsibilities placed upon them under the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974, to ensure that the agreed safety procedures are carried out to maintain a safe working environment for patients, visitors and employees.

The healthcare support worker will use a range of equipment and resources in their role and some of these are listed below:

• Patient trolleys, beds, moving & handling equipment, patient positioning pressure relieving aids
• Glucometer, Blood Gas Machine, Bloodbank Fridge
• Drip Stands, Peak Flow
• PC/Printer, Phone

The post holder is responsible for inputting information into patient written records where applicable, e.g., Complying with the Data Protection Act, Caldicott Guidelines and local policies regarding confidentiality and access to medical records.

Under supervision by a Registered Professional, the post holder will assist with maintaining accurate patient care documentation. A number of systems are regularly used, including Icare, Rio, Safeguard, etc.

Decisions and Judgement

The post holder is responsible to the Registered Professional or deputy for clinical guidance and professional management, work review and formal appraisal of performance.

Workload will be determined by the Registered Professional /Deputy.

Exercise the ability to plan and deliver allocated workload.

Demonstrates the ability to acknowledge changes in the patient’s physical/psychological needs and report them to the Registered Professional in charge of the patient.

Decide when to refer enquiries from the patient, carers and relatives to the Registered Professional.

The Senior HCA / Senior Healthcare Support Worker is responsible for accepting delegated tasks from the Registered Professional and is accountable for undertaking them. The Senior HCA / Senior Healthcare Support Worker should highlight any concerns about undertaking the task.

Sometimes works without direct supervision using own initiative within the parameters set in polices and SOPs with guidance from the Registered Professional available at all times.

Communication and Relationships

The post holder communicates and liaises with the patient, their relatives/carers and the multidisciplinary team and maintains good relationships.

Communicates with other relevant professionals, for example Registered Professional / Registered Professional / members of the multi-disciplinary team– for information regarding patients’ clinical condition/clinical problems/workload issues.

Communicates with the Registered Professional for advice regarding educational and training issues relevant to patient management and personal development.

Communicates with other departments – for example, Estates, Supplies Department.

There is a requirement to take account of communication barriers, for example, when English is not the person’s first language, people with hearing difficulties, learning disabilities etc. and communicate effectively to deliver person centred care at all times.

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.