Senior Healthcare Support Worker
Job Description
Job summary
Senior Healthcare Support Worker. Reporting to Senior Sister/ Senior charge nurse Emergency Department.
Main duties of the job
The Senior Healthcare Support Worker (HCSW) is part of the nursing team to deliver high quality person-centred care.. Supervision and support are provided by Registered Nurses.
The Senior HCSW will undertake fundamental personal care duties including: bathing; toileting; dressing; support with meals and assist with the patients appearance. The role also includes undertaking a limited range of delegated clinical skills care duties including: taking and recording patients' vital observations, blood glucose monitoring; observing patients for sign of agitation or distress, wound observations and simple wound dressings, removal of peripheral cannula, removal of catheters. Senior HCSW working in maternity and neonatal environments, they will be able to complete pregnancy testing, routine maternal and neonatal observations. clinical duties to enable the team to provide an effective and efficient service within the hospital setting.
As a team we work hard to put patients and families at the heart of everything we do. We offer you a rewarding, flexible and supportive role
About us
We are one of the largest hospital trusts in England, with five hospitals and community clinics serving a local population of around 800,000 people. Our vision is 'great healthcare from great people'. Everything we do is guided by our values: 'People feel cared for, safe, respected and confident that we are making a difference'. We have a new way of working at East Kent Hospitals, called 'We care'. It's about empowering frontline staff to lead improvements day-to-day. We're looking for compassionate people to be part of our improvement journey for the patients, families and carers we care for every day.
Please note that if you require a Certificate of Sponsorship to work in the UK you must declare this on your application form, even if you currently have a certificate of sponsorship or a work permit for another role and are already working in the country. Please note we are only able to sponsor candidates on a Skilled Worker Visa applying for roles Band 5 and above.
Job responsibilities
Role specific duties
Patient Care and Experience
Work within your scope of practice to maintain quality of care and patient safety.
Demonstrate care and compassion to patients, carers, and relatives at all times.
Communicate with patients explaining the care to be given. Respect their dignity and gain consent before performing the care activity for the patient.
Accept delegated responsibilities for patient care from a Registered nurse or Nursing Associate.
Competently perform all aspects of care for patients according to individualised patient care plans under direct or indirect supervision of a registered nurse. Which include; toileting, washing and dressing, oral hygiene, eating and drinking, mobilisation (assisting with walking, transferring and repositioning of patients).
Communicate and report observed changes to a patients physical/psychological condition to a Registered Nurse.
Communicate with all members of the multi-disciplinary team, relaying verbal and written messages promptly to ensure high standards of care are achieved.
Be aware of communication barriers, such as: English not being the patients first language; poor sight or hearing; neurodiversity; cognitive delays following strokes. Adapt your communication accordingly.
Respond to patient and carers questions, providing information about the care you have given, then escalating to a Registered Nurse or Nursing Associate for additional information.
Respond to emergency situations, raising the alarm and delivering emergency care within your competency boundaries.
Accurately document care delivered in the patients healthcare records.
Clinical skills
Complete patients observations using appropriate equipment.
Demonstrate competence in: Vital signs observations and recording using the NEWS2 scoring system; blood glucose monitoring; urinalysis.
Recognise the when these observations are outside of normal/safe limits expected for the patient and reporting to a registered nurse immediately.
Perform a range of patient care tasks such as: pregnancy testing; wound observations, dressings, removal of peripheral cannula; removal of catheter; changing of stoma bags and report any issues to the Registered Nurse.
Senior HCSW working in maternity and neonatal environments will be able to complete maternal and neonatal observations
Professionalism
Accept accountability and responsibility for delegated tasks from a Registered Nurse.
Be polite and courteous, respecting all hospital staff, patients and visitors who come to the Trust.
Use effective communication that supports patients, families and staff.
Actively participate in team work to create an effective nursing and multidisciplinary team.
Assist with the induction, supervision, training and development of Band 2 Healthcare Assistants under the supervision of a registered nurse.
Welcome all students and learners to the team and involve them in the care activities you deliver.
Personal Development, Education and Training
Hold the Care Certificate
Following a yearly appraisal, complete identified education and training
Complete mandatory and statutory training and updates on time to maintain patient safety.
Undertake training and complete competencies records relevant to clinical skills required to care for the patient in the ward/clinical area and service.
Attend education and training events that support your role development
Complete coursework to fulfil training course requirements within the timeframes set by the trainers.
Act as a link HCSW and share knowledge with the wider team.
Risk Governance, Safety and Quality
Maintain confidentiality at all times.
When inputting information into patients records, comply with the Data protection Act, Caldicott Guidance and local policy.
Follow Trust policies and procedures to maintain safe working practices for patients and colleagues.
Adhere to departmental procedures for the use of supplies and equipment to promote effective and efficient use of resources.
Share responsibilities for key aspects of housekeeping and stock control, demonstrating good awareness of cost efficiency and safety.
Undertake routine and regular checks of ward/clinical unit equipment, to ensure it is clean and in good working order.
Assist in Nursing and Clinical audits as directed.
Person Specification
Qualifications
Essential
- Has GCSE or level 2 equivalent maths and English
- Completed Care Certificate
- Holds a level 2 qualification in Health & Social Care or has previous relevant/equivalent experience
Desirable
- Knowledge of care and related procedures, clinical observations
- Holds a level 3 vocational qualification in Health & Social
Skills
Essential
- Experience of working with people ideally in front line patient care
- Basic computer/keyboard skills
- oDemonstrate competence in: Vital signs observations and recording using the NEWS2 scoring system; blood glucose monitoring; urinalysis.
- oRecognise the when these observations are outside of normal/safe limits expected for the patient
- oPerform a range of patient care tasks such as: pregnancy testing; wound observations, dressings, removal of peripheral cannula; removal of catheter; changing of stoma bags
Desirable
- Previous experience as an HCSW in an acute hospital
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.
Certificate of Sponsorship
Applications from job seekers who require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website (Opens in a new tab).
From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants, applying for entry clearance into the UK, have had to present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Adult dependants (over 18 years old) are also subject to this requirement. Guidance can be found here Criminal records checks for overseas applicants (Opens in a new tab).
Employer details
Employer name
East Kent Hospitals University NHS Foundation Trust
Address
Queen Elizabeth Queen Mother
St Peters Road
Margate
CT94AN
Employer's website
https://www.ekhuft.nhs.uk/patients-and-visitors/ (Opens in a new tab)
