Healthcare Support Worker

Job overview

An exciting opportunity has arisen for a motivated and compassionate Healthcare Support Worker Band 3 to join our dynamic team within the Infusion Suite at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital.

The successful post holder will work closely alongside the Registered Nurses  and the Senior Matron for Specialist Medicine, playing a key role in supporting  high-quality care to patients receiving biologic and iron infusion therapies.

You will be part of a supportive and forward-thinking team committed to providing safe, effective, and patient-centred care within a growing service.

Please note, you will need to provide one of the following criteria:

• A Care Certificate issued by an NHS provider organisation (Care Certificate from private is not acceptable
• An NVQ Level 3 in Health and Social Care certificate from a UK college.

Please note: We are unable to offer sponsorship for this post.

Main duties of the job

The post Holder will work under the direct supervision of Registered Nursing Staff as part of the multidisciplinary departmental team undertaking duties in relation to direct fundamental patient care and a full range of support functions that may include clerical duties.

The post holder will deliver delegated, supervised work as assigned by a Registered Nurse as appropriate, ensuring that there is continual feedback to the Registered nurse about the patient’s condition.

The post holder will  required to have achieved and maintained competency in cannulation and phlebotomy as an essential aspect of the role, supporting the safe and effective delivery of patient care within the Infusion Suite.

The post holder will contribute to the delivery of high-quality patient care within the Infusion Suite, supporting patients receiving biologic and other infusion therapies for long-term conditions. Care will be delivered in a safe, compassionate, and patient-centred manner, ensuring that patients’ physical, psychological, and social needs are met at all times, while maintaining privacy, dignity, and respect within a diverse clinical environment.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

.1       Hygiene

In accordance with the individual care plan, support patients to meet personal needs in a day care setting by:

• Ensuring patients maintain good standards of hand hygiene.
• Mobility

In accordance with the individual care plan, support patients to meet their mobility needs and prevent the hazards of immobility by:

• Encouraging mobility and exercise where appropriate
• Provide supervision and assistance where necessary to assist patient mobility
• Ensure the correct equipment is readily available to be used by patients when mobilising
• Positioning the patient to aid effective breathing
• Promoting patient comfort by adding / removing pillows / blankets and regularly changing patient’s position to maintain skin integrity.
• Nutrition

In accordance with the individual care plan, support patients to meet their nutritional needs by:

• Assisting patients to eat and drink, ensuring that food is presented to encourage independence.
• Monitoring, recording and maintain food and fluid intake record charts as directed
• Providing nutritional support, including meals and snacks as instructed, encouraging patients on an individual basis.
• Elimination

In accordance with the individual care plan, support patients to meet their elimination needs by:

• Assisting patients to use the appropriate toilet facilities regularly.
• Changing clothing/bedding and cleaning if patient is incontinent.
• Performing / assisting the patient to perform catheter care, stoma site care.
• Maintaining a safe environment

Contribute to the provision of a safe environment for patients by:

• Ensuring ward / departmental equipment is cleaned and well maintained and report any required repairs required in line with Trust policy.
• Adhering to any patient isolation requirements
• Safely disposing of blood and blood products, and sharps
• Cleaning up spillages, washing beds/tables/lockers/chairs in the absence of the ward /department domestic and between patients.
• Contribute to the resuscitation of a patient by performing basic CPR following appropriate training.
• Communication

Support effective communication by:

• Answering telephone and personal enquiries in a clear, polite and professional manner, taking messages and referring calls or enquiries as appropriate, ensuring strict confidentiality at all times in line with Trust policy.
• Participating in meetings as required.
• Supporting the transfer of patients to other wards and departments with the appropriate documentation.
• Communication with patients about the times of tests, at the request of a registered nurse
• Participating in discussions with the Registered Nurse when evaluating patient care.
• Documenting patient care, in line with Trust policy, as and when provided, ensuring that this is discussed with and countersigned by a registered Nurse
• Provide clear verbal updates to members of the multi-disciplinary team relating to patient care.
• In accordance with the individual care plan, support patients who are undergoing intravenous therapy or wound care by:
• General observation of an infusion site (peripheral, central and subcutaneous), reporting findings.
• Performing simple wound dressings that are non aseptic.
• Contribute to the registered Nurse assessment of a patient by undertaking the following observations and reporting findings to the registered Nurse:
• Temperature
• Pulse
• Blood Pressure – manual and electronic
• Respirations
• Peak Expiratory flow rate
• Oxygen saturation levels
• Check and use trust blood glucose monitoring equipment to measure and record patient’s blood sugar following appropriate training.
• Weighing patients
• Capillary Blood Sugars (Blood sugar monitoring)
• Urine output
• Contribute to the registered Nurse Assessment of a patient by undertaking the following assessment and reporting all findings to the registered Nurse:
• Undertake patient at risk observations and scoring, escalating as per protocol
• Undertake mouth care assessment
• Undertake nutritional scoring
• Undertake Waterlow scoring
• Undertake falls assessment
• Undertake moving and handling assessment
• MRSA Screening
• Contribute to the registered Nurse assessment of a patient by undertaking the following tests and reporting findings to the registered Nurse/Midwife.
• Undertake urinalysis
• Obtain Mid Stream Urine specimens and Catheter Specimens of Urine
• Undertake Pregnancy testing (urine only) and report findings
• Collect specimens via invasive swabs as and when requested by a registered nurse/midwife/AHP; i.e., urine, faeces, sputum and wound.  Pack and label same.
• Undertake phlebotomy and cannulation as directed by the RN
• Ward Administration Housekeeping

Support the general day to day administration of the ward by:

• Infection Control procedures

• Putting away linen and stock items when delivered to the area.
• Reporting and recording any potential hazards and equipment repairs.
• Caring for patient’s property and clothing particularly dentures, hearing aids and glasses.
• Personal
• Attend mandatory study sessions and training associated with the maintenance of the skills and knowledge required to fulfil the role.
• Participate in the staff appraisal process
• Provide a safe environment for the safety and welfare of patients, visitors and staff by ensuring compliance with: -       Health and Safety at Work Act -       Fire Prevention Management