Job summary
- Main area
- Renal Dialysis
- Grade
- NHS AfC: Band 3
- Contract
- Permanent
- Hours
- Full time
- Part time
- Job ref
- 216-AH-M7282241
- Employer
- University Hospitals Plymouth NHS Trust
- Employer type
- NHS
- Site
- Plymouth Dialysis Unit,
- Town
- Plymouth
- Salary
- £24,625 - £25,674 Per Annum
- Salary period
- Yearly
- Closing
- 10/07/2025 23:59
Employer heading
Senior Healthcare Support Worker
NHS AfC: Band 3
Job overview
Are you looking for a new challenge? Would you like to develop your knowledge and skills? Would you be interested in becoming a valued member of our dialysis team? We are looking to appoint an enthusiastic Band 3 to join our friendly and highly skilled nursing team. The unit has 31 Dialysis stations where our patients attend with End Stage Renal Disease (ESRD) requiring dialysis up to 3 times a week. We are situated in Estover. There is free parking on unit’s grounds.
Plymouth Dialysis Unit it’s a light, spacious unit which opened its doors to patients and staff in July 2011. We are a Nurse Led unit and we take great pride in offering patient centred care to more than 150 patients from Devon and Cornwall.
We aim to provide a friendly and professional working environment. Good verbal and written communication skills and good time management is essential. Previous demonstrable experience in renal is desired but not essential. It is desirable that the successful applicant has completed the Level 3 HCA training or NVQ 3 equivalent.
You will be required to work rotational shifts. The haemodialysis unit has the following shift patterns:
- Early Early shift: 06:00-14:00
- Early shift: 06:30-14:30
- Late shift: 12:00-20:00
- Twilight shift: 16:00-00:00
***Preference will be given to internal Trust staff, as well as ‘Priority’ and 'At Risk' status including NHS At Risk staff throughout Devon who are able to display recent relevant experience as dictated by the Person Specification.***
Main duties of the job
- To assist in the delivery of care planned and assessed by the Registered Nurses.
- To carry out care / other duties under indirect supervision.
- To supervise junior health care assistants making a contribution to their training and development.
- To undertake specific extended skills.
- Support care on a day-to-day basis for all patients in the clinical area under indirect supervision.
- Working within the dialysis team to assess patients prior to dialysis session.
- Cannulation and connection of patients to dialysis machine.
- Contribute to resource management.
Working for our organisation
We are a people business – where every member of staff matters and can make a difference. Patients are at the heart of everything we do. Joining University Hospitals Plymouth NHS Trust means becoming part of a team of dedicated staff, who are committed to leading the way through innovation, clinical excellence and great customer care. The Trust has great opportunities for career development in a highly progressive working environment. We offer all of this in a vibrant, modern city with a historic reputation for adventure. PLEASE NOTE THAT ALL COMMUNICATION WILL BE ELECTRONIC, PLEASE CHECK YOUR EMAIL ACCOUNT REGULARLY. If you have any issues with applying online and need additional support including reasonable adjustments with the application process please contact the recruitment team on 01752 432100. We recognise that work life balance is important for our colleagues and so we invite requests from applicants around less than full time/flexible working for our advertised roles. Please contact the recruiting manager to discuss this prior to your application submission. We commit to giving this full consideration in each case. We encourage people from diverse backgrounds to apply for our roles, as diversity strengthens our teams. It is sometimes necessary to close vacancies before the closing date. If you have not heard from us within 4 weeks of the closing date, please assume that you have not been shortlisted.
Detailed job description and main responsibilities
- Provide and deliver a high standard of nursing care, recognising and meeting the specific needs of patients, to include pre and post haemodialysis.
- The preparation of highly complex machines.
- Commencement and termination of haemodialysis,
- Cannulation of fistulas and grafts.
- Care of the haemodialysis patient with percutaneous access.
- Interpret any machine alarms and correct when appropriate, informing the Registered Nurse.
- Assist in the care of patients undergoing minor surgical interventions.
- To manage, under indirect supervision, own workload within clinical area and competencies of the post.
- To carry out clinical observations on patients, recognising, recording and reporting all changes in patient’s condition, including the early recognition and intervention of dialysis side effects.
- Undertake the escort of patients to other departments under the direction of the registered nurse.
- To support maintenance of fluid balance and dietary charts, of inpatients. Recognising, recording and reporting all adverse findings to senior staff.
- To carry out observations of skin integrity over pressure points, recognising and reporting all findings to senior staff.
- To complete documentation for Manual Handling Charts, on inpatients, to be assessed by registered staff.
- To recognise the importance of health education and teaching of patients and carers, and to be able to advise and refer patients on where to access information.
- Document and sign for all observations and care given with counter signature from a registered practitioner.
- To maintain his/her own professional development, attending courses/further training to enhance and optimise his/her role within the work area.
- To participate in the training and development of junior staff on the unit, and participate in the supervision and support of trainee Health Care Assistants.
- Act as a mentor to new Health Care Assistants & HCA Trainees, participating in induction programmes, and on-going development of their practice.
- To promote and safeguard the well-being of patients, their families and colleagues.
- To participate in the development and implementation of Unit area policy and nursing strategies.
- To supervise and share responsibility in the care and maintenance of all equipment on the Unit and stock control.
- In the absence of a Ward Clerk undertake general ward clerk duties
- Participate in unit research and audit work to include date collection
- To respect confidential information, in line with Trust policy Data Protection Act.
- To be familiar with and adhere to Trust and Departmental policies and procedures, mindful of responsibilities to self, colleagues and patients.
- Report untoward incidents, complaints, clinical emergencies to senior staff.
- Following patient assessment by Registered staff, undertake extended skills specific to individual competence under the indirect supervision of Registered staff.
- To participate in the development and implementation of Unit area policy and nursing strategies.
- To be familiar with Trust infection control, decontamination and cleanliness polices.
- To undertake the decontamination and cleaning of department equipment. To participate in department cleaning.
Person specification
Knowledge and Experience
Essential criteria
- Demonstrable experience of providing care in a healthcare or social setting
- Be able to work as a member of a team
- Demonstrable experience of time management and prioritising work
- Proven understanding and committed to a caring approach to patients & relatives
Desirable criteria
- Dialysis demonstrable experience
- Venepuncture
Qualifications
Essential criteria
- One of the following • Level 3 (SCQF – 6): - City and Guilds 3 • NVQ 3 • BTEC National Diploma • Demonstrable experience equivalent to the above qualifications
- Level 2 Functional skills in English and Math’s, or equivalent
- Completion of Level 3 Diploma in Healthcare Support (that maps to the Apprenticeship Standard for Senior Health Care Support Worker)
- Equivalent demonstrable experience
Aptitude and Abilities
Essential criteria
- Effective and appropriate communication skills both written and verbal
- Able to complete appropriate documentation accurately
Employer certification / accreditation badges
Applicant requirements
This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975 (Amendment) (England and Wales) Order 2020 and it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service.
Documents to download
Further details / informal visits contact
- Name
- Diana Catrina
- Job title
- Unit Manager
- Email address
- [email protected]
- Telephone number
- 01752 431700
- Additional information
Heidi Mills
Lead Nurse Access
01752 431700
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