JOB TITLE:Healthcare Assistant (Day Therapy Outpatients)

REPORTS TO:Day TherapyOutpatients Manager

LOCATION:LOROS Hospice, Groby Road

HOURS OF WORK:As per contract

JOB PROFILE

To assist Registered Nurses, Therapists and Doctors in providing high standards of palliative care for patients and their relatives.

ROLE PROFILE

The Healthcare Assistant supports the clinical function of the registered nurses, therapists and doctors in promoting and maintaining a high standard of individualised patient care, taking into account the physical, emotional, spiritual and social needs of patients and those close to them.

A Healthcare Assistant’s duties are always delegated and supervised by a trained nurse and therapist. The Healthcare Assistant also has the responsibility for ensuring that he/she does not carry out any delegated duty for which he/she does not possess the necessary competence/skills.

RESPONSIBILITIES TO PATIENTS

  1. To assist nurse/therapist/doctors with the treatment of patients under the supervision of registered nurse/therapist.
  2. To maintain good professional working relationships with other disciplines.
  3. To liaise with other disciplines concerned with the care and treatment of patients as directed by the supervising nurse/therapist.
  4. Assisting in meeting patient’s hygiene and toilet needs.
  5. Assisting with feeding patients as requested.
  6. Listening and talking to patients and reporting back to nurse and therapist giving feedback regarding outcome of intervention.
  7. Maintaining confidentiality of patients and those close to them.
  8. Assisting in diversional activities.
  9. Contributing to providing a safe and pleasant environment for patients, visitors and staff.
  10. Following agreed Hospice policies.
  11. Acting as escort for patients travelling by mini bus or Berlingo if required.
  12. Sitting with patients.

HE/SHE IS REQUIRED TO HAVE

  1. A thorough understanding of Hospice care and philosophy and the ability, with other members of the Day TherapyOutpatientsteam to contribute to it.
  2. The ability to work as a member of the Day Therapy & Outpatients team, as well as the wider Hospice team, which includes volunteers.

GENERAL GUIDELINES

Healthcare Assistants must:

  1. Wear rubber gloves when handling patients’ body fluids, ie urine, faeces and vomit.
  2. Report any observations they have made about a patient’s condition immediately to the nurse co-ordinating the team.
  3. Report back to the nurse co-ordinating the team, conversations they have had with patients/relatives.
  4. Report accidents/incidents relating to patients, visitors and staff.
  5. Observe the correct lifting and handling procedure.
  6. Attend annual mandatory fire lectures and other mandatory sessions.
  7. Attend educational events as necessary.

NBHealthcare Assistants must NOT give their home telephone number to patients or those close to them, or visit them in the community unless specifically requested to do so by a senior member of staff.

GENERAL

  1. All staff are subject to Equal Opportunities Legislation, the Data Protection Act and LOROS Confidentiality Policy.

2.To carry out and comply with the prevention and control of infection as per LOROS policies and procedures.

  1. All staff are subject to LOROS policies, procedures and conditions of service, with reference to the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974.
  2. Take reasonable care for the health and safety of themselves and of other persons who may be affected by their acts or omissions at work.
  3. Co-operate with their employer as far as is necessary to meet the requirements of the legislation.

6.All staff should be aware of and aim to contribute to LOROS’ Vision and Mission and also strive to exhibit the Values & Behaviours at all times (see attached document).

The contents of this job description are not exhaustive and may be amended in accordance with the needs of the service after discussion with the post holder whose agreement will not be unreasonably withheld.

Signed……………………………………………………………….Date…………………………………………

Postholder

Signed……………………………………………………………… Date ………………………………………..

Line Manager

VISION

(Ourlongtermaspirationforoursociety)

Everyonewithanincurableillnesshastherighttoexcellentcare.Thisshouldvalueandrespecttheiruniquenessandtheirownchoices.Peopleshouldbeenabledtoliveanddiewithdignityandwithappropriateandcompassionatesupportforthemandtheirlovedones.

MISSION

(OurgoalsandactivitiesinworkingtowardsourVision)

LOROSisacharitywhoseaimistoenhancethequalityoflifeofadultpatientswithcancer,progressiveneurologicalconditionsandend-stageorganfailureforwhomcurativetreatmentisnolongerpossible.Patientsaretreatedatthehospiceandinthecommunitybaseduponclinicalneed,regardlessofbackgroundandtheabilitytopay.

LOROSspecialisesinholistic,multidisciplinarycare,focusedonthewholepersonandincludingfamilyandcarers.Thecaregiventakesintoaccountthepatients’physical,psychological,socialandspiritualneedsaswellas their ownchoices.Familymembersaresupportedinadjusting tolossandbereavement.

LOROScontributestotheeducationandtrainingofitsownandotherhealthandsocialcareprofessionalsandofvolunteers.Thecharityisalsocommittedtoresearchinordertoimprovetheunderstandingandpracticeofpalliativecare.

VALUESBEHAVIOURS

(Howwewillstrivetobe)

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PROFESSIONAL

FOCUSED
COLLABORATIVE

COMPASSIONATE
TRUSTED


in ourattitudeand everything wedo

onpatients,familiesandcarers whilst listening,learningandadaptingtotheirdiverseneeds

inworkingtogetherandwithothers

inprovidingcareandrespondingsensitivelytorequestsforsupport

withinourorganisation andbyour community

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KEY FACTS – JULY 2016

No. of individuals receiving patient care from LOROS p.a. / >2,500
Of whom admitted to Inpatient Ward / 590
No. of beds in Inpatient Ward / 31
Average length of stay (days) / 12
No. of participants in LOROS educational activities p.a. / 2,200
No. of employees / 330
No. of regular volunteers / 1,100
Expenditure on patient care p.a. / £7.7M
Minimum amount of income to be raised p.a. / £5.0M / Excludes the activity of LOROS Education, which is a self-funding service.
Portion of expenditure covered by NHS / 1/3rd
Portion of charity costs directed to care services / 91%
Cost per hour of running the charity / £870
Cost per bed/day including “overheads” / £525
Cost per attendance for Day Therapy / £240 / Day therapy now offers support to patients by a much wider range of professionals including physio, occupational and complementary therapists, doctors and chaplaincy.
No. of LOROS Shops / 28
No. of LOROS lottery members / 24,800

LOROS is a registered charity and also a company limited by guarantee which is governed by a Board of up to 15 unpaid voluntary Trustees. It is regulated by the Charity Commission, Companies House and the Care Quality Commission.

All money raised is spent locally in Leicester, Leicestershire & Rutland.

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