Healthcare Assistant- Midland Centre for Spinal Injuries

Job overview

We have exciting opportunities to join our Midlands Centre for Spinal Injuries as a Healthcare Assistant/ Healthcare Support Worker.

At the Midland Centre for Spinal Injuries (MCSI), we are committed to supporting new members of staff to ensure they feel confident and enjoy working as part of our team.

You will be given the time and support to build your confidence whilst learning how to care for spinal cord injury patients.

We look forward to having the opportunity to welcome you to the team.

We have full-time and part-time roles available.

Amongst the facilities available in MCSI is Horatio’s Garden. Horatio’s Garden is a national charity that creates and cares for NHS spinal cord injury centres. Horatio’s Garden offers a sanctuary for patients with spinal cord injuries, which helps them with their physical and psychological well-being. This is an amazing facility for both our patients, families, and staff to enjoy, relax, participate in rehab, and importantly provides a tranquil rest and rehabilitation area.

Under current Home Office Immigration Rules, this role does not meet the UK Visas and Immigration criteria and the position is not therefore eligible for sponsorship. Applications from candidates that require skilled worker sponsorship will NOT be shortlisted.

Main duties of the job

The team at MCSI work closely together to give patients the best opportunities for maxiumum potential recovery following a spinal cord injury. This includes caring for a patient in the initial first few weeks following injury, rehabilitation, through to discharge post discharge care also. Patients are 'life long' patients of MCSI and are part of the MCSI 'family'.

Main duties of the role including teaching and supporting patients to be as independent as possible in their daily routine, working along side external care teams, ensuring clean and safe environments and supporting patients with nutrition and hydration.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

• Under the direct/indirect supervision of trained staff, be able to use own initiative and be able to assist patients in all activities of daily living within own level of competence.
• Assist patients to maintain and improve their mobility to their full potential. Assist with dressing, promoting independence as much as possible within the boundaries of the patient’s functional ability.
• Provide patient care, which may require the use of physical effort to roll, manoeuvre and stand patients. The use of manual handling equipment and training is essential, to reduce physical strain and maintain safety of the patient. Annual manual handling training is mandatory.
• Assist other team members to maintain the skin integrity of all patients and have a working knowledge of all aids that are available to support this practice.
• Provide a safe and clean environment for patients by having and demonstrating a working knowledge of all Health and Safety issues.
• Assist patients to select meals. Have a working knowledge of available supplementary foods, which may be prescribed. Provide assistance and monitoring with eating and drinking as required, whilst still attempting to promote patients' independence.
• To have a basic understanding in the safe use of wheelchairs, commodes and other equipment used on the unit. Ensure due regard is given to the customs, culture, values and spiritual beliefs of the patient, family, carers and staff. To uphold the Trust's Diversity/Equal Opportunities Policy.

• Ensure due regard is given to the safety of patients belongings according to Trust policies.
• Be able to handle waste body fluids, ensuring correct disposal according to Trust policies. Take specimens of urine, faeces, sputum, wound and other swabs, when requested to do so from a qualified nurse.
• Assist with escort duties as required. Chaperoning patients during medical examinations.
• Basic life support skills are essential, and will be updated at least yearly.
• Ability to call help and support staff in the event of an emergency.
• Be accountable for own practice, and take every reasonable opportunity to sustain and improve knowledge and professional competence.
• Attend yearly statutory training to ensure adherence to Trust policy and current legislation.
• Attend relevant in house training sessions which is pertinent to own clinical practice, to enhance knowledge and skill, maintaining competencies.
• Maintain personal training records.
• Participate in a yearly appraisal, setting personal objectives for own professional developmentplan.