Health Care Assistant Job overview
Health Care Assistant is needed in Plymouth Hospitals is a large acute trust in the Southwest of England, situated on the Devon and Cornwall border and provides perioperative care for elective and emergency patients across the region. The hospital is a designated Trauma Centre and tertiary referral centre for Neurological and Cardiac patients. The trust is a teaching hospital with close links to the Peninsula Medical School and the University of Plymouth.
Main Recovery has 14 bays and runs 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. The Recovery area covers acutely ill patients from a vast array of surgical specialities and is part of the Hospital ‘escalation’ plan. This means we can care for HDU patients, as well as our own post-surgery patients. Within our normal working day we accommodate 17 theatres worth of patients include elective and emergency specialities. Out of hours we recover all the emergency surgery patients apart from Cardiothoracic. This means we have a vast amount of acute medicine skills and experience to draw on within our team.
***Preference will be given to internal Trust staff, as well as ‘Priority’ and ‘At Risk’ status including NHS At Risk staff throughout Devon who are able to display recent relevant experience as dictated by the Person Specification.***
Main duties of the job
The Senior HCA within Recovery is a member of the multi-disciplinary team whose function is to assist the team in the delivery of a high standard of patient care. This will involve undertaking basic and extended skills with indirect supervision.
Competent support of registered staff to provide quality patient focused care using extended skills gained from achieving a relevant Level 3 Healthcare NVQ/HCA qualification.
Contribute to resource management. Must be able able to multi task and be IT literate, as you will be using multiple Trust IT systems as part of your role.
In addition the post holder will be expected to achieve additional skills at NVQ/HCA Level 3 that are specific to the post.
Working for our organisation
We are a people business – where every member of staff matters and can make a difference. Patients are at the heart of everything we do. Joining University Hospitals Plymouth NHS Trust means becoming part of a team of dedicated staff, who are committed to leading the way through innovation, clinical excellence and great customer care. The Trust has great opportunities for career development in a highly progressive working environment. We offer all of this in a vibrant, modern city with a historic reputation for adventure.
PLEASE NOTE THAT ALL COMMUNICATION WILL BE ELECTRONIC, PLEASE CHECK YOUR EMAIL ACCOUNT REGULARLY. If you have any issues with applying online and need additional support including reasonable adjustments with the application process please contact the recruitment team on 01752 432100. We recognise that work life balance is important for our colleagues and so we invite requests from applicants around less than full time/flexible working for our advertised roles. Please contact the recruiting manager to discuss this prior to your application submission.
We commit to giving this full consideration in each case. We encourage people from diverse backgrounds to apply for our roles, as diversity strengthens our teams. It is sometimes necessary to close vacancies before the closing date. If you have not heard from us within 4 weeks of the closing date, please assume that you have not been shortlisted.
Detailed job description and main responsibilities
- 1. To assist in the preparation of Main Recovery prior to operations and to carry out cleaning of designated areas within the Recovery area as directed.2. To be able to recognise and meet the specific needs of patients undergoing surgery/ recovery.3. To maintain a safe environment for patients and staff.4. To implement care packages for patients undergoing general and local anaesthesia post-surgery. Support patients during their recovery phase post-surgery and prior to discharge back to the Postbridge Unit/designated discharge area or Ward.5. To escort patients as required in accordance with Hospital policy.6. To assist, under supervision of a Registered Practitioner, in Stage 1 recovery for patients having had surgical interventions or procedures carried out on them. To implement the care pathway for patients in stage 2 Recovery as a designated practitioner.7. To perform clinical observations on patients under the supervision of Registered Practitioners, being able to recognise, record and escalate changes in patients’ normal parameters to Registered Practitioner’s/Medical staff.8. To update patient information systems to allow for a bigger picture view of any and all patients who have been through the Recovery area. To accurately maintain records relating to patients onward journeys to Wards and Units.
For further details please see attached JD&PS.
Person specification
Knowledge & Experience
Essential criteria
- Demonstrable experience at HCA /NVQ Level 3.
- Computer Literate.
- Worked within theatre/critical care environment.
Desirable criteria
- IT experience working with Windows based programmes.
Qualifications
Essential criteria
- NVQ/HCA Level 3 or working towards
Desirable criteria
- Care Certificate.
Aptitude & Abilities
Essential criteria
- Effective verbal and non -verbal communication skills.
- Ability to prioritise workload.
- Ability to organise patients to ensure they arrive at their intended destinations effectively and efficiently.
We are a people business – where every member of staff matters and can make a difference. Patients are at the heart of everything we do. Joining University Hospitals Plymouth NHS Trust means becoming part of a team of dedicated staff, who are committed to leading the way through innovation, clinical excellence and great customer care. The Trust has great opportunities for career development in a highly progressive working environment. We offer all of this in a vibrant, modern city with a historic reputation for adventure.
PLEASE NOTE THAT ALL COMMUNICATION WILL BE ELECTRONIC, PLEASE CHECK YOUR EMAIL ACCOUNT REGULARLY INCLUDING YOUR JUNK FOLDER.
If you have any issues with applying online and need additional support including reasonable adjustments with the application process please contact the recruitment team on 01752 432100.
We recognise that work life balance is important for our colleagues and so we invite requests from applicants around less than full time/flexible working for our advertised roles. Please contact the recruiting manager to discuss this prior to your application submission. We commit to giving this full consideration in each case. We encourage people from diverse backgrounds to apply for our roles, as diversity strengthens our teams.
A diverse workforce improves the experience of our patients, creates an environment where everyone belongs, and recognises that we all play a part in providing exceptional care to patients as well as showing kindness and compassion to patients and colleagues.
It is sometimes necessary to close vacancies before the closing date. If you have not heard from us within 4 weeks of the closing date, please assume that you have not been shortlisted.
Providing false information is an offence & could result in the application being rejected or summary dismissal/police action if an applicant is successful.
Please note that if you are successful in your application & accept the position you agree that the Staff Health and Wellbeing Department can access your health records from your current/previous employer in order to check the status of your inoculations & screening tests. This is an automated process & the information will only be used for these purposes prior to your taking up the position with us.
To apply for this job please visit apps.trac.jobs.