Enhanced Care Healthcare Support Worker, Band 3
Gloucestershire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
We have a unique new opportunity for you to join our team as an Enhanced Care Healthcare Support Worker (12-month Fixed-Term).
Are you an experienced Healthcare Support Worker with a passion for providing dedicated, person-centred care? This is part of an innovative project aimed at enhancing care for individuals with additional needs. Secondment opportunities are also available.
We're looking for compassionate and adaptable Healthcare Support Workers who thrive in a more focused care environment, working with a small number of patients or providing 1:1 support. Your role will involve working with teenagers, young adults, individuals with learning disabilities or autism, as well as older adults with dementia or delirium.
In this role, you will be matched with patients daily, adapting your approach to meet their specific needs and interests.
If you are patient, resourceful, and dedicated to making a difference in the lives of vulnerable individuals, we'd love to hear from you.
The proposed interview date is: 22nd February
Main duties of the job
Patients are likely to be recent admissions, young people and adults, where clinical staff have not fully diagnosed the cause of the patient's problems and have identified known additional needs. Their own carers may be unavailable or the patient is disturbing others overnight.
1. Work across Adults and Children's services.
2. Be trained in safe hold and participate in restraints where Nasogastric Feeding is required.
3. Provide physical care with the assistance of ward staff.
4. Promote a healthy waking/sleep balance so that patient(s) is (are) able to sleep overnight.
5. Encouraging activities based on the 'This is Me' document, Health passport, High intensity User plan, Health Play Specialist recommendations or Hospital Education recommendations as applicable to age and cognition.
6. Complete the daily section of the Enhanced Care record.
7. Engage and involve the patient's next of kin, family or familiar carers as far as it is possible and safe to do so.
About us
You will be working in a completely new team. The team manager will allocate Enhanced Care HCSWs to patients who meet the Enhanced Care criteria.
We are keen to improve patient experience, as we want patients to rest and recover from their illness or injury. The vision is that this team will work to structure a patient's day to ensure that they get sufficient rest between care episodes and that their overnight sleep is maximised.
Because it can be both immensely rewarding and emotionally draining to look after patients with additional needs, you will be allocated regular clinical supervision with senior Enhanced Care team staff.
Joining a new team is always exciting, but also a bit uncertain. Everyone will be new to the team so there is considerable scope to be creative and innovative to improve the experience of the patients the team are caring for and for the other patients on each ward, who are not able to sleep because one patient in their bay is agitated.
Job responsibilities
You will be a valuable member of the team delivering Clinical and Personal care to patients, this may include washing, dressing and feeding patients. You will also be key in supporting patients with their own self-care and independence.
You will be required to wear a uniform following the Trust uniform policy and will be expected to come to work on time.
You will be supporting registered healthcare staff to deliver high quality, compassionate healthcare to people in accordance with assessed needs and a care plan.
You will be working together with your team to balance different tasks which often change.
Your delegated daily duties will be varied but may include:
1. Blood pressure monitoring.
2. Body temperature.
3. Pulse rate and respiration rate.
4. Glucose monitoring.
5. Collection and testing of urine.
6. Faecal and sputum samples.
7. Wound swabs.
8. Removal of urinary catheters.
9. Venepuncture.
10. Recording your actions accurately in relevant IT systems.
Working as part of a team and on your own, you will draw from your knowledge, skills and experience, to make informed decisions and use your initiative, also knowing when to seek support.
We are passionate about patient experience. We know that some people find coming into hospital difficult. Adapting how you communicate to meet the needs of patients, relatives, carers as well as colleagues with kindness and compassion is fundamental to how we work together at Gloucestershire Hospitals.
You will need to promote Infection Prevention and Control, following Trust policies and procedures.
You will ensure all patient-related information is treated sensitively and adhere to the principles of confidentiality at all times.
You will take care in handling patient and Trust property and may be required to order supplies and restock.
You will help to support, develop and welcome new colleagues, students and others to your area of work.
There will be opportunities to develop your knowledge and skills, specific to your needs and area of work. You will also be supported to obtain your care certificate if you do not already have this.
Ana Gleghorn (Associate Chief Nurse for Workforce & Education)
Email: a.gleghorn@nhs.net Tel: 0300 422 5036
Person Specification
Qualifications and Training
* Level 2 Functional Skills in English and Maths, or equivalent, GCSEs or equivalent.
* Qualifications at level 2 or 3 in Health and/or social care that is nationally recognised. This could be an NVQ, BTEC, apprenticeship or equivalent international qualification in healthcare. OR Able to demonstrate the equivalent level of experience.
* Completion of a care certificate.
Knowledge and Experience
* Be able to work as a team member.
* Experience of time management and prioritising work.
* Understands and committed to a caring approach to patients and relatives.
* Experience of providing care in a healthcare or social setting.
Skills and Abilities
* Effective and appropriate communication skills both written and verbal.
* Able to complete appropriate documentation accurately.
* Committed to providing high quality patient care.
* Ability to work with minimum supervision to a high standard.
* Demonstrate an awareness of healthcare work and policies and procedures.
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 name
Gloucestershire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
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