Health Care Assistant
In the event of excessive applications being received this vacancy may close earlier than the stated closing date, you are encouraged to submit your application as soon as possible
IMPORTANT NOTE ON COMPLETION OF REFERENCE SECTION OF APPLICATION FORM
All references from current and previous employers will be sought and MUST cover a minimum of 3 years employment. Therefore, when completing the reference section of your application form, please give the address, telephone number and work email address of each of your current/previous line managers that cover 3 years employment.Where possible this should be from two separate employers. Failure to complete this section may result in your application not being processed.
PLEASE NOTE it is a requirement of this Trust that all successful applicants pay for their DBS certificate if a check is required for the post. This will be done through deduction from your monthly pay over a maximum of three months. It is also a requirement that all successful applicants register or are registered with the DBS update service where a DBS is required.
All new entrants to the NHS will be appointed on the minimum of the pay scale in line with Terms & Conditions.
Job overview
We are excited to share this opportunity for band 3 Healthcare Assistants to work within our Emergency Department and Emergency Admission Unit at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital in Gateshead. These roles are for experienced Healthcare Assistants who already have at least 6 months NHS experience who are interested in enhancing their skills by joining our Emergency and Acute care teams.These roles involve supporting the registered nurse workforce in the initial assessment, investigations and treatment for patients who attend our Emergency Department and Emergency Assessment Unit, as well as providing ongoing patient care for patients during their acute and emergency care journey.
Main duties of the job
Each individual has different needs however the list below outlines just some of the
practical duties that the post holder will undertake, support and enable people to/with:- Using appropriate assessment tools under supervision to assist the registered practitioner in assessment of the patients’ health and wellbeing needs.
- Initiate and carry out patient investigations when directed by registered staff
- Initiate emergency action when required e.g cardiac arrest, fire
- Identify/contribute to their own goals to improve their quality of life
- Participate in clinical skills as trained in line with role e.g recording ECG’s
- Participate in clinical skills as trained in line with role e.g phlebotomy
- Contribute to their own care/support/recovery plans
- Support individuals to express their needs and wishes
- Promote their personal hygiene and physical health.
- Actively engage in health promotion
- Engage in meaningful and enjoyable activity
- To support individuals with external activities/appointments under indirect supervision
- May have responsibility for patient monies/valuables which need to be handled within GHFT guidelines
- Assist individuals with activities of daily living encouraging active
participation and independence
Working for our organisation
Based in the North East of England we provide a range of hospital and community health services from our leading facilities, including the Queen Elizabeth Hospital, Blaydon urgent care centre and Bensham Hospital, all within Gateshead.
Established in 2005, we were one of the first foundation trusts in the country and since then have consistently achieved the highest levels of care for patients.
We now employ around 4,800 staff and currently provide 444 hospital beds across the Gateshead region.
Our values should be the ‘golden thread’ which runs through everything we do – they are the core of who we are. Our five values can easily be remembered by the simple acronym ICORE; Innovation, Care, Openness, Respect, Engagement.
We have a number of staff networks including the Global Ethnic Majority (GEM) network, D-Ability network, LGBTQ+ Network and the Women’s Network, to challenge us and help us to constantly improve. Our Armed Forces network is one of our emerging networks.
The health and wellbeing of our staff is one of our highest priorities, and we offer a range of support and initiatives as part of our ‘Balance’ programme balancegateshead.com to cater for our diverse workforce, so that your individual needs can be supported, allowing you a happy and healthy working experience with us.
Detailed job description and main responsibilities
Key responsibilities:- To abide by trust policies and procedures
- Build and maintain safe and effective therapeutic relationships
- Support individuals to contribute to collaborative care/support/recovery plans
- Support the named nurse to develop collaborative individual, patient centred care plans and implement them creatively using initiative.
- Communicate effectively with a wide range of people using a range of preferred methods
- Contribute to monitoring, observing and engaging with individuals,
- Gain an understanding of a person’s experiences in relation to their mental health, learning disability and/or dementia.
- Understand a person’s coping strategies and strengths and support people to use these at times of distress or difficulty
- Contribute to reflective practice and encourage compassion and understanding
- Be able to recognise increasing risk and alert significant others and the team to respond as needed
- Undertake a range of practical tasks and duties in support of the Team and individual needs.
- Follow principles of diffusion and de-escalation and where physical interventions or restraint are required, to approach in line with approved techniques considering the safety and dignity of the individual throughout.
- To feel confident to be able to report untoward incidents and areas of concern as soon as they arise
- To document any relevant information in an electronic record following relevant policy and legislation
- Contribute to individual reviews and team meetings
Person specification
Qualifications
Essential criteria- Maths and English GCSE or equivalent (e.g. functional skills; ENIC)
- Vocational qualification in health and social care (e.g. level 2/3 diploma)
- Care Certificate
- Willingness to attend training and development opportunities
Experience and Skills
Essential criteria- Venepuncture skills
- ECG recording skills
- Experience in supporting unwell patients
- Experience of working with people in a healthcare setting with mental illness, learning disability and/or dementia
- At least 6 months of recent NHS care experience.
- Computer literacy including ability to use clinical systems used within Emergency and acute settings
- Emergency or acute care experience
- Ability to speak and or read other languages
Applicants who have not been contacted within 4 weeks of the closing date are to assume that their application has been unsuccessful.
Applications from job seekers who require Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications where the post is eligible. For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website (Opens in a new tab).
From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants, applying for entry clearance into the UK, have had to present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years.Adult dependants (over 18 years old) are also subject to this requirement. Guidance can be found here Criminal records checks for overseas applicants (Opens in a new tab).
Candidates who require sponsorship are strongly advised to visit the UK Border Agency website and familiarise themselves with what is required. There is a facility on this site to access the points based calculator and work through an example which should assist candidates in their understanding of the process.