Senior Healthcare Assistant - GU Medicine
Job overview
SHiP Sexual Health and Contraception Services HCA Band 2 Vacancy
SHiP is an integrated Sexual Health and Contraception Service which delivers sexual health, HIV Medicine, contraception, and termination of pregnancy services citywide across Plymouth and neighbouring areas.
With support and training, the successful candidate will embrace the challenge of working in a highly demanding environment where excellent customer service skills and attention to detail are paramount. We currently offer a five day a week service that includes outreach clinics across the city.
Preference will be given to internal Trust staff, as well as ‘Priority’ and 'At Risk' status including NHS at Risk staff throughout Devon who is able to display recent relevant experience as dictated by the Person Specification.
Main duties of the job- Regularly support care on a day-to-day basis for all patients in SHiP under indirect supervision from the registered nurses and band 3 & 4 HCA team
- The post holder will be expected to work throughout the SHiP – Plymouth network as required rostered over a five day service. This includes sexual health, contraception and pregnancy advisory clinics.
- Communication with other staff and patients at all levels and always maintaining a professional non-judgemental approach.
- To ensure due regard is given to customs, values and spiritual beliefs of patients, carers and their relatives.
- Assist with the examination of patients, which may including treatments, assist with the collection and then the subsequent safe processing of all clinical specimens according to clinic protocol. This will routinely include the collection of blood sample.
- Provide a complete chaperone service to patients of the service during clinical sessions including in the pregnancy advisory clinics.
- Responsible for booking of patients appointments in person and over the telephone often for patients who are in a distressed state.
- Carrying out reception duties and preparing the notes for the necessary clinics – this may be on any of our yourSHiP sites.
- The effective and efficient management of our dedicated Sexual Health IT system, ensuring strict adherence and compliance to all Trust Policies and procedures are met.
- Contribute to resource management and efficiency.
Working for our organisation
We are a people business – where every member of staff matters and can make a difference. Patients are at the heart of everything we do. Joining University Hospitals Plymouth NHS Trust means becoming part of a team of dedicated staff, who are committed to leading the way through innovation, clinical excellence and great customer care.The Trust has great opportunities for career development in a highly progressive working environment. We offer all of this in a vibrant, modern city with a historic reputation for adventure. PLEASE NOTE THAT ALL COMMUNICATION WILL BE ELECTRONIC, PLEASE CHECK YOUR EMAIL ACCOUNT REGULARLY.
If you have any issues with applying online and need additional support including reasonable adjustments with the application process please contact the recruitment team on 01752 432100. We recognise that work life balance is important for our colleagues and so we invite requests from applicants around less than full time/flexible working for our advertised roles.
Please contact the recruiting manager to discuss this prior to your application submission. We commit to giving this full consideration in each case. We encourage people from diverse backgrounds to apply for our roles, as diversity strengthens our teams.
It is sometimes necessary to close vacancies before the closing date. If you have not heard from us within 4 weeks of the closing date, please assume that you have not been shortlisted.
Detailed job description and main responsibilities- PRIMARY DUTIES & AREAS OF RESPONSIBILITY
- Provide and deliver a high standard of nursing care, recognising and meeting the specific needs of patients who attend sexual health clinics at all sites where we operate. This will procedure duties, - phlebotomy, pregnancy testing, urine analysis and any other clinical tests once competency achieved.
- Prepare clinic environment and equipment for commencement of sexual health clinics whether on site at Derriford or outreach clinics, performing relevant safety checks.
- With indirect supervision, manage own clinical workload within the competencies of the post.
- To assist patients and provide chaperone duties which may include comforting when clinical procedures are being carried out
- To carry out clinical observations on patients, recognising, recording and reporting all changes in patients condition to senior staff.
- To share responsibility in the care and maintenance of all equipment in the clinic and stock control.
- Prepare trolleys for elective clean procedures as instructed
- To complete basic forms and stationary as required and maintain stock levels of patient information leaflets in clinical areas
- To maintain a clean and tidy clinic area, managing equipment and stores in the appropriate manner, participating in clinic audits and assessments
- To be efficient in the use of the Sexual Health IT system (Inform). To input, amend and modify data and information accurately and consistently within policies and procedures.
- To register new patients on Inform ensuring double registration does not occur. Create notes for clinics and, if requested to do so, order hospital notes as appropriate.
- To book new and follow up appointments on Inform
- Create relevant patient alerts on the inform system where required and ensure that all HIV, Syphilis and Hepatitis patients are flagged appropriately.
- Undertake the escort of patients to other departments under the direction of the registered nurse.
- To recognise the importance of health education and teaching of patients and carers, and refer patients to senior staff
- Document and sign for all care / tests undertaken on the appropriate record sheet.
- Report untoward incidents, complaints, clinical emergencies to senior nursing staff or clinic manager
- Respond accurately to telephone enquiries referring to the appropriate senior staff member.
- To maintain his/her own professional development, attending courses/further training to enhance and optimise his/her role within the work area.
- To participate in the training and development of Health Care Assistants, student nurses and locum staff in the department.
- To promote and safeguard the well-being of patients, their families and colleagues
- To respect the confidential information, in line with Trust policy Data Protection Act, and specific sexual health confidentiality directions as you will have access to confidential patient information; you must not disclose this information.
- Maintain boundaries of confidentiality in accordance with NHS and Primary Care Trusts (Sexually Transmitted Diseases) Directions 2000 and PHNT policy.
- To be familiar with and adhere to Trust and Departmental policies and procedures mindful of responsibilities to self, colleagues and patients.
- - All Job Holders are required to:
- Work to the Trust values - Put patients first, Take ownership, Respect others, Be positive, Listen, learn and improve.
- Adhere to Trust policies and procedures
- Maintain personal and professional development to meet the changing demands of the job.
- Attend statutory, essential and mandatory training.
- Respect the confidentiality of all matters relating to their employment and other members of staff. All members of staff are required to comply with the requirements of the Data Protection Act 1998.
- Comply with the Corporate Governance structure in keeping with the principles and standards set out by the Trust.
- Ensure they are familiar with the Risk Management Framework, follow policies, procedures and safe systems of work.
- Ensure the welfare and safety of children within their care. This includes staff who come into contact with children and families in the course of their work as well as those staff who have a specific role with children and families.
- Ensure they attend Child Protection training at the appropriate level within the specified time frame.
- Staff must comply with Safeguarding Policies and Procedures in order to promote safeguarding and prevent abuse to vulnerable people
- Maintain the prevention and control of infection
- Take responsibility for any records that they create or use in the course of their duties.
Person specification
Knowledge & Experience
Essential criteria- Be able to work as a member of a team
- Demonstrable experience of time management and prioritising work
- Understands and committed to a caring approach to patients & relatives
- Demonstrable experience of providing care in a healthcare or social setting
Qualifications
Essential criteria- One of the following: Level 3 (SCQF – 6): - City and Guilds 3, NVQ 3, BTEC National Diploma, demonstrable experience equivalent to the above qualifications
- Level 2 Functional skills in English and Math’s, or equivalent
- Completion of Level 3 Diploma in Healthcare Support (that maps to the Apprenticeship Standard for Senior Health Care Support Worker)
- Equivalent demonstrable experience
PLEASE NOTE THAT ALL COMMUNICATION WILL BE ELECTRONIC, PLEASE CHECK YOUR EMAIL ACCOUNT REGULARLY INCLUDING YOUR JUNK FOLDER.
If you need support with the online application process or require reasonable adjustments with the application and/or interview process please contact the Recruiting Manager for this post.
We recognise that work life balance is important for our colleagues and so we invite requests from applicants about less than full time/flexible working for our advertised roles. We recommend contacting the manager of the role prior to applying and we commit to giving requests full consideration.
We welcome and encourage applicants who identify with all protected characteristics to apply for our roles. We believe that diversity strengthens our teams and improves our patients' experience. At UHP we aim to create an inclusive workplace and hospital where everyone feels they belong and included.
It is sometimes necessary to close vacancies before the closing date. If you have not heard from us within 4 weeks of the closing date, please assume that you have not been shortlisted.
Providing false information is an offence & could result in the application being rejected or summary dismissal/police action if an applicant is successful.
Please note that if you are successful in your application & accept the position you agree that the Staff Health and Wellbeing Department can access your health records from your current/previous employer in order to check the status of your inoculations & screening tests.This is an automated process & the information will only be used for these purposes prior to your taking up the position with us.
For Doctors Roles:
Unsolicited CVs and Candidate Profiles/Details
University Hospitals Plymouth has a commitment to sourcing candidates directly and as such we do not accept speculative CVs from agencies.
We do, however, work with a defined list of preferred HTE Framework suppliers who may be invited to support us in sourcing candidates for particular roles.
In line with our preferred supplier list, we only pay agency fees where we have a signed agreement in place and an agency has been instructed by a member of the Trust’s Medical Workforce team.
We do not pay agency fees where speculative and unsolicited CVs are submitted to the Trust or Trust employees by any other means than the official route above. Where this is not observed the Trust reserves the right to contact these candidates directly and initiate discussions without payment of any agency fee.
Any candidate details (whether written or spoken) or CVs that are referred directly will not constitute an introduction. The Trust will under no circumstances be responsible for any recruitment fees in relation to these contacts.
Submission of any unsolicited CVs, candidate’s details and/or proposals to the Trust will not be considered further and will be deemed evidence of full and unlimited acceptance of this Agency Protocol.
In order to establish and maintain good working relationships with the Trust’s agency suppliers, we ask that this Protocol is adhered to and thank you for your co-operation.