Health Care Support Worker

NHS; Wrexham; On-site; GBP 23,000 - 25,000; Full time

Job summary

A compassionate care hospice in Wrexham is seeking a Health Care Support Worker to join their multidisciplinary team. This role involves providing holistic, person-centred care to patients living with life-limiting conditions, under the guidance of registered nurses. Candidates should have relevant health/social care qualifications and experience in a clinical setting. Offering competitive salary with enhancements for weekend and night shifts.

Qualifications

• Experience of working as a HCSW in a clinical setting.
• Good understanding of risk assessment and management.
• Understanding of the needs of people with life limiting conditions.

Responsibilities

• Provide care under the direction of registered nurses.
• Maintain cleanliness of the unit and ensure safety.
• Report on patients' conditions and observations accurately.

Skills

Communication skills

Vital signs recording

Teamwork

Calm professional demeanor

Ability to adapt to change

Decision-making skills

Welsh speaker

IT skills

Education

QCF level 2 in health/social care or equivalent

Willingness to work toward QCF Level 3

Job description

At Nightingale House Hospice, we believe in making every moment matter. We pride ourselves in providing compassionate care in our community, through comfort, dignity, and support to individuals and families facing life's most profound challenges. Join us in our mission to make a difference and leave a legacy of care and compassion.

The successful candidate will be joining a friendly and passionate team that enjoys working in our newly developed state of the art Inpatient Unit.

Main duties of the job

We are looking for an exceptional Health Care Support Worker to join our dedicated multi-disciplinary team providing high standards of holistic care to our patients and their families under the direction of registered nursing staff to our patients living with life limiting conditions. You will work as part of the team to provide holistic person-centred care, integrating health care with psychological, physical, rehabilitative and spiritual needs.

The Main Duties of the role are

To provide evidence-based care directly to patients and their families, maintaining consistently high standards in collaboration with registered nursing staff.

To work within the policy and procedural guidelines of the hospice at all times maintaining safety of both patients and staff.

To assess patients condition and needs and report findings of assessment to registered

About us

We are an ambitious organisation providing specialist palliative care services, completely free-of-charge, to patients and their families across a wide area stretching from Wrexham, Flintshire, and East Denbighshire to Barmouth and the border towns including Oswestry and Whitchurch. It costs £5.6m per year to run the Hospice, with only 20% of our funding provided by the government. We are reliant on the support of the community we serve to donate and fundraise to maintain our vital services. Over 400 volunteers give their time to the Hospice helping us run efficiently and effectively as part of the local community. This year Nightingale House Hospice is celebrating 30 years of providing compassionate care and strive to see this continue for future generations.

Job responsibilities

Key Responsibilities

Clinical

• To provide direct nursing care to patients working independently when appropriate or in partnership with registered nurses when patient needs demand this.
• To work together with the multi-disciplinary team to maintain a holistic approach to patient care reporting concerns as necessary to team members.
• To work as a team to help families as needed, reporting any difficulties to the registered nursing staff.
• To observe and report accurately on patients general condition ensuring that all information is communicated by taking part in discussion and recording relevant information in patients records to comply with legal and professional requirements.
• To maintain a high standard of nursing care.
• To help ensure a safe working environment including knowledge of necessary policies (fire and health and safety policy) and ensure equipment used is in good working order. Report accidents to Senior Nurse.
• To demonstrate communication skills at a level appropriate to your role and responsibilities with patients and families.
• To assist with maintaining the general cleanliness of the unit and any housekeeping that is required.
• To undertake clinical observations as required and be competent to identify results which fall outside normal limits.
• To assist and support volunteers with their role.
• To perform designated nursing tasks as agreed with Ward Manager or nurse in charge and dependant on competencies and training.
• To provide mentorship to new staff members.
• To generate and maintain a friendly team spirit with all staff at the hospice including volunteers.
• To plan own workload in collaboration with registered nurses.
• Demonstrate positive and professional behaviours at all times.

Clinical Governance

• To act as a mentor to CQF trainees to help support and enhance their progress.
• Ensure practice is in line with health and safety, infection prevention and control measures.

Education and Development

• To attend such courses/lectures/mandatory/non-mandatory in-service training as indicated by the needs of the service and own personal developments as identified.
• To have a written appraisal by your line manager at least annually, with the opportunity for review of objectives.

Research and Development

• To undertake surveys or audits as necessary to own work to support the process of audit within the clinical area.

General Requirements

This post is subject to the Terms and Conditions of employment of the Hospice as specified in the Staff Handbook.

Competence

You are responsible for limiting your actions to those that you feel competent to undertake. If you have any doubts about your competence during the course of your duties you should immediately speak to your line manager/supervisor. It is a standard element of the role and responsibility of all staff of the Hospice that they fulfil a proactive role towards the management of risk in all of their actions. This entails the risk assessment of all situations, the taking of appropriate actions and reporting of all incidents, near misses and hazards. It is a requirement that you adhere to Nightingale House Hospice Policies, Procedures, Protocols and Guidelines at all times.

Health and Safety Requirements of the Hospice

All employees of the Hospice have a statutory duty of care for their own personal safety and that of others who may be affected by their acts or omissions. Employees are required to co-operate with management to enable the Hospice to meet its own legal duties and to report any hazardous situations or defective equipment.

Data Protection and Confidentiality

The post holder must treat all information, whether corporate, staff or patient information, in a discreet, secure and confidential manner in accordance with the provisions of the current data protection legislation and organisational policy. Any breach of such confidentiality is considered a serious disciplinary offence, which is liable to dismissal and/or prosecution under statutory legislation and the hospices disciplinary policy. This duty of confidence continues after the post holder leaves the organisation.

Records Management

As an employee of the hospice, the post holder is legally responsible for all records that they gather, create or use as part of their work within the organisation (including patient health, staff health or injury, financial, personal and administrative), whether paper based or on computer. The post holder should consult the IG Lead if they have any doubt as to the correct management of records with which they work.

Person Specification

Qualifications

• QCF level 2 or equivalent experience/qualifications OR NVQ Level 2 in health/social care related subject or equivalent experience/qualifications Willingness to work toward QCF Level 3 Good knowledge of anatomy and physiology
• ECDL

Skills Knowledge and Behaviour

• The ability to communicate clearly and accurately Vital signs recording e.g. blood pressure, pulse, resps The ability to change to new and challenging circumstances. The ability to work well alone under supervision and to understand when to seek clinical advice from registered staff.
• IT skills and knowledge.
• Works well as a team member Good decision-making skills. Ability to work independently within professional boundaries. Ability to approach any situation in a calm, professional manner.
• Welsh speaker
• Ability to affect change in a positive manner.

Experience

• Experience of working as a HCSW without direct supervision in a clinical setting and being managed by a qualified practitioner Good understanding of risk assessment and management Understanding of the needs of people with life limiting conditions.

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.

£23,907 to £24,168.89 a year 26% weekends enhancement, 15% for Mon - Thurs night shifts