Healthcare Assistant

St George's University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust

This job is now closed

Job summary

We want HCA's who can provide excellent care to all of our patients throughout their time in hospital. You must enjoy working with adults, be kind, flexible, professional and be able to work effectively with a wide range of other professionals from within and outside the Trust.

You will have opportunities for training and development, including the opportunity to develop specialist skills within our services and you will be part of a supportive nursing team caring for patients that attends clinic for Neurological assessment and treatments, offering a broad support as clinic demands.

For more information about the post, please contact Sister Folashade Bourorga on 02087254737 or bleep 6482. Otherwise, contact Matron Salomi Ojakovo on 02087252227 or bleep 7790.

Main duties of the job

Ensure effective communication with patients and their carers, receive and welcome patients into the clinic, confirming their identity and completing relevant documentation e.g. clinic waiting times. Inform and direct patients and those accompanying them, to other departments as required.
Ensure effective communication with senior nursing staff and all members of the interdisciplinary team within the department, hospital and with colleagues throughout the community. Liaise closely with medical, nursing, clerical and secretarial staff to ensure that clinics are conducted efficiently.
Answer the telephone clearly and politely, relay messages accurately and promptly to the appropriate staff.
Maintain records of investigations requested during clinic.
Escalate any problems seen at the clinic to the appropriate supervisor.
Be competent in the use of email and any other computer based system integral to patient pathways.
Maintain accurate, legible, detailed and comprehensive records of all client care activities within the guidelines of Trust policies and procedures. Document and report any changes in observations to the appropriate interdisciplinary team member.
Communicate appropriately with patients, taking into account potential barriers to communication e.g. language.

About us

St George's, Epsom and St Helier University Hospitals and Health Group cares for a population of four million people in South West London and North East Surrey.Our sites include St George's Hospital, one of 11 major trauma centres in the UK and the largest healthcare provider and major teaching hospital in the area; St Helier Hospital, home to the South West Thames Renal and Transplantation Unit and Queen Mary's Hospital for Children; and Epsom Hospital, home to the South West London Elective Orthopaedic Centre (SWLEOC).

After years of collaboration, our two Trusts became a hospitals group in 2021. While remaining as two separate Trusts, being a hospitals group will help us to collaborate more closely on research, and the development, education, and training of our 17,000-strong workforce.

We are committed to delivering Outstanding Care Every Time. Our nurses are:

- - Compassionate and brave
  - Professional and hardworking
  - Supportive and highly skilled
  - Proud to care about patients and proud to care about each other.

We expect all our staff to share the values that are important to the Trust, being Excellent, Kind, Responsible & Respectful, and behave in a way that reflects these.

Date posted

13 January 2025

Pay scheme

Agenda for change

Band

Band 2

Salary

£22,383 a year per annum inclusive of HCAS (Inner)

Contract

Permanent

Working pattern

Full-time

Reference number

200-6742357-GO-SMB

Job locations

St George's Univesity Hospital

Blakshaw road

London

SW17 0QT

Job description

Job responsibilities

expect all our staff to share the values that are important to the Trust, being Excellent, Kind, Responsible & Respectful, and behave in a way that reflect these.

1. Job Purpose

Working under the supervision of the qualified nursing staff, the HCA will participate and support the members of the multi-disciplinary team in delivering high quality patient care.

2. Direct patient care

2.1 To assist with nursing care as instructed by the nursing staff, including bathing, bed making, assisting with eating and drinking and helping with meals as necessary.

2.2 To assist with the administration of medication under the supervision of a qualified nurse and in line with Trust policy.

2.3 To assist with patient toileting/elimination.

2.4 To care for the patients personal clothing, property and valuables in accordance with relevant Trust policies.

2.5 To assist with the moving and handling of patients and loads using the correct moving and handling aids and techniques in accordance with local guidelines and risk assessments.

2.6 To ensure that patient privacy and dignity are respected at all times.

2.7 To demonstrate an awareness of the importance of patient confidentiality and ensure a safe and secure environment at all times.

2.8 To perform patient observations e.g. temperature, pulse, blood pressure, respiration, urine testing, fluid balance charts, height & weight and to record these correctly in the patients records, reporting any abnormality or change in these to a qualified nurse.

2.9 To transport, as required, clinical specimens, blood and blood-products as per Trust policy.

2.10 To support and reassure patients during clinical procedures or treatment.

2.11 To escort patients to and from the ward area.

3. Maintenance of the environment:

3.1 To support the housekeeper in the maintenance of a clean environment by ensuring that lockers and the surrounding bed area is cleaned and maintained properly, and that beds are cleaned and re-made when patients are discharged.

3.2 To ensure that all linen is stored, transferred and disposed of correctly within Trust policy.

3.3 To assist the ward team to keep the ward/clinical area tidy, including storage cupboards, sluice, equipment and treatment rooms.

3.4 To assist in the checking, unpacking and storing of items delivered to the clinical area.

3.5 To ensure that all equipment is cleaned after use in line with Trust policy.

3.6 To be aware of, and demonstrate adherence to, the Trusts policy on infection control and waste disposal. To adhere to the principles of universal precautions in all aspects of patient care.

3.7 To run errands as requested to assist in patient care/smooth running of the clinical area.

3.8 To assist in the delivery of health promotion advice as appropriate to role and in line with own level of competence.

3.9 To liaise with the housekeeper and clinical team to ensure that maintenance problems are reported to the Estates maintenance desk promptly.

3.10 To adhere to the recommendations for the Control of Substances Hazardous to Health (COSHH) and risk assessments appropriate to the clinical area.

4. Customer Service

4.1 To answer the telephone in a courteous manner and relay both oral and written messages accurately and promptly.

4.2 To greet all visitors to the ward courteously and in a professional manner.

4.3 To establish and maintain good relationships with visitors, relatives and staff, helping them to find their way around the clinical or ward environment and hospital site.

4.4 To be punctual at all times.

5. Professional Development

5.1 To participate in the Trusts Individual Performance Review process and demonstrate commitment to ongoing professional development by working towards the objectives agreed within an annual Personal Development Plan.

5.2 To participate in local Clinical Supervision.

5.3 The Certificate in Contributing to the Care Setting: Initial Award (City and Guilds) is an award that has been specifically developed for HCAs working in acute care settings and introduces them to the essence of care delivery. All HCAs will be required to participate in the award on their appointment to the Trust

5.4 All HCAs recruited to the Trust will be required to attend designated Study Days, and complete relevant activities and assessments whilst working towards achieving this award within a culture of life-long learning.

6. General

6.1 To have responsibility for the health, safety and welfare of self and others, and to comply at all times with the requirements of the Health & Safety regulations.

6.2 To promote equal opportunities for staff and clients in accordance with St Georges Healthcare NHS Trust policies. To ensure that no person receives less favourable treatment than another does on the grounds of sex, marital status, race, religion, creed, colour, nationality, ethnic or national or sexual orientation.

6.3 To comply with the Trusts No Smoking Policy

6.4 To be clean, tidy and smart in appearance by wearing the correct uniform at all times as per Trust policy.

6.5 To perform any duties as may required from time to time that are consistent with the responsibilities of the role and the needs of the service. .

6.6 To work at all times within the policies and procedures of St Georges Healthcare NHS Trust.

6.7 To be familiar with the Patient Administration System (PAS) and Electronic Patient Record (EPR) and any other computerised system integral to the running of the ward or clinical area.

6.8 To report all accidents, incidents and complaints as per Trust policy and to participate in their investigation and management.

6.9 To attend annual mandatory training in:

basic life support

fire

manual handling

7.0 To attend mandatory training in:

Food handling

Blood products

Blood glucose monitoring (where appropriate)

The HCA works under the direct supervision of a qualified nurse at all times, and must acknowledge when a particular task is outside of her/his role or competence.

This job description is not an exhaustive document but is a reflection of the current position. Details and emphasis may change in line with service needs after consultation with the post holder.

St Georges Healthcare NHS Trust is an Equal Opportunities employer and operates a No Smoking Policy.