Healthcare Assistant

Job summary

As a support worker you will be working closely with individuals, providing care to enable them complete activities of daily living in Hospital / Home / Care setting with support from a Multi-Disciplinary team of nurses, occupational therapists, psychologists, social workers and doctors.

1. Undertakes a range of delegated clinical care duties in hospital, community, or other settings

2. Records patient observations and changes to patient clinical conditions

3. Carries out limited clinical care duties

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:

o Using appropriate assessment tools under supervision to assist the registered practitioner in assessment of the patients' health and wellbeing needs. Initiate emergency action when required e.g cardiac arrest, fire

o Identify/contribute to their own goals to improve their quality of life

o Participate in clinical skills as trained in line with role e.g recording ECG's

o Contribute to their own care/support/recovery plans

o Support individuals to express their needs and wishes Promote their personal hygiene and physical health.

o Actively engage in health promotion

o Engage in meaningful and enjoyable activity

o To support individuals with external activities/appointments under indirect supervision

o May have responsibility for patient monies/valuables which need to be handled within GHFT guidelines

o Assist individuals with activities of daily living encouraging active participation and independence

About us

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 acronymICORE; 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.

Job 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, communicating outcomes and conclusions with the rest of the team

Gain an understanding of a persons experiences in relation to their mental health, learning disability and/or dementia.

Understand a persons 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

• English qualification GCSE or equivalent
• Maths qualification GCSE or equivalent
• Vocational qualification in health and social care (e.g. care certificate; level 2/3 diploma)

Experience

Essential

• NHS experience relevant for the role
• Experience of working with people in a healthcare setting with mental illness, learning disability and/or dementia
• Effective communication and listening skills

Desirable

• Venepuncture skills