We are looking for an enthusiastic Band 3 Health Care Support Worker (HCSW) to join our Outpatient Nursing Team at Lewisham Hospital.
The job is full-time (37.5 hours per week), Mondays to Fridays, with no weekends or bank holidays.
The HCSW will work within the outpatient clinics to deliver care to patients coming from home or nursing care homes. The successful candidate will work as part of a multi-disciplinary team supporting a wide range of specialities: rheumatology, cardiology, nephrology, haematology, gastroenterology, endocrinology, neurology teams to name a few.
Please note that you must have a Care Certificate issued by an NHS Trust.
Moving and handling: transferring patients on wheelchairs to X-ray, scans, transport, giving care to patients on trolley waiting to be seen by doctors in OPD.
Breath test: analysing and providing information about the digestion of certain sugars or carbohydrates to help diagnose common digestive problems, including SIBO, IBS and lactose intolerance.
FibroScan: FibroScan is a non-invasive test that helps assess the health of your liver. Specifically, it uses ultrasound technology to determine the degree of fibrosis or scarring that may be present in your liver from various liver diseases or conditions.
Undertaking urinalysis
Chaperoning: Chaperone patients during examinations/procedures during intimate examinations.
Support patients and assist clinicians during clinical
procedures such as haemorrhoid banding.
Phlebotomy: Perform venepuncture as instructed (following successful completion of training course).
Our People Are Our Greatest Asset. When We Feel Supported And Happy At Work, This Positivity Reaches Those Very People We Are Here For, The Patients. Engaged Employees Perform At Their Best And Our Equality, Diversity & Inclusion (EDI) Initiatives Contribute To Cultivate a Culture Of Engagement. We Have Four Staff Networks, a Corporate EDI Team And a Suite Of Programmes And Events Which Aim To Insert The 5 Aspirations
Improving representation at senior levels of staff with disabilities, from black, Asian, and ethnic minorities background, identify as LGBTQ+ and women, through improved recruitment and leadership development
Widening access (anchor institution) and employability
Improving the experience of staff with disability
Improving the EDI literacy and confidence of trust staff through training and development
Making equalities mainstream
Patients' assessment observations and recording/reporting findings to the doctor/nurse attending the clinic:
- Temperature
- Pulse
- Blood Pressure manual and electronic
- Respirations
- Oxygen saturation levels
- Check and use trust blood glucose monitoring equipment to measure and record patients blood sugar following appropriate training.
- Weighing patients
- Undertake urinalysis
- Obtain Mid Stream Urine specimens and Catheter Specimens of Urine
- Undertake Pregnancy testing (urine only) and report findings
- Collect specimens via invasive swabs as and when requested by a clinician; i.e., urine, faeces, sputum and wound. Pack and label
same
Contribute to the provision of a safe environment for patients by:
- Ensuring departmental equipment is cleaned and well maintained and report any repairs required in line with Trust policy.
- Adhering to any patient isolation requirements
- Safely disposing of blood and blood products, and sharps
- Cleaning up spillages,
Support effective communication by:
- Answering telephone and personal enquiries in a clear, polite and professional manner, taking messages and referring call or enquiries
as appropriate, ensuring strict confidentiality at all times in line with trust policy.
- Participating in meetings as required.
- Supporting the transfer of patients to other wards and departments with the appropriate documentation.
- Communication with patients about the times of tests appointments.
- Preparation of medical notes for outpatient appointment, in line with trust policy, as and when provided.
- Provide clear verbal updates to members of the multi-disciplinary team relating to patient care.
Support the general day to day administration of the area by:
- Putting away stock items when delivered to the area.
- Reporting and recording any potential hazards and equipment repairs.
- Order leaflets/stationery as required, keeping leaflet racks tidy and with up to date leaflets
- Restocking of medicine cupboards in clinical rooms and ensuring stock levels maintained
- Ensure all clinical trollies and clinical areas are well stocked to agreed stock levels
- Responsible for monitoring fridge temperaturesGeneral cleaning of equipment, work area, order resources, stocking and replenishing, transferring patients to transport lounge, managing notes and maintaining patients confidential information, safeguarding our patients and escalating concerns etc..