JOB SUMMARY: The Senior Health Care Assistant is a member of the ward/department team who implements prescribed care and/or undertakes some higher-level clinical activities as directed by a registered nurse. The main dimensions of the role are to: To support the professionally qualified staff and work under their direction to provide quality nursing care, therapy activity, treatments and procedures directly to patients. To mentor and supervise and teach Health Care Assistants. To lead and co-ordinate a range of clinical and non-clinical tasks and responsibilities undertaken by Health Care Assistants. To support the ward and therapy department staff to provide a high quality service. 1.Assist with feeding of patients Assist with patients to choose appropriate food and drink. Serving of patient meals and cleaning up afterwards. 2.Assist with patients elimination needs Escort of patients to and from lavatory. Care of incontinent patients. Record outputs where appropriate. Collecting and testing urine samples. 3.Additional aspects of care Assisting with the recording and safe keeping of patients property/valuables. Dressing/undressing of patients. Making of occupied and unoccupied trollies, tying up of dirty linen bags and despatching to laundry. Cleaning and tidying examination rooms/clinic areas. Replenishing of linen or stock cupboards. Assist with patients mobilisation, ensuring safe environment and using appropriate techniques. Accompany able patients to other departments. Assist in the care of relatives and visitors. Assist with the care of patients in isolation. Chaperone professional staff where appropriate. Measuring blood pressure,body temperature, pulse rate and respiration and completing the necessary documentation. Measuring patients height and weight as directed by a registered nurse and recording on the appropriate documentation. Be involved in patient booking in/ admission procedures by introducing patients to ward/department area as directed by registered nurse. Be adaptable and flexible to working in various areas of the department/ward as required. Assist the multi professional team to prepare and support patients undergoing treatment and/or investigation maintaining privacy and dignity at all times. 4.Communication and relationships The Healthcare Assistants relationship with both staff and patients should be discreet, bearing in mind that all information regarding patients must be kept confidential. Report to the nurse in charge of the ward/department matters of concern relating to patients and the ward/department environment. Answer the telephone, refer to appropriate person. Attend to ward/department reports and meetings when appropriate. Be aware of the need to greet visitors to the ward/department and ascertain the purpose of their visit. Demonstrate knowledge and understanding of health and safety at work in order to maintain a safe environment. Undertake duties outside your working area (e.g. delivery and collection) to assist in maintaining good communications. Participate in patient handovers. 5.Clinical Support Undertake and monitor baseline and routine patient/client observations, bloodglucose, peripheral oxygen saturation and visual acuity. Reporting any changes in a timely manner to a qualified nurse and ensuring these are accurately recorded in patient records. Apply a simple range of dressings using both clean and aseptic techniques Undertake ECG recordings Collect blood samples (peripheral or venous) ad directed by a qualified nurse, ensuring its safe storage, transport or disposal as appropriate. Undertake insertion of cannula Undertake female catherisation Removal of simple wound drains Removal of sutures and clips Care for a small group of patients without direct supervision but under the direction of a registered nurse Undertake an associate link/link nurse role where appropriate. 6.Cleaning Maintain tidiness and cleanliness of areas and equipment as instructed. 7.Clerical duties Undertake a range of clerical duties service, this may involve: Reception/telephone duties Basic computer skills Obtaining case notes/x-rays Filing Assist in the preparation of medical and nursing notes for ward rounds/clinics 8. Education Support other health care assistants through mentorship and local induction. Contribute to health promotion activities Take responsibility for keeping own knowledge and skills up to date