Job overview

Ashford and St Peters NHS foundation Trust is now recruiting for a Senior Health Care Support Workers(Band 3) in the Ophthalmology Department.

Candidates applying for this post must possess and be able to demonstrate within the application form the following essential criteria: 

•    Recent and previous NHS experience as a health care support worker for a minimum of six months
•    Having successfully achieved the Care Certificate within an NHS setting and recognised level 3 qualification. 

Only candidates that meet the above will be considered for this post. 

In brief, you will be carrying out assigned tasks involved with direct patient care whilst maintaining the privacy and dignity of patients.  This will be whilst demonstrating excellent care, compassion and communication, and in support of and supervised by a Registered Nurse or Nursing Associate, incorporating:

• Undertaking and recording of Vital Signs
• Moving & Handling of patients to support independence
• Infection Prevention and Control
• Safeguarding of adults and children.

Main duties of the job

1.  Assist the Medical team or Nurse practitioners in completing intravitreal injections, minor operations and cross-linking clinics
2.  Assist in the supervision and training of less experienced HCAs, also help in the orientation of new nurses and support student nurses alongside the trained nurses.
3. Looking after patient’s pre and post op eye surgery and assisting with basic care.
4. Taking patients to theatre and collecting patients’ post-surgery following LA.
5. Working in the eye clinic completing vision, visual field test and eye pressure tests. 
6. To liaise with the multi-disciplinary team as required, e.g. Orthoptists, Photography team, Eye Clinic liaison officer, and admin support. 
7. You will be expected in your role as a B3 HCA, to work as a member of the ophthalmic team undertaking Patient Care in a specialised area. To be able to complete essential competency-based assessments for patients being cared for within the Eye Unit, attending for Eye Day surgery or the eye clinic.
8. Teach patients safe drop instillation technique, including use of drop aids.
9.  Assist registered nurses in admitting and discharging of patients in the eye ward.
10.  Communicate in a timely manner to the nurse in charge any changes observed in a patient’s condition or any worries the Patient or their family and carers have.

Working for our organisation

Ashford and St. Peters Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust serves a population of more than 410,000 people living in North-West Surrey, parts of Hounslow and beyond.

Over 3,700 highly trained doctors, nurses, midwives, therapists, healthcare scientists and other support staff make up our workforce, providing a wide range of services across our two hospital sites, Ashford, Surrey and St Peter's, Chertsey, Surrey.

We also run many specialist clinics in the community and local community hospitals and other healthcare facilities.

Our vision is to be one of the best healthcare Trusts in the country. There has never been a better time to join us in the NHS at ASPH. We are committed to providing continuous professional development and flexibility to shape our workforce around our patient care.

We are expanding our theatres at Ashford Hospital and moving towards this becoming our dedicated elective centre. We want to create a state-of-the-art centre for excellence for planned surgical procedures.

We can offer you the full range of NHS benefits/discounts and in addition:

• Excellent pension scheme and annual leave entitlement
• On-site Nurseries
• On-site staff cafes
• On-site parking
• Support in career development
• Salary Sacrifice schemes including wage stream, lease cars, Cycle to Work schemes and home electronics

Adverts may close early, so applicants are encouraged to submit an application as soon as possible.

For more information about a career at ASPH please visit:
www.asph-careers.org