Health Care Assistant

The Healthcare Assistant works as part of the ward/department team under the supervision of registered nurses and midwives and:

- Participates in the delivery of patient care
- Contributes towards ward/department organisation
- Supports registered nurses in the provision of a safe and caring environment

Key working relationships with all members of the multi-professional team, including nursing and medical staff, allied health professionals and support workers.
As part of the interview process you will be asked to undertake Maths and English Functional skills diagnostic assessments on the day. You should receive a log in for the system prior, please do not log on and undertake any of the tests until you are with us onsite in the testing room. In order to move forward to an interview with our ward managers, you will be required to score a minimum of Level 1 on the diagnostic tests. If you’d like to practice, you can find some useful resources on BBC Bitesize
**The main duties of the job are as follows**:
Main

**Responsibilities**:
Communication
- Communicate clearly, effectively and appropriately with the multidisciplinary team, patients and their family/visitors/carers including when patient/client has physical impairment, mental health condition or learning disabilities
- Respond appropriately to queries, take phone messages, and pass on written and verbal information to patients
- Provide basic information to patients, family/visitors/carers and colleagues
- 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

Education and professional development
- Understand own level of responsibility and accountability in relation to trained staff
- Identify own learning needs and produce a personal development plan in conjunction with the ward sister/charge nurse
- 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

Risk and governance management
- 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 contain it
- Understand the principles and practice of Infection Control as per trust policy
- Work within own personal/professional limitations and seek help of others to maintain safe practice.
- Identify potential risks for all staff, patients and visitors and assist with relevant incident reporting procedures
- Clean patient equipment as required
- Handle and dispose of all body fluids in accordance with trust policy

Service development
- Undertake administrative and clerical tasks associated with patient care to facilitate the smooth running of the ward/department
- 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 ward sister/charge nurse
- Ensure a welcoming, caring and safe environment is provided for the patient and their family/visitors/carers
- Aware of and maintains required 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 Trust’s Equal Opportunity policy
- Recognise the importance of people’s rights and act in accordance with legislation, policies and procedures
- Act in ways that acknowledge and recognise peoples’ expressed beliefs, preferences and choices; respecting diversity and valuing people as individuals
- Take account of own behaviour and its effect on others

Professional and clinical responsibilities
- Maintain and improve the patient’s mobility using appropriate equipment and handling techniques
- Assist the patient to be as comfortable as possible, i.e., help with moving and positioning the patient using appropriate equipment
- Assist with checking pain levels and requesting pain relieving medication on patient’s behalf
- Involve the patient in shared decision-making and obtain their consent before undertaking nursing procedures
- Prepare appropriately for the activity to be undertaken
- Support and encourage the patient to meet their own health and wellbeing needs

Undertake care activities to meet individuals’ health and w