Clinical Assistant in Cardiac Surgery Brighton, England
Job description
University Hospital Sussex NHS Trust is a regional teaching hospital, providing general acute services to Brighton and Hove and Mid Sussex and tertiary services for patients across Sussex and the South East of England. The Hospital serves a catchment population of over 1.25 million. The Royal Sussex County Hospital (RSCH) is currently undergoing a £450M site redevelopment, due for completion in the spring of 2023. One hour from London, the beach is just moments from the hospital and to the north of the city we are surrounded by the South Downs National Park, an area of outstanding natural beauty. Our city has superb transport links into London, just 50 minutes on the train, and access to Gatwick airport.
Clinical Assistants work alongside the Advanced Clinical Practitioners (ACPs) and the surgical team to support their inpatient/ward work.
The role combines a range of healthcare assistant with admin and clerical activities/competencies. The post holder will work with some autonomy, i.e. with support from and access to, but not under the immediate/proximal supervision of a ACP.
1. The post holder works as part of the surgical team under the supervision of the ACPs and support them by participating in the delivery of patient care. The post holder will be expected to be self-motivated and use judgement and initiative.
2. The post holder is an integral part of the surgical team and will be embedded within the team of medical staff/ACPs rather than attached to a specific ward. They will therefore be involved in the care of all the patients under the care of their team despite their geographical location within the hospital.
3. The post holder will ideally have completed the HCA care certificate programme, or equivalent qualification and will be competent to undertake a range of clinical procedures or willing to learn. The post holder will be responsible for maintaining their level of competence.
The post holder will form part of an internal rota; that will involve working Monday- Sunday (Day hours only inclusive of bank holidays)
Join us at UHSussex, every day is different, you can be the change, better never stops
At UHSussex we’re proud to be at the heart of the NHS. As one of the UK’s largest acute Trusts, we’re a leading example of the excellence, the ambition and the values that have embodied the NHS for over 70 years.
Improving lives: We are a vibrant and inclusive organisation, with hardworking, talented and dedicated individuals, who work together towards a common goal, to always put our Patient First. Our mission is summed up by our ‘where better never stops’ motto and no matter the role at UHSussex, you will play a part in driving us forwards and in improving the lives of patients across Sussex. We treat our patients and staff with the same compassion and empathy we expect for ourselves. We’re here for them when they need us, and we go above and beyond to meet their needs. This can be seen in our wellbeing programme for staff which is extensive and designed to support you when you need it because we know that to look after others we must first look after ourselves.
Build a career with us: As a university trust and a leader in healthcare research, we value learning, teaching and training so that we can be the best that we can be. From the moment you start with us and throughout your career we will help you to grow and develop. We hope that in choosing UHSussex you are choosing a long and happy career where you will be able to see the difference you make and feel valued for all that you do.
Communication
1. Develops and sustains working relationship and rapport with medical team to ensure effective collaboration.
2. Receive and assist visitors, presenting self to patients, and other staff in a pleasant and cooperative manner.
3. Establish rapport with patients and carers. Develop an awareness of patients’ individual needs and communicate this to the registered professional responsible for the patient.
4. Exchange factual information with patients using persuasion, reassurance, tact, empathy. Supports patients who are distressed. Be aware of the ways in which hospitals can create stress in patients and visitors, demonstrate empathy and understanding, ensure registered staff are aware of a patient in difficulty.
5. Provide health promotion advice to patients (within protocols).
6. In supporting/caring for patients, overcome barriers to understanding, e.g. patient/client has physical impairment, mental health condition, learning disabilities, dementia.
7. Provide concise, accurate and legible data/records, maintaining confidentiality at all times.
8. Receive/transmit and store/retrieve information as required.
Service Delivery and Improvement
Supports the ACPs in administrative duties:
1. Preparation and management of patient notes
2. Preparation and management of patient lists under supervision of ACPs
3. Checking the progress of ordered investigations, expediating where necessary.
4. Updating of patients’ investigation results in required electronic or physical databases after scrutinization of results by the ACP.
5. Completion of radiology and pathology requests at the direction of a registered medical professional and with subsequent approval prior to submission.
6. Booking of outpatient follow-up and anti-coagulation clinic appointments.
7. Collects/deliver TTO (“to take out “medications).
People Management and Development
1. Demonstrate own activities to new or less experienced employees.
2. Participate in the induction/orientation of the new members of the team (and others as required).
3. Carry out any other reasonable duties commensurate with the role and delegated or requested by the manager or supervisor, as the needs of the service require.
4. The job description and person specification may be reviewed on an ongoing basis in accordance with the changing needs of the department and the organisation.
Patient Care Delivery
1. Promote patient's equality, diversity and rights, and contribute to the protection of individuals from abuse.
2. Ensure and document patient consent as required.
3. Perform the following skills when indicated and/or directed, upon completion of the prerequisite training and assessment of competency:
4. Take/record observations/measurements (e.g. Temperature, pulse, manual/digital blood pressure, respiration, body weight, height).
5. Monitor dietary/fluid intake and record amounts directly on fluid and food record charts.
6. Undertake malnutrition screening (e.g. Using the MUST tool) and follow the care plans accordingly.
7. Take and record observations of patients’ temperature, pulse, respiration rate, oxygen saturations and manual/digital blood pressure. Monitor patients’ blood sugars. Any reading deviating from the Trust’s accepted normal range is to be reported to a registered professional.
8. Carry out routine urine testing, record results and report any abnormalities.
9. Collect blood and urine specimens and label as required.
10. Phlebotomy
11. Intravenous cannulation
12. Blood cultures
13. Electrocardiogram recording
14. Basic and advanced wound care
Assist registered professionals in;
1. Physiotherapy mobility and movement programme.
2. Developing self and environment management skills.
3. Implementation of protected mealtimes.
4. Recognising and taking steps to minimise/manage risk, and escalating risks to the registered healthcare professional as appropriate.
Medicines Management Duties;
1. Resolve queries relating to patients’ medications, referring when necessary to Pharmacists, Hospital Doctors, ACPs, GPs, nurses, and other health care professionals.
2. Prioritise any urgent requests, communicating the urgency to the dispensary, to ensure the timely receipt of medications to the patient.
3. Transport equipment between care settings within the hospital.
4. Adhere to trust policy on moving and handling.
5. Prepare/maintain environments for clinical procedures and supports patients during the process.
