Health Care Assistant

Job responsibilities

Job Description

1. JOB DETAILS

Job Title: Health Care Assistant

Band: 3

Location: Searle House, Exeter EX2 5JJ

Hours: As on contract, including rotation to nights

Team/Directorate: Inpatient Unit (IPU)

Responsible To: Ward Manager

Responsible For: N/A

Accountable to: Head of Inpatient Services and Clinical Quality

2. JOB PURPOSE

To work within a multi-disciplinary team and alongside registered nursing staff to deliver a high standard of evidence-based specialist palliative care.

To provide holistic and person-centred care and support for patients with complex life-limiting illnesses.

3. KEY RESULT AREAS/PRINCIPAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

3.1 Main Responsibilities

Assist with the implementation of planned care for patients and those close to them under the supervision of registered colleagues to ensure a high standard of nursing care at all times.

Assist in monitoring patients conditions on a continuous basis, in partnership with patients, families and carers, to ensure appropriate escalation to senior colleagues when required.

Develop communication skills to be able to interact with patients in a sensitive and professional manner in order to promote and maintain Hospiscares values.

Undertake completion of HCA competencies to be able to deliver simple clinical observations and provide input to patient care plans.

Assist in general housekeeping and monitoring of stock/supplies to ensure smooth running of the ward to a high standard.

Adhere to Hospiscares clinical recordkeeping policy when providing and sharing verbal, digital or written information and instructions, to ensure patient confidentiality is observed at all times.

Infection Prevention and Control

Maintaining a safe environment for patients, visitors and employees is everyones responsibility. All staff are required to adhere to Hospiscares Infection Prevention and Control Policy and make every effort to maintain high standards of infection prevention and control at all times. This includes ensuring personal and team compliance with all relevant policies and procedures, and acting upon or reporting any identified risks.

Disclosure and Barring Service

This role requires a Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) Enhanced level check with Adults and Children Barred Lists.

3.2 Key Contacts

Internal

Ward Manager

Inpatient Unit team

Medical team Reception and Front of House team

Catering and Estates teams

Supportive Care team

Volunteers

Student Nurses and trainees

External

Patients and those close to them

3.3 Health & Safety

Ensure that Health and Safety guidelines and fire regulations are strictly adhered to

Comply with safe working practices as defined by Hospiscare

Complete online training as and when required

Take reasonable care for your own health and safety and that of others who may be affected by acts or omissions at work

Report any accidents, incidents or near misses as soon as reasonably practicable

Manage own work life balance and general wellbeing, including any relevant pressures in respect of lone working, travel, difficult environments and challenging situations

3.4 General

Be aware of and adhere to Hospiscare policies and procedures at all times

Take part in progress/performance reviews throughout the year

Cooperate with other Hospiscare departments

Attend training courses and complete online training modules as required to meet the requirements of the post

Take responsibility for own personal development, seeking out opportunities to learn new skills

Undertake any other duties as requested by management which are reasonably deemed to be within the scope of the role

3.5 Other

Apply the Hospiscare values and behaviours to every aspect of the role at all times

Promote and maintain the brand standards of Hospiscare

Knowledge

Essential

• Awareness of delivering care in a clinical environment
• Awareness of the complexities of working with individuals at times of distress and conflict

Skills

Essential

• Developed time management skills, including the ability to prioritise own delegated workload.
• Developed communication and interpersonal skills
• Developed IT skills

Personal attributes

Essential

• Ability to work autonomously and act on own initiative, seeking advice/escalating issues when appropriate
• Flexible and adaptable with the ability to respond positively in a rapidly changing environment.
• Team player
• Awareness of Equality, Diversity and Inclusion in all areas of work

Additional requirements

Essential

• Able to contribute 24 hours 7 days per week cover provided by Hospiscare's clinical services.
• Capable of fulfilling the physical demands of the role, including administering basic life support.

Desirable

• Able and willing to work at different Hospiscare locations on occasion

Experience

Essential

• Demonstrable experience of care giving in the Acute Trust or Community Services

Desirable

• Experience of working in specialist palliative care
• Experience of working with volunteers

Qualifications

Essential

• Level 3 qualification in Health and Social Care or equivalent/related

Disclosure and Barring Service Check

This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.

Certificate of Sponsorship

Applications from job seekers who require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website (Opens in a new tab).

From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants, applying for entry clearance into the UK, have had to present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Adult dependants (over 18 years old) are also subject to this requirement. Guidance can be found here Criminal records checks for overseas applicants (Opens in a new tab).