Detailed job description and main responsibilities

1.    PATIENT FOCUSED CARE

Ensure that privacy, dignity and confidentiality relating to all aspects of the Trusts operations is maintained.

Being courteous and helpful to patients, families, colleagues and all users and visitors to the ward.

Welcome patients to the ward in a friendly, professional manner, guiding them to their chair/trolley. Orientate them and their families to the unit and hospital where necessary.

Provide accurate and timely information to patients regarding unit routines i.e. visiting times, meal times.

Provide additional refreshments to patients and families where appropriate including the patient’s evening meal served around 18:00.

Tidy up the trolleys/chairs where requested by the nurse in charge of the unit.

 Answer the telephone according to Trust guidelines.

Support unit team by undertaking tasks to enhance patient care i.e. collection of food items, laundry, supplies etc.

Recognise when additional support is required such as interpreters and chaplaincy and arranging such in conjunction with nurse in charge.

Ensure the bed/chair is prepared for the arrival of a new admission to the unit, i.e. checking the area is clean, rubbish removed etc.

Alert nurse in charge to aspects of dissatisfaction by patients i.e. complaints.

Provide assistance to patients in using the telephone.

Ensure safe working environment by abiding to the Health and Safety at Work Act.

To report concerns if there is suspected harm to a patient, or person connected to the patient, ensuring their safety and wellbeing is maintained.

 2.    MAINTAIN A SAFE ENVIRONMENT IN CONJUNCTION WITH OTHER STAFF

 Report any damaged equipment and arrange for required maintenance repairs, co-ordinating and following up as required.

Attend clinical unit team meetings and/or handovers as required. Communicate any relevant information to other service providers e.g. changes in a patient’s dietary requirement, specialist cleaning etc.

 Assist with the planning of the unit based facilities programmed such as PEAT inspections, outbreak cleaning and the annual deep cleaning programme.

To work as part of a team to ensure the unit is safe and tidy at all times e.g. remove clutter, tidy notice boards, signage etc.

Check over bed lights, on a weekly basis, to ensure that bulbs are working and where appropriate report any faults to the Estates department.

To maintain environmental, good hygiene and personal hygiene by wearing the correct full uniform at all times in accordance with the Trust Uniform and Dress Code Policy. This includes the correct personal protective equipment when undertaking meal service and cleaning duties.

Attend Trust Housekeeping meetings as arranged. 

To display a formal Trust ID badge at all times whilst on duty.

3.    FOOD

 Assist patients in the choice of menus taking into consideration their dietary needs.

 Maintain visible display of individual patient’s dietary needs.

Make sure that all patient nutrition and hydration requirements are managed throughout the day and delivered in a timely and efficient manner with the designated protected meal times.

Arrange, co-ordinate and collect additional food as requested by the patient in liaison with the nurse responsible for the patient.

Assist in serving morning and afternoon beverages.

Assist ward staff in serving meals.

Ensure that patients are physically able to reach their food and assist patients as necessary e.g. remove lids, packaging, polythene and cling film, cutting up food etc.

 Offer assistance to patients before and after meals to clean their hands.

Check ward fridge temperature and contents daily and document.

Full compliance with the Trust’s Hygiene Policies, the Food Safety Act and the General Food Hygiene Regulations.

4.    STOCKS AND SUPPLIES

In agreement with the unit sister liaise with the “top up” supplies staff to ensure that the unit weekly “top up” meets the needs of the patients.

Assist supplies staff in unpacking stocks and supplies and recording items delivered.

Bring to the attention of the nurses in charge if regular stock items become available.

Liaise with supplies and other departments should deficits in supplies occur and assist in obtaining items required.

Ensure all clinical areas/store rooms and dirty utility rooms are stocked up daily and kept tidy.

Ensure that stock is rotated to ensure efficient and economic use of supplies.

5.    CLEANING

To co-ordinate the timely cleaning of vacated chair/trolley spaces as required and if there is no cleaning service available to undertake cleaning as required.

Clean medical equipment where necessary. i.e. pumps, drip stands, medical trolleys etc.

Be aware of and assist, when appropriate, additional cleaning such as yearly deep cleaning, window cleaning, wall washing and curtain changing etc. liaising with the domestic supervisor regarding these duties.

 Alert sister in charge regarding deficits in daily cleaning liaising with the domestic supervisor regarding the remedy of such.

Liaise with the Domestic Team Leader regarding additional cleaning, i.e. isolation room and bed space terminal cleans, pest control etc.

 Ensure maintenance of a clean and tidy unit area i.e. keep patient and non patient areas tidy in collaboration with nurse in charge.

6.    PERSONAL DEVELOPMENT

 To participate in personal yearly appraisal and personal development plan.

To undertake any mandatory training or other training required to maintain competency in the role.