Senior Healthcare Support Worker, Ophthalmology - NHS

Job overview

Working as a Senior Healthcare Support Worker in a ward / department within the hospital setting.

Carry 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.

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

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 the new nurses and support student nurses alongside the trained nurses
3. Looking after patients 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 HCSW, 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 Eye Day Surgery or the Eye Clinic. Competency based assessments include:

• Taking patients to theatre and collecting patients' post surgery following LA
• IOL master examinations and be able to report anomalies to the Nurse-in-Charge
• Instillation of prescribed eye medication
• Other prescribed diagnostic tests

1. Undertake clinical skills following training and have been deemed competent by an authorised registered nurse, as per the Trust guidelines
2. Teach patients safe drop instillation technique, including use of drop aids
3. Assist registered nurses in admitting and discharging of patients in the eye ward
4. Communicate in a timely manner to the Nurse-in-Charge any changes observed in a patients conditions or any worries the patients or their family/carers have
5. Assist in the induction of and mentor newly appointed healthcare assistants, undertake the formative assessment, reporting progress to the Eye Unit Sister/Charge Nurse

Person specification

Knowledge

• Trust vision, values and behaviours and strategic objectives
• Understanding of the role of the Healthcare Support Worker in the hospital setting

Attitude,behaviour and values

• Must be able to demonstrate honesty, reliability and trust worthiness

Qualifications

• Functional level of English and Math
• Care Certificate in Acute Care

• Level 3 Health and Social Care qualification

Experience

• Previous experience working as a health care support worker within the NHS for a minimum of six months
• Working as part of a team

• Previous experience training and supporting new staff
• Previous experience in Ophthalmology

Skills

• Excellent people, communication and telephone skills
• Ability to work without constant supervision and as part of a team
• To be organized and be able to work under pressure
• You are able to communicate effectively to ensure high standards of care, treatment and service or support as appropriate to your role.
• Patient facing roles - be able to understand an individual’s communication, physical & emotional needs; recognise their needs and preferences.

• You have knowledge & awareness of diversity and human rights as appropriate to your role
• Extended Clinical Skills