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Healthcare Assistant, Operating Theatres, Band 2

We are recruiting for an enthusiastic and motivated Health Care Assistant to join our Theatre team. This post would be ideal for a person who in the long term is pursuing a formal career in medicine or one of the allied healthcare roles and is able to demonstrate this desire. On that basis we are considering applicants with no prior experience as well as people having experience in this field. We have 11 operating theatres covering a range of surgical specialties and Burns for adults and children.

You will support the qualified staff in preparing equipment and the theatres to deliver safe standards of quality care for patients requiring surgery. You will be supported whilst you are learning, and therefore a flexible approach is required as there is a need to work different shift patterns, some weekends and some night shifts.

You need to be kind and compassionate and be a team player who learns to anticipate and be ready to work in a busy department.

If you believe you have these traits we would like to hear from you.

We welcome department visits us and we will be pleased to show you around and answer any questions you may have.

Please note that the job description supplied is generic to the healthcare assistant role and not specific to the operating room.

PREVIOUS APPLICANTS NEED NOT APPLY

PLEASE NOTE THE AD WILL BE CLOSED ONCE SUFFICIENT NUMBER OF APPLICATIONS HAVE BEEN RECEIVED

Healthcare assistants (HCAs) are a vital part of the team that supports the staff and patients in wards and departments throughout the hospital. Working under the direction of qualified nursing/ midwifery staff, healthcare assistants carry out a wide range of duties to care for, support, and provide information to patients and their families and the role can be very varied depending upon the area in which the person is employed.

They also carry out a range of housekeeping duties, as well as performing basic medical checks, such as taking a patient’s temperature, pulse and respiration rate

The attitude and behaviour of a healthcare assistant is of far more importance than any formal qualifications. Suitable candidates for the role are friendly, caring and sensitive individuals, who are able to offer social stimulation as well as care to the patients they tend. They will also demonstrate the Trust values in all aspects of their role

The post holder will aim to ensure that all patients are provided with a safe and high quality standard of care. They will be aware of the Care Quality Commission standards and support the multi-disciplinary team ensuring that they are maintained. The individual must provide a patient cantered approach and will be expected to uphold and maintain the standards of care to support a culture of compassionate care. The post holder will also work closely with the administration staff to provide additional administrative support to the service as required

Chelsea and Westminster Hospital NHS Foundation Trust provide services from two main hospitals, Chelsea and Westminster Hospital and West Middlesex University Hospital, and a number of clinics across London and the South-East.

We have nearly 7,000 members of staff that arePROUD to Carefor nearly one million people. Both hospitals provide full clinical services, including full maternity, emergency and children’s, in addition to a range of community-based services across London, such as award-winning sexual health and HIV clinics.

We’re one of the best performing Trusts in the country. We’re also one of the top trusts to work for – our staff says they’re engaged, motivated, and would recommend us as a place to work and receive treatment.

Our Trust has been rated by the Care Quality Commission as ‘Good’ in all five of the main domains of safe, effective, caring, responsive and well-led, giving an us overall rating of ‘Good’. We’ve also been awarded an ‘Outstanding’ rating for ‘use of resources’ by an NHS Improvement inspection.

Our facilities are some of the best in the country. We have been investing significant Capital year on year in our estate. We have recently completed a £30m expansion of our adult and neonatal critical care facilities at Chelsea and Westminster and are planning an ambitious £60m development of an Ambulatory Diagnostics Centre at West Middlesex.

1. Clinical Support Role:

• Under direct supervision assist with the delivery of care plan as described by the Registered Nurse.
• Assist patients with their care needs as required reporting any change in the patient’s condition to the registered nurse/ midwife
• Support the Registered Nurse/ Midwife and other health professionals with the mobilization or transfer of patients
• Develop awareness of patients in pain and discomfort and report any changes in the patient’s condition to the registered Nurse/ Midwife

• Have an awareness of patient’s dietary needs, delivering meals, providing patients with drinks where necessary and providing assistance with eating and drinking if required
• Demonstrate an understanding of the different needs of individual patients and their carers/ families
• Develop an awareness of vulnerable patients and their safe guarding needs
• Prepare the theatre for surgery ensuring infection control procedures are adhered to.
• Assist theatre staff to assemble requirements for surgery
• Act as circulating nurse during surgery to provide all required items during surgery and maintain patient safety
• Cleaning of the environment between patient
• Support the patient’s with their elimination needs recording quantities and frequency on the relevant documentation charts as prescribed by the Registered Nurse/ Midwife
• Develop an awareness of effective pressure area care and skin assessment supporting the patient to maintain their skin integrity
• Support the Registered Nurse/ Midwife and other health professionals to provide the patients and their families with safe, excellent, respectful and kind care.
• To work with the Registered Nurse/ Midwife to support the safe discharge/ transfer of patients from the clinical area.

• Will ensure the environment is clean, comfortable, safe, and welcoming to patients, relatives and all health care workers
• Will be aware of and understand; basic infection control techniques, the disposal of sharps and universal safety techniques with regard to spillages.
• Clean and maintain equipment and make ready for use with the relevant labelling.
• Report any faulty or broken equipment to the Registered Nurse/ Midwife and label appropriately
• Deliver specimens, test requests, notes or any charts as requested.
• Escort patients to other departments.
• To have an awareness of monitoring and maintaining, where required, stock levels.
• Keep all storage areas clean and tidy and in good order

• Undertake administrative and clerical duties as required/ in the absence of the Ward clerk/ receptionist
• Deal with all enquiries politely and effectively in any circumstances.
• Ensure patients confidentiality and details are maintained at all times.
• Redirect all patients’ enquiries to the Registered Nurse/ Midwife.
• Ensure that all information is accurately recorded and files updated and that all documentation is accurately filed as directed.
• Make patient appointments and book patient transport, if required, as directed by the Registered Nurse/ Midwife

• 1 To undertake further educational qualifications, competencies and training in order to increase knowledge and remain updated
• To be aware of and operate within hospital policies and procedures regarding complaints, fire & major incidents etc.
• To participate in own Appraisal, developing and actioning a Personal Development Plan (PDP).
• To attend appropriate educational programmes to develop his/her self and team in accordance with the needs of the service.