Healthcare Assistant

Job overview

** Please note online applications are not being accepted for this vacancy.  In order to apply, you will need to complete the application form attached to the vacancy in full and return this to [email protected] **

An exciting opportunity for a career within Nursing has arisen at Gateshead Health NHS Foundation Trust to work within Care of the Older Persons. We have 3 wards at the QE which specialise in caring for those over the age of 65 with an element of frailty. You will have the opportunity to work alongside numerous professions from Nursing, Physiotherapy, Occupational Therapy, Speech and Language Therapy as well as many others.

We are looking for caring and compassionate individuals, who can prioritise delivering high quality and safe patient care, to join our Organisation as a HealthCare Assistant.

We are keen to hear from individuals who are hard working, reliable and passionate in making a difference to our patients.

Full time and part time hours will be considered.

Main duties of the job

People who use our services are from diverse backgrounds with a wide range of needs which may include mental health, learning disabilities or dementia.

As a Healthcare Assistant you will be working closely with individuals, providing care to enable them complete activities of daily living  in Hospital / Home / Care setting with support from a Multi-Disciplinary team of nurses, occupational therapists, psychologists, social workers and doctors.

• Undertakes a range of delegated clinical care duties in hospital, community, or other settings
• Records patient observations and changes to patient clinical conditions
• Carries out limited clinical care duties

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
• Duties

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 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
• 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
• Training and Supervision
• Undertake mandatory and appropriate training relevant to your role for example:
• Identify own training and developmental needs
• Identify areas of training need that are relevant to the team
• Assist in the delivery of training in areas of personal experience and interest
• Provide mentoring to level 2 healthcare support worker apprentices who you are working alongside
• Provide assessment and supervision of band 2 colleagues as they complete the care certificate
• Participate in annual performance development reviews
• Participate in regular individual and group supervision
• Use supervision to understand, reflect, inform and improve your work practice
• Participate in the development of the service
• Personal responsibilities
• Ensure that people are treated with dignity and respect
• Promote anti-discriminatory activities
• Work flexibly to meet service needs
• Administrative responsibilities
• Keep clinical records up to date using trust systems in accordance with legislation as delegated by the nurse in charge
• Support people to contribute to their own clinical notes
• Maintain records to a high standard and record activity data in a timely manner
• Professional responsibilities
• Maintain confidentiality of all personal information and data in line with organisational policy and the GPDR 2018
• Be familiar and work in line with local and national policy and procedures.
• Raise concern in regard to disciplinary or performance issues to the management team using policies and procedures such as safeguarding and Freedom to speak up.

This is not an exhaustive list of duties and responsibilities and in discussion with the manager the postholder may be required to undertake other duties which fall within the Banding of the post. The job description will be reviewed regularly in the light of changing service requirements and any such changes will be discussed with the post holder.

The post holder should be comfortable in the use of computer technology, have basic keyboard skills and have the ability to use email.

All employees are expected to observe the following:

Equal opportunities and dignity at work – statement of intent

The Trust is a major employer and provider of services. We are committed to building a workforce which reflects the diversity of and meets the needs of the local community.

We oppose all forms of discrimination on legal and moral grounds and recognise that discrimination creates barriers to achieving equality for everyone.

The Trust is committed to making equality of opportunity and fair treatment a reality whereby an individual can seek, obtain and continue employment without unfair discrimination.

As an equal opportunities employer, we will ensure that all job applicants and employees receive fair and equal treatment and will not be disadvantaged by unjustified conditions or requirements.

The Trust’s Equal Opportunities and Dignity at Work Policy underpins the Trust’s commitment to achieve equality and fairness at work and to ensure that individuals or groups are not unfairly discriminated against.

Safeguarding children and adults

The Trust is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people (anyone under the age of 18) and adults. It expects all staff, volunteers and contracted staff to share this commitment and act in such a way that safeguards and promotes the health and wellbeing of children, young people and adults.

Staff must ensure that they are familiar with the signs and symptoms of abuse and know what to do if any such concerns are raised.

Staff are expected to know about and follow the Trust’s safeguarding children and safeguarding adult policies which can be found on the Trust intranet and participate in related mandatory/statutory training.

Risk management

Staff should be aware of the principles of risk management and adopt appropriate practice to reduce the risk to themselves and others. In particular, staff should observe the Trust’s Risk Management Strategy, Risk, Incident and Serious Incident reporting and management policies, Health and Safety regulations and the risk management training requirements for all staff.

Infection prevention and control

Staff are expected to comply with the Trust’s Infection Prevention and Control policies and conduct themselves in such a manner as to minimise the risk of causing healthcare associated infections