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 Ward 25 at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital.

The post holder will work under the supervision of Registered Nursing Staff as part of the Ward 25 multidisciplinary team, supporting the delivery of safe, compassionate and person-centred care for elderly patients with complex medical, frailty, dementia, rehabilitation and discharge planning needs. They will undertake delegated fundamental care duties, including supporting nutrition, hydration, mobility, continence, skin integrity, falls prevention, comfort and patient wellbeing.

The post holder will report changes in patients’ condition promptly to the Registered Nurse, maintain dignity, privacy and respect, communicate effectively with patients, relatives and colleagues, and contribute to a clean, safe and organised ward environment.

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 deliver delegated and supervised care as assigned by a Registered Nurse, ensuring that any changes in the patient’s condition, behaviour, mobility, nutrition, hydration, skin integrity, continence, or overall wellbeing are promptly reported to the Registered Nurse.

The post holder will contribute to the delivery of high-quality, safe, compassionate, and person-centred care within Ward 25, which provides care for elderly patients with complex medical, frailty, dementia, rehabilitation, and discharge planning needs. The role will involve supporting patients with activities of daily living, maintaining comfort, promoting independence where possible, and ensuring that patients’ physical, psychological, emotional, and social needs are met.

The post holder will support the ward team in maintaining patient safety through effective observation, falls prevention, pressure ulcer prevention, nutrition and hydration support, continence care, infection prevention, and accurate documentation within their scope of practice. They will also assist in maintaining a clean, safe, and organised ward environment.

The post holder will work in a respectful and compassionate manner, ensuring that patients are treated with dignity, privacy, and respect at all times. They will be expected to communicate effectively with patients, relatives, carers, and members of the multidisciplinary team, recognising the needs of a diverse patient group and escalating any concerns appropriately

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

• Key Result Areas:
• 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

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: 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

Infection Control procedures

Risk Management

COSHH

Mandatory Training

Workforce

• Works under the direct supervision and direction of Registered Nurses Acts as a role model to other Health Care Assistants Works in close collaboration with all members of ward/department-based teams

Financial

• Has awareness of the costs of all locally held non pay items. Supports the appropriate use of all ward non-pay items. Partakes in all relevant Cost Improvement programmes. Identifying and reporting where cost savings that do not compromise patient care can be made. Partnerships To liaise with and facilitate effective communication within the multi-disciplinary team. To act as a role model to other staff, providing informal education and support for them in their provision of care to all outpatients.

General

To demonstrate a commitment to personal and professional development through performance review, clinical supervision and continuing education.

To complete mandatory training, as determined by the Trust.

To personally adhere to all Lewisham and Greenwich NHS Trust Policies and Procedures.

To be able to use ward level IT packages.

• To regularly work with body fluids May be exposed to violence and aggression from patients, carers or visitors Will be required to support patients who require enhanced care levels, perhaps due to confusion or risk of falling Will be exposed to bereavement and bereaved carers, and may be required to support them emotionally Will be frequently required to move and handle patients and objectives. Role is generally predictable, but will require the postholder to respond to unexpected clinical situations

Applicant requirements

This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975 (Amendment) (England and Wales) Order 2020 and it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service.