Healthcare Assistant

Job overview

An opportunity to join the team on the extremely busy Gynaecology Assessment Unit has become available and we are looking for a compassionate, dedicated Health Care assistant with a keen interest in women's' health, to join our team.  You will be caring for women during difficult and emotional periods of their life, through loss of pregnancy and surgery and we will expect you to be a non judgemental person with an open mind and a kind heart.

The role is to cover shifts both day and night (12 hours shifts) over a seven day period.

Main duties of the job

• Patient hygiene,  nutrition and hydration.
• Ensuring that our patients are clean and comfortable and have meals and drinks as allowed.
• Recording accurately in patients records and updating the nurses with any changes in the physical or emotional  conditions of the patients.
• Monitoring physiological observations and relaying the results to the nurses.
• Escorting patients to the operating theatre and other departments, chaperoning patients during examinations by the doctors or during ultrasound scans by the sonographers.
• Taking samples to the pathology lab and tissues to the mortuary.

We work closely with Gynae Outpatients to maintain our services and provide support for each team as needed.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

The postholder:-

Patient Care Duties

• Under the direction of the Registered Healthcare Professional, provide high quality personalised care in accordance with agreed local and national standards using a wide range of skills.
• Achieve and maintain core and specific competencies as per HCSW Development pathway and agreed by manager.
• Participate in the admission, transfer and discharge of patients under the direction of the Registered Nurse.
• Assist in all aspects of personal hygiene and toileting needs of patients.
• Assist with the service of meals and support patients who may need assistance with eating and drinking in line with their plan of care.
• Assist with the safe moving, handling and mobilisation of patients ensuring that care plans are followed to minimise risk.
• Communicate effectively with kindness, warmth and compassion recognising when there are barriers to communication where support may be required.
• Act as a patient and staff advocate, escalating concerns and challenging poor behaviour or practice appropriately.
• Maintain accurate records of care within area of responsibility.
• Observe and report any changes in a patient’s condition to the Nurse in Charge identifying and reports patient needs not included in the care plan.
• Involve patients and carers/relatives in delivery of care.
• Provide reassurance and support to patients, carers/family.
• Support the maintenance and cleanliness of the clinical environment by attending to general tidiness of the area including unpacking and storage of stock deliveries. Report any estates issues appropriately.
• Support clinical teams to fulfil cleaning responsibilities as identified in the National Cleaning Standards framework.
• Assist and contribute to the movement and treatment of patients to achieve physical comfort and minimise the adverse effects of pressure according to the plan of care.
• Contribute to minimising the effects of disruptive abusive behaviour and the protection of individuals from abuse.
• To answer the telephone and relay messages appropriately.
• In the absence of administrative support, support administrative functions as directed by the nurse in charge.
• Develop own skills and knowledge and contribute to the development of others.
• Assist with the induction of new Health Care Support Workers
• Recognise and respond appropriately to urgent and emergency situations.
• Ensure the effective and efficient use of resources and contribute ideas to cost improvement programmes.
• Report any incidents, concerns, complaints or accidents to the Nurse in Charge completing adverse incident forms as required.
• Attend and participate in team/ward/department meetings.
• Support the psychological and emotional wellbeing of patients, carers and families.
• To ensure that no action or omission on your part is detrimental to the condition, safety, well-being and interest of the patients.