Senior Healthcare Assistant inGreat Yarmouth inGreat Yarmouth PUBLISHED MON 23 DEC 2024

Senior Healthcare Assistant - Band 3

Rotational across The Oulton Suite at JPUH and Northgate Community Diagnostic Centre (CDC)

An exciting opportunity has arisen for a Senior Healthcare Assistant to rotate between the newly built Community Diagnostic Centres, The Oulton Suite at the James Paget Hospital and Northgate Community Diagnostic Centre in Great Yarmouth.

The role combines a mixture of both clinical (predominantly) and administrative duties and the post-holder will be an active contributor to the functioning of this dynamic and friendly team.

Applicants will need GCSE grade 4 or above in Mathematics and English (or functional skills or equivalent) and NVQ level 3 or equivalent.

We are looking for a motivated person who has excellent communication skills with the ability to work both as part of a team and independently in supporting patients undergoing cardiac, sleep and lung diagnostics in the Community Diagnostic Centres. Although not essential, having experience in undertaking ECGs would be advantageous.

Successful candidates will be responsible for ensuring that clinics flow smoothly, undertaking patient observations and prepping clinical areas as well as supporting the cardiac and respiratory physiologists with basic admin duties. It is expected that additional services and clinical pathways will be developed at a later date.

About us

Working under the direction of a Registered Health Care Professional, SHCAs participate in the clinical care provided to patients, prioritising workload appropriately and developing competencies that safeguard practice and effectiveness in role. Specific duties and responsibilities include;

• Work as part of a designated clinical and care team delivering care that focuses on the direct needs of the individual
• Assist patients with personal hygiene, toileting and use of continence aids
• Support Moving and Handling, use of mobility aids, correct patient positioning, assess pressure areas and skin integrity

• Developing positive relationships with parents, families and carers
• Be aware of the patients needs emotional, social, physical, and cultural. Respect privacy, dignity and beliefs.
• Acts in a way that supports equality and diversity values.
• Work as part of the team in a co-operative, professional and constructive manner.
• Maintain confidentiality at all times
• Report any information regarding the wellbeing of the patients to the Registered Health Care Professional in a timely manner.
• Manage and organise time and activities to support and meet the needs of individuals
• To empower patients and their families to make their own decisions about health and choices.

• To undertake a range of clinical competencies, for example safe venepuncture and Cannulation as requested by the Registered Health Care Professional and have competencies checked annually by a Registered Healthcare Professional.
• At the request of the Registered Health Care Professional, perform and record physiological measurements within the remit of the SHCA role and report accurately to the Registered Health Care Professional, the assessment undertaken, on patients.
• Obtaining samples at the request of a Registered Health Care Professional, including wound swabs, eye swabs, urine specimens, MRSA swabs, stool samples and sputum specimens.
• To assist in blood collection.
• Assist the Registered Health Care Professional in maintaining a clean environment
• Following the completion of appropriate training and assessment and under the direction of a registered health care professional undertake clinical activities such as ECG recording, urinalysis, changing of simple wound dressings and capillary blood glucose monitoring.
• Providing female catheter care, removal of catheters, stoma care, measuring and monitoring patient outputs
• Provide and receive sensitive information concerning a patients medical condition.
• Work with the registered heath care professional and engage with other agencies and community teams to ensure a safe, individualised approach to the admission and discharge of patients.
• Act in accordance with all organisational policies and procedures and within expected values and behaviours.
• Actively participate in and attend ward/unit meetings.
• Demonstrate good understanding of principles of consent and ensure valid consent is obtained prior to undertaking nursing and care procedures
• Demonstrate good understanding of the Mental Capacity Act / Deprivation of Liberties and applies principles to everyday practice seeking advice / guidance from the registered healthcare professional as required
• Promote health and safety maintaining best practice in health, safety and security
• Share ideas with colleagues to improve care and suggest areas for innovation
• Participate in audit activities being undertaken in area of practice
• Contribute to the improvement of service by reflecting on own practice and supporting that of others
• Adhere to legislation, policies, procedures and guidelines both local and national Regularly attend workplace and staff engagement meetings and contribute positively to discussions about the improvement of care
• Post holders are required to work independently with regard to routine, delegated tasks, following established good practice and refer non-routine tasks appropriately
• Work is supervised and evaluated on a routine basis. To follow treatment plans as prescribed by Registered Health Care Professionals and identify select activities that meet treatment goals.