Healthcare Assistant Wolverhampton, England
Job description
We are looking for experienced Healthcare Support Workers who wish to develop their clinical skills within the Ophthalmic and community setting.
Ideally you will already be working within an ophthalmic setting and be proactive towards developing your own skills.
The role includes access to education and development through an in-house study course that will allow you to enhance the care you provide for our patients.
You will receive support from the Ophthalmology Practice Education Facilitator and the Ophthalmic MDT team.
Our wish is for you to embrace the opportunity to provide individualised care for ophthalmic patients within a very busy department.
You will be rostered to work in three areas in ophthalmology but within the one team.
Pre-op assessment clinic, working alongside the nursing and medical team to prepare patients who are planned for ophthalmic surgery.
Daycase surgical ward, supporting the nurses and MDT to process the patients attending for surgery and providing care for the patients pre and post operatively.
Working in the community, to provide a glaucoma screening service for our patients.
The Royal Wolverhampton NHS Trust is one of the largest NHS trusts in the West Midlands providing primary, acute and community services and we are incredibly proud of the diversity of both our staff and the communities we serve. We are building a workforce that can help us to fulfil our values, improve quality of care for patients, and solve the health care problems of tomorrow. We’re passionate about the value that diversity of thinking and lived experience brings in enabling us to become a learning organisation and leader in delivering compassionate care for our patients.
We are delighted that we have been rated as “Good” by CQC. We have achieved numerous awards; The Nursing Times Best Diversity and Inclusion Practice and Best UK Employer of the Year for Nursing Staff in 2020.
The Trust is a supportive working environment committed to creating flexible working arrangements that suit your needs and as such will consider all requests from applicants who wish to work flexibly.
To assist registered nurses* with care of patients, working regularly without direct supervision.
To ensure the set standards of care are maintained for all patients.
To ensure that patients' personal hygiene needs are met including skin, mouth, eye, foot and nail care.
To assist patients in meeting their nutritional needs, including assisting with feeding of patients following assessment by a registered nurse trained to undertake dysphasia assessment, where appropriate.
To accurately record electrocardiograms as requested by registered practitioner.
To accurately record and report observations e.g. pulse, respiration, blood pressure and temperature with the aid of specialist equipment as appropriate to the needs of the work place.
To accurately measure blood glucose with the aid of specialist equipment, recording and reporting the results.
To undertake simple dressings utilising appropriate aseptic techniques as instructed by the registered nurse following appropriate training and assessment.
To undertake venepuncture as requested by registered/medical staff (hand and antecubital fossa only) following appropriate training and assessment relevant to the service.
To ensure that appropriate moving and handling techniques and equipment are used when manual handling.
To accurately maintain the fluid balance chart, emptying and recording urine volumes being able to recognise and report abnormalities in colour, consistency and odour.
To remove urinary catheters as requested by the Registered Nurse.*
To accurately test urine samples, recording the results and also ensuring that the results are reported to the registered nurse.
To record nasogastric drainage and remove nasogastric tubes as requested by the registered nurse.*
To contribute to the care of a deceased person and their carers.
To feedback information gathered from patient interaction, plus care given, to registered nurse* entering relevant information into the care records as necessary. All entries are to be countersigned by a registered nurse.
To assist in health education or information giving as indicated by the registered nurse.
To answer the telephone and take messages as required.
To take specimens to laboratories as required.
To escort patients to other departments within the hospital as requested by the nurse in charge.
To chaperone patients requiring clinical examinations as and when required.
To ensure all areas are kept clean, tidy and appropriately stocked, including storage areas and medical equipment.
To comply with Health and Safety Regulations and to report accidents/untoward incidents/hazards and unsafe equipment to the nurse in charge of the ward immediately, utilising the incident reporting system.
To attend mandatory training and such courses/lectures/in-service training, as indicated by the needs of the service and own personal development as identified at appraisal and within personal development plan.
The post-holder will be required to supervise less experienced staff as instructed by a registered nurse.*
To be familiar with, and comply with, all appropriate Trust policies and procedures.
To undertake any other duties as may be required to meet with the needs of the service within the limitations of the grade for the post.
At all times to maintain a professional image e.g. apply with the Trusts Uniform Policy.
To see full list of duties and main responsibilities, please refer to the full job description attached to the vacancy on the Trust website.
