Job responsibilities
About Us
At Rowans Hospice, we provide free
person-centred care and support to people in South East Hampshire (including
Portsmouth, Gosport, and Fareham) affected by life-limiting and progressive
illness.
Our team of specialist health care
professionals aims to maximise comfort and quality of life for patients and
their families, from initial diagnosis and into bereavement, with services provided
within the Hospice, at home, and through the Rowans Living Well Services.
Since being established in 1994, we aim
to provide a space where families can enjoy special moments and create precious
memories together. At the heart of everything we do is compassion because we
understand that kindness and understanding make the biggest difference of all.
Whilst our care is provided free of
charge, we are in fact a charity, and 90% of our income is generated by
legacies, donations, fundraising and our Retail shops.
In addition to our workforce across our
Clinical, Retail and Business Support teams, we also rely on a dedicated team
of volunteers to help us deliver our many different services to people at the
most vulnerable time in their lives.
Your
Role
The
Health Care Support Worker role will work in the In Patient Unit which is led
by the Ward Manager who are responsible to Director of Care. The role is based
at Rowans Hospice, Purbrook.
Job
Purpose
To
carry out assigned tasks involving direct patient care in support of and
supervised by a first or second level Registered Nurse and to assist in
maintaining a high standard of cleanliness and order on the unit.
Key
Working Relationships
Internal Patients, carers and relatives. Hospice
Staff and volunteers.
External NHS
Trusts, primary health care teams, other hospices and Charitable organisations,
nursing homes, social services, emergency services, funeral directors, coroner.
Key
Areas of Responsibility / Key Accountabilities
To
provide a high-quality nursing service to patients and their relatives by
following set policies, procedures, guidelines and standards.
To
assist qualified staff with general and specific care of patients within the
hospice guidelines.
To
assist the trained nurse with the administration of medicines as required.
To
efficiently undertake duties requested by the qualified nurses
To
be flexible to work within other Sisters Teams according to patient dependency
as directed by the Nurse Co-ordinator.
To
report any observed deterioration or abnormalities in patients to the Nurse
Co-ordinator/Team Leader.
To
keep the unit and other associated areas neat and tidy.
To
ensure that ideas to improve the care of patients, or to enrich their quality
of life are brought to the attention of the Sister.
To
report to the Nurse Co-ordinator/Team Leader any concerns related to
inappropriate care a patient may be receiving.
To
demonstrate a consistent level of courtesy and consideration to patients, their
relatives and visitors.
To
ensure the patients dietary/hydration needs are met .
To
care for the deceased patient by administering last offices and ensuring the
safe and timely removal of the body from the hospice.
To
record information in patient case notes and report verbally all relevant information
at shift change over. NB All written reports need to be countersigned by the
trained nurse on duty.
Under
the supervision of the Registered Nurse plan and update care plans as
appropriate.
To
perform clinical observations i.e. temperature, blood pressure, pulse and
respirations, observing for any abnormalities and reporting accordingly.
To
take a droplet of blood as part of the measurement of the patients blood
sugar, reporting and recording as appropriate.
Under
the direction of a Registered Nurse performing simple aseptic dressings.
To
complete drug competency workbook.
To report all enquiries/conversations with
patients/relatives and visitors to the Nurse Co-ordinator/Team Leader and refer
on all matters which you have any uncertainty in answering to the Nurse
Co-ordinator/Team Leader.
To record and pass on all messages received by
telephone to the appropriate person or Nurse Co-ordinator/Team Leader. All calls being answered with a consistent
level of courtesy and consideration to the caller.
To establish and maintain effective communication
and working relationships with multi-disciplinary teams within the Hospice and
in the community.
To communicate effectively with patients, carers
and the bereaved to establish and maintain trusting relationships.
To offer emotional support to patients and/or
carers particularly during breaking of bad news and time of death, recognising
own limitations and referring to the Registered Nurses as appropriate.
To
contribute to bereavement care offered to families by contributing to
bereavement interviews and reporting any concerns related to risk assessment to
the Registered Nurses.
To complete mandatory and statutory training e.g.
Manual Handling, Health & Safety, Infection Control, Fire safety training
You are required to take reasonable care for your
own health and safety and that of others who may be affected by your acts or
omissions. You should ensure that statutory regulations, policies, codes of
practice and safety and good house-keeping rules are adhered to.
All employees and volunteers have a
general responsibility for safeguarding children and vulnerable adults in the
course of their daily duties and for ensuring that they are aware of the
specific duties relating to their role. All employees and volunteers have a
responsibility to report any circumstances where they feel vulnerable adults or
children are being subjected to mistreatment to a senior manager.
To be aware of the security of the
building out of office hours, including the checking of doors and windows.
To act at all times to promote the
safety and wellbeing of patients.
To ensure the safe storage and use of
hazardous substances according to COSHH regulations.
To ensure that equipment is kept clean
and in good working order, is checked routinely and that any defect or malfunction is reported to
the Nurse Co-ordinator.
To ensure that any observed actual or potential Health and Safety
hazards are immediately reported to the Nurse Co-ordinator.
To report to the Nurse Co-ordinator any instances where cleaning
or catering standards fall below acceptable levels.
To ensure that the procedure for the care of patients effects is
observed, as detailed in the Staff Handbook.
To
participate in Induction Programmes for new staff.
To
undertake any training necessary to ensure own professional development and
updating of knowledge as identified through the annual appraisal process.
To
undertake safe handling and administration of medicines training.
To
attend fire lecturers, manual handling training sessions, CPR lecturers and
participate in fire drills as directed.
To
attend meetings as appropriate.
Person Specification
Experience, knowledge and qualifications
NVQ Level 3 or equivalent
Experience working as a Health Care Support Worker
in other clinical settings
Essential Competencies
Basic nursing care skills
Aware of own coping strategies
Ability to work in a large team
Ability to respond to changing
situations
Ability to use own initiative
Excellent interpersonal skills
Good written and verbal
communication skills with the ability to communicate diplomatically
Good report writing and
presentation skills with a high level of computer literacy
Awareness of palliative care
principles and philosophy
Other
Undertake any duties, which may be reasonably required within the
scope of the role.
Please note that this job description is not exhaustive, and you
may be required to undertake other duties, which are broadly in line with the
above key responsibilities.
Rowans Hospice is committed to equality of opportunity and to
eliminating discrimination. All employees are expected to follow our Code of
Conduct and comply with policies and procedures. They must also undertake
specific training and assume responsibility for safety relevant to specific
roles.
