Detailed job description and main responsibilities

Main Duties
• At all times treat patients, service users, families, visitors and
colleagues with dignity and respect to deliver compassionate care,
exercising discretion and behaving in a manner consistent with
Airedale NHS Foundation Trust Right Care Values.
• To maintain confidentiality in all aspects of work and work within the
Healthcare Support Worker Code of Conduct.
• Work in a collaborative and co-operative manner with other
members of the care team to meet the holistic needs of patients and
carers.
• To establish and maintain effective communication and relationships
with the multi-disciplinary team, respecting the equality and diversity
of each and every person he/she/they comes into contact within the
course of his/her/their business.
• Uphold the privacy and dignity of patients at all times.
• Work in line with Trust policies and procedures and within scope of
competence, undertaking mandatory training and essential skills
training as identified for the role.
• Contribute to the development of the clinical area, through
contribution of new ideas to improve patient care/experience and by
escalating concerns appropriately.
• Under the direction of the Registered Healthcare Professional,
provide good quality personalised care in accordance with agreed
local and national standards using a wide range of skills.
• Achieve and maintain core and departmental specific competencies
as a HCSW as agreed with manager.
• Participate in the admission, transfer and discharge of patients.

• Assist with the service of meals .
• Assist with the safe moving, handling and mobilisation of patients
ensuring that care plans are followed to minimise risk.
• Communicate effectively with kindness, warmth and compassion
recognising when there are barriers to communication where
support may be required.
• Act as a patient and staff advocate, escalating concerns and
challenging poor behaviour or practice appropriately.
• Maintain accurate records of care within area of responsibility.
• Observe and report any changes in a patient’s condition to the
Nurse in Charge.
• Provide reassurance and support to patients, carers/family.
• Support the maintenance and cleanliness of the clinical environment
by attending to general tidiness of the area including unpacking and
storage of stock deliveries. Report any estates issues appropriately.
• Support clinical teams to fulfil cleaning responsibilities as identified
in the National Cleaning Standards framework.
• To answer the telephone and relay messages appropriately.
• In the absence of administrative support, support administrative
functions as directed by the nurse in charge.
• Develop own skills and knowledge and contribute to the
development of others.
• Once experienced assist with the induction of new Health Care
Support Workers.
• Recognise and respond appropriately to urgent and emergency
situations.
• Ensure the effective and efficient use of resources and contribute
ideas to cost improvement programmes.
• Report any incidents, concerns, complaints or accidents to the
Nurse in Charge completing adverse incident forms as required.
• Attend and participate in team/ward/department meetings.
• Support the psychological and emotional wellbeing of patients,
carers and families

Clinical Duties
• Must be able to undertake other tasks appropriate to the clinical
environment with necessary training and as directed by the Ward
Manager or Department Lead:
• Recording of patient information e.g., completion of fluid balance
and food charts, stool charts, and recording on physiological
observation charts (vital signs)
• Attend training in the use of equipment and devices appropriate to
role and reports faulty equipment promptly
• Record all care provided in the Trust standard format
• Beds made & changed in a timely manner to keep patients clean
and comfortable and bed areas correctly prepared for new
admissions
• Ward equipment cleaned and labelled e.g. commodes, medical
devices
• Completion of property checklists and disclaimers
• To undertake physiological observations recording blood pressure,
pulse, temperature, respirations and oxygen saturations.
• Calculation of National Early Warning Score (NEWS) score,
reporting any abnormalities to the Nurse in Charge.
• Empty drainage bags such as catheter bags, stoma bags using
appropriate infection prevention and control precautions
• Test patient blood glucose levels from capillary samples recording
results and escalating when required
• To assist patients in completing ward menus
• To accompany patients to other departments as deemed
appropriate by the nurse in charge in line with Trust transfer policy
• Remove cannulas and apply dressings as directed by the nurse in
charge
• Provide patients with appropriate activities and stimulation to
promote wellbeing and recovery in particular when providing
enhanced care.
• Participate in audit activities at the request of the Ward manager /
Department lead
• Act as a chaperone to support privacy and dignity of patients during
intimate cares and examinations

Patient Safety and Experience
• Understand importance of individual role and contribution in
ensuring that patients, service users and carers have a positive
experience of care.
• To ensure appropriate escalation of concerns and use of Adverse
Event Form (AEF) reporting system.
• Take responsibility for adapting communication style to meet the
needs of patients, service users and carers adopting basic deescalation
techniques when needed.
• Ensure up to date knowledge of risks in the area and any key safety
messages as communicated by the Ward Manager/ Department
Lead.
• Ensure active participation in safety initiatives in the ward or
department such as safety briefs.
• Ensure compliance with infection prevention and control practices
reporting any concerns to the nurse in charge.
• Understand own contribution in creating a psychologically safe
environment by displaying appropriate behaviours and treating
colleagues and service users with respect and civility.
• Ensure that call bells are responded to in a timely way and that
intentional rounding is completed in line with local guidelines.
Communication
• To establish and maintain good working relationships with members
of the multi -disciplinary team
• Ensure effective communication using professional language and
ensuring that conversations take place in an appropriate setting
• Communicate with patients, service, users and carers at a pace and
tone that is understood, using communication aids as required
• Ensure high standard of written communication in areas of
responsibility
• Takes an active part in Team Meetings
• Support ward activity by answering the telephone to support
communication and enhance the care environment
• Gives clear and concise advice to people on the procedures in
place eg PALS, complaints.
• Introduces self to patients at the start of each shift.
• Visitors are welcomed in a manner which promotes a positive image
of self, the ward/department and the team.
Mandatory Training
• Be aware of and undertake mandatory and other training
requirements necessary for the successful and safe performance of
your job, including relevant updates

Equal Opportunities
Carry out your duties in line with Trust Equality policies and
procedures, including relevant legislation, to deliver and promote
equity of access to healthcare and equality of opportunity.
Infection Prevention and Control
Be familiar with and follow the Trust Infection Control Policies and
designated hand hygiene procedures appropriate to your post. In
addition, you should take action to report to your manager or
appropriate person any incidents or poor practice that may result in the
spread of infection.
Information Governance
Maintain and process all information concerning patients, staff,
contractors or the business of the Trust to which the post holder has
access, without divulging such information to any third party or make
use of information gained in the course of employment, except where
this is clearly within the remit of the post holder and the other party’s
responsibility. The Trust recognises the importance of reliable
information. The quality of this data is crucial in that it should give a
complete, accurate and timely representation of events to support
patient care, clinical governance, monitoring performance,
management and service agreements for healthcare planning and
accountability. All information entered onto any record whether manual
or electronic or any other media (film, tape etc.) should be accurate,
timely, complete, valid, defined, appropriately sought, appropriately
recorded and should be stored securely and confidentially. Further
information on the Trust’s “Health Records Policy” can be obtained
from the Trust’s Intranet site.
Manual Handling
Manoeuvre light goods and equipment in accordance with manual
handling regulations and good practice.
Safeguarding Adults & Children
Understand and work within policies and local procedures relating to
Safeguarding Children and the Protection of Vulnerable Adults.
Personal Development
Demonstrate the suitability to undertake an appropriate care aware
relevant to the department.
Demonstrate the commitment to achieving the award through periodic
PDR review.
Health & Safety
You are required to: co-operate with supervisors, managers and other
employees to achieve a healthy and safe environment, to take
reasonable care of your own health and safety and that of other
persons who may be affected by your actions, to carry out your
responsibilities in ways that help to ensure a safe and healthy place of
work.
You are to bring to the attention of your supervisor or manager:
Any situation which reasonably could be considered to represent a
serious or immediate danger to the health and safety of any person.
Any matter which reasonably could be considered to represent a
shortcoming in the Trust’s health and safety protection arrangements.