Senior Healthcare Assistant

Job overview

Senior Healthcare Assistant

Hours: 37.5 per week, all MKUH roles will be considered for flexible working

Do you have a passion for patient care and want to work in a fast-paced hospital environment? Are you a committed, caring and collaborative individual?

Therefore, you will need to always be pro-active, alert and ready for anything.

As a Healthcare Assistant in the Emergency Department, you will work collaboratively with Staff Nurses, Consultants and ambulance staff. We are looking for pro-active, enthusiastic, compassionate individuals who understand the importance of excellence in health and safety and who enjoy working as part of a team.

You must be understanding of accurate documentation within the workplace, be self-motivated be wanting to improve patient lives and be caring at all times when communicating with staff, patients and their family members.

Here is more information on how the ED runs within Milton Keynes Hospital:

Welcome to the Emergency Department - Milton Keynes University Hospital (mkuh.nhs.uk)

Proposed Interview date: 28th February 2025

Main duties of the job

The role of the senior healthcare assistant is to assist the nursing team and support Junior healthcare assistants in the delivery of safe effective care to the patient.

Please be advised that if you do not have an NHS Care Certificate you will be required to complete this within the first 12 weeks of employment. Once this has been completed, you will become Band 3.

• A staggering 93% of colleagues in the Additional Clinical Services Group feel trusted to do their job and always know their responsibilities.’ (NHS Staff Survey 2023).

You can expect a warm welcome at Milton Keynes University Hospital, our staff are friendly and welcoming. We listen to each other and work together to embed our Trusts values and behaviours. At MKUH we appreciate our staff and reward them with an outstanding benefits package including:

• Free on-site parking
• Free tea and coffee
• Great flexible working opportunities
• Discounted gym membership
• Lease car scheme
• Generous annual leave and pension scheme
• On site nursery (chargeable)
• Extensive staff health and well-being programme

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Detailed job description and main responsibilities

Main duties and responsibilities

To assist all team members as required in the direct delivery of patient care. Undertake/assist in personal care duties for patients when required. Ensure privacy and dignity is maintained.

Utilise appropriate moving and handling aids to reduce the risk of injury to the patient and themselves. Ensure the safe transfer of patients to Wards and Departments using trolleys and wheelchairs which require steering and manipulation.

To have knowledge of clinical observations, glucose monitoring and urinalysis, all requiring the use of equipment or tools and require an understanding of the correct escalation process, reporting patient conditions to a senior member of staff.

To assist in the induction of new staff within the department, demonstrating duties to new starters. Lead in setting an example to new starters to ensure safe and effective care.

To organise own daily workload, adjusting and prioritising appropriately as the department actively dictates.

Please refer to Job Description for further details

We believe success lies in the diversity of our employees and are committed to promoting equality, encouraging diversity and embracing inclusion. We welcome applications from everyone interested in working for us.

MKUH is committed to equal opportunities and improving the working lives of our staff and as such we offer a range of flexible working practices.

We reserve the right to expire vacancies prior to the advertised closing date once a sufficient number of applications have been received.

MKUH uses identification scanning technology to confirm the authenticity of documents; all prospective employees of MKUH will have their original documents verified using this technology.

This is in accordance with the streamlining programme which aims at saving you time and improving efficiencies within the NHS when your employment transfers.

Upon commencing employment with the Trust, all employees (except Medical & Dental Staff on national terms and conditions) are subject to a probationary period lasting a period of six months with an option to extend for a further six months to a total of 12 months.

Person specification

Qualifications and knowledge

• Maths and English GCSE or equivalent
• CARE Certificate
• Awareness of NHS policies
• Awareness of infection control issues
• Understanding of Health and Safety in the workplace
• Further learning- apprenticeship, higher development award, NVQ level 3 relevant to healthcare.

• Assessors training/certificate

Experience

• Relevant experience in a care setting
• Experience of working in a team

• Previous NHS experience
• Experience in an acute setting/ED environment

Skills

• Accurate record keeping/IT skills.
• Ability to work under pressure.
• Ability to prioritise/delegate tasks effectively at short notice.
• Delivering high standard of care in line with Trust policies.
• Good time management.
• Ensure equipment is well maintained and clean, taking appropriate action if the equipment is at fault.
• Undertake safe transfer/escort of patients between settings.

• Competent in skills such as Electrocardiogram, phlebotomy & cannulation, Plastering, venous blood gas sampling, minor injuries skills.
• Restocking and ordering of supplies and equipment.

Personal and people development

• Adaptable.
• Work under pressure.
• Proactive attitude.
• Ability to motivate and lead staff.

Communication

• Clear spoken and written English.
• Able to show empathy and respect for families and patients.
• Able to work alongside the multidisciplinary team, carrying out instructions and feeding back information.
• Able to document care provided and use trust documentation within trust policy and guidelines.
• Able to feedback to staff on safe and effective practice.
• Able to act/feedback on assessments undertaken.