Healthcare Assistant - Skin Team Mersey Care NHS Foundation Trust inLiverpool inLiverpool PUBLISHED FRI 20 DEC 2024

GOOD SALARY
BLOOD GLUCOSE BLOOD PRESSURE CASELOAD COMPRESSION BANDAGING HIV HOLISTIC MENTAL HEALTH NHS PSORIASIS ULTRASOUND URINALYSIS

Tripple Tree Ltd rdS08i7l

Opportunity to work within a multidisciplinary team, enhancing collaboration and knowledge sharing.

Flexibility in working hours with consideration for flexible working requests, promoting a healthy work-life balance.

Chance to develop skills in a variety of clinical procedures, contributing to professional growth and career development.

Support for personal and professional development, including educational opportunities like NVQ level three.

Engagement in meaningful work that directly impacts patient care and improves quality of life for individuals with skin conditions.

Access to a large and well-respected trust with diverse services, offering stability and opportunities for career advancement.

The role of Healthcare Assistant in the Skin Team at Mersey Care NHS Foundation Trust involves providing high-quality holistic specialist nursing care to patients across various community settings in Liverpool. The successful candidate will work under the supervision of trained staff, assisting with clinical procedures such as wound care, health assessments, and patient education on skin conditions. Responsibilities also include maintaining clinical environments, managing stock, and ensuring effective communication with patients and healthcare professionals. The position requires the ability to work autonomously in clinics, participate in multidisciplinary teams, and contribute to the quality and safety of care delivery by adhering to clinical guidelines and protocols.

Mersey Care is committed to improving health services for over 1.4 million people in the North West, offering both physical and mental health care. The Healthcare Assistant will engage in a supportive role, educating patients and families on self-care and health promotion, while also managing administrative tasks related to patient care. This role offers flexible working opportunities and requires the completion of relevant training and education in healthcare practices.

An exciting opportunity has arisen within theSkin care Service; we are seeking to appoint a highly enthusiastic and motivated individual to join the service as a Health Care Assistant. Successful applicant would work under the direction of theSkinTeam leader/Clinical leadssupporting the provision of high quality holisticspecialistnursing care to patients. The Health Care Assistant will work without direct supervision on occasions providing care to patients inclinics across Liverpooland other community settings, as delegated by theSkinTeam leader following appropriate training and supervision to ensure clinical competence and safe effective care.

Operational hours of the service areMonday to Friday 08:30-17:00

The postholder will work as part of the multidisciplinary team and will assist and support the clinical team(s). This may include working within the patients home environment and other clinical settings within community.

Ensure the delivery of the quality strategy within the designated area incorporating establishment of systems and processes.

Mersey Care is one of the largest trusts providing physical health and mental health services in the North West, serving more than 1.4 million people across our region and are also commissioned for services that cover the North West, North Wales and the Midlands.

We offer specialist inpatient and community services that support physical and mental health and specialist inpatient mental health, learning disability, addiction and brain injury services. Mersey Care is one of only three trusts in the UK that offer high secure mental health facilities.

At the heart of all we do is our commitment to perfect care care that is safe, effective, positively experienced, timely, equitable and efficient. We support our staff to do the best job they can and work alongside service users, their families, and carers to design and develop future services together. Were currently delivering a programme of organisational and service transformation to significantly improve the quality of the services we provide and safely reduce cost as we do so.

Flexible working requests will be considered for all roles.

Carry out a range of clinical procedures including leg ulcer, wound and pressure ulcer care in arrange of setting such as clinics, nursing homes and patient own homes with supervision from trained member of staff.
Undertake screening processes such as, blood pressure, height, weight, urinalysis and blood glucose measurements and collection specimens for laboratory investigations.
Prepare `and clear clinical settings.
Assist with assessments, reassessments and Doppler ultrasound.
Maintain, order and check expiry date of stock for variety of clinics.
Undertake a range of personal care activities with patient such as removing soiled bandages and dressings, cleaning wounds, applying treatments and creams under supervision of trained staff. This will include maintaining personal dignity and privacy when undertaking these activities.
Work within existing clinical guidelines, protocol and infection control procedures.
Offer advice to patients and carers on range of health issues such as avoidance of pressure damage, prevention of reoccurrence of leg ulceration, excise importance of emollients treatments in dermatology conditions.
Communicate factual and sensitive information to patients and carers form diverse backgrounds and/or with variety of sensory deficits, ensuring their strategies to overcome barriers to communication and understandings.
Offer a level of psychological support to patients and carers in arrange situations and conditions such as psoriasis, eczema, leg and pressure ulcers.
Ensure contemporaneous record keeping both manual and computer based that supports care and delivery by range of professionals and provide an audit trail.
Understand process of cardio-pulmonary resuscitation, associated emergency. Procedure and appropriate contacts in changing and complex situations. All procedures will be undertaken after theoretical underpinning and regular updating is demonstrated.
Be accountable for own clinical practice.
Show analytic skills through interpretation of test results using policies/ SOP and flow charts.
Working unsupervised in well leg clinics being aware of long-term conditions supporting patients to prevent leg ulcer reoccurrences.
Working within well leg SOP and trust policies.
Skills and competencies complete in leg ulcer management, waterlow risk assessments.
Be an advocate for patients whilst conducting well leg clinic and also when supporting the specialist nurses
Educating patients in well leg clinics to self-care in managing their hosiery and skin conditions.
Identify the need for further referral, e.g., refer to treatment rooms or podiatry and district nursing teams following agreed processes.
Develop patient/service user specific goals educating students, new staff, patients and carers on treatment options.
Enable individuals to develop necessary skills in health promotion, the ability to discuss and explain information leaflets provided. Identifying the risks and educating the patient.
Collaborative working, discussing patient issues within safety huddle, to ensure that appropriate decisions have been made.
Recognise the different health needs for individual patients assessment. Across localities.
Undertake waterlow risk assessment for pressure ulcer prevention following trust guidelines and well leg SOP.
Liaising with GPs, and other health professionals. Writing to GPs to request prescription of recommended products.
Appling compression bandaging in complex clinic and homeless clinic under supervision from trained nurse.
Working on audits required by the organisation. Data inputting of patient information, using spread sheets for archiving within the trust guidelines. Leg ulcer Audit
Undertaken relevant mandatory training is complete and up to date.

Administration

Arrange clinic appointments for patients.
Assisting with entry of information on database.
Photocopying, of information as requested.
Assisting nurses in organising their caseload through discharge of patients.

Education

Undertaking NVQ level three.
Offer support to nur

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More about the NHS

The National Health Service (NHS) is a cornerstone of healthcare in the United Kingdom, established in 1948 with the simple yet profound principle of providing healthcare to all citizens, free at the point of use. This revolutionary system aimed to ensure that access to medical services would not depend on an individual’s financial situation, a concept that has since become fundamental to British societal values. Learn more...

More about MENTAL HEALTH

Mental health has emerged as a critical issue in the United Kingdom, particularly in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic. The crisis highlighted the fragility of mental well-being across different demographics, from children and adolescents to adults and the elderly. It has sparked a wider conversation about the importance of mental health care, accessibility, and the stigmas often associated with mental illnesses. Learn more...

Useful skills for a Healthcare Assistant - Skin Team Mersey Care NHS Foundation Trust: Click to view

To work as a Healthcare Assistant (HCA) in the UK, you need a combination of practical skills, personal qualities, and a basic understanding of healthcare principles. While specific requirements might vary depending on the employer or the care setting, here are the key skills and attributes typically required:

Essential Skills:

1. Communication Skills:

- Ability to communicate effectively with patients, families, and healthcare professionals.

- Good listening skills to understand patients' needs and concerns.

2. Empathy and Compassion:

- Understanding and sensitivity to the feelings of patients.

- Ability to provide emotional support and reassurance.

3. Basic Clinical Skills:

- Understanding of basic health and hygiene standards.

- Ability to assist with daily living activities (bathing, dressing, feeding, etc.).

- Monitoring vital signs (blood pressure, temperature, pulse) can also be necessary.

4. Teamwork:

- Ability to work collaboratively with other healthcare professionals.

- Being a supportive team player.

5. Time Management:

- Ability to prioritize tasks efficiently in a fast-paced environment.

- Managing time effectively to ensure all patients receive appropriate care.

6. Attention to Detail:

- Being meticulous in following care plans and documenting changes in patients’ conditions.

- Paying close attention to patient safety.

7. Problem Solving Skills:

- Ability to respond to a variety of situations and challenges quickly and effectively.

- Competence in recognizing changes in a patient's condition and taking appropriate action.

8. Physical Stamina:

- Capability to perform physically demanding tasks, such as lifting and moving patients.

- Maintaining energy and stamina for long shifts.

Personal Qualities:

- Patience: Working in healthcare can be challenging; patience is crucial when dealing with patients who may be distressed or unwell.

- Reliability: Being dependable and trustworthy is essential for providing good patient care.

- Adaptability: Flexibility to handle varying work environments and situations.

- Respectfulness: Maintaining dignity for patients and treating them respectfully.

Training and Qualifications:

While formal qualifications may not always be required, having a relevant qualification, such as a Level 2 or Level 3 Diploma in Health and Social Care, can be beneficial. Some employers provide on-the-job training, and courses in first aid, safeguarding, or infection control may also be useful.

Experience:

Any previous experience in healthcare, customer service, or caring environments can greatly enhance your application. Volunteering in hospitals, care homes, or community services can provide valuable experience and skills.