Job Description

: Health Care Support Worker

Job Title Health Care Support Worker


Line Manager Ward Manager


Executive Manager Director of Clinical and Patient Services


Location In-patient Unit

Principal Accountabilities:

To provide evidence-based care directly to patients and their families, maintaining
consistently high standards in collaboration with registered nursing staff.
To work within the policy and procedural guidelines of the hospice at all times
maintaining safety of both patients and staff.
To assess patient's condition and needs and report findings of assessment to registered
nursing staff.

Key Responsibilities

Clinical

To provide direct nursing care to patients working independently when appropriate or in
partnership with registered nurses when patient needs demand this.
To work together with the multi-disciplinary team to maintain a holistic approach to patient
care reporting concerns as necessary to team members.
To work as a team to help families as needed, reporting any difficulties to the registered
nursing staff.
To observe and report accurately on patients' general condition ensuring that all
information is communicated by taking part in discussion and recording relevant


information in patients' records to comply with legal and professional requirements.
To maintain a high standard of nursing care. To help ensure a safe working environment including knowledge of necessary policies (fire
and health and safety policy) and ensure equipment used is in good working order. Report


accidents to Senior Nurse.
To demonstrate communication skills at a level appropriate to your role and responsibilities
with patients and families.
To assist with maintaining the general cleanliness of the unit and any housekeeping that is
required.
To undertake clinical observations as required and be competent to identify results which
fall outside normal limits.
To assist and support volunteers with their role.




To perform designated nursing tasks as agreed with Ward Manager or nurse in charge and
dependant on competencies and training.

Management & Supervisory

To assist and support volunteers with their role. To provide mentorship to new staff members To generate and maintain a friendly team spirit with all staff at the hospice including
volunteers.
To plan own workload in collaboration with registered nurses. Demonstrate positive and professional behaviours at all times

Clinical Governance

To act as a mentor to CQF trainees to help support and enhance their progress. Ensure practice is in line with health and safety, infection prevention and control measures.

Education and Development

To attend such courses/lectures/mandatory/non-mandatory in-service training as indicated
by the needs of the service and own personal developments as identified.
To have a written appraisal by your line manager at least annually, with the opportunity for
review of objectives.

Research and Development

To undertake surveys or audits as necessary to own work to support the process of audit
within the clinical area.

General Requirements

This post is subject to the Terms and Conditions of employment of the Hospice as specified in the


Staff Handbook.

Competence

You are responsible for limiting your actions to those that you feel competent to undertake.


If you have any doubts about your competence during the course of your duties you should


immediately speak to your line manager/supervisor.

Risk Management

It is a standard element of the role and responsibility of all staff of the Hospice that they fulfil a


proactive role towards the management of risk in all of their actions. This entails the risk


assessment of all situations, the taking of appropriate actions and reporting of all incidents, near


misses and hazards. It is a requirement that you adhere to Nightingale House Hospice Policies,


Procedures, Protocols and Guidelines at all times.

Health and Safety Requirements of the Hospice

All employees of the Hospice have a statutory duty of care for their own personal safety and that


of others who may be affected by their acts or omissions. Employees are required to co-operate


with management to enable the Hospice to meet its own legal duties and to report any hazardous


situations or defective equipment.

Data Protection and Confidentiality

The post holder must treat all information, whether corporate, staff or patient information, in a


discreet, secure and confidential manner in accordance with the provisions of the current data


protection legislation and organisational policy. Any breach of such confidentiality is considered a


serious disciplinary offence, which is liable to dismissal and/or prosecution under statutory


legislation and the hospice's disciplinary policy. This duty of confidence continues after the post


holder leaves the organisation.

Records Management

As an employee of the hospice, the post holder is legally responsible for all records that they


gather, create or use as part of their work within the organisation (including patient health, staff


health or injury, financial, personal and administrative), whether paper based or on computer.


The post holder should consult the IG Lead if they have any doubt as to the correct management


of records with which they work.

This job description is an outline of the role and function. It is not intended to describe all

specific tasks.