JOB DESCRIPTION

Health Care Assistant

KaitaiaHospital- Renal Unit

Position Title: / Health Care Assistant
Organisation Unit: / KaitaiaHospital
Location: / KaitaiaHospital, Renal Unit, Northland District Health Board
Responsible to: / Nurse Manager – Renal
Clinical Nurse Manager – Renal Kaitaia
Primary Functions of the Position: / To assist nursing staff and other health professionals to provide administrative and hotel functions within their department

Functional Relationships

The Health Care Assistant will develop and maintain excellent relationships with:

Internal / External
  • Administrative staff.
  • OperationsManagerKaitaiaHospital
  • Clinical Team Leader / Manager
  • Duty Co-ordinator
  • All Patients, relatives and other caregivers.
  • Hospital Medical staff and GPs.
  • other members of the health team within the KaitaiaHospital and Northland Health.
/
  • All other health providers in Northland.
  • Dialysis supplier
  • Dialysis freight supplier
  • Dialysis transport provider

Key Responsibilities and Expected Outcomes

Northland District Health Board has established a set of values by which the organisation will respond, in part, to achieving its goals and objectives through their workforce. The following Values and supporting statements are expected behaviours of each individual employed with NDHB:

Values / Supporting Statement
People First
Tangata I te tuatahi / People are central to all we do
Respect
Whakaute (tuku mana) / We treat others as we would like to be treated
Caring
Manaaki / We nurture those around us, and treat all with dignity and compassion
Communication
Whakawhitiwhiti korero / We communicate safely, openly and with respect to promote clear understanding
Excellence
Taumata teitei (hirangi) / Our attitude of excellence inspires success, competence, confidence and innovation

The position of Health Care Assistant encompasses the following major functions or key result areas:

  • Customer Focus
  • Communication & Teamwork
  • Personal Development
  • Quality Improvement
  • RelationshipBuilding
  • Treaty of Waitangi
  • Health and Safety

The outcome requirements of the above key responsibility areas are outlined below:

Key Responsibility Area / Expected Outcomes
To provide a receptionist function for clients, staff and other personnel in the department /
  • Admit and discharge all patients as per admission process / Trendcare requirements
  • Perform admission and discharge audits on request from CNM.
  • Complete all RUS data entry on a daily basis
  • Assemble, dissemble patient files
  • File all lab, radiology results and correspondence into patients file
  • Photocopying /faxing documents as required.
  • Assist staff with document development
  • Answer phone calls from wards and administration.
  • Locate staff required.
  • Take written messages for unavailable staff. Refer to staff concerned when available
  • Perform regular audits of equipment following completion of a training period including blood sugar meters and fridges,
  • Other clerical duties as specified by the CNM

Patient hygiene, comfort, handling and assistance

/
  • Assist staff with safe patient transfer, lifting, repositioning from wheelchair / chair / bed / hoist
  • Assist staff to weigh patients before and after dialysis
  • Assist staff to take blood pressures before and after treatment
  • Assisting patient movement to and from toilets and to and from the front entrance as requested by RN.
  • Assist nurses with personal hygiene cares as required
  • Identify location of emergency equipment and role in an emergency
  • Provision of tea, coffee and beverages or other food items to the patient as required on direction from RN
  • Ensure patient areas are kept free of potential hazards
  • Maintain patient privacy
  • Transporting patients between departments
  • Transporting of ward / unit based equipment including Oxygen cylinders/PCA/IV pumps to/from wards/unit as required when portering assistance not available
  • Transport of blood tests / forms to the laboratory

Housekeeping of any patient or non-patient item and area /
  • Set up each dialysis station, chair or bed with clean linen each shift.
  • Strip linen from chair and bed following patient use each shift
  • Strip the bloodlines from the dialysis machines following patient use and dispose of them using the correct process.
  • Assist nursing staff with cleaning all dialysis chairs, beds and dialysis machines following patient use each shift as per protocol.
  • Assist nursing staff / patients with lining the dialysis machines following a competency assessment
  • Relocate dialysis machines under direction from a RN
  • Removal of used disposal medical equipment e.g. oxygen tubing, suction jar liners, specimen pots
  • Routine cleaning of allequipment including IV poles, wheelchairs and trolleys and benches
  • Perform routine assessment of dialysis drains to prevent blockages.
  • Unsafe or faulty equipment is to be reported to the nurse in charge
  • Keep areas assigned for the storage of stock and equipment tidy
  • Ensure that the waiting room is kept clean and tidy
  • Dispose of dirty linen promptly from various collection points around the units into the sluice room.
  • Maintenance and cleaning of sluice room and treatment areas
  • Check and replace disposal sharps containers are required
  • Check oxygen & Suction units are in working order and restocked
  • Ensure linen trolleys are kept tidy & restocked
  • Tidy linen cupboard
  • Ensure procedure room is adequately restocked
  • Following infection control principles and procedures
  • Any other duties as requested by CNM.

Dialysis supply & other supplies management /
  • Set up dialysis packs daily
  • Co-ordinate the delivery of the weekly dialysis supplies into the unit from the drop off area
  • Audit incoming dialysis supplies against delivery notice
  • Advise CNM of any shortfall in order and of supply issues
  • Manage and rotate all incoming dialysis supplies
  • Complete dialysis supplies audits as requested
  • Order and maintain adequate impress levels of general supplies
  • Actively participate in the philosophy of improvement in providing a quality health service.
  • Communicate with dialysis provider as directed by CNM.

Quality Assurance /
  • To be part of the quality initiatives of the hospital and department.
  • Attend and contribute to team meetings i.e. clinical debriefing sessions, inservice education, quality improvement, occupational health and safety etc as requested by CNM.
  • To maintain good relationships with all clients and staff.
  • Abide by the Northland DHB and KaitaiaHospital policies and procedures.
  • Maintain confidentiality of patients as per NDHB policy

Treaty of Waitangi /
  • Contribute to the promotion of the principles of Treaty of Waitangi and the involvement if Maori within the decision making process for their health and independence, within District Health Board management processes and procedures
  • Include the principles of the Treaty of Waitangi within all aspects of the role and its outcomes
  • Ensure that consultation and engagement processes include appropriate mechanisms to meet the need of Maori in a culturally appropriate and safe manner
  • Attend the Northland District Health Board Treaty of Waitangi Training

Health & Safety /
  • Observe and promote safe work practices, rules and instructions relating to work, and be pro-active in hazard management
  • Be conversant with and participate in fire/evacuation procedures as per NDHB policy
  • Maintain systems for investigating and initiating corrective action in relation to accidents, incidents, complaints from patients, families, public and/or health members
  • Use effective risk management strategies to minimize risk to self, patients and colleagues and the public
  • Receive training in manual handling techniques (patient and other) and attend annual OSH updates. Achieve relevant certification
  • Willingly co-operate in the achievement of all health and safety goals and initiatives by:
Practicing and observing safe work methods;
The use of safety equipment;
Reporting unsafe conditions or equipment; and
Reporting and documenting all accidents or incidents

Variation of Duties

Duties and responsibilities described above should not be construed as a complete and exhaustive list as it is not the intention to limit in any way the scope or functions of the position. Duties and responsibilities may be amended from time to time, in consultation with the employee, to meet any changing conditions and service requirements.

Person Specification

Education and Qualifications
Essential / Desirable
  • Computer literacy - Word processing skills
  • Galen / Alpha skills
  • Current drivers license
  • Current first aid certificate
/
  • Previous clerical / administration /reception skills

Experience
Essential
  • Experience in medical setting
/ Desirable
  • 2 years experience in health related field
  • Recognized course in care giving

Awareness and Understanding of

.

Essential / Desirable
  • The Treaty of Waitangi and its application to the health setting
  • Privacy Act (1993) and Health Information Privacy Code (1994)
  • Health and Safety in Employment Act (1992)
/
  • The Treaty of Waitangi and its application to the health setting
  • Privacy Act (1993) and Health Information Privacy Code (1994)
  • Health and Safety in Employment Act (1992)
  • Health and Disability Commissioner (Code of Health and Disability Services Consumers’ Rights) Regulations (1996)
  • New Zealand Council of Healthcare Standards

Skills & Personal Attributes
Skills
  • Effective communication skills,
  • team work,
  • observation skills,
  • effective time managements,
  • flexibility,
  • ability to prioritise.

Personal Attributes
  • Good interpersonal skills.
  • Ability to work in a team
  • Non judgmental
  • High level of personal fitness
  • Cultural awareness
  • Ability to take direction and follow instructions
  • Good listener
  • Empathetic to others
  • Professional approach to position
  • Commitment to customer service

Performance Development Review

An initial review of performance will be conducted after three months, with an annual review thereafter.

An individual Development Plan will be developed to reflect the contribution this position is expected to make towards achieving the team’s objectives and measures. Key result areas will be developed and agreed at this time.

Authorised by:
Signature:
Date:

Acceptance

Acceptance of the position implies acceptance of this position description.

Position Title:
Signature of employee:
Date: