Health Care Assistant

Job summary

Come join our dynamic team in the Haematology Day Unit here at Northampton General Hospital. We are committed to delivering high quality patient care and experience through our teams of dedicated, enthusiastic qualified staff. We are a friendly, professional team and continually strive to deliver the best possible care. In return we offer an experienced, supportive environment to stimulate ideas and facilitate development.

The Haematology Day Unit aims to provide a high standard of care for our Haematology patients, caring for a variety of different conditions, therapies and medicines, such as; sickle cell disease, chemotherapy, immunotherapy and iodine therapy, stem cell transplants and radiotherapy.

The Haematology Day Unit team are looking for someone who is motivated to progress and develop their skills. In return we can offer a stimulating work environment with a commitment to multidisciplinary working and continuing professional development. There are extensive opportunities to develop knowledge, skills and your career. Education will be given to support quality care in the department.

Due to the nature of our department, we often care for our patients for a significant length of time and so the ideal applicant must be able to build solid professional relationships with patients and their families. With this in mind you will need to have exceptional communication skills, a supportive nature, empathy and ability to problem solve whilst thinking outside the box.

Main duties of the job

Main duties and Responsibilities include:

Running and coordinating busy clinics

Setting up clinic rooms, ensuring they are clean and fully equipped with all the necessary equipment/paperwork for that clinician.

Taking observations: Blood pressure, temperature, pulse, oxygen saturations, weight, height, and BMI

The HCA needs to be able to perform Urine analysis and

Electrocardiography (ECGS) if requested.

Undertaking training for venepuncture and cannulation

Checking stock levels and order when required.

Act upon any abnormal observations/results immediately

Provide clear and concise written documentation of results and observations as per Trust guidance.

Report any concerns/incidents relating to patient or environment health and safety to a registered nurse/healthcare practitioner.

Recognising the Equality and Diversity of patients, clients, relatives, and multi-disciplinary groups by supporting non-discriminatory practice & acknowledging the patient's personal beliefs and identity.

Maintaining a clean and tidy environment, including bed areas, store cupboards, sluice, treatment room and equipment used for procedures.

Undertaking the cleaning of clinic equipment, according to policy and procedure. Make effective use of the infection control policy.

Provide clear and concise verbal communication to patients, clients, and multidisciplinary teams.

About us

Northampton General Hospital is one of the largest employers in the area and we are on an exciting journey. All of our divisions are committed to doing things better, with more efficiency as we update, modernise, and advance. We have also entered into a Group Model with neighbouring Kettering General Hospital NHS Foundation Trust and become University Hospitals of Northamptonshire.

Our Excellence Values

Compassion

Accountability

Respect

Integrity

Courage

We want to recruit the best people to deliver our services across the University Hospitals of Northamptonshire and help to unleash everyone's full potential. As an organisation, we value how we communicate and promote our vacancies to all communities.

The Hospital Group encourages applications from people who identify from all protected groups, especially those from BAME, Disabled and LGBTQ+ backgrounds as these are underrepresented in our hospitals.

We understand that we need to work with colleagues from diverse backgrounds and make sure the environment they work in is inclusive and collaborative.

We have active Networks that promote and support colleagues from all backgrounds. This ensures everyone feels supported and has a sense of belonging working for Kettering and Northampton General Hospitals.

Job description

Job responsibilities

Supporting Clinical & Patient Excellence

Assist in the provision of nursing care under the supervision of a registered healthcare practitioner in relation to:

Safe manual handling of patients after establishing best method.

Maintain safety of patients, personal clothing and property in accordance with agreed policies related to security and confidentiality.

The collection of specimens, stool, urine, mid-stream urine, catheter specimen of urine, sputum and wound swabs.

Assisting with bone marrow procedures.

Have link roles that are appropriate to the department.

Recognising the Equality and Diversity of patients, clients, relatives and multi- disciplinary groups by supporting ant-discriminatory practice & acknowledging patients personal beliefs and identity.

Maintaining a clean and tidy environment, including clinic areas, clinic rooms, store cupboards, kitchen, treatment room and equipment used for procedures.

Undertaking the cleaning of unit equipment, according to policy and procedure. Make effective use of the infection control policy.

Take and record vital signs as requested, temperature, pulse, respiration and blood pressure, oxygen saturation and Early Working Score (EWS) on observation charts reporting any abnormalities/concerns to the registered healthcare practitioner.

Undertaking the cleaning of clinic areas, suction, oxygen, and prepare for clinics, obtaining any essential equipment.

Report any concerns / incidents relating to patient health, and safety of the environment to a registered nurse/ healthcare practitioner.

Provide clear and concise verbal communication to patients, clients and multi-disciplinary teams.

Provide clear and concise written documentation as per Trust guidance

Communication:

Recognise and maintain confidentiality of information relating to patients and their records.

Ensure clarity in communicating with patients and their relatives as well as other team members and in answering questions within the sphere of ones own knowledge. Report changes in patients condition to the registered nurse on duty and participate in shift hand over to ensure effective continuity of care.

Contribute to the on-going support of patients and others significant to them, enabling patients to maintain their interests, identity and emotional well-being.

Welcome patients, their families and other visitors to the department. Introduce them to the facilities and services provided.

Answer the telephone on a clear, friendly, helpful and professional manner. Take any messages accurately and refer to a registered nurse as necessary.

Demonstrate a caring approach to patients, their families and visitors and to have good verbal and non-verbal communication skills.

and forums.

Person Specification

Key Competencies/Personal Qualities and Attributes

Essential

Willingness to learn Ability to exercise initiative Motivated Flexible Resilient Team worker

Skills

Essential

Excellent communication skills and the ability to liaise with members of the MDT. Ability to foster teamwork

Desirable

Cannulation and venepuncture skills. Effective IT skills.

Education, Training & Qualifications

Essential

Willingness to undertake HCA programme

Desirable

HCA programme NVQ 2 or 3 in Health Care or equivalent qualification

Knowledge & Experience

Essential

Understanding the role of a Health Care Assistant Demonstrable ability to work within a multidisciplinary team

Desirable

Previous experience of working in an Oncology/Haematology ward Previous Health Care experience within the National Health Service or care setting IT awareness

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