Job responsibilities
The
jobholder will be actively involved in providing direct and indirect
compassionate care for patients in support of and supervised by a registered
practitioner.
The
jobholder will assist in the overall implementation of care as part of the
multi professional team. The jobholder is expected to deliver and maintain
high standards of acute and planned care. The jobholder will be skilled in
taking appropriate action(s) to achieve the planned outcome.
The
jobholder will contribute to the maintenance of an environment for effective care.
The
jobholder will be expected to practice in accordance with Leeds Teaching
Hospital NHS Trust (LTHT) policies, guidelines, standards and statutory
requirements and operate within defined competency boundaries.
The
jobholder will work within a ward or clinical department.
Communication
and Working Relationships
Establish and maintain effective
communication with patients, families and carers
Develop and maintain appropriate
relationships, communication and teamwork with members of the
multi-disciplinary team within the ward and or department
Assist in the welcome and reception
of patients into the clinical area
Demonstrate a variety of
communication skills with patients who may have communication needs and difficulties e.g. confusion, dementia or other
linguistic issues
Communicate effectively with all
health, social care providers, voluntary sectors and emergency services
Maintain clear, concise and legible
documentation adhering to standards in accordance with trust policies and
guidance
Ensure compliance with Trust
policies and procedures regarding confidentiality of data and data security
Communicate with colleagues and
members of the multi-disciplinary team clearly and effectively in written,
verbal and electronic format (this may include accessing and updating patient
records on central databases or electronic systems).
Occasionally participates in and
contribute to local audits (e.g. hand hygiene audit)
Escalate concerns with regards to
patients physical or psychological needs, or changes in their clinical
condition to a registered practitioner within appropriate time frames
Effective use of communication
skills when responding to patients, relatives or carers concerns and
complaints, contributing to the ward, unit or department team action plan to
achieve local resolution.
Ensures, in liaison with registered
practitioners that interpreters are utilised as appropriate to support
patients understanding and communication needs.
Ability to answer phone,
effectively managing the enquiry.
Clinical
activities to be undertaken under the direction and supervision of a
registered practitioner
Provide and deliver a high standard
of compassionate personal care recognising and meeting the specific needs of
the patients
Following training and assessment,
competently undertake agreed clinical tasks relevant to the post and clinical
area
Acknowledge any limitations of
competence in accepting care activities outside agreed limitations and inform
a registered practitioner
Assist in planning, implementation
and evaluation of individual programmes of care for patients
Document interventions performed
and care delivered, ensuring that the record is countersigned by a registered
practitioner where appropriate.
Assist in the recording of fluid
balance, reporting discrepancies to a registered practitioner.
Assist the patient with all aspects
of their personal hygiene.
Assist in the safe moving and
handling of all patients utilising appropriate equipment.
Assist the patient with their
elimination needs; including bowel and urinary catheter care.
Provide care for patients with
reduced mobility; to include skin integrity, pressure area care and
measurement and application of anti-embolic stockings
Assist in ensuring patients
nutritional needs are met.
Carry out clinical observations on
patients, recording and reporting abnormalities and changes in patients
condition to the registered practitioner
Utilise early warning score
indicators (e.g. NEWS) to recognise any patient deterioration and or sudden
change in condition, reporting immediately to a registered practitioner.
Collect equipment for clinical
procedures as directed by the registered practitioner. Safely dispose of
equipment, post procedure, restocking where appropriate
Assist in safe and appropriate use
and maintenance of equipment
Assist in the correct handling and
dispatch of specimens
Safe disposal of soiled linen and
clinical waste from the ward or department
Participate in the process of
involving relatives and or carers in the provision of patient care
Contribute to the psychological and
spiritual needs of patients using diversionary and comfort measures as
appropriate
Acts as a chaperone as per
chaperone policy.
Assist in the performing of last
offices for deceased patients.
Undertake the escort of patients to
other departments and ward as instructed by a registered practitioner
Organise and prioritise time
effectively
Undertake duties on different
wards, departments or clinical areas as
and when required by service demands
Act in such a way that safeguards
the health and wellbeing of children & vulnerable adults at all times. Is
familiar with and adheres to, the LTHT safeguarding policies.
Other Responsibilities
Participate in the use of the Leeds
Improvement Method to improve the quality and safety of the service.
Contribute to the prevention and
control of infection in line with Trust
guidelines
Assist in maintenance of accurate
records and documentation, with regard to legal requirements, confidentiality and
management of information.
Ensure that essential information
on the patients condition and
progress is recorded in accordance with Trust guidelines
patient confidentiality
Promote and value the rights,
responsibilities and diversity of people ensuring religious and cultural
needs are addressed
Education,
Health, Safety and Security
Ensure safe keeping and
transportation of patient property and valuables in accordance with Trust
policy
Ensure equipment and resources are
used appropriately, efficiently and economically
Maintain a safe working
environment, reporting incidents, accidents, complaints according to Trust
policy.
Participate in in-service training
Complete priority and mandatory
training requirements in the required time frames.
Participate in annual performance
appraisal
To be alert to issues of risk and
concern about care provided raising any concerns observed via the Trusts
Whistleblowing Policy and supporting processes.
SPECIAL
WORKING CONDITIONS
i) PHYSICAL EFFORT:
Frequent standing, sitting, walking, kneels
and crouches to attend to patient needs. Responding to changes in patient
condition.
Patient
Care (e.g. drug administration).
Hand-eye
coordination for tasks as necessary e.g. venepuncture
Shift
working.
Moving
& handling of patients and equipment on a daily basis:
Patients
- 10-120kg (with lifting aids). Equipment - medical equipment, specialised
mattresses (weight 1-20kg).
ii) MENTAL EFFORT:
Frequent
mental effort/concentration required in relation to responding to and meeting
patients nursing care needs (e.g. for 8-12 hour shift).
Follows
routine and/or direction by registered practitioner
Verbal
and written communication skills required
iii)
EMOTIONAL EFFORT:
Exposure
to difficult situation including death and dying, distressed patients and
relatives/carers
iv)
WORKING CONDITIONS:
Temperature
- should be controlled, but may experience hot or cold work environment.
Smells
- dealing with body fluids.
Violence
& Aggression - may experience violence and aggression from patients and
or relatives or carers.
Infection
Control - exposure to patients with infections.
Leeds
Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust is part of the West Yorkshire Association of
Acute Trusts (WYAAT), a collaborative of the NHS hospital trusts from across
West Yorkshire and Harrogate working together to provide the best possible
care for our patients.
By
bringing together the wide range of skills and expertise across West
Yorkshire and Harrogate we are working differently, innovating and driving
forward change to deliver the highest quality care. By working for Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS
Trust this is your opportunity to be a part of that change.
WYAAT
is the acute sector arm of the West Yorkshire and Harrogate Health and Care
Partnership, one of the largest integrated care systems in the country. The
Partnerships ambition is for everyone to have the best possible health and
wellbeing, and the work of WYAAT, and each individual trust, supports that
ambition.
The
jobholder must comply at all times with the Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS
Trust Infection Control policies, in particular by practising Universal
Infection Control Precautions. Hand hygiene must be performed before and
after contact with patients and their environment.
All
staff are responsible for working with their colleagues to maintain and
improve the quality of services provided to our patients and other service
users. This includes complying at all
times with the Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust Policies, including Health
and Safety policies, in particular by following agreed security and safer
working procedures, and reporting incidents using the Trust Incident
Reporting system.
Please read Job Description attached.
