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
This post is subject to the Terms and Conditions of employment of the Hospice as specified in the
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 Guidelines at all times.
Health and Safety Requirements of the Hospice
All employees of the Hospice have a statutory duty of care for their own personal safety and that
of others who may be affected by their acts or omissions. Employees are required to co-operate
with management to enable the Hospice to meet its own legal duties and to report any hazardous
situations or defective equipment.
Data Protection and Confidentiality
The post holder must treat all information, whether corporate, staff or patient information, in a
discreet, secure and confidential manner in accordance with the provisions of the current data
protection legislation and organisational policy. Any breach of such confidentiality is considered a
serious disciplinary offence, which is liable to dismissal and/or prosecution under statutory
legislation and the hospice's disciplinary policy. This duty of confidence continues after the post
holder leaves the organisation.
Records Management
As an employee of the hospice, the post holder is legally responsible for all records that they
gather, create or use as part of their work within the organisation (including patient health, staff
health or injury, financial, personal and administrative), whether paper based or on computer.
The post holder should consult the IG Lead if they have any doubt as to the correct management
of records with which they work.
This job description is an outline of the role and function. It is not intended to describe all
specific tasks.