Senior Healthcare Support Worker, Day Surgery (ASH)

Job overview

Working as a Senior Healthcare Support Worker in a Day Surgery Unit ward within the hospital setting.

Carry out assigned tasks involved with direct patient care whilst maintaining the privacy and dignity of patients. This will be whilst demonstrating excellent care, compassion and communication, and in support of and supervised by a Registered Nurse/Midwife or Nursing Associate, incorporating:

• Admitting patients and preparing patients to Theatre lists
• Discharging the Local anaesthetic patients
• Moving & Handling of patients to support independence
• Infection Prevention and Control
• Safeguarding of adults and children
• Taking and recording vital signs or other parameters such as height/weight
• Cannulating or blood taking
• Removing cannulas
• Taking specimens/samples of any kind
• Simple dressings
• ECGs or setting up cardiac monitoring
• Deal with oxygen administration in any capacity

Main duties of the job

Main duties for a Band 3 Healthcare Support Worker (HCSW) in a Day Surgery Unit include:

• Supporting patients through the pre-operative and post-operative pathway
• Assisting nurses and the multidisciplinary team with patient care
• Carrying out and recording basic observations such as blood pressure, pulse, temperature, oxygen saturation, and NEWS scoring
• Helping with patient admission and discharge processes
• Providing personal care, reassurance, dignity, and emotional support
• Preparing patients for theatre and assisting with safe patient transfers
• Monitoring patients after surgery and escalating concerns appropriately
• Maintaining infection prevention and control standards
• Stocking equipment and ensuring clinical areas are clean and organised
• Completing documentation accurately and maintaining confidentiality
• Supporting mobility, nutrition, hydration, and comfort needs
• Assisting with clinical tasks within competency level, such as wound care, cannula removal, urine testing, or ECGs depending on local training
• Communicating effectively with patients, relatives, nurses, surgeons, anaesthetists, and recovery staff
• Participating in mandatory training and Band 3 competency development programmes

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

• Assist patients with personal care and hygiene needs
• Promote patients’ privacy and dignity both in the ward/department and across the Trust
• Assist patients with their continence needs
• Assist in the meeting of patients’ nutritional needs. Ensure that assistance is provided to patients who require it at mealtimes and patients who are of nutritional risk have a red tray
• Where identified in the plan of care, ensure food and fluid intake and output are accurately documented on appropriate charts
• Assist in skin and pressure area care. Under the supervision of registered nurses/nursing associates, ensure patients are helped to mobilise and/or move position to promote comfort and protect skin integrity
• Assist patients with safe mobilisation according to their plan of care and where appropriate seek help from other members of the ward/department team
• Utilise appropriate moving and handling aids to reduce the risk of injury to the patients, others and themselves
• Assist in supporting therapeutic recreational activities for patients as appropriate
• Assist registered staff in the taking and recording of vital signs as per the patients’ plan of care, including urinalysis and blood glucose testing.Monitor the Day Surgery Unit environment ensuring all clinical areas are kept clean at all times by following the correct infection control policies and procedures
• Responsible for the cleanliness, tidiness and stocking up of equipment, equipment trolleys, storerooms and clinical areas
• To have a responsible attitude to the economical use of resources
• Assist with the stripping, cleaning and making of trolley and beds
• Recognise potentially distressing situations with patients, relatives or the multidisciplinary team and support staff accordingly
• Communicate to the nurse/midwife in charge changes observed in a patient’s condition, whether physical or overall health and well-being
• Escort patients from the ward/department to other areas within the hospital, as required, in accordance with the Healthcare Support Worker Code of Conduct, maintaining their privacy and dignity at all times
• Be aware of and contribute to the protection of individuals from abuse and report any suspicions of abuse to nurse/midwife in charge or appropriate other (Matron, safeguarding team)
• Assist a Registered Nurse/Midwife/Nursing Associate with patients’ End of Life care as required. This would include following their individualised care plan for the dying, and also performing the Last Offices (care of the deceased patient)
• Recognise and respect all aspects of diversity in a non-discriminatory, inclusive manner
• Attend annual updates on fire and take appropriate action on discovering/suspecting a fire
• Attend annual updates on basic life support procedures and take appropriate action in the event of a deteriorating patient or cardiac arrest
• Where required, undertake the additional skills of venepuncture and cannulation duties under senior supervision following completion of training and evidence of competency
• As required, accurately record ECG’s on completion of training, reporting back to Registered Nurse/Midwife/Nursing Associate

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.