Health Care Support Worker

Responsibilities

• Assist in the care of a group of patients each shift under the supervision of a Registered Nurse.
• Assist in the delivery of clinical care and associated activities, in line with appropriate standards and guidelines.
• Promote and safeguard the well‑being of patients, their families and colleagues.
• Document care given in patient’s care plan and ensure this is countersigned by a Registered Nurse.
• Use accurate, clear and concise documentation, written or electronically.
• Use personal effectiveness and knowledge to contribute to the development and delivery of a high‑quality, cost‑effective service.
• Within the remit of your role and under supervision, contribute to the planning and completion of holistic assessments.
• Have an understanding of care planning and participate in nursing interventions, as delegated by a registered Nurse / Practitioner.
• Liaise and work with all members of the multi‑disciplinary team.
• Anticipate the needs of the patients to ensure comfort, safety and dignity at all times.
• Participate in the daily handover and meetings.
• Supervise, support and help Registered Nurses in the development and orientation of other Health Care Assistants.
• Have responsibility for the tidiness and promoting cleanliness of all patient areas, including equipment rooms and storerooms.
• Ensure beds and equipment are properly cleaned between patient use.
• With appropriate training, the Clinical Support Worker will gain skills, knowledge and competence to undertake / perform the following:
  • Record and report temperature, pulse, blood pressure, respiratory rate and oxygen saturations.
  • Complete NEWS documentation and escalation and report results to the appropriate Registered Nurse / Practitioner.
  • Track patients.
  • Record blood sugar readings obtained by capillary sampling.
  • Complete and total 24‑hour fluid balance charts and assist in continence management.
  • Remove urinary catheters.
  • Perform venepuncture.
  • Perform ECG.
  • Collect blood samples.
  • Remove wound dressings under the supervision of the registered practitioner and reapply a basic dressing using aseptic technique (excluding cavity wounds, diabetic wounds or grade 3 pressure ulcers).
  • Care for a patient with a nasogastric tube or PEG tube in situ (must not aspirate the tube or commence any enteral feeding regime).
  • Act as a companion for transfer to other wards, departments and hospitals following discussion/mutual agreement between the post holder and the Registered Practitioner in charge of the ward.
  • Prepare and maintain environments for clinical procedures to be carried out.
  • Support patients before, during and after clinical procedures, treatments and investigations.

• Foster good working relationships and effectively communicate with members of the multidisciplinary team, users of the service and other healthcare professionals.
• Give clear, concise reports on patients' progress and concerns to the multidisciplinary team.
• Communicate information to distressed and/or bereaved people in a sensitive manner.
• Manage situations where people are distressed or angry in an effective, safe manner.
• Have excellent telephone communication skills, taking calls from patients, carers and members of the multidisciplinary team and managing their concerns effectively and sensitively.
• Work in accordance with NHS Trust policies to ensure that confidentiality is always maintained.

• Participate in the appraisal process.
• Keep up to date with statutory and mandatory training.
• Attend study/training sessions to ensure knowledge, skills and competence are updated and maintained.

• Able to prioritise own workload.
• Be able to recognise when patients are deteriorating, unwell and report to the appropriate Registered Practitioner.

George Eliot Hospital NHS Trust opened in 1948 and provides a range of elective, non‑elective, surgical, medical, women's, children’s, diagnostic and therapeutic services to a population of more than 350,000 people. The hub of the Trust is located on the outskirts of Nuneaton and its services cover a large footprint, including north Warwickshire, south‑west…