Wells Community Hospital Trust
Job Description
Job Details
Job Title: Health Care and Administration Assistant (Adult)
Pay Scale: £8-00 (possibly more for exceptional candidate)
Hours: Flexible - 37.5 hour week.
Location: Wells Community Hospital
Department: Renal, administration, reception and general
Reports to: Nurse manager- Healthcare issues
Finance and Administration Supervisor – Administration issues
Managerially
Accountable to: Nurse Manager – healthcare issues.
Finance and administration supervisor – Administration issues.
Job Purpose
Under the direction of the Nurse Manager and Finance and Administration Supervisor to work with all members of the multi-disciplinary team, to contribute to the provision of the highest standards of patient care and administrative support for the organisation.
Overview of essential responsibilities:
Clinical:
1. To accurately and promptly carry out the instructions of the registered nurse who is professionally accountable for the delivery of care.
2. To carry out duties and clinical skills as specified, trained and assessed as competent to do
3. To report to registered staff any patient who gives cause for concern or any observed changes in the patient’s condition.
4. To respond appropriately to clinical emergencies to ensure the patient receives appropriate care.
5. To participate in the admission process under the supervision of registered staff.
6. Provide and deliver a high standard of individualised personal nursing care in accordance with Essential standards of quality and safety.
7. To report all care that has been given to patients within the team to a registered nurse.
8. To accurately document all care delivered to patients, countersigned by a Registered nurse maintaining confidentiality at all times.
9. To assist in the preparation of patients and equipment for treatment, investigations or procedures as directed by the Registered nurse.
10. To keep the clinical area clean and tidy maintaining a safe environment.
11. To adhere to Trust infection control procedures demonstrating an understanding of cross infection.
12. To support relatives under the guidance of a Registered nurse.
13. To assist with the discharge process for patients as directed by registered staff.
Administration:
1. To take responsibility for the front of house function of a small community hospital, including responsibility for maintaining housekeeping and maintenance standards.
2. To manage staff / volunteer rotas and timetables ensuring that reception is always sufficiently staffed
3. Open up and close premises ensuring all alarms are armed and primed and all entrances and exits are secure.
4. Oversee the efficient running of a reception desk function and diary / booking system.
5. Answer all telephone calls ensuring that the caller is politely and efficiently provided with the relevant information or that call is forwarded to relevant department or person to deal with the caller’s needs and requirements.
6. Provide effective support and leadership to a small team of staff and volunteers.
7. Oversee the housekeeping function ensuring standards are maintained in regard to: Cleanliness, laundry, COSHH, sharps and all forms of waste disposal
8. Oversee the maintenance and pest control recording systems ensuring that all required programs of maintenance and pest control are booked in and undertaken.
9. Ordering of fuel heating oil (in association with and permission of Finance and Administration supervisor)
Communication:
1. To greet and welcome patients, visitors and relatives, providing assistance, support and information where required. Being aware of barriers to effective communication
2. To answer the telephone when necessary in a polite courteous manner and pass on take messages and pass on enquiries to the relevant team members and tenants as required..
3. Communicate effectively within the team, other departments tenants or contacts
4. Contribute to the reporting, handover and documentation of patient care under the direct supervision of a Registered nurse maintaining confidentiality at all times.
5. Report incidents, accidents and complaints to senior staff on duty
6. Use the Hospital information support system and other computer systems as required by the clinical area.
Housekeeping / Management
1. Take all reasonable steps to ensure the safe keeping of patient’s or visitors property in accordance with Trust policy.
2. Promote a professional, welcoming and uncluttered environment; keep all storage areas safe and clean and tidy.
3. To share responsibility in the care and maintenance of all equipment.
4. Ensure all waste and soiled linen is disposed of in line with Trust policy.
5. Participate in audit under the direction of the Nurse manager
6. Cleaning and checking of all furniture and equipment.
Professional / Educational
1. To ensure annual attendance at mandatory training sessions i.e. risk management, infection control, resuscitation, blood glucose monitoring and bi annual attendance at manual handling training.
2. To be flexible in relation to client requirements.
3. To continue personal development in relation to identified objectives.
4. Maintain up to date knowledge of changes in policies and procedures relevant to the post.
5. Participate in training sessions relevant to the clinical area.
Specific Additional Responsibilities
1. To safely set up, strip and clean equipments according to unit’s and manufacturer’s instructions when deemed competent.
2. Help trained staff with observations and collection of any specimens that need to be obtained. To record on charts i.e. fluid balance, temperature etc. To tell trained staff of any problems that arises.
3. To help in patient comfort, to position regularly and keep patients dry and clean.
4. To help in discharge of patients as indicated by trained staff.
5. In general keep all areas clean, tidy and well stocked and a safe environment in which to work.
6. To prepare all consumables needed for treatment according to the information provided in the worksheet(s).
7. To be responsible for maintaining stock levels of any required consumables (dialysis lines, dialysers, acid and bicarbonate bags and other equipment where required) by checking current stocks against the unit’s recommended levels list provided by qualified staff and ordering the appropriate amount from the manufacturers. Also contact the manufacturers if any problems arise.
8. To monitor stock levels of other consumables (needles, syringes, sterile gauze, sterile towels, sharps bins. Plasters etc) obtaining additional supplies as necessary. In consultation with Nurse manager and Finance and Administration Supervisor through the purchase order system.
9. To be responsible for tidying up and putting away any stock or equipment necessary, up to 25 kg in weight.
Core Task List when undertaking Health Care Assistants responsibilities
The following is the approved core task list for Health Care Assistants. Health Care Assistants will work under the supervision of registered nurses. They must always refer to the registered nurse for instructions and should report any apparent changes that they observe in the patient’s condition. This list must be read in conjunction with the specific job description for the individual post, which will encompass specialist tasks where required e.g. renal, neurology, urology, etc.
The core task lists must also be cross-referenced in the event of any query to the competency assessment pack and the appropriate Nursing Policies and Guidelines.
It is anticipated that Health Care Assistants will undertake a range of the core tasks identified but not all.
Patient Physical Comfort
Assist by providing appropriate conditions for patient comfort e.g. fan, blankets, extra pillows - must report to registered nurse signs of physical distress. Ensure on discharge, transfer or escorting patients that they have appropriate warm clothing, footwear; ensure 'property check' on discharge.
Clinical Measurements
· Blood Pressure
May monitor blood pressure following completion of the recognised training assessment programme. Any abnormal readings must be reported to the registered nurse.
.
· Temperature, Pulse and Respiration Observations
All TPR observations can be taken and recorded. Must know normal and abnormal ranges and report any abnormalities to the registered nurse.
· Blood Glucose Monitoring
May take and record blood glucose following relevant training programme. Any abnormal readings must be reported to the Registered nurse.
· Infection Control
Must adhere to infection control procedures.
Documentation
May participate in the admission procedure with regards to recording basic personal details. Routine observations must be recorded in nursing record
May record any nursing care given on care plans and in nursing record, but must be countersigned by registered nurse.
Cannot assess, plan and evaluate care needed.
Telephone Calls
May answer the telephone and convey messages to the registered nurse. Details of patients' progress given to relatives/friends must be dealt with by a Registered nurse unless specific instructions to convey a message is given by registered member of staff.
Medication
Must not check or give medication, Must not give injections.
Support of Relatives
May support relatives under the guidance of a registered nurse.
Property
Assist the patient to maintain safety of their own property.
Care of the Deceased
May assist in the care of the deceased patient e.g. Last offices, recording of property.
Handover between Shifts
May contribute to the handover of care of the patients in their team.
May not take sole responsibility for handover of patients.
Job Specification
Means of Assessment/ Essential/
Desirable / Application form
Test/ Interview /
Qualifications / Training
1. General education to GCSE level / E / AKnowledge and Experience
1. Previous nursing / care assistant role2. Previous administration experience
3. Previous experience of dealing with public
4. IT /computer skills / D
D
E
E / A / I
A
A
A
Skills and Abilities
1. Good command of the English language both written and spoken.2. Good literacy and numeracy skills
3. Good interpersonal and communication skills.
4. Willingness to develop IT and computer skills appropriate to the role
5. Ability to prioritise own workload
6. Ability to work well in a team
7. Ability to recognise own limitations
8. Flexibility. / E
E
E
E
D
E
E
E / A / I
A / I
I
A / I
I
I
I
I
Training and Development
1. To successfully complete within the first year the Trust Health Care Assistant training programme.
2. To have completed NVQ level 2 (or equivalent) in health and social care as a minimum. / E
E / I
I
General Conditions
1. All staff must safeguard the integrity, confidentiality and availability of sensitive information at all times. This includes information relating to patients, individual staff records and contract price and terms.
Employee’s responsibilities in relation to handling patient information are detailed in the Trust’s Code of Conduct on Patient Identifiable Information. In line with official guidance from the Department of Health, the Code specifies six principles, which staff should follow at all times. These are detailed below:
i. Justify the purpose.
ii. Use patient identity only where absolutely necessary.
iii. Use the minimum patient-identifiable information.
iv. Access to patient-identifiable information should be on a strict “need to know” basis.
v. All staff should be aware of their responsibilities.
vi. Every use must be lawful.
2. Employees of the Trust are required to participate in a system of appraisal and performance review to identify training and development needs.
3. Employees of the Trust are required to comply with all relevant policies both Trust-wide and departmental policies - any queries should be addressed to your Line Manager or Head of Department.
4. Employees of the Trust are required to attend mandatory training covering Risk Management, Health and Safety, Infection Control, Fire Safety and Manual Handling
5. Employees of the Trust have a responsibility to actively identify areas of risk in both clinical and non-clinical settings, using the Trust’s risk assessment and incident reporting systems as a framework in which to identify, analyse and control risks.
6. Under the conditions of the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974, staff have legal duties as follows:
i. To co-operate with their employer, to enable the Trust to fulfil its duties under the Act.
ii. Not to endanger themselves or others by their acts and omissions.
iii. Not to intentionally or recklessly interfere with or misuse anything provided in the interests of health and safety
iv. Familiarise themselves with and comply with the requirements of the Trust Health and Safety Management System, the policies and procedures contained within and the Trust’s Incident Reporting Procedure
v. Understand that the Trust actively encourages staff to raise health and safety issues and bring to the immediate attention of your line manager any hazard or control measure, which is failing to protect against any hazard.
7. Bring to the attention of your Line Manager and/or safety representative any other issue relating to health and safety.
8. Co-operate with management on ways to improve health and safety.
9. Participate actively in all programmes being implemented to improve health and safety.
10. It is required that all Trust employees will adhere to, and follow good infection control practices, as detailed in the Trust’s Infection Control Manual and other related policies and guidelines.
11. Employees are expected to be aware of and carry out their duties in accordance with the standards in the Trust Equality and Diversity and Dignity at Work Policies.
12. The Trust operates a “Smoke Free Policy” across all sites.
This job description indicates the main responsibilities of the post. It is not a complete list and may be amended and developed as necessary.
Revised May 2012 / Date of IssuePrint Name of Employee
Signed Employee
Print Name of Line Manager
Signed Line Manager
1
Nursing Practice/Nursing Issues Group - April 06
Job Specification Revised : March 2007 (Final Version)