Healthcare Asst Band 3

Job overview

We are looking for an enthusiastic and motivated person to join Hascombe Ward as a band 3 Healthcare Assistant, supporting the nursing team to help deliver care to children and young people.

Hascombe Ward consists of 18 beds inpatient beds and a busy Paediatric Assessment Unit (PAU) caring for babies and children up to the age of 19yrs.   We cover a variety of specialities including general paediatric medicine, general surgery, orthopaedics, oncology, ENT and maxillofacial.

Your role will be to assist the nursing staff in caring for children and families on PAU and Hascombe Ward, ensuring the smooth flow of patients in both areas of the ward environment. This will include skills such as taking observations, basic patient assessment and cannulation/phlebotomy and we will support you to gain these skills.  You must be able to work as a member of a team, but also be able to prioritise and organise your workload and adapt to changing circumstances.  This role is currently a day time role, weekdays and weekends.

We are looking for someone with healthcare experience, preferably with children, who has a level 3 qualification or equivalent.

Please contact Senior Sister Susan Winney on 01483 571122 ext 4764 for any further information.

Main duties of the job

To assist in the provision of high quality care to paediatric patients and their families under the direction and supervision of the nursing team.

Demonstrate a range of skills to meet the needs of patients whilst promoting dignity, privacy and respect. To comply with the Code of Conduct for Healthcare Support Workers. To provide a range of healthcare and non-nursing duties, ensuring an efficient and effective service to the department at all times.

To provide care to all the paediatric patients & families under the guidance of the registered nurses within Hascombe ward and the Paediatric Assessment Unit.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

• To adhere to the main standards of performance for patient care, within the concepts of the accepted nursing philosophy and good customer care.
• Ensure effective communication and interpersonal skills with the other members of the team. Promote a friendly and welcoming atmosphere for both team members and patients. Be courteous, helpful and supportive to patients at all times.
• To liaise with clinicians, other professionals and community staff as appropriate co-ordinating and maintaining care which will achieve the set standards
• To assist trained staff or other clinicians with procedures, transfer patients from the Emergency Department to Paediatric Assessment Unit (defined suitability & risk assessed) Escalating any concerns to trained staff.
• Complete venepuncture as required for patients following training and competency assessment.
• Maintain high standards of documentation and competence in using electronic patient records.
• To be a patient advocate and provide support for patients medical, social and psychological needs whilst on the ward
• To be able to work with minimal supervision suitable to the nature  and scope of your practice, planning own work activities and always escalating to registered nursing staff anything which is beyond your scope of practice.
• To continue to develop your knowledge and be aware of your own training needs. Attend statutory mandatory training as dictated by the Trust.
• Within the 6 months probation period, it is expected that you will consolidate skills in paediatric assessment and complete venepuncture training with competency assessments.
• To be able to initiate care of emergency situations i.e. anaphylaxis, choking, resuscitation for children and family.
• Be competent in using a range of medical equipment with accuracy and be aware of the changes in normal ranges based on age of the patient.
• To be competent and be able to train other health care assistants in the collection of specimens and use of a range of medical equipment with accuracy.
• To be able to record/perform additional tests/observations such as performing an ECG (Electrocardiography), performing and interpreting urinalysis results, performing and interpreting blood glucose and escalate if abnormal.
• Chaperone children through invasive or personnel procedures, supporting parents following consultations if they have received distressing news or unexpected diagnosis.
• Be able to orientate new staff to the unit, including students on placement, other Health Care Assistants, bank staff, other trained staff who are new to the department or trust.
• Be able to supervise other Health Care Assistants as appropriate
• Be able to refer any safeguarding concerns to the nursing team and/or the safeguarding team,  completing information sharing forms in a timely manner.
• Support distressed or frightened children during their assessment or throughout procedures by offering them distraction or play activities as appropriate.
• Is able to order and maintain stock liaising independently with supply chain
• Be aware of maintenance of equipment and ensures equipment is regularly serviced/Portable Appliance Testing (PAT) tested as appropriate
• Participates in the service development of the paediatric ward by making suggestions to improve patient experience
• Be proactice in initiating friends and family test and is involved in feedback and changes as a result of feedback
• Be able to manage changing demands and an unpredictable work load. Prioritising based on patient need.