Senior Healthcare Assistant - Spinal Injuries inSouthport inSouthport PUBLISHED
WED 6 NOV 2024
The position involves providing direct daily care, supporting patients in achieving personal care goals, and assisting with clinical tasks under the supervision of registered healthcare professionals. The role is integral to the multi-professional team and includes tasks like monitoring patient needs, organizing and supervising junior staff, and participating in training and development activities. Flexibility is required due to a 12-hour rotational shift pattern that may include night and weekend work, and a commitment to maintaining a safe and effective working environment is essential.
An opportunity has arisen for dynamic, skilled individuals to join our friendly, caring team at the North West Regional Spinal Injuries Centre at Southport District General Hospital.
We are looking for caring and committed individuals who would like to expand their knowledge and skills within this challenging and rewarding environment. The ability to deal supportively with people of all ages and backgrounds, along with their families, in a period of unprecedented change is essential.
Communication skills and the ability to work as part of a multi-professional team are critical to the success of the role.
Previous experience of working within an acute hospital setting would be advantageous as this role involves expanded skills in caring for patients with spinal cord injury. You should have completed NVQ Level 3 in Healthcare / Care Certificate or equivalent or be undertaking the course with completion expected within 6 months of taking up post.
There is currently a 12hour rotational shift pattern with the opportunity for shorter shifts to ensure availability of staff throughout the 24hour period. Staff are expected to be flexible as internal rotation between day and night duty is in operation and weekend working is to be expected.
The Health Care Assistant role at the North West Regional Spinal Injuries Centre is a key part of the multi-professional team & vital in supporting the rehabilitation process for patients with spinal cord injury.
The role involves providing direct care on a daily basis to ensure patients are able to achieve their goals for personal hygiene, eating & drinking, skin care & mobilising in a wheelchair, with expanded skills undertaken by the Band 3 Health Care Assistant.
The Centre comprises of 43 Inpatient beds, including up to 9 Acute & Respiratory Care beds. In addition we have developed an Outreach Service that currently offers 8 beds in a community setting.
We provide acute care and rehabilitation services for individuals who have experienced a spinal cord lesion due to trauma or other mechanism.
There is an extensive rehabilitation service provided by a comprehensive Multi-Professional team with dedicated rehabilitation & therapy facilities within the department, including a fully equipped Gym, Hydrotherapy pool, Gait Orthosis equipment and Occupational Therapy assessment / treatment area.
About us
KEY DUTIES
- Work as part of a team and duties will be delegated by the registered healthcare professional.
- Act within the scope of your training and competence, knowing who to ask for help and support if you are not sure.
- Work within agreed ways of working, following relevant Trust standards, policies, and protocols.
- Communicate compassionately and effectively with individuals and their families, carers and health care practitioners using a range of techniques, maintaining confidentiality, and using tact, empathy, persuasion and reassurance.
- Observe, assess, and respond to patients needs appropriately, escalating concerns to Nursing staff as required including instigating emergency procedures as per policy.
- Organises self and supervises other junior staff or learners in general work tasks or when delivering patient care with supervision from nursing staff.
- Prioritises a range of delegated clinical care duties.
- Acting on own initiative, undertake personal care duties and support activities of daily living, e.g. mouth care, personal hygiene, and toileting needs, demonstrating person centred care.
- Assist the registered healthcare practitioners with clinical tasks, follow care plans, notice and report changes, assist with risk assessments, obtain samples and some specimens.
- Safely deliver care duties including manoeuvring of patient equipment such as hoists and wheelchairs.
- Gather evidence to assist registered healthcare practitioner in obtaining a patient/client history.
- Undertake delegated procedures as required within the limits of required training and measured competence e.g. venepuncture / ECG recording / blood glucose monitoring, clinical observations, taking specimens, escalating any abnormalities to the registered nurse.
- Support of patients feeding, diet and nutritional needs and accurately record patients nutritional intake and fluid intake and output, noticing and reporting changes to the nursing staff.
- Ensure patient property is managed as per Trust policy.
- Monitor levels of supplies and order supplies for the department as appropriate
- Demonstrates own duties to new starters, contributing to the learning environment. Where requested, supports/supervises work of students and other junior staff.
- Occasionally participates in audits, surveys, development activities.
- To work in line with Trust policies and procedures
- Contributes to maintaining a safe, healthy working environment.
- Follow the principles for implementing a duty of care, always acting in the best interest of individuals to ensure they do not come to harm.
- Work in partnership with the individual, their carers/ families, and the wider healthcare team.
- Maintain and further develop your own skills and knowledge through development and learning activities; maintain evidence of your personal development and actively prepare for and participate in appraisal.
- Participate in team handovers.
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