Health Care Assistant

at  Tameside and Glossop Integrated Care NHS Foundation Trust

Band 2 - 21 hours per Week
We are looking for a highly motivated & committed Health Care Assistant to join our team on the Day Surgery Unit.
Day Surgery Unit is a 22 bedded unit comprising of short stay elective patients for Orthopaedic, General Surgery, ENT, Oral Surgery & Gynaecology.
You will need to be passionate and enthusiastic about patient care; putting patients at the heart of everything you do. You should be flexible and adaptable. For this role you will need to communicate effectively with other staff and patients at all levels.
You will be required to liaise with a wide range of healthcare professionals as well as the general public and patients. As such you will need excellent communication and interpersonal skills.
The post holder must be willing to learn and develop, work on their own initiative & as part of a team, good time management and organisational skills are essential.
The post holder is responsible for carrying out assigned tasks involving direct patient care, in support of and supervised by a registered Nurse, Midwife or Doctor maintaining a high standard of quality patient care and staff morale through personal example, good conduct and appearance.
Tameside and Glossop Integrated Care NHS Foundation Trust serves a community of 250,000 people across Tameside & Glossop. We provide a range of services both within the hospital and across our community for both adults and children. Our vision is to improve health outcomes for our population and influence wider determinants of health through collaboration with our health & care partners.
We have a clear set of values & behaviours which we expect all of our staff to demonstrate:
Safety
Care
Respect
Communication
Learning
We believe that the best organisations are those that reflect the communities they serve. We are therefore seeking to improve the diversity of our workforce to make it truly representative of our local population.
We actively encourage applications irrespective of race, age, disability, sex, gender reassignment, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, religion or belief, marriage & civil partnership, or pregnancy or maternity. Recognising those communities that are underrepresented within our workforce, we would particularly welcome applications from Black, Asian & minority ethnic candidates, LGBTQ+ & Disabled people.
Benefits include; flexible working, 27-33 days annual leave plus bank holidays, sick pay, NHS Pension Scheme, free eye tests and health checks, gym discount, free bicycle loan scheme, salary sacrifice car scheme, support with stress, bereavement, relationships, finance, and much more.

CLINICAL:

Work within the ward/department setting, providing high quality, caring, compassionate and personal care to patients and their families/carers
Work under the direction of the Registered Healthcare Professionals and senior colleagues, both independently and as part of the multi- disciplinary team.
Under the direction of a Registered Health Care Professional ensure a high standard of service provision within ward/department, by practicing effective clinical and administrative preparation, effective communication and care delivery, prioritising workload appropriately and contributing to service improvements
Participate in giving compassionate high quality personal care to patients prioritising appropriately and developing competencies that safeguard practice
Act always in a manner, which illustrates respect for privacy, dignity, equality, diversity, and confidentiality.
Always exhibit a professional attitude behaviour and demonstrate excellent customer care skills.
Contribute to effective team working by being fully involved, committed, and participating towards achieving own and others full potential.
Develop positive relationships with patients, families, and carers.
Communicate effectively with patients, relatives, and healthcare practitioners.
Welcome and orientate patients and visitors to the ward/department.
Use communication tools (verbal/ nonverbal) to gain informed consent with patients where there will often be barriers to effective communication e.g., loss of hearing, altered perception, expressive and receptive dysphasia, pain, fear etc.
Report information concerning the patients, including information of their care delivery and wellbeing to other members of the team, including Registered Healthcare Professionals, in a timely manner.
Ask for, listen, and value the views of patients and their relatives/carers on their experience, including complaints and discuss with the Registered Healthcare Professional in a timely manner.
Communicate effectively with dignity and respect to all patients, relatives and others considering potential barriers to understanding.
Recognise and report any situations, behaviours or errors that could result in poor care outcomes.
Assist in preparing patients notes, relevant charts/documentation.
Maintain effective working relationships with ward colleagues particularly those highlighted within the organisation chart above
Welcome and orientate new staff, patients, and visitors to the ward/department.
Carry out routine personal care procedures as directed.
Use a range of techniques for infection prevention and control including waste management, hand washing and the use of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE).
Ensure patients nutritional needs are met through assisting in the preparation of patients prior to meals and beverages, providing help and assistance in feeding/drinking as necessary.
Appropriately record and monitor dietary intake of patients, informing relevant staff of progress and/or any difficulties relating to dietary/fluid intake as required.
Assist patients in their mobility requirements, help move and position appropriately to maximise their physical comfort, utilising equipment a trained to use and as directed by the multi professional team.
Prepare individual patients and the environment to ensure effective movement and/or handling procedures to ensure patient and staff safety.
Assist in the care of patient’s skin integrity by observing pressure areas and undertaking actions as appropriate to prevent pressure ulcers, escalating concerns to the Registered Healthcare Professional in a timely manner, recording and maintaining relevant documentation as directed.
Assist in the duties relating to last offices for deceased persons as required. Ensure that all religious and cultural wishes, obligations are adhered to.
When necessary, initiate and assist with basic cardio-pulmonary resuscitation procedures.
At the delegation of the Registered Healthcare Professional, transfer the patient from one care area to another, i.e. to discharge lounge/ another ward.
Assist in providing conditions to meet the patient’s need for rest and sleep.
Chaperone the patient as required ensuring appropriate support.
Actively support and assist in alleviating distress and anxiety of patients or carers, consistent with their personal beliefs and preferences, seeking help and support as required.
Support patients with dementia/cognitive impairment/delirium, providing Enhanced Supervision where required.
Proactively help patients and carers to take an active role in their care.
Assist in maintaining and monitoring cleaning standards within the clinical area ensuring fixtures/ fittings and equipment is cleaned in accordance with guidelines.
Promote standards of health and safety in working practice and the workplace, by being responsible for self and others through identifying risks, undertaking work activities in a safe manner.
Prioritise own workload
Undertake tasks and workload activities whilst ensuring that their practice is guided by standard operating procedures and established protocols.
Under the delegation of the Registered HealthCare Professional participate in the delivery of patient care, as outlined above.
Demonstrate self-directed development to ensure practise is in accordance with established protocols and standard operating procedures under close, but not continuous, supervision.
Provide basic health promotion advice to patients and relatives/carers, as directed/ appropriate.
Act always in a manner, which illustrates respect for privacy, dignity and confidentiality.
Contribute to effective team working, by being fully involved, committed, and participating, to achieving full potential.

SECTION 2- KNOWLEDGE AND SKILLS

Demonstrate a good understanding of the Mental Capacity Act / Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards and apply the principles to everyday practice seeking advice / guidance from the Registered Healthcare Professional as required.
Have a responsibility to ensure all information processed for patients and staff is kept confidential, accurate and in line with the data protection act 1998 and Caldecott principles.
Be environmentally aware and prudent in use of resources and energy.
Maintain responsibility for the identification of own continuing educational needs and development and take part in annual appraisal.
Recognise and consistently work within boundaries of the role and acquire skills and knowledge to develop competencies in the service area as directed.
Maintain competence in Statutory and Mandatory training.
Attend appropriate training courses and keep up to date with developments within the service area.