Job summary
Emergency Department Assistant. Band 3 Contract : Permanent. Full-Time 37.5 hours per week.
The Whittington Emergency Department (ED) serves the diverse local community of North London in and around Archway and Highgate. We are a busy but very friendly central London ED, seeing more than 100,000 patients in the last year and our recent CQC inspection last year praised the training and development opportunities for staff. We provide high quality emergency care and maintain an above average performance for initial assessment, ambulance handovers and four-hour performance.
We have very strong nursing leadership and can offer support from our substantial senior team, which includes our ED Matrons who provide a clinical support rota as well as Emergency Nurse Practitioners (ENPs) and senior clinical nurse leaders who provide support on a shift-by-shift basis. We also have a dedicated and innovative practice development nurse, devoted purely to the development of the team of nurses and ED Assistants.
Main duties of the job
You will be given the opportunity to rotate through the department including developing your skills in minor injury in our Urgent Treatment Centre with support of the ENPs, Majors where we assess the majority of ambulance patients, the fast-paced assessment area and will also gain new skills and training in mental health.
We are looking for dedicated, compassionate and dynamic healthcare assistants with acute hospital experience to join our team of Emergency Department Assistants in this fast-paced acute environment. Emergency Department experience isn't essential, as we will provide you with a training plan to develop your skills in specialist techniques such as plastering, cannulation and wound care.
Post holders would be expected to rotate onto nights and weekends on a four-week rota basis. Flexible working will be considered as part of the trust values.
We would welcome applications from individuals who are from underrepresented groups in the organisation
About us
Working for your organisation should read: Whittington Health serves a richly diverse population and works hard to ensure that all our services are fair and equally accessible to everyone. Nowhere is this more obvious than in the way we look after our staff. We aim to employ a workforce which is as representative as possible of this population, so we are open to the value of differences in age, disability, gender, marital status, pregnancy and maternity, race, sexual orientation, and religion or belief. The Trust believes that as a public sector organisation we have an obligation to have recruitment, training, promotion and other formal employment policies and procedures that are sensitive to these differences. We think that by doing so, we are better able to treat our patients as well as being a better place to work.
Job description
Job responsibilities
Patients are to be treated with dignity, respect and discretion whilst maintaining their confidentiality.
Support and engage with mental health patients in the Department providing assistance to nursing team in caring for patients presented with mental health. Participate in the completion of risk assessments and care planning.
Ensure that patients personal hygiene requirements are met. This will include assisting with washes, bed bathing, assisting patients to use the shower and bath, providing mouth care and cleaning dentures.
MOVING AND HANDLING
To assist patients with nutritional needs and feeding patients if required
To carry out non-complex assessments within scope of practice and as required meet the needs of the patient.
Adhere to Trust policy on moving and handling.
DOCUMENTATION
Complete all documentation in conjunction with qualified staff. To evaluate care given using the appropriate documentation.
INFECTION CONTROL
Be aware of and adhere to the Trust guidelines relating to infection control.
Take steps to prevent cross infection by using universal precautions and hand washing. This includes wearing uniform in accordance with hospital policy.
COMMUNICATION
To be able to communicate effectively with patients, other Trust staff and the general public. This includes being polite and respectful to everyone who comes in contact with you.
To answer the phone clearly and politely stating your name and who you are and to relate any messages promptly and accurately.
Job description
Job responsibilities
Patients are to be treated with dignity, respect and discretion whilst maintaining their confidentiality.
Support and engage with mental health patients in the Department providing assistance to nursing team in caring for patients presented with mental health. Participate in the completion of risk assessments and care planning.
Ensure that patients personal hygiene requirements are met. This will include assisting with washes, bed bathing, assisting patients to use the shower and bath, providing mouth care and cleaning dentures.
MOVING AND HANDLING
To assist patients with nutritional needs and feeding patients if required
To carry out non-complex assessments within scope of practice and as required meet the needs of the patient.
Adhere to Trust policy on moving and handling.
DOCUMENTATION
Complete all documentation in conjunction with qualified staff. To evaluate care given using the appropriate documentation.
INFECTION CONTROL
Be aware of and adhere to the Trust guidelines relating to infection control.
Take steps to prevent cross infection by using universal precautions and hand washing. This includes wearing uniform in accordance with hospital policy.
COMMUNICATION
To be able to communicate effectively with patients, other Trust staff and the general public. This includes being polite and respectful to everyone who comes in contact with you.
To answer the phone clearly and politely stating your name and who you are and to relate any messages promptly and accurately.
Person Specification
Qualifications / Training
Essential
- NVQ Level 3 or Diploma in Healthcare
Other factors
Essential
- Ability to work flexibly
- Ability to work well under pressure
- Good timekeeping
Knowledge & Skills
Essential
- Good communication skills (written & oral)
- Basic clinical assessment skills, including patient observations (Blood Pressure, Temperature, Pulse and Respiration)
- Ability to perform Urinalysis
- Ability to perform ECG recordings
Desirable
- Intravenous Cannulation
- Phlebotomy
- Plastering skills
Experience
Essential
- Relevant experience in direct patient care
- Knowledge of Infection Prevention and Control principles
Desirable
Person Specification
Qualifications / Training
Essential
- NVQ Level 3 or Diploma in Healthcare
Other factors
Essential
- Ability to work flexibly
- Ability to work well under pressure
- Good timekeeping
Knowledge & Skills
Essential
- Good communication skills (written & oral)
- Basic clinical assessment skills, including patient observations (Blood Pressure, Temperature, Pulse and Respiration)
- Ability to perform Urinalysis
- Ability to perform ECG recordings
Desirable
- Intravenous Cannulation
- Phlebotomy
- Plastering skills
Experience
Essential
- Relevant experience in direct patient care
- Knowledge of Infection Prevention and Control principles
Desirable
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.
