Detailed job description and main responsibilities

Patient Care Duties 

• Under the direction of the Registered Healthcare Professional, provide high quality personalised care in accordance with agreed local and national standards using a wide range of skills.
• Achieve and maintain core and specific competencies as per HCSW Development pathway and agreed by manager.
• Assist in all aspects of personal hygiene and toileting needs of patients.
• Assist with the safe moving, handling and mobilisation of patients ensuring that care plans are followed to minimise risk.
• Communicate effectively with kindness, warmth and compassion recognising when there are barriers to communication where support may be required.
• Act as a patient and staff advocate, escalating concerns and challenging poor behaviour or practice appropriately.
• Maintain accurate records of care within area of responsibility.
• Observe and report any changes in a patient’s condition to the Nurse in Charge identifying and reports patient needs not included in the care plan.
• Involve patients and carers/relatives in delivery of care.
• Provide reassurance and support to patients, carers/family.
• Support the maintenance and cleanliness of the clinical environment by attending to general tidiness of the area including unpacking and storage of stock deliveries. Report any estates issues appropriately.
• Support clinical teams to fulfil cleaning responsibilities as identified in the National Cleaning Standards framework.
• Assist and contribute to the movement and treatment of patients to achieve physical comfort and minimise the adverse effects of pressure according to the plan of care.
•  Contribute to minimising the effects of disruptive abusive behaviour and the protection of individuals from abuse.
• Develop own skills and knowledge and contribute to the development of others.
• Assist with the induction of new Health Care Support Workers
• Recognise and respond appropriately to urgent and emergency situations.
• Ensure the effective and efficient use of resources and contribute ideas to cost improvement programmes.
• Report any incidents, concerns, complaints or accidents to the Nurse in Charge completing adverse incident forms as required.
• Attend and participate in team/ward/department meetings.
• Support the psychological and emotional wellbeing of patients, carers and families.
• To ensure that no action or omission on your part is detrimental to the condition, safety, well-being and interest of the patients. 

Clinical Duties

• Must be able to undertake other tasks appropriate to the clinical environment with necessary training and as directed by the Ward Manager or Department Lead
• Recording of patient information e.g., completion of fluid balance and food diaries, intentional rounding.
• Undertake physiological observations: blood pressure, pulse, temperature, respirations and oxygen saturations as directed by the nurse in charge and record on nerve centre device.
• Attend training in the use of equipment and devices appropriate to role and reports faulty equipment promptly.
• Record all care provided in the Trust standard format.
• Ophthalmology equipment cleaned and labelled.
• Order equipment as directed by the registered nurse using appropriate system.
• Completion of property checklists and disclaimers.
• Remove cannulas and apply dressings as directed by the nurse in charge.
• Provide patients with appropriate activities and stimulation to promote well-being and recovery in particular when providing enhanced care.
• Participate in audit activities at the request of the Ward manager / Department lead

Patient Safety and Experience

• Understand importance of individual role and contribution in ensuring that patients, service users and carers have a positive experience of care.
• To ensure appropriate escalation of concerns and use of incident reporting system. 
• Take responsibility for adapting communication style to meet the needs of patients, service users and carers adopting basic de-escalation techniques when needed.
• Ensure up to date knowledge of risks in the area and any key safety messages as communicated by the Ward Manager/ Department Lead.
• Ensure active participation in safety initiatives in the ward or department such as safety briefs.
• Ensure compliance with infection prevention and control practices reporting any concerns to the nurse in charge. 
• Understand own contribution in creating a psychologically safe environment by displaying appropriate behaviours and treating colleagues and service users with respect and civility. 

Communication 

• To establish and maintain good working relationships with members of the multi -disciplinary team.
• Ensure effective communication using professional language and ensuring that conversations take place in an appropriate setting. 
• Communicate with patients, service, users and carers at a pace and tone that is understood, using communication aids as required.
• Ensure high standard of written communication in areas of responsibility.
• Give clear and concise advice to people on the procedures in place e.g. PALS, complaints.
•  Introduces self to patients at the start of each shift.
• Visitors are welcomed in a manner which promotes a positive image of self, the ward/department and the team

PERSON SPECIFICATION: 

QUALIFICATIONS / TRAINING 
Essential Criteria

• English and Math GCSE grade 9-2 (A*-E) or equivalent or high level of literacy and numeracy skills demonstrated within application
• Competence based level 2 Qualification e.g. NVQ or Diploma in Care or The Care Certificate issued by an employer

Desirable Criteria

• Willingness to undertake any training or development relevant to the role
• Moving and Handling 
• Infection Control
• Customer Care
• Competent / able to evidence the completion of Health Care Assistant core competencies
• Competence based level 3 Qualification e.g. NVQ or Diploma in Healthcare Support

KNOWLEDGE, EXPERIENCE & EXPERTISE 

Essential Criteria

• Previous employment with a healthcare setting (18 months) 
  Insight into the roles of responsibilities of the post
• Demonstrate a commitment to a caring profession
• Understand the importance of record keeping 
• Literacy Skills
• IT skills

Desirable Criteria

• Experience of record keeping

COMMUNICATION AND RELATIONSHIPS (INCLUDING MANAGEMENT RESPONSIBILITIES)

Essential Criteria

• Ability to work as a team member 
• Ability to work in a busy environment 
• Able to use own initiative 
• Aware of own limitations/ level of competence
• Good communication Skills 

Desirable Criteria

• Plan delegated workload