Job summary
We would like to invite applications from caring, compassionate and hard working Health Care Assistants for both a full time role (37.5 hpw) and a part-time (22.5 hpw) role at The Park Centre for Breast Care, Breast Imaging Department.
The successful applicants will be employed for either a full time role (Monday -Friday - 08.30-17.00 ) or a part time role (three days a week, Tuesday Wednesday and Thursday (tbc) - 08.30-17.00) to support a wide variety of patients and service users through the breast imaging clinics.
The role is part of a busy breast imaging department, so good communication skills, empathy and a patient centred approach are vital for this role.
Our Health Care Assistants chaperone patients during their ultrasound or mammography imaging , assist in interventional breast procedures, and are responsible for a wide variety of data and record keeping, so attention to detail and a meticulous approach to paperwork is really important.
Main duties of the job
The Health Care Assistant is expected to actively participate as a member of the healthcare team and is responsible for contributing towards the smooth and efficient running of the Breast Imaging Department.
The Health Care Assistant will assist in giving individualised care to the patients. They chaperone patients, including during interventional procedures, giving support and care in a professional and empathetic way. They are expected to have good communication skills, and to assist in the care of a wide variety of often anxious and worried patients and their families, in addition to working in and liaising with other members of the MDT.
An HCA has to be meticulous and accurate with paperwork, documentation and all required IT systems. A good working knowledge of PACS, CRIS and NBSS will be expected after training.
For further information, please see the attached Job Description and Person Specification.
About us
Join us at UHSussex, every day is different, you can be the change, better never stops
At UHSussex we're proud to be at the heart of the NHS. As one of the UK's largest acute Trusts, we're a leading example of the excellence, the ambition and the values that have embodied the NHS for over 70 years.
Improving lives: We are a vibrant and inclusive organisation, with hardworking, talented and dedicated individuals, who work together towards a common goal, to always put our Patient First. Our mission is summed up by our 'where better never stops' motto and no matter the role at UHSussex, you will play a part in driving us forwards and in improving the lives of patients across Sussex. We treat our patients and staff with the same compassion and empathy we expect for ourselves. We're here for them when they need us, and we go above and beyond to meet their needs. This can be seen in our wellbeing programme for staff which is extensive and designed to support you when you need it because we know that to look after others we must first look after ourselves.
Job description
Job responsibilities
- Maintain the patients respect, dignity and privacy, and to act with kindness and courtesy to all members of the public.
- To actively work at all times within the Trust policies and statutory legislation including emergency resuscitation, manual handling, infection control, disposal of sharps and clinical waste, and control of substances hazardous to health.
- To maintain confidentiality of all information obtained through professional attendance on patients or through clinical access.
- To be active in enhancing own knowledge base.
- To act competently and demonstrate an understanding and knowledge of the basic principles of imaging and its effect on the patient.
- Participate as a member of the department team providing the highest standard of holistic care and ensuring effective communication with other members of the multi-disciplinary team (MDT)
- Undertake housekeeping duties such as cleaning couches, disposal of linen cleaning and tidying up etc. in accordance with hospital policy. To actively participate in the day to day up keep of stock levels and cleanliness within the Imaging Department.
- To have good IT knowledge of the Radiology Information System (CRIS) and Picture Archiving and Communication System (PACS) i.e. checking patients attendance, confirming/processing imaging events, inputting clinical details etc
- Provide clerical assistance as required.
- To have the knowledge to appropriately prepare ultrasound rooms and equipment for interventional breast procedures e.g. biopsies and aspirations etc.
- To be actively involved in each procedure i.e. setting up sterile trolley and equipment etc.
- Correctly identifying and preparing patients for the appropriate procedure.
- Ensure effective communication with patients and relatives, explaining procedures, giving advice and reassurance.
- Ensure safe transfer of patients whilst being aware of catheters, IV infusions etc following Trust manual handling policy.
- Provide support to patient during procedure assisting with patient positioning whilst acting as chaperone and assistant to radiologists, specialist practitioners, and advance practice radiographers during interventional procedures.
- Provide post-procedural care for patient maintaining privacy and dignity at all times.
- Report any change in patient condition or any problem or hazard within the department to the senior radiographer in charge.
- Provide patients with appropriate post-procedural information leaflets and letters.
- To be competent in answering telephone queries, fielding complaints and requests for urgent scans and acting upon this information.
- Preparing appropriate paperwork and labels for specimens. Concise record keeping of specimens taken to laboratory.
- To be prepared to be flexible in shift patterns, working hours and days.
For further information, please see the attached Job Description and Person Specification.
Job description
Job responsibilities
- Maintain the patients respect, dignity and privacy, and to act with kindness and courtesy to all members of the public.
- To actively work at all times within the Trust policies and statutory legislation including emergency resuscitation, manual handling, infection control, disposal of sharps and clinical waste, and control of substances hazardous to health.
- To maintain confidentiality of all information obtained through professional attendance on patients or through clinical access.
- To be active in enhancing own knowledge base.
- To act competently and demonstrate an understanding and knowledge of the basic principles of imaging and its effect on the patient.
- Participate as a member of the department team providing the highest standard of holistic care and ensuring effective communication with other members of the multi-disciplinary team (MDT)
- Undertake housekeeping duties such as cleaning couches, disposal of linen cleaning and tidying up etc. in accordance with hospital policy. To actively participate in the day to day up keep of stock levels and cleanliness within the Imaging Department.
- To have good IT knowledge of the Radiology Information System (CRIS) and Picture Archiving and Communication System (PACS) i.e. checking patients attendance, confirming/processing imaging events, inputting clinical details etc
- Provide clerical assistance as required.
- To have the knowledge to appropriately prepare ultrasound rooms and equipment for interventional breast procedures e.g. biopsies and aspirations etc.
- To be actively involved in each procedure i.e. setting up sterile trolley and equipment etc.
- Correctly identifying and preparing patients for the appropriate procedure.
- Ensure effective communication with patients and relatives, explaining procedures, giving advice and reassurance.
- Ensure safe transfer of patients whilst being aware of catheters, IV infusions etc following Trust manual handling policy.
- Provide support to patient during procedure assisting with patient positioning whilst acting as chaperone and assistant to radiologists, specialist practitioners, and advance practice radiographers during interventional procedures.
- Provide post-procedural care for patient maintaining privacy and dignity at all times.
- Report any change in patient condition or any problem or hazard within the department to the senior radiographer in charge.
- Provide patients with appropriate post-procedural information leaflets and letters.
- To be competent in answering telephone queries, fielding complaints and requests for urgent scans and acting upon this information.
- Preparing appropriate paperwork and labels for specimens. Concise record keeping of specimens taken to laboratory.
- To be prepared to be flexible in shift patterns, working hours and days.
For further information, please see the attached Job Description and Person Specification.
Person Specification
Skills
Essential
- Demonstrates Excellent Clinical Skills
Desirable
- Other Work Environments Considered
Experience
Essential
Desirable
- Previous experience of working in a health care setting
- Some knowledge of Breast services, Syptomatic/NHSBSP
Person Specification
Skills
Essential
- Demonstrates Excellent Clinical Skills
Desirable
- Other Work Environments Considered
Experience
Essential
Desirable
- Previous experience of working in a health care setting
- Some knowledge of Breast services, Syptomatic/NHSBSP
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
University Hospitals Sussex NHS Foundation Trust (279)
Address
Breast Imaging Department, The Park Centre for Breast Care
177 Preston Road
Brighton
BN1 6AG
Employer's website
https://www.uhsussex.nhs.uk/ (Opens in a new tab)
