Ward Assistant/Activities Co-Ordinator

Job overview

This a vacancy for our beautiful Hospital in Cirencester, working as a member of our care team.  We are looking for someone who has  a background or an interest in Dementia and Delirium. We maintain high standards of care to our patients and support the delivery of activities to help stimulate and support them such as conversations about the news, playing games and going for walks in the garden.

You will also be flexible in your duties from housekeeping, catering and general ward care.

Main duties of the job

• Providing food and drinks to patients to support their needs and recovery from illness / injury.
• Providing basic care support with the nursing team; making beds, tidying rooms, helping patients settle in, helping minimal need patients with washing and dressing or feeding.  Orientating new patients to their new environment.  Engaging patients in activities , games and conversation
• Utilise resources effectively and safely
• Responsible for the safe use, inspection, maintenance and security of all goods and equipment

This role is not eligible for sponsorship as per the Government’s UK VISA and Immigration Rules and Regulations. For more information please visit https://www.gov.uk/browse/visas-immigration/work-visas

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

• Contribute to providing a clean environment in accordance with the National Standards of

Healthcare Cleanliness 2021 or equivalent and to the agreed work schedules.  The post

holder will support the cleaning team using a range of methods e.g. High dusting, damp

dusting, vacuuming and mopping, in line with the NHS Cleaning Manual.

• Be responsible for maintaining and replenishing stocks of consumable items used within the department, i.e.: paper hand towels, soap, in a safe and responsible manner.
• Adhere to all aspects of Infection Prevention and Control in all areas of work, including the use of colour coded equipment to ensure there is no spread of infection.
• Follow local procedures for reporting areas cleaned and highlighting issues which have prevented duties being carried out.
• Distribute and store linen in a safe and responsible manner.
• Change curtains as required under the direction of the Facilities Supervisor /unit manager and in accordance with a curtain change programme.
• Assist with the removal of used linen and follow the rejected linen process.
• Cleaning of all Facilities equipment used for food preparation and during food service.
• Support the preparation of, service and clearing up of inpatient drink service, including refilling of water jugs, in accordance to the work schedule.
• Remove cutlery and crockery to the kitchen and clean them
• Helping the ward to prepare the environment ready for meal service, e.g. Cleaning and setting tables, helping patients to wash hands or sit at the table
• Support the nursing team in making beds, cleaning the bed areas, preparing rooms for patients
• Helping assessed low need patients with activities such as washing and dressing or accessing the bathroom
• Helping assessed low need patients with eating and drinking and reporting to the nursing team if necessary how much / little people have eaten / drunk    Provide encouragement to eat and drink by prompting.
• Help patients during procedures undertaken by the nursing team by talking with them or distracting them
• Support recreational activities for patients such as taking them out into the gardens, by wheelchairs or walking with low assessed need patients to communal social spaces within the hospital.
• Support patients to use reminiscence equipment
• Join the ward handover to understand the needs of patients being cared for
• Answer the door to allow visitors into the site after checking their reason for access
• Show visitors to the right room to see a patient
• Answering the telephone, taking simple messages or passing the call to a suitable colleague