Overview
The Nursing Assistant works under the direction of a registered nurse or senior care practitioner and supports the safe delivery of care to residents with dementia, age-related frailty, learning disabilities, and complex health needs.
Main duties and responsibilities
1. Direct Care and Support
o Assist residents with personal care, including washing, dressing, toileting, continence care, grooming, and mobility.
o Support residents with nutrition and hydration, including assisting with eating, drinking, and monitoring dietary needs or swallowing risks.
o Provide comfort, reassurance, and emotional support, maintaining dignity, privacy, and respect at all times.
o Monitor residents who are confused, distressed, or at risk, reporting concerns promptly.
o Assist in end-of-life care, ensuring compassionate support and dignity, including last offices where required.
o Promote independence and wellbeing through engagement in social, recreational, and therapeutic activities.
2. Clinical Support (Under Nursing Supervision)
o Take and record basic clinical observations such as temperature, pulse, respiration, blood pressure, and weight where trained to do so.
o Support infection prevention and control procedures.
o Assist registered nurses with resident assessments, care delivery, and monitoring of health conditions.
o Promptly report deterioration, pain, behavioural change, or safeguarding concerns to the nurse in charge or district nurse where appropriate.
o Prepare residents for clinical reviews, GP visits, or external healthcare interventions.
o Nursing Assistants do not undertake regulated nursing tasks independently and always work within competence and supervision.
3. Record-Keeping and Communication
o Maintain accurate, contemporaneous care records in line with CQC, safeguarding, and organisational policy.
o Communicate effectively with:
+ registered nurses
+ district nurses and visiting professionals
+ senior staff
+ residents and families
o Escalate concerns regarding health, safety, safeguarding, or wellbeing without delay.
4. Environment, Safety, and Safeguarding
o Maintain clean, safe, and homely living environments.
o Follow manual handling, infection control, fire safety, and health & safety procedures.
o Protect residents from abuse, neglect, or harm, acting in accordance with safeguarding legislation and Duty of Candour.
o Ensure confidentiality and data protection at all times.
5. Professional Standards and Team Working
o Work collaboratively with registered nurses, care staff, and multidisciplinary professionals.
o Attend mandatory training, supervision, and competency assessments.
o Maintain professional conduct, reliability, and accountability.
o Support the organisation’s CQC Well-Led principles, including:
+ strong leadership
+ person-centred culture
+ openness and teamwork
+ continuous improvement in care quality
Working conditions
• Shift work including days, nights, weekends, and bank holidays.
• Physically demanding role requiring mobility support, standing, and manual handling tasks.
• Work within regulated care environments supporting vulnerable adults.
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