Job Description

Healthcare Support Worker (previously known as Nursing Assistant)



#OneTeamOneOUH



We operate a centralised approach to our Healthcare Support Worker Recruitment. This means that as a candidate you only need to apply once but can be considered for multiple roles across our Trust.



We have multiple job opportunities available at Oxford University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust (OUH). This is a great time to join and be part of a team that is motivated and works together to deliver high-quality care to make a difference to the health and well-being of our patients.



We have full-time opportunities for both experienced and aspiring Health Care Support Workers (HCSW) , to work in safe and supportive environments under the guidance of healthcare professionals. We are looking for enthusiastic, compassionate, and hard-working individuals to join our teams across our NOTSSCaN division (Neurosciences Orthopaedics Trauma Specialist Surgery Childrens and Neonates)



If you have a particular interest , please add this to your supporting statement.



Please note that we cannot provide sponsorship for this post and the interviews will be conducted face to face.



Full training is provided, no previous experience as a Nursing Assistant / Healthcare Support work is required.

As the Healthcare Support Worker you will:

Provide personal care for our patients, including washing, dressing, toileting and assisting with mobilising and feeding



Assist registered members of staff to deliver a high standard of care to patients in the ward/clinical area demonstrating compassion, kindness, and sensitivity.



Be able to demonstrate the ability to put patients at the heart of what you do and recognising different needs by encouraging a spirit of support, integrity, respect and teamwork.



Work as part of the team, under the supervision of trained nurses, assisting with delivery of planned health care, to meet physical, psychological, and social needs of the patients.



Maintain a safe, clean, and comfortable environment for patients, staff and visitors.



Shows pride in the quality of care they provide for patients and learning from successes and setbacks



Evidence commitment to the Oxford University Hospitals vision and values



Oxford University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust is one of the largest NHS teaching trusts in the country. It provides a wide range of general and specialist clinical services and is a base for medical education, training and research.



The Trust comprises four hospitals - the John Radcliffe Hospital, Churchill Hospital and Nuffield Orthopaedic Centre in Headington and the Horton General Hospital in Banbury.



Our values, standards and behaviours define the quality of clinical care we offer and the professional relationships we make with our patients, colleagues and the wider community. We call this Delivering Compassionate Excellence and its focus is on our values of compassion, respect, learning, delivery, improvement and excellence. These values put patients at the heart of what we do and underpin the quality healthcare we would like for ourselves or a member of our family. Watch how we set out to deliver compassionate excellence via the OUH YouTube channel .



Please refer to the full job and person specification for full details. The healthcare support worker will be expected to undertake the following duties under the supervision of a registered practitioner:



Patient Care



Assist all patients with their personal care needs, empowering patients or families/carers and actively encouraging participation. This may involve maintaining hygiene needs for individuals such as helping patients to wash and dress themselves and assisting with toileting needs, maintaining privacy and dignity at all times.



Perform clinical observations (following appropriate assessment of proficiency and under the direction of a registered practitioner where agreed.) and accurately record using agreed electronic national early warning signals such as SEND and report and escalate any concerns appropriately by reporting to the registered practitioner immediately.



Prepare patients, families/carers and the environment for clinical activities supporting patients and their families/carers and preparing specific equipment as necessary.



Participate in the initial assessment of patients' needs, under the direct supervision of a registered practitioner.



Observe and report the patient's condition to a registered practitioner as required.



Monitor closely patients having undergone a clinical activity ensuring their safety and wellbeing and reporting to a registered practitioner as required.



Assess and monitor the patient's skin integrity and report and document immediately any changes or concerns in their condition.



Assist patients to meet their food and fluid intake giving attention to special diets, supplements and cultural requirements. In order to avoid malnutrition, ensure an age appropriate nutritional assessment is undertaken (e.g. MUST). All food, nutritional supplements and fluid intake to be recorded accurately as required.



Actively encourage all patients, families/carers to share the responsibility for the maintenance of their health and to promote healthy living where appropriate and identified as part of the care plan.



Assist patients to mobilise safely, taking account of development/physical needs using equipment and techniques as prescribed and recorded in the plan of care contributing to the falls and moving and handling risk assessment. Undertake patient transfer and escort duties between departments as appropriate and as per policy.



Recognise when a patient's condition changes and seek advice and expertise from registered practitioners in accordance with Trust policy.



Assist in the care of a patient requiring end of life care in accordance within their spiritual and cultural needs.



Assist as appropriate in the support of families/carers of patients receiving end of life care.



Assist with the collection of specimens as requested such as mid-stream urine, stool, sputum, urine analysis and hospital acquired infections ensuring accurate labelling and transportation as per trust policy and in accordance with the training provided.



Communication



Contribute during handover process to ensure continuity of care and to accurately feedback to a registered practitioner the care given to patients during the shift and of any changes in the patient's condition.



Communicate effectively with members of the multidisciplinary team, patients and carers, using all methods of communication. Where there are barriers to understanding, arrange access to information, support and other services to aid effective communication.



Greet all patients and visitors to the department with courtesy and respect, being mindful of age specific body language and tone of voice, demonstrate sensitivity and empathy.



Help patients, families/carers and visitors orientate themselves to their surroundings when admitted to the ward/department providing written and verbal information as required.



Answer telephone calls (and bleeps) appropriately and efficiently, accurately relaying messages to both colleagues and patients using SBARR as appropriate.



Use paper and electronic systems to retrieve and record patient information in line with Trust documentation standards and operational systems. Ensure information is accurate and securely maintained.



Apply the principles of information governance and patient confidentiality to all aspects of your role.



Obtain age/capacity appropriate consent from the patient/family or carer/guardian before any clinical intervention is undertaken; where this is not given, report this to a registered practitioner.



Participate in discussions about ward and departmental issues at ward/departmental meetings.



In instances when a patient/family, carer or visitor feels the need to raise concerns or complain seek support from a registered practitioner.



Maintain professional boundaries and working relationships with patients and colleagues.



Ensure patients, families and carers are kept informed of delays with their treatment, investigations and clinic times as required when known.