Worcestershire Acute Hospitals NHS Trust

Senior Healthcare Assistant, UIC, Alex

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Job summary

Are you a band 2 Healthcare Assistant who aspires to become a Band 3 Senior Healthcare Assistant? If so this role may be right for you following a period of training. The Urology Intervention Centre (UIC) is a diagnostic unit which is expanding in order to create a Urology Decisions Unit (UDU). This will enable same day emergency care for ambulatory Urology patients. In order to be selected for this role a candidate will have an interest in Urology diagnostics and in caring for Urology patients. The role will be varied and include carrying out decontamination of equipment following Trust policies, ensuring equipment is maintained and assisting with diagnostic procedures undertaken on the unit. In addition to assisting with procedures you would play an active and important role in assuring the safe labelling, documentation and transporting in relation to specimens collected during procedures.

As a senior healthcare assistant you would also be responsible for carrying our basis nursing care to the UDU patients. This could include, observations, collection of specimens, venepuncture and personal care.

Excellent communication skills and team working will be vital to ensure that the department works well and that all patients experience a caring, calm and respectful time on the unit and that their experience is a positive one that the whole team contributes to.

Main duties of the job

preparation of environment for procedures, decontamination of equipment, assisting with procedures, labelling and transportation of specimens, communication with patients and team members, patient observations, ability to assist patients with personal care when necessary, ability to perform moving and handling as per Trust policies, awareness of IPC policies and procedures, awareness of health and safety policies, awareness of COSHH policies, ability to maintain own clinical competence relavant to the role and take and active part in the PDR process, maintain own mandatory training at 100%, telephone/receptionist duties as required, basic computer skills.

About us

Our purpose is simple - Putting Patients First. We are looking for exceptional colleagues who can help us achieve this.

Worcestershire Acute Hospitals NHS Trust is a large acute and specialised hospital trust that provides a range of local acute services to the residents of Worcestershire and more specialised services to a larger population in Herefordshire and beyond.

The Trust operates hospital-based services from three sites in Kidderminster, Redditch and Worcester

Our workforce is nearly 6,800 strong, and our caring staff are recognised as providing good and outstanding patient-centred care. You could be one of them.

We are committed to recruiting the best people to work with us to achieve our Vision - working in partnership to provide the best healthcare for our communities, leading and supporting our teams to move 4ward. Our 4ward behaviours, which we ask all staff to demonstrate, underpin our everyday work and remain firmly at the heart of all we do.

Our objectives are simple:

Best services for local people
Best experience of care and best outcomes for our patients
Best use of resources
Best people

Better never stops, and our Clinical Services Strategy provides a clear future vision for our Trust, our hospitals, our services and our role in the wider health and care system.

We are proud to have achieved Timewise accreditation - this means we are committed to embedding flexible working within our organisation as a flex positive employer.

Date posted

07 February 2024

Pay scheme

Agenda for change

Band

Band 3

Salary

£22,816 to £24,336 a year

Contract

Permanent

Working pattern

Full-time, Part-time, Flexible working

Reference number

C9365-24-0175

Job locations

The Alexandra Hospital

Woodrow Drive

Redditch

Worcestershire

B98 7UB

Job description

Job responsibilities

JOB TITLE: Senior Healthcare Assistant

Band: 3

BASE: Alexandra Hospital

Accountable to: Matron

Key Working Relationships

Internal:

Ward / department staff

Patient / relatives / carers / significant others

Urological medical staff

Staff in other departments

External:

Other Hospitals and providers

Patients and their relatives

Risk Asessment

Staff will be provided with the necessary education, training and support to enable them to meet responsibilities. Due to the nature of the work undertaken on the unit, daily exposure to blood and other bodily is expected. COSHH regulations applies and movement of patients and equipment on a daily basis is also expected. The use of VDU equipment and handling sensitive documentation.

JOB SUMMARY

Prepare environments ready for clinical procedures and take part / participate in the department forward looking huddles.

Follow decontamination of cystoscope procedures as per trust policy as required by the unit.

In liaison with unit manager ensure cystoscopies are maintained as per trust policies. Assist with diagnostic procedures undertaken on the unit, under the guidance of a Registered Nurse.

Assist to ensure safe labelling of specimens according to the local guidelines, including assuring the completion of the appropriate documentation related to specimen collection and transportation of same to the lab.

Contributing to the safe efficient and smooth running of unit lists.

Communicate information effectively to co-workers, patients and relatives/carers and members of the multidisciplinary (MDT) team using sensitivity, empathy and an ability to manage conflict..

In conjunction with the unit manager/registered nurses, support and guide other health care assistants.

Demonstrate competence in performing and recording clinical observations of patients, and an awareness of their relevance. Alert senior members of staff to any abnormal clinical observations in a quick and timely manner ensuring patient safety.

Demonstrate good communication skills when dealing with patients, relatives and members of the MDT utilising sensitivity, empathy and ability to manage conflict.

Demonstrate awareness of the barriers to communication and understanding.

Monitor patients recovering from a variety of diagnostic procedures carried out on the unit.

Demonstrate dexterity and skills required in order to assist with cystoscopies and other diagnostic tests carried out on the unit.

Adhere to moving and handling policies and guidance related to patients and equipment.

Demonstrate knowledge of emergency procedures.

Demonstrate the ability and competence to clean and maintain all equipment used during procedures. Be aware of infection control risks, COSHH, and Health and Safety policies and guidance at all times.

Maintain and develop clinical competence through Continual Professional Development and take part in regular Professional development reviews, mandatory training, peer supervision, reflective practice and clinical supervision.

Clerical Duties

Reception / Telephone duties
Basic computer skills
Assist in the preparation of notes for procedures
Stock control and ordering of supplies

Job Purpose

Clean, decontaminate and maintain equipment on the unit, ensuring that protocols and standards are maintained. Ensure that the environment is safe for both patients, staff and carers.
Prepare environments in preparation for diagnostic tests undertaken on the unit
Assist in all diagnostic activities on the unit.
Assist to ensure that samples are labelled correctly and documented appropriately and sent in a timely manner to the labs .
Communicate effectively to the whole MDT, patient and carers.

The post holder is responsible for limiting his / her actions to those which s/he feels competent to undertake. If the post holder has any doubt as to his or her competence during the course of his/ her duties then s/he should immediately speak to their manger / supervisor.

General Responsibilities

To comply with all Trust Policies and procedures to maintain a safe working environment for patients and staff.
To report any untoward incident and complaints
Work as a member of the team, demonstrate the ability to liaise effectively and sensitively with all users of the department
To act in a manner which promotes positive working relationships and maintains the professional image of the Trust.
Actively participate in team meetings, team development and service improvement as required.
Supervise, assess and mentor Healthcare Support Workers, and other unqualified staff and assist in the supervision and learning of other students with the exception of their assessment.
To attend to the activities of Daly living supporting the registered nurse, to ensure that patients receive care appropriate to their needs. All care given must be documented in the patient record.
Organise and prioritise own workload to meet the demands of the service.
Assess work proprieties and related problems by taking actions to resolve them.
Have a flexible and adaptive approach to working hours and shifts.
Promote an efficient and cost effective use of resources, be involved in trialling new accessories that are cost effective and be responsible for ordering such items.

The post holder is responsible for limiting his / her actions to those which s/he feels competent to undertake. If the post holder has any doubt as to his or her competence during the course of his/ her duties, then s/he should immediately speak to their manger / supervisor.

This job description is not intended to be an exhaustive list of duties but to give a guide to the objectives and responsibilities of the post. It will be reviewed with the postholder on an annual basis. It is essential that the postholder recognises the level of confidentiality required for this post and maintains that confidentiality at all times.

NO SMOKING POLICY

Please note that this Trust operates a no smoking policy.

Criminal Records Bureau - Disclosure

Worcestershire Acute Hospitals NHS Trust aims to promote equality of opportunity for all with the right mix of talent, skills and potential. Worcestershire Acute Hospitals NHS Trust welcomes applications from diverse candidates. Criminal records will be taken into account for recruitment purposes only when the conviction is relevant. As Worcestershire Acute Hospitals NHS Trust meets the requirements in respect of exempted questions under the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974, all applicants who

are offered employment will be subject to a criminal record check from the Criminal Records Bureau before the appointment is confirmed. This will include details of cautions, reprimands or final warnings, as well as convictions. The post you are applying for will require such a check.

Confidentiality

The postholder must maintain confidentiality, security and integrity of information relating to patients, staff and other Health Service business.

Health and Safety

Employees must be aware of the responsibilities placed on them under the Health and Safety at Work Act (1974) and the Manual Handling Operations Regulations (1992). This ensures that the agreed safety procedures are carried out to maintain a safe environment for employees, patients and visitors to the Trust.

Risk Management

All staff have a responsibility to report all clinical and non-clinical accidents or incidents promptly and when requested to co-operate with any investigation undertaken.

Equal Opportunities

The Trust has a clear commitment to equal opportunities and it is the duty of every employee to comply with the detail and spirit.

Conflict of Interest

The Trust is responsible for ensuring that the service provided for patients in its care meet the highest standard. Equally, it is responsible for ensuring that

staff do not abuse their official position for personal gain or to benefit their family or friends. The Trust's Standing Orders require any officer to declare any interest, direct or indirect with contracts involving the Trust. Staff are not allowed to further their private interests in the course of their NHS duties.

The above duties and responsibilities are intended to represent current priorities and are not meant to be a conclusive list as the role will inevitably vary and develop over time. The postholder may from time to

time be asked to undertake other reasonable duties. Any changes will be made in discussion with the postholder in the light of service needs.

Signed

Postholder Date

Manager . Date