Detailed job description and main responsibilities

1.     The Senior Health Care Assistant will undertake high quality, caring and compassionate personal care/clinical and associated duties under the direction and supervision of the registered professional both independently and working as part of the multi-disciplinary team.

2.     As a Senior Healthcare Assistant you make a valuable and important contribution to the delivery of high quality healthcare in the Trust. Your role is to support the registered professional in the delivery of safe, effective, personal care to patients and their relatives.

3.     Working under the direction of a Registered Health Care Professional, participate in the clinical care provided to patients prioritising workload appropriately and developing competencies that safeguard practice and effectiveness in role.  The following will vary depending on area/department:- 

·         Undertake some of the duties of a Health Care Assistant, eg making of beds, supporting with personal hygiene, etc

·         Have proficient attitudes and behaviours compatible with NHS and Trust Values

·         Work as part of a designated clinical and care team delivering care that focuses on the direct needs of the individual

·         Assist patients with personal hygiene, toileting and use of continence aids

·         Support moving and handling, use of mobility aids, correct patient positioning, assess pressure areas and skin integrity

·         Develop positive relationships with parents, families and carers

·         Be aware of the patient’s needs – emotional, social, physical, and cultural.  Respect privacy, dignity and beliefs. Acts in a way that supports equality and diversity values.

·         Work as part of the team in a co-operative, professional and constructive manner

·         Be actively involved in health promotion such as reducing obesity and smoking cessation

·         Maintain confidentiality at all times

·         Report any information regarding the wellbeing of the patients to the Registered Health Care Professional in a timely manner.

·         Support individuals who are distressed.

·         Manage and organise time and activities to support and meet the needs of individuals

·         Empower patients and their families to make their own decisions about health and choice

·         Assist with dietary needs of the patient as required

·         Undertake a range of clinical competencies, for example safe venepuncture and cannulation following ANTT principles, as requested by the Registered Health Care Professional and have competencies checked annually by a Registered Healthcare Professional.

·         At the request of the Registered Health Care Professional, perform and record physiological measurements within the remit of the SHCA role and report accurately to the Registered Health Care Professional, the assessment undertaken, on patients.

·         Obtaining samples at the request of a Registered Health Care Professional, including wound swabs, eye swabs, urine specimens, MRSA swabs, stool samples and sputum specimens.

·         Assist in blood collection

·         Assist the Registered Health Care Professional in maintaining a clean environment

·         Following the completion of appropriate training and assessment and under the direction of a registered health care professional undertake clinical activities such as ECG recording, urinalysis, changing of simple wound dressings and capillary blood glucose monitoring.

·         Catheter care, removal of catheters stoma care, measuring and monitoring patient outputs

·         Provide and receive sensitive information concerning a patient’s medical condition

·         Work with the registered heath care professional and engage with other agencies and community teams to ensure a safe, individualised approach to the admission and discharge of patients.

·         Actively participate in and attend ward/unit meetings

·         Demonstrate good understanding of principles of consent and ensure valid consent is obtained prior to undertaking nursing and care procedures

·         Demonstrate good understanding of the Mental Capacity Act / Deprivation of Liberties and applies principles to everyday practice seeking advice / guidance from the registered healthcare professional as required

·         Promote health and safety maintaining best practice in health, safety and security

·         Share ideas with colleagues to improve care and suggest areas for innovation

·         Contribute to the improvement of service by reflecting on own practice and supporting that of others

·         Assist with the care of the dying

·         Undertake 1:1 care of those patients who may require restraint as requested

·         Adhere to legislation, policies, procedures and guidelines both local and national Regularly attend workplace and staff engagement meetings and contribute positively to discussions about the improvement of care

·         Post holders are required to work independently with regard to routine, delegated tasks, following established good practice and refer non-routine tasks appropriately. Work is supervised and evaluated on a routine basis. To follow treatment plans as prescribed by Registered Health Care Professionals and identify select activities that meet treatment goals.

Communications and Key Working Relationships

1.     The service users come from a variety of cultural backgrounds and the Senior Healthcare Assistant will be expected to communicate effectively with all patients and families effectively

2.     Maintain accurate and timely records

3.     Ensure smooth running of the team through facilitation of administrative support, including stock levels

4.     Effective verbal communication with all members of the multidisciplinary team

5.     Provide general non-clinical advice, information and guidance to patients, relatives and visitors

6.     Communicate effectively with dignity and respect to all patients, relatives and others giving consideration to potential barriers to understanding

7.     Communicate effectively with colleagues, providing clear verbal, digital or written information and instructions when sharing information, delegating or handing over responsibility for care

8.     Recognise and report any situations, behaviours or errors that could result in poor care outcomes

9.     Report accidents, incidents, near misses or complaints following Trust policies/procedures

10.  Contribute to a culture where all staff feel safe to raise their concerns [and that] speaking up about what these are is a normal part of their routine

11.  To assist in information collection from patients/ relatives as requested by trained staff

12.  To use communication tools (verbal and non verbal) to gain informed consent with patients where there will often be barriers to effective communication e.g. loss of hearing, altered perception, expressive and receptive dysphasia, pain, fear etc

13.  To assess capacity, gain valid consent and have the ability to work within a legal framework with patients who lack consent to treatment

14.  To priorities tasks allocated and adjust as necessary

15.  To ensure that documentation is completed in accordance with Trust and departmental requirements

16.  To be responsible for some degree of housekeeping and stock control on the Unit

Training and Development

1.     The role that Senior Healthcare Assistant (SHCA) can play includes the life-course (pre-conception to end of life) approaches towards health and well-being and the ways in which they actively contribute to the delivery of holistic care. Holistic care, across life-course, is a whole-person approach which considers, and equally values, physical, psychological and public health needs, learning disabilities, social, economic, spiritual and other factors in the delivery of care

2.     Following competency assessment, undertake procedures as directed by a Registered Health Care Professional

3.     Undertake mandatory training updates and participate in the appraisal process.

4.     Maintain own level of competence and ongoing CPD

5.     Undertake role specific training for onward development of the role

Responsibility for Finance

1.     Participate in ensuring effective use of all financial resources in providing and delivering an effective service

2.     Exercise personal duty of care in the safe use and storage of equipment

3.     Be environmentally aware and prudent in use of resources and energy

4.     Liaise with Estates Departments in respect of all maintenance issues

5.     Complete daily checking of equipment and returning of equipment

Responsibility for Human Resources

1.    Demonstrate own duties to new or less experienced staff

2.    Support development of less experienced staff and students

Responsibility for Health & Safety

1.    To report faulty equipment to the Team leader/ Ward manager/ Registered Health Care Professional

2.    To report to the Team Leader /Ward manager, Registered Health Care Professional any health and safety concerns

3.    Report to the Team Leader/Ward manager, Registered Health Care Professional any complaints or untoward events as soon as possible

4.    Compliance with the Health & Safety at Work Act 1974 – the post holder is required to fulfil a proactive role towards the management of risk in all of their actions. This entails the risk assessment of all situations, the taking of appropriate actions and reporting of all incidents, near misses and hazards, and a statutory duty of care for their own personal safety and that of others who may be affected by their acts or omissions

Responsibility for Research and Development

1.    Participates in audits, surveys, research and development activities