Healthcare Assistant - In Patient Unit

Job description

Job responsibilities

Job Purpose

To assist the staff nurses in delivering a high standard of individualised, holistic nursing care to patients and provide a safe, comfortable and welcoming environment for patients and their families and friends.

Tasks and Responsibilities

To assist in the delivery of high-quality nursing care of patients, maintaining their privacy and dignity at all times including bathing, toileting, care of hair/nails, skin and pressure areas, mouth care and assisting with feeding and meeting nutritional needs etc.

To work as a member of the nursing and multidisciplinary team under the supervision of the qualified nursing staff reporting changes as appropriate.

To communicate clearly and effectively, using listening skills and recognising own limitations where referral to colleague is appropriate.

To observe and report any changes in condition noticed in patients to staff nurses.

To deliver practical care within own level of competency.

To promote, maintain and respect the confidentiality of the patients and their families.

To keep updated and follow correct working procedures and policies.

To carry out assigned work without direct supervision.

To be familiar with facilities and equipment, reporting any faults or hazards to the appropriate person and to take all necessary precautions to prevent accidents.

To assist staff nurses in keeping accurate and relevant records.

To understand the importance of teamwork and to work as a member of the ward team within limits of own competency and role.

To respect and value the opinions, beliefs and individuality of patients, their families/friends and colleagues.

At all times to act in a professional, pleasant, polite manner, fostering an atmosphere of cooperation and respect.

Competent in using hoists and lifting aids as per manual handling policy.

Assisting with elimination and catheter care needs of the patient.

Care of the patient before and after death.

Support of relatives and carers.

Cleanliness of patient rooms, i.e., tables, lockers; work areas, i.e., sluice, bathrooms and ward pantry.

Able to practice good infection control.

Application of aseptic technique in required procedures.

Obtain urine, faecal and sputum specimens, and perform urinalysis.

Provides support and guidance to new staff/agency workers.

Personal Development

To attend all statutory and manual handling sessions.

To develop and maintain knowledge and skills in palliative care by:

* Keeping up to date with new policies and research-based practice.

* Attending in-house study days and lectures as appropriate.

• To benefit from staff, support through

* Team meetings/debriefs.

* Availability of colleagues/manager for open communication.

* Clinical supervision.

Person Specification

Qualifications

Essential

• Good standard of general education

Desirable

• NVQ 1 and/or 2

Experience

Essential

• Understanding of the needs of patients
• An appreciation of the role of a healthcare assistant in relation to vulnerable patients

Desirable

• Experience of working within a hospice environment/health charity
• Experience of delivering personal care to patients/clients

Personal Qualities

Essential

• A supportive team player
• Enthusiastic, motivated, proactive with the ability to follow instructions and use own initiative
• Supporting and caring approach
• Very organised with good attention to detail
• Open to change and new ideas
• Flexible and physically able to carry out duties of this role

Desirable

• An interest in palliative care

Aptitude and Skills

Essential

• Sound numeric and literacy skills
• Basic IT skills (e.g., able to log-in/out, use email, update information on a database, etc)
• Ability to establish good working relationships with a diverse range of people
• Excellent communications skills both written and spoken
• Reliable, adaptable and helpful
• Ability to articulate factual information accurately
• Understanding of personal accountability and patient confidentiality

Desirable

• An understanding of palliative care in practice

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.

Employer details

Employer name

Martlets Hospice

Address

The Martlets Hospice

Wayfield Avenue

Hove

East Sussex

BN3 7LW

Employer's website

https://www.martlets.org.uk (Opens in a new tab)