Health Care Assistant

Royal National Orthopaedic Hospital (RNOH) NHS Trust

20d ago

Applications are closed

Job
Full-time
Entry & Junior Level
Healthcare
London

Requirements

Care certificate
Level 2 functional skills
Working in a Health Care or related setting.
Team Working
Experience in carrying out assigned duties/assisting qualified staff after training.
Able to assist with essential care for patients as directed.
Demonstrates understanding of importance of maintaining privacy and dignity.
Able to alert trained staff of change in patient's condition.

Responsibilities

The role requires shift work, long days, nights and weekend working
Assist the nursing staff on the ward with patient centred tasks under supervision. This may include but not limited to feeding patients, repositioning patients, provide psychological support.
Greet relatives and reassure them if they are waiting for their relatives to come out from theatre.
Ensure that the stock levels are correct on the ward
Order supplies when needed
Unpack supplies and keep the storage areas clean and tidy
Working with the multidisciplinary team
Communicate clearly, effectively and appropriately with the multidisciplinary team, patients and their family/visitors/carers, including when the patient has a physical impairment, mental health condition or learning disabilities.
Is able to modify their communication delivery as necessary for when a patient is sedated and ventilated or is experiencing critical care delirium.
Respond appropriately to queries, take phone messages, and pass on written and verbal information to colleagues and patients.
Provide basic information to patients, family/visitors/carers and colleagues.
Be aware of the importance of accurate documentation and contribute to reports of patients activity and progress.
Accept constructive feedback.
Give constructive feedback to colleagues.
Participate in discussions about patient care and ward/departmental development, including handover and team meetings.
Maintain patient confidentiality.
Maintain professional boundaries and working relationships with patients and colleagues.
Understand their own level of responsibility and accountability in relation to other members of the multi-professional team.
Identify own learning needs and produce a personal development plan in conjunction with their team leader and clinical educators.
Participate in annual staff appraisal, staff development and in-service training activities in line with the Knowledge and Skills Framework.
Attend Trust/local orientation programmes, mandatory training sessions and annual updates.
Take part in reflection and appropriate learning from practice, in order to maintain and develop competence and performance.
Assist in maintaining a clean environment that is conducive to safe practice.
Report any issues at work that may put health, safety and security at risk.
Summon immediate help for any emergency and take appropriate action to deal with the situation until trained colleagues have arrived.
Understand the principles and practice of Infection Control as per trust policy.
Work within their own personal/professional limitations and seek the help of colleagues to maintain safe practice and a safe environment.
Identify potential risks for all staff, patients and visitors and assist with relevant incident reporting procedures.
Clean patient equipment as required as per infection control guidelines.
Handle and dispose of all body fluids in accordance with trust policy.
Maintain adequate levels of stock, equipment and materials and facilitate the efficient, effective use of resources. Report when availability falls below an acceptable standard or level.
Pass on constructive views and ideas for improving services to their team leader.
Ensure a welcoming, caring and safe environment is provided for the patient and their family/visitors/carers
Be aware of and maintain a high standard of care.
Ensure that patient areas are kept clean and tidy.
Comply with Trust/local policies and procedures.
Carry out duties and responsibilities with regard to the Trusts Equal Opportunity policy.
Recognise the importance of peoples rights and act in accordance with legislation, policies and procedures.
Carry out duties in a way that acknowledges and recognises the expressed beliefs of others, their preferences and choices, respecting diversity and valuing people as individuals.
Take responsibility for their own behaviour and its effect on others.
Able to demonstrate their work to new starters in the same role.
Treating the patient as a whole, taking into consideration their physical, psychological, social, cultural, spiritual and family needs.
Have an awareness of some of the feelings expressed by critically ill patients, such as loss of control, loss of perception of time.
Be aware and make allowances for patients with critical care delirium and the associated change in awareness and attention, memory loss, disorientation and perceptual disturbances.
Promote patient wellbeing by orientating patients to time and place, being kind and compassionate, reducing sensory overload and maintaining a quiet soothing environment, helping the patient to get quality sleep and encourage them to have familiar items such as photographs, close at hand.
Maintain and improve the patients mobility using appropriate equipment and handling techniques.
Assist the patient to be as comfortable as possible.
Help with moving and positioning the patient using appropriate equipment and safe number of staff to undertake the planned manoeuvre.
Assist with checking pain levels and requesting pain relieving medication on patients behalf if required.
Involve the patient in shared decision making and obtain their consent before undertaking any procedures.
Support and encourage the patient to meet their own health and wellbeing needs.
Undertake care activities to meet individuals health and wellbeing needs, once competence has been demonstrated.
Work co-operatively as part of the multi-disciplinary team, helping nursing and other clinical staff in routine work associated with patient care
Support qualified nurses in the implementation of programmes of care within the limits of the Healthcare Assistants knowledge and competence
Provide comfort, reassurance, and support to patients and/or their carers if anxious or distressed.
Provide care for deceased patients alongside a registered nurse.
Assist with making beds, sorting clean linen, helping patients to complete menu choices.
Assist patients to become as independent as possible by giving the appropriate level of support as delegated and under supervision.
Maintain patients personal and oral hygiene, e.g. helping the patient to clean their teeth or help them to wash while confined to bed.
Help patients to move and assist with pressure area care.
Act as a chaperone if required for patient examinations by medical staff.
Have a basic understanding of special dietary needs, allergies and implications for the patients condition
Help to ensure patients have an adequate hydration and nutritional intake including feeding patients and assisting them with oral fluid intake.
Record food intake accurately on a food chart, informing registered staff where a deficit is observed.
Record ECGs on post operative adult patients or as designated by a registered nurse, following training and having been assessed as competent.
Assist patients to access and use appropriate toilet facilities, supply bedpans/urine bottles, ensuring privacy and dignity are maintained.
Alert registered staff promptly of changes in the patients condition or any potential risks.
Recognise when a patient is having breathing difficulties and immediately escalate to a registered health care professional for rapid assessment and assistance.
Is able to identify the location of emergency equipment, including defibrillator and/or resus trolley and difficult airway trolley. Is able to deliver this equipment safely to the required bed space if required to do so.
Cleaning, checking and stocking up ITU and HDU bed spaces.
Ensuring all respiratory and cardiovascular monitoring leads are present and that bed space suction equipment is correctly connected and working.
Daily checking and stocking up as appropriate of the unit procedure trolleys.
Able to set up/apply warming blanket/Bair Hugger when required for post operative patients.
Clean ventilators, Optiflow units, infusion pumps, PCA pumps and Ultrasound machines according to Infection Control guidelines.
Report any faulty ITU/HDU equipment to Clinical Engineering promptly.

FAQs

What is the work schedule for the Health Care Assistant position?

The role requires shift work, including long days, nights, and weekend working.

Where will the Health Care Assistant be working?

The Health Care Assistant will work at the Royal National Orthopaedic Hospital NHS Trust, specifically on the Alan Bray Unit (ABU) and the Children's High Dependency Unit (CHDU).

What are the main duties of the Health Care Assistant?

Main duties include assisting nursing staff with patient-centered tasks, greeting relatives, maintaining stock levels, ordering supplies, and working with the multidisciplinary team.

Is experience required for this position?

Yes, candidates should have experience working in a health care or related setting, teamwork experience, and experience in carrying out assigned duties while assisting qualified staff after training.

What qualifications are necessary for this position?

Essential qualifications include having a Care Certificate and Level 2 functional skills.

Who is eligible for the interview assessments?

All candidates who are selected for an interview will be required to undertake Maths and English Functional Skills diagnostic assessments.

What is the duration of the contract for this position?

The contract is fixed-term for 8 months.

What is the pay scale for the Health Care Assistant position?

The salary ranges from £29,176 to £30,225 a year per annum, inclusive of HCAs.

Is there a necessity for a Disclosure and Barring Service check?

Yes, this post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975, and a submission for Disclosure to the Disclosure and Barring Service will be necessary to check for any previous criminal convictions.

Can the Health Care Assistant provide direct patient care?

Yes, the Health Care Assistant will undertake care activities to meet individual health and wellbeing needs, under the supervision of qualified staff.

What should I do if I have questions about my application?

You can refer to the contact information or links provided on the employer's website for any inquiries regarding the application process.

Royal National Orthopaedic Hospital (RNOH) NHS Trust

The RNOH is the largest orthopaedic hospital in the UK, and is regarded as a leader in this field worldwide

Science & Healthcare

Industry

1001-5000

Employees

1905

Founded Year

Mission & Purpose

The Royal National Orthopaedic Hospital (RNOH) provides specialized orthopedic and musculoskeletal care. Their mission is to deliver exceptional patient care through world-class clinical services, research, and education. They are dedicated to advancing orthopedic treatments and improving patients' quality of life by offering innovative, evidence-based medical solutions and support.