ROYAL UNITED HOSPITAL BATH NHS TRUST JOB DESCRIPTION. Ward / Department Sister / Charge Nurse

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1 ROYAL UNITED HOSPITAL BATH NHS TRUST JOB DESCRIPTION JOB TITLE: Health Care Assistant GRADE: Band 2 DEPARTMENT: RESPONSIBLE TO: Ward / Unit Ward / Department Sister / Charge Nurse JOB SUMMARY: The health care assistant is a member of the ward / unit care team appointed to support Registered Nurses in the delivery of direct patient care. The role involves contact on a physical and psychological level with patients and their families. The post holder will undertake a range of activities under the supervision of a registered nurse, having been assessed and deemed competent in the activities required. MAIN DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES: 1.1 Support the registered nurse in implementation of an agreed plan of care with the patient and in accordance with instructions and training received. (Dimensions HWB 2 & 5). 1.2 Help promote and maintain an environment conducive to meeting the needs of the patient / relatives and carers (Core 1, 2,3,4,5,6) 1.3 Contribute to a team approach to patient care in conjunction with all members of the multidisciplinary team (Core 1). 1.4 Contribute to the legality and accuracy of the patients care plan/ and or other reports and the effectiveness of the established communication /reporting system over the full 24hrs (Core 1,3,4). 1.5 Participate in regular ward meetings and attend other meetings as requested (Core 1). 1.6 Undertake tasks and procedures, in which competency has been assessed and recorded specific to the care environment, including for example blood glucose monitoring (HWB 6). 1.7 Participate in research activities as and when required. 1.8 Provide support and assistance to registered staff. 1.9 All team members are responsible for behaving in a manner that does not put themselves, patients, visitors and other team members in danger or at risk in the clinical environment (Core 1,3,5). 1

2 1.10 To assist in the maintenance of stock levels, including pharmaceutical products (Core 1,3,5) To assist in the maintenance of ward cleanliness and tidiness and adhere to infection control policy and procedures at all times (core 1,3) To assist the patient to ensure they have the opportunity to meet their individual dietary requirements. Ensuring all patients receive their chosen and correct meals (HWB5) To receive and convey information from telephone or personal enquiries in a courteous manner and ensure all persons visiting the ward are greeted and assisted in a welcoming and supportive manner (core 1,6) To assist and support registered nurses and clerical staff in administrative duties as required (core 1,3,5) To escort stable patients to and from all wards and departments within the hospital (core 1,3,5). GENERAL RESPONSIBILITIES: POLICIES AND PROCEDURES The postholder is required to familiarise themselves with all Trust policies and procedures and to comply with these at all times. Failure to comply with any of these policies may result in disciplinary action up to and including dismissal. TRUST RESPECT BEHAVIOURS All staff are required to follow the Trust s Respect Behaviours at all times. These have been agreed with staff and Staff Side and are as follows: Treat others as you would like to be treated Listen to and support others and make time to do so Seek, acknowledge and value others experience and contribution Acknowledge others beliefs Be courteous and considerate to all Treat others fairly and equally Be honest and trustworthy and act with integrity Encourage others to treat all staff with respect Challenge the behaviour of staff who do not show respect to others CONFIDENTIALITY & DATA PROTECTION The postholder must maintain the confidentiality of information about patients, staff and other health service business and meet the requirements of the Data Protection Act (1998) at all times. The postholder must comply with all Trust Information and Data Protection policies at all times. The work of an NHS acute Trust is of a confidential nature and any information gained by the postholder in their role must not be communicated to other persons except where required in the recognised course of duty. 2

3 Failure to comply with any of these policies may result in disciplinary action up to and including dismissal. NO SMOKING The Royal United Hospital, Bath NHS Trust is a Smoke Free hospital and site and all Trust staff are not permitted to smoke on any part of the site at any time. Failure to comply with this policy is likely to result in disciplinary action up to and including dismissal. HEALTH AND SAFETY Employees must be aware of the responsibilities placed on them under the Health and Safety at Work Act (1974) and any subsequent relevant legislation and must follow these in full at all times including ensuring that they act in line with all agreed procedures at all times in order to maintain a safe environment for patients, visitors and staff. Failure to comply with these policies may result in disciplinary action up to and including dismissal. MANAGING STRESS The Trust has an agreed policy & procedure which links with a range of services and arrangements for staff to manage stress. All staff are required to familiarise themselves with the policy and services to best manage their own and their colleagues stress. HEALTHCARE ASSOCIATED INFECTIONS (HCAIs) All staff have a responsibility to act and follow all instructions to protect patients, staff and others from HCAIs. All staff are required to follow the NHS Hygiene Code and all Trust policies and procedures related to it and the Health Act Failure to comply with any of these may result in disciplinary action up to and including dismissal. EQUALITY & DIVERSITY The Trust has adopted a Managing Staff Diversity Strategy & Policy covering all of its staff and it is the responsibility of all Trust staff to comply with these requirements at all times. The key responsibilities for staff under this Strategy and Policy are set out in the Trust Code of Expectations for Employees. Failure to comply with these policies may result in disciplinary action up to and including dismissal. FLEXIBILITY This job description is intended to provide a broad outline of the main responsibilities only. The postholder is required to be flexible in developing their role in agreement with their designated manager. In addition they may be required by their manager to carry out any other duty commensurate with their banding and expertise. DIMENSIONS Assist and support new HCAs Post holder has no managerial or budgetary responsibility. 3

4 STRUCTURE CHART Senior Nurse / Modern Matron Ward Sister / Charge Nurse, Band 7 and / or Senior Staff Nurse, HEALTH CARE ASSISTANT TERMS AND CONDITIONS JOB TITLE: Health Care Assistant GRADE: Band 2 SALARY: 13,903-17,003 HOURS: 37.5 TYPE OF CONTRACT: LEAVE: NOTICE: Permanent 27 days plus bank holidays 4 weeks 4

5 PERSON SPECIFICATION JOB TITLE: Health Care Assistant GRADE: Band 2 DEPARTMENT: All Wards / Departments SPECIALITY / DIVISION: CRITERIA REQUIRED Qualifications & Training Knowledge & Experience Specific Skills ESSENTIAL Educational qualifications in Maths and English [to complete basic skills assessment (Skills for Health) prior to appointment] NVQ level 2 in Physiological Measurement (if not in possession of these competencies to be achieved in three months) NVQ level 2 in care or equivalent in care (if not in possession of these competencies to be achieved in twelve months) Understands the need for strict confidentiality (core dimensions 3 & 5). Understands and committed to a caring approach to patients & relatives (core dimension 5). Patient Care: Able to carry out basic procedures as delegated by and under the direction of registered nursing staff (HWB 5). Able to demonstrate an empathetic and caring approach to patients and relatives and work so that patients dignity & respect is maintained at all times (Core 2 & HWB5). Able to prioritise own workload. Able to work under own initiative within boundaries of role (All dimensions). Demonstrates awareness of importance of working as part of a team. DESIRABLE Working towards NVQ level 1 or 2. Experience of working in a Health Care Assistant or other caring role Basic IT literacy Communication Able to communicate routine information Able to supervise junior/less experienced Health Care 5

6 including observations effectively verbally and written to staff, patients and relatives (Core 1). Assistants. Other Willing to work in other clinical areas Trust-wide as and when required (Core 5). Physical Skills & Effort Emotional Effort Physical Skills Physical skills to manually handle patients and appropriate lifting aids to maintain patient comfort and assist in rehabilitation (HWB 2 & 5). Physical Effort Able to work and cope with rotating shift patterns - early, late, night shifts over 7 days of the week. Moving / manual handling of patients & equipment e.g. patient hoists, commodes wheelchairs etc. push patient trolleys and beds to other areas of the hospital (Core 3). Emotional Effort Able to deal with exposure to bereavement and difficult patients & relatives. Requirements due to Working Environment Involves direct contact with body fluids, products, blood, sputum and vomit, foul linen etc on a number of occasions per shift (core 3) Involves risk of verbal aggression from patients & relatives (Core 1). Last updated: Feb