Job Description

An exciting opportunity has arisen for a Housekeeper to join our team here in Bevan Court 1



The Ward Housekeepers will ensure that the hospital ward for which they are assigned is clean, safe and an attractive place for patient care.



Working with and in support of the ward manager and the wider clinical teams, you will coordinate non-clinical ward services such as catering, cleaning, equipment, maintenance and supplies, working closely with each of these services.

Main duties include:

Talking to and reassuring patients



Ordering non-clinical supplies



Keeping the ward clean and tidy



Serving and clearing away meals



Preparing snacks and drinks



Reporting faults



Clerical and admin tasks



Ordering patient transport



Receiving visitors



Ward Housekeepers will be expected to provide an efficient, professional and effective service to their allocated ward ensuring excellent customer services at all times.



Mersey and West Lancashire Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust serves a population of over 600,000 with a workforce of over 9000 dedicated and skilled staff across 21 sites.



We strongly believe that the communities we serve should all have access to Five Star Patient Care.

Our services:

Acute Care



Providing emergency and maternity services at Whiston, Southport and Ormskirk hospitals, and medical and surgical specialties across all our sites.



Primary Care



Providing primary care services at Marshalls Cross Medical Centre situated in St Helens Hospital.



Community Services



Providing adult community services for St Helens and a wheelchair service in Chorley, South Ribble, and West Lancashire. Our inpatient unit at Newton Community Hospital is where patients needing acute hospital beds can continue rehabilitation, freeing up space for more unwell patients. We also provide urgent care at our Urgent Treatment Centre located in St Helens town centre.



Specialist Regional Services



We provide the Mersey Regional Burns & Plastic Surgery Unit at Whiston Hospital and the Spinal Injuries Unit at Southport Hospital to more than 4 million people across the whole of Merseyside, West Lancashire, Cheshire, Isle of Man and North Wales.

Achievements:

Rated Outstanding by CQC Inspection August 2018

Top 100 places to work in the NHS (NHS Employers & Health Service Journal)

National Preceptorship Accreditation (2023) for Nursing & AHP Preceptorship Programme



Communication



Promote effective lines of communication within the ward at all levels to ensure the needs of the patients are met. This would include relaying information to the clinical and non-clinical teams as required by the patient.

Communicate with patients who may exhibit challenging behaviour.

Escalate to the senior ward team issues which are not within your remit.

Communicate effectively with other departments including estates, facilities, catering and stores to ensure the ward operates effectively.

To ensure incident reports are made as required through Datix.



Principle Duties



To ensure the ward is a clean, tidy and welcoming environment, make basic judgments on routine matters such as when to report faults, when to escalate cleanliness issues and when to contact the catering team for further meals.



Ensure own day to day workload is planned to enable the ward to run effectively.



Undertake the ordering of supplies, receipt of these ensuring they are correct and put in appropriate place of storage. Ensure all receipts are checked and filed appropriately.



Cleaning



To assist in monitoring and maintaining cleaning standards on the ward.

To ensure spot cleaning and spillages are dealt with swiftly and efficiently, liaising with cleaning staff if required.

To ensure ward specialist equipment, e.g. drip stands, shower chairs/trolleys, commodes, are cleaned as per policy.

To ensure the ward is safe and tidy at all times, e.g. remove clutter, tidy notice boards, signage etc.

To maintain upkeep of patients' bed areas. To identify any problems with cleanliness and report to the ward sister.

To ensure isolation nursing areas are cleaned appropriately.



Catering



To co-ordinate and ensure patients order food, where necessary taking into account special needs and meal requirements.

To ensure patients have any assistance they require to eat and drink and to monitor food intake in conjunction with the nursing team.

To prepare and serve hot/cold snacks (e.g. toast) as requested.

To co-ordinate and lead meals service in conjunction with the nursing team, ensuring patients' intake is known and that their dietary needs are met.

To provide eating assistance, e.g. cutting up food, placing food within reach, encouraging patients to eat.

To prepare and serve hot/cold beverages using appropriate trolley/ equipment.

To ensure all food and beverages are served at the correct temperature according to food hygiene regulation.

To prepare areas where food and beverages are served / consumed to ensure a pleasant environment for patients.

To take responsibility for the ward kitchen, ensuring it is clean at all times, e.g. discarding out-of-date food.

To ensure refrigerated food is labelled and stored correctly as per policy, completing monitoring record of refrigerated temperatures.

To ensure in conjunction with the ward nurse that newly admitted patients' meal requirements are ordered.

To co-ordinate extra meal requirements that may arise.

To ensure that patients whose fluid intake is not medically restricted have access to fresh water.



Maintaining the Environment



To carry out monitoring of service delivery, especially related to cleaning, food, linen and the environment, at the agreed frequency.

To inform the ward sister of outcomes of monitoring and agree action plans, ensuring action is taken.

To manage the ward's estates maintenance reports, ensuring all defects are logged, reported, recorded, completed and closed as appropriate.

To transfer and dispose of clinical, domestic and confidential waste as per the policy, e.g. taking waste to the local disposal area.

To clean and prepare beds following patient discharge.

To ensure that patients' space is respected.

To respect the privacy and dignity of patients whilst carrying out ward housekeeping duties.

To maintain the safety of patients property and belongings in line with policy.

To use communication skills to manage any aggressive and abusive behaviour.

To be the 'eyes and ears' for the ward, greeting patients and monitoring visitors and ensuring protected mealtimes and patient quiet times are honoured.

To ensure the safe and appropriate storage of equipment.



Support of Patients



To ensure patients have adequate supplies to meet their basic needs, e.g. toiletries as required.

To assist patients by writing letters or reading post when required.

To explain the correct use of equipment to patients, e.g. nurse call and television etc.



Other duties and responsibilities



To receive, welcome and guide visitors on arrival to the ward, liaising with other staff as appropriate.

To transport equipment, consumables and written information as required - errands.

To maintain and update paper-based records, electronic records and information as required.

To respond to requests for general information, passing this on as required maintaining confidentiality.

To respond to verbal complaints and take appropriate action or escalate as required.

To assist with training and induction of staff involved with ward housekeeping services.

To be aware of any new food hygiene standards, changes to waste categorisation, etc.

To book patient transport as required in support of the ward clerk.

Support the safety and security of the ward.