Overview
Ashford & St. Peter's Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust is seeking a Specialist Healthcare Support Worker (Fixed Term 12 months) to work as a Senior Health Care Assistant in Specialist Gynaecology Outpatients. The closing date is 22 March 2026.
Work as a Senior Health Care Assistant in Specialist Gynaecology Outpatients. Must have a positive attitude to Women's Health. Support care of and chaperone patients attending general and specialist outpatient diagnostic and treatment procedures. Assist with set-up of specialist clinics of invasive Gynaecological/Urogynaecological outpatient procedures such as Colposcopy, Outpatient Hysteroscopy, TWR clinics; trans-vaginal ultrasound, vulval dermatological treatments, Urodynamic investigations and flexible cystoscopy; and surgical treatments. Carry out assigned tasks involving direct patient care in support of and supervised by a registered nurse. Flexible shift work, predominantly Mondays to Fridays to cover clinics, some late afternoons, and occasional Saturdays to support the service.
Main duties of the job
The main duties of this job role are:
* Specialist Clinical Duties
* Communication
* Infection Control Management
* Equipment Handling and Management
About us
Ashford and St. Peters Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust serves a population of more than 410,000 people living in North-West Surrey, parts of Hounslow and beyond. Over 3,700 staff provide a wide range of services across two hospital sites, Ashford, Surrey and St Peter's, Chertsey, Surrey. We also run many specialist clinics in the community and local community hospitals and other healthcare facilities. Our vision is to be one of the best healthcare Trusts in the country. We are committed to continuous professional development and flexibility to shape our workforce around patient care. We are expanding our theatres at Ashford Hospital toward a dedicated elective centre and aim to create a state-of-the-art centre for excellence for planned surgical procedures.
We offer NHS benefits and, in addition, the following:
* Excellent pension scheme and annual leave entitlement
* On-site Nurseries
* On-site staff cafes
* On-site parking
* Salary Sacrifice schemes including wage stream, lease cars, Cycle to Work schemes and home electronics
Adverts may close early, so applicants are encouraged to submit an application as soon as possible.
For more information about a career at ASPH please visit: www.asph-careers.org
Job responsibilities
Overview of Responsibilities :
Provide a welcoming environment in the department. Demonstrate you put patients first, make everyone feel special, offer to help, and show kindness and respect always. Maintain the highest possible standards of compassionate and professional patient care with particular attention to privacy and dignity. Always introduce yourself with your name and designation to patients in the clinic rooms, at the reception and the waiting area. Ensure waiting areas are clean, safe and conducive at all times. Identify patients and check in to department, recording on Millennium Electronic Patient Records (EPR). Check patient is well and record temperature if required. Follow current guidelines on admittance to department/clinics. Manage allocated clinic under non-direct supervision of the registered nurse. Ensure relevant patient notes, clinical forms, investigation results and other tests/procedures are available on patient arrival. Keep patients informed of waiting times and inform the nurse in charge if any problems arise.
Carry out routine tests / screening prior to consultations (urine test, pregnancy test, weight/BMI, etc.). Be competent in the use of blood pressure and pulse machines and record findings. Maintain accurate records and ensure all relevant documentation is completed (consent, correct labeling of laboratory samples). Assist in effective management of patients during examinations; invasive procedures and treatments in the Gynaecology Outpatient setting with regard to personal needs. Chaperone patients undergoing clinical procedures and treatments. Assist patients with personal care and hygiene as needed. Use moving and handling aids to reduce risk of injury. Escort patients to other departments. Undertake assigned tasks involving direct care as directed by the nurse in charge. Recognise and promote patients rights, cultural beliefs, values and attitudes. Be aware of the Trust's Standards of Practice and Care. Maintain mandatory updates on Information Governance, manual handling, fire and cardiac arrest procedures and other required mandatory training.
Specialist Clinical Duties
Achieve and maintain competency in specialist duties. Set up specialist gynaecology/urogynaecology outpatient diagnostic and treatment clinics with attention to infection control and patient & equipment safety. Assist and support operator/clinician of specialist outpatient diagnostic and treatment clinics. Include routine diagnostic flexible cystoscopy and procedures such as intra-detrusor Botulinum Toxin A injections and urethral bulking under local anaesthetic; Urodynamic procedures; Colposcopy; TWR (two week rule) clinics & Transvaginal Scan; Specialist Nurse Clinics (e.g. vaginal pessary, TWOC/catheter care, vulval dermatology, smear, fertility, pelvic pain). Understand potential complications and risks of procedures and how to report patient and equipment complications and incidences to the registered nurse/clinician. Be able to identify patients needs following such procedures. Undertake Venepuncture duties following training and competency. Provide reassurance to patients and advocate for the patient. Ensure patient privacy and dignity is maintained at all times.
Communication
Maintain good communication with patients prior to and throughout procedures. Verbal advice should be given by the registered nurse/specialist nurse; refer all advice and questions to them. Assist trained nurses in clinics that may run simultaneously. Answer the telephone professionally and refer calls to the nurse in charge. Communicate with patients and relatives in a courteous, sensitive manner. Report any complaints, incidents, concerns or near misses to the nurse in charge and complete Datix online. Report relevant changes observed in a patient's condition to the nurse in charge. Be discreet and maintain patient confidentiality. Be aware of hospital procedures on fire, cardiac arrest and manual handling. Ensure confidentiality at all times.
Other Duties
Maintain tidiness and cleanliness of all patient areas including clinics/treatment rooms, store room, sluice and waiting area. Check equipment daily and report faults. Ensure clinic rooms are well stocked. Take responsibility on a rotational basis for equipment maintenance and annual service; change smoke extractor filters every 6 months. Manage stock and supplies using the IT system/Oracle. Handle pathology stock, swabs, cytology/histology and urine pots. Perform hand hygiene audits. Carry out additional responsibilities such as photocopying and stocking clinics, daily stock checks, and proper storage of instruments. Ensure the sluice is clean and safe and that used instruments are stored correctly. Check expiry dates on consumables and sterilised packs. Adhere to infection control policies, participate in clinical audits, and undertake required waste collection and pathology specimen movements. Adhere to Trust Code of Conduct and follow safe working practices. Be aware of safeguarding vulnerable adults and Health & Safety policies.
Undertake ordering of delegated supplies as directed by the nurse in charge using the IT system. Complete mandatory training and participate in NVQ or equivalent programmes as required. Wear the correct uniform and display name and ID badge at all times.
Person Specification
EXPERIENCE & KNOWLEDGE
* Experience: Working in an outpatient diagnostic clinic setting
* Knowledge: of Trust vision and values and understanding of gynaecology/urogynaecology procedures
EXPERIENCE AND KNOWLEDGE
* Competency in support & assistance of all Outpatient Gynaecology/Urogynaecology diagnostic procedures and treatments; higher competency in support and assistance of OP diagnostic flexible cystoscopy & surgical treatments
* Achieve competency to undertake venepuncture duties
* Basic IT skills
QUALIFICATION AND TRAINING
* Level 2 or equivalent English and Maths
* Recognised level 3 qualification
* Care Certificate achieved through NHS
* Level 3 Health and Social Care qualification
Disclosure and Barring Service Check
This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.
Employer name
Ashford & St. Peter's Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
Address
St Peter’s Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
£27,106 to £28,850 a year per annum inc. HCAS
Contract
Fixed term
Duration
12 months
Working pattern
Full-time
Reference number
323-ACS2991-MH
Job locations
St Peter’s Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
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