Job responsibilities
Knowledge, Skills & Experience Required
Preferable experience of working in an acute surgical setting but not essential
Certificate in Adult Literacy and Numeracy
Enthusiasm and self-awareness
Team focussed
Reliable, adaptable and dependent
Ability to prioritise and manage time
Ability to deal with non-routine and unpredictable nature of the workload and individual patient contact and be flexible and responsive to working environment
Excellent verbal and written communication and interpersonal skills
Self-motivated
Ability to appropriately escalate concerns
Venepuncture skills
Clinical Practice
As a Health care support worker, the expectation is that, with adequate training, supervision and assessment, you will;
Be competent in the use of all relevant Trust IT systems including the use of electronic patient record, email, and Trakcare
Maintain regular use of emails to keep abreast of information disseminated in the Trust
Working within the multidisciplinary team supporting the delivery of assessed and evaluated programmes of family centred care.
Maintain discretion and understanding of confidentiality and data protection.
Support individuals with all aspects of care including daily living, providing person-centred care
Perform and record clinical observations with competency including blood pressure, temperature, venepuncture, ECGs, respirations and pulse.
Maintain accurate and contemporaneous patient records
Ensure the privacy, dignity and safety of individuals is maintained at all times
Recognise issues relating to safeguarding vulnerable children and adults and report any problems or raise concerns to the appropriate Registered Care professionals.
Demonstrate the ability to recognise changing priorities, seeking advice and guidance from the Registered Nurse or other registered care professionals as appropriate.
Assist in maintaining a safe and healthy environment, by ensuring orderliness and hygiene and safety of the ward/department
Assist the smooth running of the department by carrying out other duties including unpacking stores, tidying and cleaning equipment
To support nursing team in the care delivery of patients.
To deliver safe care within a challenging and changing clinical environment, using equipment and resources safely and as appropriate.
To adhere to all Trust policies and procedures and professional code of conduct
To deliver and receive information, which may cause emotional distress to all parties.
Time management skills and prioritising
Insight into own skills and knowledge and know when to signpost or ask for advice
Keeping up to date with own skills and changes to clinical practices
Leadership and management
Comply with Trust and Departmental policies and procedures e.g. Health and Safety at Work Act (1974), Manual Handling, clinical equipment competency, risk management, Data Protection Acts and patient confidentiality at all times.
In conjunction with their manager, identify training needs of self, participating in clinical audit and quality projects which contribute to the departmental education programme.
Report near misses and untoward incidents, complaints, clinical emergencies, injury or medicine administration errors as detailed in the departmental and Trust protocols. Assist lead staff in investigating incidents as required.
Maintain and contribute to the development of standards of practice, conduct or decision making in conjunction with lead staff.
Ensure a smart, professional image that enhances the public perception of the Trust and the professionalism of its staff is portrayed following the uniform policy.
Communication, interpersonal skills and person qualities
The ability to communicate with colleagues, patients and their relatives with sensitivity and empathy
Be able to work under pressure
Be pro-active and take initiative
Understanding of the importance of the promotion of health and wellbeing (Making Every Contact Count).
Ability to work effectively as a team member and as part of a multi-disciplinary team.
Ability to communicate with members of the public and health and care providers.
To communicate effectively, especially where patient ability to do so is compromised. On occasions, the job holder may be exposed to distressing or emotional circumstances.
Communicate effectively across a wide range of channels and with a wide range of individuals.
Communicate with individuals, carers and other visitors in a courteous and helpful manner, whilst being mindful that there may be barriers to understand.
Physical, mental, emotional effort & working conditions
Will be required to utilise recognised manual handling techniques and guidelines
May be expected to frequently manoeuvre patients/objects over 15 kg using appropriate aids
Will be required to follow policies and procedures pertaining to bodily fluids, infection control, infestations and COSHH regulations
Frequent exposure to distressing and emotionally demanding situations involving patients and relatives
There is the on-going requirement to maintain excellent standards of care whilst working under pressure in an ever-changing and challenging environment
Education and training
Be actively involved in and support departmental education programmes
To consolidate and learn new skills and competencies to provide holistic care. To develop clinical reasoning through the active participation in training and development. To consolidate knowledge and skills learned through this process with the direction of senior staff.
To participate in the supervision, caseload monitoring and clinical education of student nurses and less experienced staff with support of senior staff, as required. Providing support, guidance, training, and assessing and evaluating competence, in order to fulfil clinical governance requirements and retain a skilled workforce.
Develop the skills to supervise, mentor, support and educate less experienced non-registered staff in the clinical practice setting.
Undertake all mandatory training
Demonstrate a commitment to research based practice and clinical excellence and play and active part in the introduction of research based change to improve patient centred care.
Improving quality and developing practice
Work with senior staff undertaking audit and research projects, to further own and teams clinical practice within each rotation. To be involved in making recommendations for changes to practice and procedures for the relevant clinical area, and the implementation of these changes.
Contribute to the Clinical Governance and Quality agenda by active participation in service initiatives, health and safety and risk management.
Develop and share own clinical knowledge with other members of the wider clinical team both locally and nationally.
Identify own development needs, aligning these to service requirements and personal aspirations. Proactively develop and improve own practice using all available resources
Understand and contribute to the development, implementation, monitoring and evaluation of policies/ protocols/ guidelines relevant to the specialist area.
Openly question and challenge practice in a constructive way so that standards of patient care are continually evaluated and improved
