Job summary An exciting opportunity has arisen within Sefton Place; as part of a leg ulcer service pilot. We are seeking to appoint a highly enthusiastic and motivated individual to join the service as a Health Care Assistant. Successful applicant would work under the direction of the leg ulcer nurse, Teamleader/Clinical leads supporting the provision of high quality holistic specialist nursing care to patients. The Health Care Assistant will work without direct supervision on occasions providing care to patients in the community and clinic settingfollowing appropriate training and supervision to ensure clinical competence and safe effective care. Main duties of the job The postholder will work as part of the multidisciplinary team and will assist and support the clinical team(s). This may include working within the patient's home environment and other clinical settings within community.Ensure the delivery of the quality strategy within the designated area incorporating establishment of systems and processes. About us Mersey Care is one of the largest trusts providing physical health and mental health services in the North West, serving more than 1.4 million people across our region and are also commissioned for services that cover the North West, North Wales and the Midlands. We offer specialist inpatient and community services that support physical and mental health and specialist inpatient mental health, learning disability, addiction and brain injury services. Mersey Care is one of only three trusts in the UK that offer high secure mental health facilities. At the heart of all we do is our commitment to 'perfect care' - care that is safe, effective, positively experienced, timely, equitable and efficient. We support our staff to do the best job they can and work alongside service users, their families, and carers to design and develop future services together. We're currently delivering a programme of organisational and service transformation to significantly improve the quality of the services we provide and safely reduce cost as we do so. Flexible working requests will be considered for all roles. Date posted 01 November 2024 Pay scheme Agenda for change Band Band 3 Salary £24,071 to £25,674 a year per annum Contract Fixed term Duration 12 months Working pattern Full-time Reference number 350-CC6760698 Job locations Sefton Place Sefton PR8 6PL Job description Job responsibilities 1. Carry out a range of clinical procedures including leg ulcer, wound and pressure ulcer care in arrange of setting such as clinics, nursing homes and patient own homes with supervision from trained member of staff.2. Undertake screening processes such as, blood pressure, height, weight, urinalysis and blood glucose measurements and collection specimens for laboratory investigations.3. Prepare `and clear clinical settings.4. Assist with assessments, reassessments and Doppler ultrasound.5. Undertake a range of personal care activities with patient such as removing soiled bandages and dressings, cleaning wounds, applying treatments and creams under supervision of trained staff. This will include maintaining personal dignity and privacy when undertaking these activities.6. Work within existing clinical guidelines, protocol and infection control procedures.7. Offer advice to patients and carers on range of health issues such as avoidance of pressure damage, prevention of reoccurrence of leg ulceration, excise importance of emollients treatments in dermatology conditions.8. Communicate factual and sensitive information to patients and carers form diverse backgrounds and/or with variety of sensory deficits, ensuring their strategies to overcome barriers to communication and understandings.9. Offer a level of psychological support to patients and carers in arrange situations and conditions such as psoriasis, eczema, leg and pressure ulcers.10. Ensure contemporaneous record keeping both manual and computer based that supports care and delivery by range of professionals and provide an audit trail.11. Understand process of cardio-pulmonary resuscitation, associated emergency. Procedure and appropriate contacts in changing and complex situations. All procedures will be undertaken after theoretical underpinning and regular updating is demonstrated.12. Be accountable for own clinical practice.13. Show analytic skills through interpretation of test results using policies/ SOP and flow charts.14. Skills and competencies complete in leg ulcer management,15. Be an advocate for patients whilst conducting well leg clinic and also when supporting the specialist nurses16. Educating patients in well leg clinics to self-care in managing their hosiery and skin conditions.17. Enable individuals to develop necessary skills in health promotion, the ability to discuss and explain information leaflets provided. Identifying the risks and educating the patient.18. Collaborative working, discussing patient issues within safety huddle, to ensure that appropriate decisions have been made.19. Recognise the different health needs for individual patients assessment. Across localities.20. Liaising with GPs, and other health professionals.21. Appling compression bandaging under supervision from trained nurse.22. Working on audits required by the organisation. Data inputting of patient information, using spread sheets for archiving within the trust guidelines. Leg ulcer Audit23. Undertaken relevant mandatory training is complete and up to date.Administration.24. Assisting with entry of information on database.25. Photocopying, of information as requested.26. Assisting nurses in organising their caseload through discharge of patients.27. Offer support to nurses and students from a variety of disciplines.28. Undertake teaching with patient and carers to improve concordance.Health and SafetyAll staff will be expected to take responsibility for their own health and wellbeing, safety and security and assist in maintaining a healthy, safe and secure working environment for everyone. They must not intentionally misuse or interfere with anything provided in the interests of health and safety e.g., misuse of equipment. It is a legal requirement that all employees attend training provided by the employer and report to their manager without delay, any accidents, incidents, and defects in equipment, place of work or system of work which might endanger safety, health or security of which he/she becomes aware. Job description Job responsibilities 1. Carry out a range of clinical procedures including leg ulcer, wound and pressure ulcer care in arrange of setting such as clinics, nursing homes and patient own homes with supervision from trained member of staff.2. Undertake screening processes such as, blood pressure, height, weight, urinalysis and blood glucose measurements and collection specimens for laboratory investigations.3. Prepare `and clear clinical settings.4. Assist with assessments, reassessments and Doppler ultrasound.5. Undertake a range of personal care activities with patient such as removing soiled bandages and dressings, cleaning wounds, applying treatments and creams under supervision of trained staff. This will include maintaining personal dignity and privacy when undertaking these activities.6. Work within existing clinical guidelines, protocol and infection control procedures.7. Offer advice to patients and carers on range of health issues such as avoidance of pressure damage, prevention of reoccurrence of leg ulceration, excise importance of emollients treatments in dermatology conditions.8. Communicate factual and sensitive information to patients and carers form diverse backgrounds and/or with variety of sensory deficits, ensuring their strategies to overcome barriers to communication and understandings.9. Offer a level of psychological support to patients and carers in arrange situations and conditions such as psoriasis, eczema, leg and pressure ulcers.10. Ensure contemporaneous record keeping both manual and computer based that supports care and delivery by range of professionals and provide an audit trail.11. Understand process of cardio-pulmonary resuscitation, associated emergency. Procedure and appropriate contacts in changing and complex situations. All procedures will be undertaken after theoretical underpinning and regular updating is demonstrated.12. Be accountable for own clinical practice.13. Show analytic skills through interpretation of test results using policies/ SOP and flow charts.14. Skills and competencies complete in leg ulcer management,15. Be an advocate for patients whilst conducting well leg clinic and also when supporting the specialist nurses16. Educating patients in well leg clinics to self-care in managing their hosiery and skin conditions.17. Enable individuals to develop necessary skills in health promotion, the ability to discuss and explain information leaflets provided. Identifying the risks and educating the patient.18. Collaborative working, discussing patient issues within safety huddle, to ensure that appropriate decisions have been made.19. Recognise the different health needs for individual patients assessment. Across localities.20. Liaising with GPs, and other health professionals.21. Appling compression bandaging under supervision from trained nurse.22. Working on audits required by the organisation. Data inputting of patient information, using spread sheets for archiving within the trust guidelines. Leg ulcer Audit23. Undertaken relevant mandatory training is complete and up to date.Administration.24. Assisting with entry of information on database.25. Photocopying, of information as requested.26. Assisting nurses in organising their caseload through discharge of patients.27. Offer support to nurses and students from a variety of disciplines.28. Undertake teaching with patient and carers to improve concordance.Health and SafetyAll staff will be expected to take responsibility for their own health and wellbeing, safety and security and assist in maintaining a healthy, safe and secure working environment for everyone. They must not intentionally misuse or interfere with anything provided in the interests of health and safety e.g., misuse of equipment. It is a legal requirement that all employees attend training provided by the employer and report to their manager without delay, any accidents, incidents, and defects in equipment, place of work or system of work which might endanger safety, health or security of which he/she becomes aware. Person Specification Qualifications Essential NVQ level three or equivalent experience and evidence of working at that level Portfolio of NVQ evidence Willing to work flexibly in terms of hours and location to meet patient need Experience of using IT systems to support patient care Commitment to self-development and willingness to undertake level three NVQ Knowledge/Experience Essential Range of clinical skills as described in job description Ability to work as part of a team and commitment to offering support to colleagues and learner from all disciplines Well-developed oral and written communication skills Able to keep accurate written and electronic contemporaneous records Commitment to equal opportunities and knowledge of cultural diversity. Evidence of time management skills. Health and Safety Able to work without direct supervision once delegated from team leader Ability to plan own workload Offer advice to patients and carers on a wide range of health issues to include health promotion, lifestyle advice and self-care Desirable Understanding of local delivery plan Skills Essential Able to work without direct supervision Able to plan clinic appointments Ability to undertake clinical interventions commensurate with NVQ level 3 skills Able to work as a team member Excellent developed oral and written communication skills Able to work in a confidential and sensitive manner Able to travel for work purposes Person Specification Qualifications Essential NVQ level three or equivalent experience and evidence of working at that level Portfolio of NVQ evidence Willing to work flexibly in terms of hours and location to meet patient need Experience of using IT systems to support patient care Commitment to self-development and willingness to undertake level three NVQ Knowledge/Experience Essential Range of clinical skills as described in job description Ability to work as part of a team and commitment to offering support to colleagues and learner from all disciplines Well-developed oral and written communication skills Able to keep accurate written and electronic contemporaneous records Commitment to equal opportunities and knowledge of cultural diversity. Evidence of time management skills. Health and Safety Able to work without direct supervision once delegated from team leader Ability to plan own workload Offer advice to patients and carers on a wide range of health issues to include health promotion, lifestyle advice and self-care Desirable Understanding of local delivery plan Skills Essential Able to work without direct supervision Able to plan clinic appointments Ability to undertake clinical interventions commensurate with NVQ level 3 skills Able to work as a team member Excellent developed oral and written communication skills Able to work in a confidential and sensitive manner Able to travel for work purposes Disclosure and Barring Service Check This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions. Employer details Employer name Mersey Care NHS Foundation Trust Address Sefton Place Sefton PR8 6PL Employer's website https://www.merseycare.nhs.uk/ (Opens in a new tab)