Healthcare Support Worker - Acute Medical Unit
Job overview
#CaretojoinusTSD ? Start you career as Healthcare Support Worker to make a difference.
The Acute Medical Unit (AMU) are looking for a Band 3 Healthcare Support Worker to join our positively vibrant team, that is proud to deliver valued-based care while developing our staff career progression.
This challenging fast pace unit sees a mixture of medically expected patients providing same day and rapid diagnostic with the aim of assisting and facilitating a same-day discharge.
We are looking for a flexible team player with excellent communication skills, who can work a mixture of shifts across our 7-day Rota. While this flexibility enables us to deliver a high quality of patient care, it allows you to have a healthy work-life balance.Therefore, your package with us includes a lot more than just your pay.
For an informal chat, please call our hiring manager Hayley Chamberlain.
Main duties of the job- Follow the individual plan of care for each patient when undertaking the following:
- Bed making
- Assist patients with personal hygiene including care of hair, nails, oral hygiene and shaving
- Assist with treatment and prevention of pressure areas and continence management for all patients
- Assist patients with elimination requirements, including catheter care
- Assist patients to rehabilitate, working with physiotherapy and occupational therapists
- Assist patients with choosing and recording intake of meals
- Feed patients, encouraging patients to drink and replenishing water jugs when necessary, maintain fluid balance charts as required
- Complete nutritional assessment records and weigh patients as required
- Monitoring and maintaining fluid balance records, food and weight charts as required for individual patients under the direction of a Registered Nurse, recording and reporting findings as required
- Use equipment competently following training
- Escort patients to other departments/hospitals for investigation or treatment as necessary, ensuring relevant paperwork/x-rays are available
- Following training and assessment, assist the Registered Nurse in other duties if appropriate including:
- Simple dressings
- Assisting with out-patient clinics
- Routine specimens and urine testing
- Taking and recording of temperature, pulse, blood pressure and oxygen saturation levels
- Blood glucose monitoring
- Venepuncture and Cannulation
- Basic life support
Working for our organisation
Why work with us - Torbay Hospital provides acute care for the local community and has several community hospitals, and is a hot-spot for those who are considering living by the sea or within half an hour of Dartmoor National Park and an hour to Exmoor National Park.Meanwhile, Plymouth and Exeter are also both within a short drive to enjoy the culture, maritime history and shopping experiences.
We work in an integrated way with allied health care professionals within the locality, and are a motivated and caring team to both patients and colleagues.
Listed are a few of the additional benefits that are available to you as an employee:
- NHS Pension Scheme
- Childcare at our day nursery
- Generous Holiday Entitlement, starting at 27 days a year (for full time workers) plus bank/public holidays
- Staff Discounts
- Career development and training opportunities
- Employee Support - Staff have access to a 24-hour helpline
Our people are caring, committed, inclusive and centred on quality. We focus on solutions and people’s strengths. We encourage outside the box thinking and embrace innovation and change wherever it can drive improvement.
If you share our values and vision and are passionate about working with people on what matters to them, you could be a real asset to our Torbay and South Devon team.
Detailed job description and main responsibilities- Answer the telephone, take messages and refer to the Registered Nurse for instructions
- To take part as requested in ward/unit meetings, encouraging effective communications between other staff
- Assisting with the undertaking and implementation of risk assessments
- Undertake direct patient care, in support of, and under the delegation of the Registered Nurse, and document care given as required
- Assist in the reception and admission of patients
Full vacancy details can be found on the attached Job Description/Person Specification.
Please refer to your suitability to the post in your supporting information from the role requirements or person specification.
Person specification
Qualifications and training
Essential criteria- NVQ Level 3 in Health & Social Care or equivalent qualification/experience
- Care certificate
- English & Mathematics at GSCE grade A-C (9-4) or level 2 functional skills
Knowledge and experience
Essential criteria- Previous experience in a care environment or able to demonstrate a caring nature/ life experience
- Understands the need for strict confidentiality
- Working knowledge of complex care needs of some individuals/families including Safeguarding Children & Adults, Domestic Abuse and Mental Health
Specific skills
Essential criteria- Basic computer/keyboard skills
- Fine motor skills – for venepuncture, phlebotomy and other clinical tasks
- Good interpersonal and communication skills
- Able to prioritise and organise work
- Able to work under instruction, under pressure and as part of a team
- Record keeping competency in handwritten and electronic records
- Able to demonstrate empathy, sensitivity, and to adapt communication style to circumstances
- Able to manage stress in themselves and others
- Able to offer support at times of emotional distress
- Willingness to undertake new skills and training
- Able to work as a team member or independently
- Ability to adapt behaviour to changing and challenging situations
- To be flexible, adaptable, reliable and punctual
- The post holder must demonstrate a positive commitment to uphold diversity and equality policies approved by the Trust
- Healthcare competencies appropriate to area of work
You will be joining the organisation at an exciting time. As the first fully integrated care organisation in England, we are working to improve the way we deliver safe, high-quality health and social care. We have a positive and vibrant working atmosphere, we are proud of our investment in our staff both in terms of developing potential career skills and valuing people.
If you provide support to a family member or friend with health or care needs, we aim to be a Carer-friendly employer. We have a ‘Staff Carers’ policy which includes flexible working where possible and a Carer’s Passport scheme that links you into support and discounts.
IMPORTANT INFORMATION- We reserve the right to close vacancies early if we receive a high volume of applications. Therefore, we encourage you to apply promptly.
- Please read the job description carefully and tailor your application to reflect the requirements of the role.
- Applicants who identify in their application form they are a part of the Armed Forces community will be guaranteed an interview, provided they meet the minimum essential criteria outlined in the job description and person specification for the role. Step into Health guidance can be found on our NHS Employers website.
- Correspondence will be sent via Trac, text, and email. Please ensure you check your email and Trac account regularly.
- Applicants with no previous NHS experience will ordinarily be appointed to the minimum of the band.
- If you have not received an invitation to interview within 28 days of the closing date, please assume that your application has been unsuccessful on this occasion.
- It is your responsibility to ensure the timely receipt of appropriate references.
If you require support you can obtain this from our Equality Business Forum which has representatives from all protected groups.