Paediatric Health Care Assistant (HCA)

The Methodist Church in Britain; Chipping Barnet; On-site; GBP 22,000 - 26,000; Full time

Job summary

Royal Free London NHS Foundation Trust is seeking a Health Care Assistant to join the Galaxy Paediatric nursing team within Integrated Children's Services. The role focuses on assessing children\'s care needs, delivering planned care with families, and supporting safeguarding procedures.

Entry requires the Care Certificate and a Level 3 care qualification or equivalent experience; role involves working with clinical students and across paediatric units with minimal supervision.

Qualifications

• GCSE Maths and English or equivalent required.
• Care Certificate completed or in progress.
• Apprenticeship Level 3 in Care or equivalent vocational experience is desirable.

Responsibilities

• Assess care needs and ensure planned care is implemented and evaluated.
• Perform health care assistant procedures to a high standard under Royal Free clinical guidelines.
• Recognise and manage life-threatening emergencies in children and escalate as needed.
• Provide care with minimal supervision to prevent admission or reduce hospitalisation and support clinical students.
• Identify child protection concerns and participate in child protection procedures, including case conferences.
• Work with parents and carers to enable safe home care for the child.
• Liaise with statutory, voluntary and other agencies and the MDT in community and hospital settings.
• Teach children and families using evidence-based practice tailored to their needs.
• Support transition to adult services and advocate for children and families.
• Report clinical and non-clinical incidents under Trust risk management policies.
• Participate in governance, risk management, research and audit, and help develop policies and care plans.
• Organise workload, keep records confidential and provide clinical cover across the paediatric unit when needed.

Skills

English communication

Education

GCSE Maths and English or equivalent

Care Certificate

Apprenticeship Level 3 in Care

Job description

This Health Care Assistant post sits in the Galaxy Paediatric nursing team within Integrated Children's services, run by the Royal Free London NHS Foundation Trust. The work centres on assessing children's care needs, delivering planned care with their families, and supporting safeguarding and child protection procedures. It is a role carried out with minimal supervision, aimed at preventing hospital admission and supporting clinical students, with cover across the paediatric unit when needed. Entry depends on the Care Certificate and a Level 3 care qualification or equivalent experience.

What the job involves

• Assess care needs and ensure planned care is implemented and evaluated
• Perform health care assistant procedures to a high standard under Royal Free clinical guidelines
• Recognise and manage life-threatening emergencies in children, escalating as needed
• Provide care without supervision on Galaxy to prevent admission or reduce hospitalisation, and support clinical students
• Identify child protection concerns and take part in child protection procedures, including case conferences
• Work with parents and carers so they can safely care for the child in the community
• Liaise with statutory, voluntary and other agencies and the MDT in community and hospital settings
• Teach children and families using evidence-based practice tailored to their needs
• Support transition to adult services and advocate for children and families
• Report clinical and non-clinical incidents under Trust risk management policies
• Take part in governance, risk management, research and audit, and help develop policies and care plans
• Organise workload, keep records confidential and safe, and provide clinical cover across the paediatric unit when needed

Qualifications

• GCSE Maths and English or equivalent
• Care Certificate
• Apprenticeship Level 3 in Care or equivalent vocational experience

Experience

• Clear and robust verbal and written English communication skills
• Experience of working as part of a team
• Previous experience in a hospital setting

Skills & knowledge

• Recognition of a person's right to privacy and dignity
• Awareness of safeguarding issues
• Knowledge of risk management

Other

• Proven communication skills and ability to negotiate
• Committed to attending further training and development as identified
• Computer and keyboard skills

Nice to have

• Previous care work experience
• Awareness of quality and safety standards and departmental audit requirements