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Job description

Saxon Suite is a male acute ward offering care for male patients of working age from the Tameside area. We are an 22 bedded ward on the Tameside Hospital site.

Nursing Assistants play a vital role in delivering care to the the patients on Hollingworth ward. They have the most direct patient contact out of staff on the ward and engage with the patients on a 1-1 basis or in groups. The role of the Nursing Assistant is broad and varied one. Working amongst a wider team of professionals enables individuals to learn from one another and contribute to providing high levels of care.

If you do not hold a current competency-based qualification and or the Care Certificate, you will be expected to complete an appropriate apprenticeship in healthcare with Pennine Care with which we would support you.

Key Responsibilities of the Post:

• Provide Safe and Effective Care
• Treat patients as individuals
• Engage patients in their own care
• Strive to provide an outstanding service
• Be clear about the ward vision and the role that the Nursing Assistant plays within the team
• Engage in learning and development
• Contribute to growth through regular supervision and annual appraisal
• Be a member of a team, establishing your own role within that team
• Nursing Assistant will be an informal leader, setting an example for others members within the team.

We are proud to provide high quality mental health and learning disability services, both inpatient and in the community across five boroughs of Greater Manchester - Bury, Oldham, Rochdale, Stockport and Tameside and Glossop.

Our vision is for a happier and more hopeful life for everyone in our communities and our staff work hard to deliver the very best care for the people who use our services. We’re really proud of our #PennineCarePeople and do everything we can to make sure we’re a great place to work.

All individuals regardless of race, age, disability, ethnicity, nationality, gender, gender reassignment, sexual orientation, religion or belief, marriage and civil partnership are encouraged to apply for this post. We would also encourage applications from individuals with a lived experience of mental illness, either individually or as a carer.

Main Duties and Responsibilities

• To assist the qualified staff, as required in the delivery of care.
• To work as a member of the team with the support and supervision of a

registered nurse and in line with the policies and procedures agreed by Pennine Care NHS Trust.

• To ensure the promotion of safety, wellbeing and interests of clients, staff and visitors to the unit if ward based.
• To provide personal care to patients in accordance with their individualised care plan in a respectful manner, showing proper regard to their right to privacy and dignity.
• Provide input to care plan discussions with a qualified practitioner where

requested, using knowledge of patient and environment.

• To assist patients in the maintenance of adequate nutrition and hydration, where necessary using a therapeutic approach and following a detailed care plan. If ward based to help patients choose and order appropriately from the menu taking into account any special dietary requirements.
• Under direction and agreement of a qualified practitioner the postholder will independently undertake escort duty with patients, including where the patients have been risk assessed or might present with more complex needs.
• To carry out duties as allocated by a qualified practitioner. Engage with patients to undertake activities and carry out duties that have been agreed with a qualified practitioner and follow a care plan. Required to use own initiative and decision making in the planning and delivery of some basic activities
• To complete patient monitoring charts in relation to e.g. weight, input/output of diet and fluids, observation, responding etc.
• To undertake and record clinical observations(e.g temperature, pulse, blood pressure) as required and instructed with access to supervision from a qualified member of staff. Recording the observations accordingly and escalating any concerns to a qualified practitioner as appropriate.
• To undertake and record therapeutic observations in accordance with the Trust’s Observation & Engagement Policy (for example general, 1:1 and 2:1 observations) as required and instructed with access to supervision from a qualified member of staff. Remain vigilant throughout the observation period and make relevant notes on the observation sheets of the patient’s presentation. To escalate concerns to a qualified practitioner as appropriate.
• To have a working knowledge of the Mental Health Act (1983) and to be aware of relevant MHA (1983) information when carrying out observations, to support leave appropriately for detained patients under the approval of a qualified practitioner , and to assist with interventions with detained patients.
• Demonstrate good interpersonal skills and a positive attitude within the team and when dealing with the patients, their families and members of the public.
• To contribute to maintaining the ward’s agreed philosophy, aims and objectives.
• To participate in the maintenance of the ward environment to ensure cleanliness, tidiness, in accordance with information policy.
• To accurately document nursing care in the nursing notes when required which will then be countersigned by a qualified practitioner Understand and monitor the ward environment engaging with patients to de stimulate and reduce potential for escalation as needed
• Will be frequently exposed to physically and verbally aggressive challenging behaviours and expected to initiate de-escalation techniques in potentially harmful or challenging situations, escalating any concerns to a senior member of staff immediately
• To be competent in all aspects of reducing restrictive practices, which includes the early prevention of violence and aggression using least restrictive approaches, positive behaviour support through to physical manual restraint as a last option. This can be part of planned interventions set by a qualified member of staff or as an intervention to manage challenging behaviours as they occur, immediately alerting a qualified practitioner for support and supervision.
• To ensure that security protocols and procedures are carried out over a 24-hour period and any possible breaches should be reported to the senior nurse immediately.
• To communicate effectively with patients, staff, families and other external agencies and use a polite telephone manner. To use verbal and non-verbal skills to overcome communication barriers presented by service users due to their mental health or learning disability needs.
• To ensure effective communication, either verbal or written is carried out amongst the team and by reporting any change or unusual occurrence in an individual’s behaviour or condition to the registered nurse.
• To assist in the safekeeping of patients property and clothing as required.
• To participate in staff support groups and clinical supervision.
• To work as part of the ward team, promoting high standards of care.
• To understand the importance of the need for confidentiality in all patient matters, and in accordance with the GDPR and Trust policy.
• To comply with Trust policy and management instruction with regard to health and safety and to fire prevention and, in particular, not to do anything that endangers yourself or others.
• To have a responsibility to be aware of and report safeguarding concerns to a senior nurse and record in notes where required
• Facilitate patient activities under the direction of qualified staff. To assist

Occupational Therapy staff in their therapeutic activity with patients; and to assist any other Allied Health Professionals

• To be flexible to meet the needs of the unit.
• To be willing to undertake a full range of shifts as per the requirements of the service. Subject to any requests made and agreed in accordance with the Trusts