Health Care Assistant

at  279 University Hospitals Sussex NHS Foundation Trust

This is an exciting opportunity for a HCA to join our busy paediatric outpatient team at the Royal Alexandra Children’s Hospital. We see children between the ages of 0-17 years. The clinics that take place cover many different specialities including ENT, general surgery, dermatology, general paediatrics, rheumatology, allergy and gastroenterology amongst others. There are 15 clinic rooms in total plus a dedicated children’s phlebotomy room which you will also support. You will have an opportunity to develop many different skills.
To take personal responsibility for identifying own training needs for mandatory and
statutory training, to discuss these with line manager ensuring that appropriate dates

are attended.

• To actively contribute to the implementation of the infection control policy, which will

involve scrupulous personal hand washing and teaching others to do the same. Strict
adherence to universal precautions and teaching other staff and the public to do the
same. Strict following of screening isolation and decontamination regimes and

ensuring that others do the same.

• To actively support the documentation initiatives within the Trust, taking personal

responsibility to document assessments and care given in line with Nurse Midwifery

Council Standards.

• To act as an ambassador for the organisation and nursing profession.
• Contributes to maintaining an environment suitable to the needs of children and

families in accordance with Health and Safety and Infection Control.

• Participates in maintaining a tidy, well-stocked and safe clinical environment.
• Participation in the correct disposal of clinical/non-clinical waste in accordance with

Trust policy.

• Duty of personal care in relation to equipment, patient valuables and stock control.
• Inputs data using computerised record system as directed by supervising nurse.
• Adheres to UHSussex policies, guidelines and protocols.
• Assists medical staff with procedures.
• Adhere to UHSussex Core Values

At UHSussex, diversity is our strength, and we want you to feel included to help us always put the Patient First. Your uniqueness and experiences will be part of our creative and innovative community where everyone is encouraged to succeed. We have a range of Staff Networks to help break down barriers, and can offer a buddy to help new members settle in. We’re proud to be a Disability Confident Employer (Level 2) and a Veteran Aware Trust.
We treat our patients and staff with the same compassion and empathy we expect for ourselves. We’re here for them when they need us, and we go above and beyond to meet their needs. This can be seen in our Wellbeing Programme for staff which is extensive and designed to support you when you need it, including where possible, flexible working to support work life balance - because we know that to look after others we must first look after ourselves.
As a university trust and a leader in healthcare research, we value learning, teaching and training so that we can be the best that we can be. From the moment you start with us and throughout your career we will help you to grow and develop. We hope that in choosing UHSussex you are choosing a long and happy career where you will be able to see the difference you make and feel valued for all that you do.
We look forward to receiving your application and the start of your journey with UHSussex.

Assists nursing staff with the individual care needs of children within the clinical area.

• Assists other nursing staff with the implementation and evaluation of planned care.
• After appropriate training and assessment undertakes a range of basic observations

and personal care under the supervision and direction of the supervising nurse. , i.e.
recording observations, Electrocardiogram recordings, application of plaster of Paris
backslabs, removal of plaster of Paris, ward urinalysis test, sweat test and blood

glucose monitoring.

• Undertakes routine recordings of height, weight and blood pressure on all children

attending out patient clinics, recording the information in the patient records.

• Articulates concerns about the welfare/well-being of any child to a registered nurse

immediately.

• Awareness of emergency procedures and how to activate them when needed.
• Maintains the privacy and dignity of children and carers.
• Escorts well children and their families to other departments at the direction of the

supervising nurse.

• Participates in programmes of play/education applicable to the clinical environment.
• Plans own allocated workload.
• Assist staff with children having a variety of procedures that can be upsetting and

require distraction techniques and reassurance.

• Contributes to the smooth and efficient running of the Paediatric Out Patient Area.
• Able to undertake basic clerical and reception duties including organising transport,

finding notes and specimen results.

• Includes children and carers as participating partners in planned care.
• Can procure and safely send off clinical specimens as requested by nurse/doctor.
• Able to care for children from birth to 19 years including those with additional needs.
• Able to care for children with eczema including the use of wet wraps.
• To have an awareness of Knowledge and skills to practise at a basic level in the six

areas of expertise set out in ‘Common Core of Skills and Knowledge for the
Children’s Workforce’ (HM Government 2005

Please refer the Job description for details