Bank Health Care Assistant

**Job Description: Health Care Support Worker**

Job Title Health Care Assistant

Line Manager Ward Manager

Executive Manager Director of Clinical and Patient Services

Location In-patient Unit

**Principal Accountabilities**:

- To provide evidence-based care directly to patients and their families, maintaining

consistently high standards in collaboration with registered nursing staff and enhancing
patient well-being and the patient experience at Nightingale House Hospice,
- To work within the policy and procedural guidelines of the hospice at all times

maintaining safety of both patients and staff.
- To assess patient’s condition and needs and report findings of assessment to registered

nursing staff.
- To be responsible for ensuring adequate stocks of consumables are maintained to meet

service requirements and that all equipment within the department is clean and in good
working order.
- To assist in the smooth running of the ward by promoting a clean and healthy

environment

**Key Responsibilities**

**Clinical**
- To provide direct nursing care to patients working independently when appropriate or in

partnership with registered nurses when patient needs demand this.
- To work together with the multi-disciplinary team to maintain a holistic approach to patient

care reporting concerns as necessary to team members.
- To work as a team to help families as needed, reporting any difficulties to the registered

nursing staff.
- To observe and report accurately on patients’ general condition ensuring that all

information is communicated by taking part in discussion and recording relevant
information in patients’ records to comply with legal and professional requirements.
- To maintain a high standard of nursing care.
- To help ensure a safe working environment including knowledge of necessary policies (fire

and health and safety policy) and ensure equipment used is in good working order. Report
accidents to Senior Nurse.
- To demonstrate communication skills at a level appropriate to your role and responsibilities

with patients and families.
- To assist with maintaining the general cleanliness of the unit and any housekeeping that is

required which can include storage of equipment and furnishings ensuring they are in a
good state of repair.
- To undertake clinical observations as required and be competent to identify results which

fall outside normal limits.
- To assist and support volunteers with their role and delegate where appropriate.
- To perform designated nursing tasks as agreed with Ward Manager or nurse in charge and

dependant on competencies and training.
- Maintain ward stock, complete weekly order if designated for that week and putting away

when order arrives.
- Be holder of Food Handling Certificate or be prepared to attend the course either face to

face or on Bluestream training.
- Assisting in the ordering of patient’s meals as directed by nursing staff and assist nursing

staff in the giving out of patient meals, drinks and supplements and prepare allowed foods
and ad hoc as the need arises i.e. collect meals from main kitchen.
- To ensure that the ward kitchen area is kept clean, tidy and stocked and that fridge

temperatures are monitored daily.

**Management & Supervisory**
- To assist and support volunteers with their role.
- To provide mentorship to new staff members
- To generate and maintain a friendly team spirit with all staff at the hospice including

volunteers.
- To plan own workload in collaboration with registered nurses.
- Demonstrate positive and professional behaviours at all times

**Clinical Governance**
- To act as a mentor to CQF trainees to help support and enhance their progress.**
- Ensure practice is in line with health and safety, infection prevention and control measures.**

**Education and Development**
- To attend such courses/lectures/mandatory/non-mandatory in-service training as indicated

by the needs of the service and own personal developments as identified.
- To have a written appraisal by your line manager at least annually, with the opportunity for

review of objectives.
**Research and Development**
- To undertake surveys or audits as necessary to own work to support the process of audit

within the clinical area.

**General Requirements**
Staff Handbook.

**Competence**
You are responsible for limiting your actions to those that you feel competent to undertake.
If you have any doubts about your competence during the course of your duties you should
immediately speak to your line manager/supervisor.

**Risk Management**
It is a standard element of the role and responsibility of all staff of the Hospice that they fulfil a
proactive role towards the management of risk in all of their actions. This entails the risk
assessment of all situations, the taking of appropriate actions and reporting of all incidents, near
misses and hazards. It is a requirement that you adhere to Nightingale House Hospice Policies,
Procedures, Protocols and Guideline