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Job description

The Royal Berkshire NHS Foundation Trust, one of the largest hospital foundation trusts in the country, is keen to recruit enthusiastic and motivated people to join our hospital as Health Care Assistants. The Trust strives to provide high quality, compassionate care for our patients and their families. A caring nature, good communication skills and a willingness to learn and develop are essential.

We are looking for motivated and enthusiastic individuals who have an interest in starting a career in healthcare and would like to gain highly sought after NHS experience in the areas of an Acute Hospital setting. We are looking for HCAs who can work full time, 37.5 hours per week.

Please note that regardless of hours, you will be required to work on a rota basis, inclusive of Monday - Friday, weekends, nights and bank holidays. We cannot accommodate only nights.

(Please note: we DO NOT provide visa sponsorship for this role)

As a Health Care Assistant, you will work closely with the Registered Practitioners delivering fundamental care to patients including assisting with personal hygiene, toileting needs, feeding and mobility. Previous experience is desirable but not essential as successful applicants will receive a comprehensive induction on commencing the post.

The position of the Health Care Assistant is to ensure that the service user’s needs are met and to assist the team in maintaining high standards of care delivery. We are looking for candidates with a desire to provide compassionate support and care, good communication skills, a flexible approach and enthusiasm to work within the team.

What we need from you:

• Appropriate verbal and written communication and interpersonal skills
• Flexible and responsive to the working environment.
• Practical ability, prioritization and time management.

If you have the skills we are looking for, we would love to hear from you!

All shortlisted applicants will be asked to either:

• Submit their Math and English GCSE certificate (grade A-C or equivalent required) to [email protected]
• Attend an assessment session including numeracy, literacy and IT if you cannot provide the above

Nest steps: Successful applicants will then be invited back for an interview

We are one of the largest hospital foundation trusts in the country, and currently touch the lives of half a million patients in the west of Berkshire every year by providing high quality acute medical and surgical services for our local communities.

Our values:

• Compassionate
• Aspirational
• Resourceful
• Excellent

The town of Reading sits on the River Thames and is served by great road and rail links to London, Oxford, and Southampton. With excellent leisure and shopping facilities, and a thriving cultural scene, Reading is a wonderful place to live, work, and play and provides excellent facilities for families, including some of the best state and private schools in the UK.

The CQC recently rated the care provided by The Royal Berkshire NHS Foundation Trust as good.

The post holder will provide high quality fundamental care to patients under the guidance and supervision of a Registered Practitioner in a caring, compassionate and sensitive manner.
Acting always in the patient’s best interests.

• Protecting and maintaining the patient’s privacy and dignity at all times.
• Providing individualised care for a diverse group of patients respecting

personal beliefs and preferences.

• Alert the Registered Practitioner and/or Ward/ Department Manager to

any change or concern relating to the welfare of the patient in a timely
manner.

Communication
1. Communicates effectively and respectfully with patients, their relatives /visitors, ward / team leaders and all members of the multi-professional team utilising both verbal and non-verbal communication methods.
2. Adapts communication methods as required for patients with sensory impairments such as hearing loss, speech difficulties, seeking support and guidance from Registered Practitioners as required.
3. Answers the telephone and assists relatives and other individuals with their enquiries in a polite and professional manner ensuring a positive impression of the organisation and self.
4. Ensures own practice complies with Data Protection/ Confidentiality/Caldicott Principles.
5. Works as an effective team member and demonstrates understanding of the role of team work in the delivery of high quality care.
6. Demonstrates understanding of the possible reasons for complaints and works in a manner which minimises such events seeking the support /guidance of the Registered Practitioner as required.
7. Demonstrates the ability to identify and report changes or concerns in relation to the patient’s wellbeing to the Registered Practitioner in a timely manner.

Clinical
1. Actively involves the patient in their own care, consulting and involving them in decision making regarding their care and well-being and recognising the importance of placing them at the centre of the health care system.
2. Demonstrates understanding of fundamental legal practices related to consent and ensures consent is obtained prior to the delivery of care.
3. Supports the Registered Practitioner in the delivery of culturally sensitive, respectful, non-judgemental patient care to maintain an environment where there is equal opportunity and commitment to anti-discriminatory, anti-racist and anti-stereotyping practices.
4. Delivers high quality patient care in a caring, sensitive and compassionate manner, ensuring the patient’s privacy and dignity is respected and maintained at all times.
5. Assists both male and female patients as required to meet their hygiene and toileting needs whilst promoting independence where possible. Monitors and records bodily waste as directed by Registered Practitioner.
6. Assists patients with eating and drinking to ensure their nutritional and hydration needs are met. Monitors nutritional / fluid intake clearly and accurately as directed by the Registered Practitioner.
7. Records physiological observations of patients (blood pressure, temperature, pulse, respiratory rate and oxygen saturation levels) as directed by the Registered Practitioner ensuring these are recorded and any change or deterioration is reported to the Registered Practitioner in a timely manner. Uses Trust approved Early Warning System to identify any changes in the patient’s condition and reports to the Registered Practitioner in a timely manner
8. Participates in moving and handling patients in a manner which is safe for both the patient, colleagues and the post holder in accordance to Trust Manual Handling Policy and patients’ individual risk assessments.
9. Recognises deterioration in the physical or mental condition of a patient and reports to the Registered Practitioner in a timely and effective manner.
10. Ensures own practices adhere to Trust infection control policies and procedures at all times e.g. Bare below the elbows, Hand Hygiene.
11. Participates in cleaning, stocking up and other non-clinical duties as required to ensure the smooth running of the ward /dept.

Role Responsibilities
1. Acts in the patient’s best interests at all times.
2. Demonstrates understanding of the boundaries of the Health Care Assistant role and the ability to assertively refuse to undertake skills /tasks which fall outside of role e.g. undertaking patient assessments, neurological observations.
3. Demonstrated the ability to identify personal sphere of competence proactively seeking supervision to develop competence as required from senior/ more experienced colleagues.
4. Works to ensure the completion of the Band 2 Developmental Passport for HCAs, including the Care Certificate standards.
5. Works in partnership with manager to develop and deliver on Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Realistic and Time framed (SMART) objectives at annual appraisal and personal development planning meeting.
6. Demonstrates a commitment to continued personal development undertaking additional training to develop skills as relevant to clinical area e.g. ECG recording, venepuncture, Theatre Escort training as required and following discussion with Ward / Department Manager.
7. Takes responsibility for attending statutory / mandatory updates in accordance with Trusts’ mandatory training matrix.