Health Care Assistant - General Medicine Ward 5B

St Helens and Knowsley Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust; Knowsley; On-site; GBP 18,000 - 23,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading healthcare provider is seeking a Health Care Assistant to join their dedicated team at Whiston Hospital. The role involves delivering personal care to patients, working under the guidance of registered practitioners, and collaborating with a multidisciplinary team to provide high-quality care. Ideal candidates should possess strong communication and teamwork skills, ensuring the safety and comfort of patients.

Qualifications

• Ability to provide personal care to patients under supervision.
• Effective communication with patients and healthcare professionals.
• Understanding of patient-centered care and safety regulations.

Responsibilities

• Undertake personal care duties for patients.
• Record patient care information according to Trust policies.
• Work collaboratively with multidisciplinary teams.

Skills

Personal care

Communication

Teamwork

Job description

Overview

A Vacancy at Mersey and West Lancashire Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust. An exciting opportunity has arisen for a Health Care Assistant in the Department of Medicine and Older People. The post holder will join our dedicated and friendly team on Ward 5B at Whiston Hospital. Ward 5B is a 36 bedded Medicine for Older People ward based on level 5 at Whiston Hospital. The care on 5B is consultant led and delivered by a multidisciplinary team of geriatricians, nurses, physiotherapists, occupational therapists, resident doctors and social workers, with the aim of providing patient-centred, comprehensive medical care to older people. Geriatricians and the multidisciplinary team address all aspects of health and illness in older people and treat a wide range of general medical conditions, including the specialist skills needed to diagnose and manage illness in patients with multiple conditions and those living with frailty.

Responsibilities

• Undertake personal care duties for patients within the care setting, accessing supervision from a registered healthcare practitioner. Personal care includes delivery of personal hygiene and assisting with feeding, not requiring clinical skills.
• Record patient’s personal care information in accordance with local and Trust policies.
• Work with all members of the multidisciplinary team to deliver the Trust’s vision and values, providing safe, high quality, compassionate, person-centred care.
• Demonstrate ward routines to new employees in the own work area, where required.

About the Trust

Mersey and West Lancashire Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust serves a population of over 600,000 with a workforce of over 9,000 dedicated and skilled staff across 21 sites. We believe that the communities we serve should have access to Five Star Patient Care.

Our Services

• Acute Care – Providing emergency and maternity services at Whiston, Southport and Ormskirk hospitals, and medical and surgical specialties across all sites.
• Primary Care – Providing primary care services at Marshalls Cross Medical Centre situated in St Helens Hospital.
• Community Services – Providing adult community services for St Helens and a wheelchair service in Chorley, South Ribble, and West Lancashire. Our inpatient unit at Newton Community Hospital supports rehabilitation and frees up space for more unwell patients. Urgent care is available at the Urgent Treatment Centre in St Helens town centre.
• Specialist Regional Services – Mersey Regional Burns & Plastic Surgery Unit at Whiston Hospital and the Spinal Injuries Unit at Southport Hospital for a wide region.

Achievements

• Rated Outstanding by CQC Inspection August 2018
• Top 100 places to work in the NHS (NHS Employers & Health Service Journal)
• National Preceptorship Accreditation (2023) for Nursing & AHP Preceptorship Programme

Expectations and Development

• Work as part of a team; duties delegated by the registered healthcare professional.
• Act within your training and competence, knowing who to ask for help if unsure.
• Work within agreed ways of working and follow Trust standards, policies and protocols.
• Communicate compassionately and effectively with patients, families, carers and healthcare practitioners, maintaining confidentiality and using tact, empathy, persuasion and reassurance.
• Observe, assess and respond to patients’ personal care needs, escalating concerns to nursing staff as required.
• Organise self in general work tasks or in delivering patient care with supervision where needed from Senior Health Care Assistant and/or nursing staff.
• Undertake personal care duties and support activities of daily living, e.g. mouth care, personal hygiene and toileting, demonstrating person-centred care.
• Safely deliver care duties including manoeuvring of patient equipment (hoists and wheelchairs).
• Under supervision, undertake delegated procedures within training and competence, e.g. patient moving and handling and personal care.
• Support patients’ feeding, dietary needs and accurately record nutritional intake and fluid output, reporting changes to nursing staff.
• Ensure patient property is managed as per Trust policy and monitor levels of supplies.
• Demonstrate duties to new starters, contributing to the learning environment.
• Maintain a safe, healthy working environment and adhere to duty of care principles to ensure patient safety.
• Work in partnership with individuals, their carers/families and the wider healthcare team.
• Continue professional development and prepare for appraisal; participate in team handovers.