Healthcare Assistant

The primary role of the senior healthcare assistant will be to assist, support and work in collaboration with neonatal nurses and the wider multidisciplinary team to provide high quality care to neonates and their families. The post holder will adopt a family centred approach to provide direct care to neonates and assist parents to participate in caring for their baby whilst on the neonatal unit. Helping to develop their parental skills ready for discharge. The Senior Healthcare Assistant/Support Worker will be an integral member of the ward/department team working through close supervision of a registered practitioner. The Senior Healthcare Assistant/Support Worker is responsible for providing personal and clinical care, undertaking clinical observations and other interventions as delegated by the registered practitioner and in accordance with existing competencies. The Senior Healthcare Assistant/Support Worker will ensure that their practice is guided by standard operating procedures and established policies and guidelines. They will demonstrate self-directed development, recognising own limitations, and work within the scope of their role at all times. The Senior Healthcare Assistant/Support Worker will contribute to supporting and developing other colleagues. The Senior Healthcare Assistant/Support Worker will act in a manner that upholds privacy, dignity, respect and confidentiality for patients and colleagues. Main duties of the job Welcome and orientate patients, carers, relatives and other visitors to the ward/department demonstrating care and compassion at all times. Report any observed changes or concerns in the patient's physical or psychological needs to the registered practitioner. Provide support to the registered practitioner, and where appropriate, other members of the ward/department clinical team as required. Initiate and participate with emergencies i.e., cardiac arrest, patient falls and patients with a rapidly deteriorating condition. Undertake transfer/escort of patients from one area to another within their scope of practice and after appropriate delegation from the registered practitioner. If required, log patients personal property/valuables on admission. About us Please submit your application as soon as possible as we reserve the right to close adverts once we have received sufficient applications Northampton General Hospital NHS Trust is on an exciting journey with all of our divisions committed to doing things better, with more efficiency as we update, modernise, and advance. We have also entered a Group Model with neighbouring Kettering General Hospital NHS Foundation Trust and become University Hospitals of Northamptonshire (UHN). As part of this collaborative approach, there may be a requirement for you to work across both the Kettering and Northampton hospital sites, depending on the needs of the service. Our Excellence Values Compassion Accountability Respect Integrity Courage We want to recruit the best people to deliver our services across UHN and help to unleash everyone's full potential. UHN encourages applications from people who identify from all protected groups. We understand that we need to work with colleagues from diverse backgrounds and make sure the environment they work in is inclusive and collaborative. We recognise the valuable contribution that the Armed Forces community make to our organisation. We have signed the Armed Forces Covenant and achieved Silver Award under the Armed Forces Employer Recognition Scheme. We have active Networks that promote and support colleagues from backgrounds. This ensures everyone feels supported and has a sense of belonging working for UHN. Job responsibilities Perform area specific clinical duties to enhance the delivery of patient care, which may include: Maintaining personal hygiene, grooming and dressing needs with specific concern for their religious, cultural and personal preference, ensuring privacy and dignity at all times. Assisting patients in gaining access to appropriate toilet facilities and measuring and recording body waste accurately. Assisting or undertaking mouth care including brushing of teeth/care of dentures Assisting patients with their mobility needs, help to move and position appropriately to maximise comfort, using equipment when trained to use and as directed by a registered practitioner. Assisting in the care of patients with pressure ulcers and prevention of hospital acquired pressure ulcers recording the findings and escalating concerns to a registered practitioner. Supporting the registered practitioner in the completion of care plans and undertaking risk assessments (e.g. falls) as required. Assisting in providing optimal conditions for a patients rest and sleep. Chaperoning the patient as requested in accordance with policy ensuring appropriate support to the patient. Performing and recording electronically a patients vital signs as directed, reporting findings to the registered practitioner on duty i.e. Temperature, Blood Pressure, Respiration, Oxygen Saturation, and Pulse. Collect and record samples including urine and stools, reporting results to registered practitioner on duty. Perform swabbing, if appropriately trained to do so, as directed by a registered practitioner. Undertake extended skills, as directed, if appropriate education and training has been received and competency demonstrated. Assist in the Last Offices for deceased patients, ensuring that all religious and cultural wishes are adhered with. Ensure patients nutritional needs are met through assisting in the preparation of patients prior to meals and beverages providing assistance in feeding drinking where appropriate. Correctly record and monitor dietary intake of patients, informing registered practitioners of progress and/or any difficulties relating to dietary/fluid intake experienced by the patient. Communicate effectively and maintain good relationships with patients, relatives, and healthcare practitioners and contribute to effective Multi-Disciplinary Team (MDT) team work. Ensure that information passed to patients, relatives or colleagues is understood using tact, encouragement or empathy as required. Ask for, listen to and value the views of patients and their relatives on their experience and discuss this with registered practitioners in order to improve care and patient experience. Actively support and assist in alleviating distress and anxiety for patients and carers in line with their personal beliefs and preferences whilst in hospital informing a registered practitioner where any changes and/or concerns are observed. Undertake clerical duties, including filing, as directed by the registered nurse practitioner in relation to all verbal and written communications. Ensure that messages and communications are passed to other team members, as required. In accordance with training, ensure safe and effective infection prevention and control (including waste management), handwashing and wearing of Personal Protective Equipment are adhered to at all times. Maintain cleanliness in the work environment in line with Health and Safety and Infection Prevention policies and guidelines. Prepare and maintain environments for clinical procedures in line with current policies. Organise the supply and maintenance of materials and ward or department equipment ensuring they are in working order, placed in the correct area and present no hazards to colleagues, patients or visitors. Assist in the transfer of materials and equipment as requested. Clean and return equipment utilised in procedures and treatments to the Decontamination Unit or dispose of as appropriate. Report any broken or faulty equipment in line with departmental procedures. Assist with the checking and recording of deliveries to the clinical areas against original orders. Assist with stock minimising the risk of equipment being out of date. Use IT systems where appropriate and trained to do so, to record patient information. Recognise and consistently works within boundaries of the role. Person Specification Education, training and qualifications Educated to Vocational Qualification/NVQ Level 3 or equivalent level of education, training or experience Holds National Care Certificate or equivalent level of education, training or experience (e.g. able to demonstrate the skill and competency to undertake the clinical duties as described in the job description) Holds Functional Skills Level 2 Maths and English or education equivalent Speciality specific training and competencies achieved and ongoing development evidence of breastfeeding training Knowledge and experience Experience working in as a Healthcare Assistant/Support Worker in an healthcare, social care organisation/setting or service industry requiring people contact Knowledge of Infection Prevention and Control and Safeguarding processes Experience of working in a healthcare team and patient settings One year's formal maternity/neonatal care experience Knowledge of family integrated care Skills Good communication and listening skills (written and verbal) Able to work on own initiative, following direction/close supervision by a Registered Practitioner Able to relate well with patients, relatives, visitors, colleagues, the multi-disciplinary team and wider Trust colleagues Taking and recording Vital Signs and other clinical skills with evidence of appropriate training within scope of job role Computer/keyboard skills for entering/updating patient records able to cope with emotional needs of family Disclosure and Barring Service Check This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions. £24,937 to £26,598 a yearPer annum / pro rata #J-18808-Ljbffr