Healthcare Assistant Outpatients

at  Bolton NHS Foundation Trust

Healthcare Assistant Band 2
An exciting development opportunity has arisen to join our General Outpatients team as an HCA Band 2.
We are looking for an individual with a good standard of education, with English and Maths GCSE at grade A-C (or predicted), excellent verbal and written communication skills. Promoting a professional corporate image, you will care for patients in general out-patients.
Reporting directly to the General Out-patient sister, you will work as a member of the multidisciplinary team, supporting staff in all aspects of clinical care, clerical roles, stock maintenance, cleaning, and management of equipment. After appropriate training, post holders will be required to perform tasks such as Venepuncture and recording EGCs. You will provide an efficient, helpful and friendly service for patients, carers and members of the multidisciplinary team.
The out-patient service works collaboratively with the consultants, specialist nurses, health records and appointments to strive for a seamless patient focused service. We are dedicated to ensuring a high standard of safety and quality of care is delivered and we continue to embrace challenge and improve our service. We pride ourselves in having strong leadership and encourage staff involvement and engagement.
The department is open Monday to Friday 08.00 to 18.00, although occasionally there are some clinics run outside these times. We provide care for patients requiring out-patient services for gastroenterology, general surgery, vascular surgery, plastic surgery, urology, cardiology, oncology, pain management and endocrinology. Clinics are run across two sites at the Royal Bolton Hospital and Bolton On
The aims of this Trust are to improve the health of and provide the best possible care to the population in which we serve and ensure that our staff have joy and pride in their work. We are striving to recruit a workforce that reflects the communities in which we serve. We value our staff and can offer excellent opportunities for further training and development.

Clinical Support
Ensure a safe and tidy working environment at all times e.g. patient areas – clean and tidy bed tables, clinical areas, corridors – uncluttered etc.
Undertake a range of duties involving direct patient care, as instructed by experienced practitioners’ and ensure delegated nursing care is completed safely and effectively.
Assist in monitoring patients’ condition, record observations as instructed, and report to nursing staff.
Assist patients to access and use toilet facilities, and dispose of body waste.
Assist in the collection of pathological specimens e.g. Urine, faeces, sputum
Assist with moving patients and equipment within the unit and between wards and departments, in accordance with safe moving and handling techniques.
Assist staff with therapeutic and diagnostic procedures by preparing, cleaning and handling equipment when necessary
Help maintain materials, equipment and stock, reporting problems and defects in a timely and appropriate manner
Respond and provide assistance, as directed by registered staff, in the event of health emergency.
Help patients’ in maintaining emotional wellbeing, personal hygiene, appearance and dignity, observing and reporting any changes to registered staff.
Undertake duties appropriate to the role and patient care needs as follows:
Escorting patients for investigations
Provide Refreshments as required and assist with feeding for patients who are unable
Complete administrative duties as required
Undertake duties appropriate to the role and patient care needs with relevant training as required for example
Ensure Trolleys are cleaned and set daily
Tidy clinic rooms
Undertake fingerpick blood tests
Give enemas
Use Glucometer
Use rectal clinic equipment
MRSA swabbing
Venepuncture
ECGs
Communication
Establish and maintain relationships with patients/clients, relatives, friends and staff, and participate in supporting patients.
Attend ward/department meetings as required, to ensure an awareness of developments within the work area.
Maintain an effective communication network; both verbal, written and electronic, keep registered practitioners informed.
Assist in maintaining, recording and storing information, including patient records, in line with Trust policy.
Meet and welcome patients/ relatives and other visitors and familiarise them with the environment.
Maintain good relationships with team members, and visitors to the ward/department. Provide assistance when necessary.
Operate and input to computerised systems within the unit.
Help maintain materials, equipment and stock, reporting problems and defects to professional staff.
Maintaining a Safe Environment
1 Assist in maintaining a safe environment, for yourself and others, taking reasonable care to avoid injury and co-operate with the Trust to meet statutory requirements.
All employees have a duty to report any accidents, complaints, defects in equipment, near misses and untoward incidents, following Trust procedure.
Ensure Health and Safety legislation is complied with at all times, including COSHH, Workplace Risk Assessment and Control of Infection.
Dispose of clinical and other waste, sharps, and soiled linen.
5 Clean and disinfect equipment, as needed.
Help prevent the spread of infection by damp dusting as needed.
Maintain high standard of hand hygiene, for yourself and others, in accordance with Trust guidance.
The post holder must comply with all relevant policies, procedures and training on infection prevention and control.
Training and Development.
Participate in appraisal. In discussion with line manager, develop an annual Personal Development Plan, to identify Training and Development needs, in line with personal and organisational objectives and linked to the Knowledge and Skills Framework
All employees have a duty to attend annual mandatory training sessions as required by the Trust.
Sustain and improve own development by using opportunities provided by the Trust.
Assist with Local Induction programmes for newly appointed staff.
Assist in training new staff in the care and maintenance of equipment
Quality and Standards
Contribute to developments and improvements within the patient care environment.
Assist in improving patient satisfaction, taking every opportunity to defuse and pre-empt possible complaints.
Treat all staff, patients, visitors and colleagues with dignity and respect, promote equality and diversity for patients, and others, and respect privacy, dignity, religious and cultural beliefs.
Legal and Corporate Responsibilities
Be aware of, and adhere to Trust and departmental policies and procedures.
Provide statements in respect of untoward incidents, as requested by line manager.
Confidentiality
Working within the Trust employees may gain knowledge of confidential matters which may include personal and medical information about patients and staff. Such information must be considered strictly confidential and must not be discussed or disclosed. Failure to observe this confidentiality could lead to disciplinary action being taken.
Codes of Conduct and Accountability
The post holder is expected to comply with relevant Royal Bolton Hospital NHS Foundation Trust codes of conduct and accountability and the NHS Code of Conduct for Senior Managers.
Safeguarding Children and Vulnerable Adults
The post holder must comply with all relevant policies, procedures and training on safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and vulnerable adults.
Valuing Diversity and Promoting Equality
The post holder must comply with all relevant policies, procedures and training on valuing diversity and promoting equality.
The range of duties and responsibilities outlined above are indicative only and are intended to give a broad flavour of the range and type of duties that will be allocated. They are subject to modification in the light of changing service demands and the development requirements of the postholder