Paediatric Healthcare Assistant London, England
Job description
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.
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 centred approach and will be expected to uphold and maintain the standards of care to support a culture of compassionate care.
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 are PROUD to Care for 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.
Clinical Support Role
- Under direct supervision assist with the delivery of care plan as described by the Registered Nurse/ Midwife.
- 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.
- Under supervision, take and record the patients observations (e.g. temperature, blood pressure) as required and inform the registered nurse/ midwife of any changes in the patient’s condition.
- Following competency assessment undertake Simple wound dressing using the non- touch technique.
- Following competency assessment undertake an ECG.
- 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.
