Senior Health Care Support Worker

Choose Well - Choose WWL

Job overview

Please note that an NVQ Level 2 in Health and Social Care is a mandatory requirement for the Band 3 role. If we are unable to appoint to the Band 3 position it could potentially be offered as a B and 2 - 3 development post for the right candidate. 

We will be looking for enthusiasm, drive and passion where the delivery of outstanding levels of care can be nurtured. You will have excellent communication skills and the flexibility and adaptability to meet the needs of this busy area. You will be motivated and committed to delivering high quality care to your patients in a busy and challenging unit.

*Applicants who have already received feedback that they are unsuitable for the position need not apply - unless they have taken steps to strengthen their application to demonstrate and evidence how you meet the essential criteria since that decision. *

Main duties of the job

You will be responsible for providing a range of personal care for patients and a range of clinical duties under the guidance of a registered healthcare professional.

Senior Health Care Support Workers work independently performing a number of clinical duties/tasks following training and meeting competency within role as per policy and procedure. 

Senior Health Care Support Workers will be responsible for providing a range of personal care for patients and a range of clinical duties under the guidance of a registered healthcare professional.

Working for our organisation

Choose Well – Choose WWL

Wrightington, Wigan and Leigh Teaching Hospitals, NHS Foundation Trust are the proud providers of acute hospital and community services to the people of the Wigan Borough and surrounding areas. At WWL, we value our staff believing that ‘happy staff, makes for happy patients’. We have a recognised track record in staff engagement, and living our values ‘the WWL Way’.

WWL are committed to placing the patient at the heart of everything we do, and in the provision of safe, effective care that acknowledges and ensures dignity. With this in mind we are seeking to recruit people who share our values and beliefs.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

Duties and Responsibilities

The Senior Health Care Support Worker will undertake high quality, caring and compassionate personal care/clinical and associated duties under the direction and supervision of the registered professional both independently and working as part of the multi-disciplinary team.

As a Senior Health Care Support Worker you make a valuable and important contribution to the delivery of high quality healthcare in the Trust. Your role is to support the registered professional in the delivery of safe, effective, compassionate care to patients and their relatives.

Key results from the job holder

Working under the direction of a Registered Health Care Professional, participate in the clinical care provided to patients prioritising workload appropriately and developing competencies that safeguard practice and effectiveness in role.

Have proficient attitudes and behaviours compatible with NHS and Trust Values. Work as part of a designated clinical and care team delivering care that focuses on the direct needs of the individual. Assist patients with personal hygiene, toileting and use of continence aids. Support Moving and Handling, use of mobility aids, correct patient positioning, assess pressure areas and skin integrity. Developing positive relationships with parents, families and carers. Be aware of the patient’s needs – emotional, social, physical, and cultural. Respect privacy, dignity and beliefs. Acts in a way that supports equality and diversity values. Work as part of the team in a co-operative, professional and constructive manner. Be actively involved in health promotion such as: Reducing obesitySmoking cessation Maintain confidentiality at all times. Report any information regarding the well-being of the patients to the Registered Health Care Professional in a timely manner. Support individuals who are distressed. Manage and organise time and activities to support and meet the needs of individuals. To empower patients and their families to make their own decisions about health and choices. Assist with dietary needs of the patient as required. To undertake safe venepuncture and cannulation as requested by the Registered Health Care Professional and have competencies checked annually by a Registered Healthcare Professional. At the request of the Registered Health Care Professional, perform and record physiological measurements within the remit of the SHCA role and report accurately to the Registered Health Care Professional, the assessment undertaken, on patients. Obtaining samples at the request of a Registered Health Care Professional, including wound swabs, eye swabs, urine specimens, MRSA swabs, stool samples and sputum specimens. To assist in blood collection. Assist the Registered Health Care Professional in maintaining a clean environment. Following the completion of appropriate training and assessment and under the direction of a registered health care professional undertake clinical activities such as ECG recording, urinalysis, changing of simple wound dressings and capillary blood glucose monitoring. Female insertion of catheters, catheter care, removal of catheters stoma care, measuring and monitoring patient outputs. Provide and receive sensitive information concerning a patient’s medical condition. Work with the registered heath care professional and engage with other agencies and community teams to ensure a safe, individualised approach to the admission and discharge of patients. Act in accordance with all organisational policies and procedures and within expected values and behaviours. Actively participate in and attend ward/unit meetings. Demonstrate good understanding of principles of consent and ensure valid consent is obtained prior to undertaking nursing and care procedures. Demonstrate good understanding of the Mental Capacity Act / Deprivation of Liberties and applies principles to everyday practice seeking advice / guidance from the registered healthcare professional as required. Promote health and safety maintaining best practice in health, safety and security. Share ideas with colleagues to improve care and suggest areas for innovation. Participate in audit activities being undertaken in area of practice. Contribute to the improvement of service by reflecting on own practice and supporting that of others. Adhere to legislation, policies, procedures and guidelines both local and national Regularly attend workplace and staff engagement meetings and contribute positively to discussions about the improvement of care. Post holders are required to work independently with regard to routine, delegated tasks, following established good practice and refer non-routine tasks appropriately. Work is supervised and evaluated on a routine basis. To follow treatment plans as prescribed by Registered Health Care Professionals and identify select activities that meet treatment goals.

Training

The role that Senior Health Care Support Worker can play includes the life-course (pre-conception to end of life) approaches towards health and well-being and the ways in which they actively contribute to the delivery of holistic care. Holistic care, across life-course, is a whole-person approach which considers, and equally values, physical, psychological and public health needs, learning disabilities, social, economic, spiritual and other factors in the delivery of care.

To undertake procedures as directed by a Registered Health Care Professional after successfully completing an Accredited NVQ 3 (or equivalent) programme or Senior Health Care Support Worker. Apprenticeship. Undertake Mandatory training updates. Maintain own level of competence and ongoing CPD. Undertake role specific training for onward development of the role.

Communications and Key Working Relationships

Maintain accurate and timely records. Ensure smooth running of the team through facilitation of administrative support, including stock levels. Effective verbal communication with all members of the multidisciplinary team. Provide general non-clinical advice, information and guidance to patients, relatives and visitors. Communicate effectively with dignity and respect to all patients, relatives and others giving consideration to potential barriers to understanding. Communicate effectively with colleagues, providing clear verbal, digital or written information and instructions when sharing information, delegating or handing over responsibility for care. Recognise and report any situations, behaviours or errors that could result in poor care outcomes. Report accidents, incidents, near misses or complaints following Trust policies/procedures. Contribute to a culture where all staff feel safe to raise their concerns [and that] speaking up about what these are is a normal part of their routine. To assist in information collection from patients/ relatives as requested by trained staff. To use communication tools (verbal and non verbal) to gain informed consent with patients where there will often be barriers to effective communication e.g. loss of hearing, altered perception, expressive and receptive dysphasia, pain, fear etc. To assess capacity, gain valid consent and have the ability to work within a legal framework with patients who lack consent to treatment. To priorities tasks allocated and adjust as necessary. To ensure that documentation is completed in accordance with Trust and departmental requirements. To be responsible for some degree of housekeeping and stock control on the Unit.

Responsibility for Finance

Participate in ensuring effective use of all financial resources in providing and delivering an effective service. Exercise personal duty of care in the safe use and storage of equipment. Be environmentally aware and prudent in use of resources and energy.

Responsibility for Human Resources

Adhere to Trust policies/ procedures and guidelines. Ensure a neat and professional appearance at all times, adhering to Trust Uniform Policy. Demonstrate own duties to new or less experienced staff. Support development of less experienced staff and students.

Responsibility for Health & Safety

To work according to the WWL NHS Trust Lone worker Policy. To report Faulty equipment to the Team leader/ Ward manager/ Registered Health Care Professional. To report to the Team Leader /Ward manager, Registered Health Care Professional any health and safety concerns. Report to the Team Leader/Ward manager, Registered Health Care Professional any complaints or untoward events as soon as possible. Compliance with the Health & Safety at Work Act 1974 – the post holder is required to 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, and a statutory duty of care for their own personal safety and that of others who may be affected by their acts or omissions. All staff have a duty of care to safeguard and protect vulnerable adults, babies children and young people. Awareness of the Trust Vulnerable Adults and Child Protection Policy/ Guideline.

Physical skills requirement

Use frequent moderate effort when undertaking carrying out the manual handling of individuals and equipment in line with organisational guidelines. Use skills of manual dexterity and manipulation of clinical instruments and equipment. Use a combination of standing, walking bending and stretching throughout the shift.

Person specification

Qualifications

Essential criteria

Effective level of numeracy and literacy skills NVQ Level 2 in Health and Social Care

Experience

Essential criteria

Proven ability to demonstrate compassion/empathy/help others Demonstrable ability to follow instructions Proven ability to be flexible in your approach

Knowledge

Essential criteria

Effective understanding of confidentiality

Skills

Essential criteria

Effective communication skills – written and verbal Proven ability to remain calm under pressure Effective team player Effective customer service skills Ability to deal with people from all backgrounds

Additional

Essential criteria

Speak English to an appropriate standard relevant to their role, i.e. with confidence and accuracy, using correct sentence structures and vocabulary, and without hesitation

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