We are looking for a well-organized, motivated, enthusiastic Band 2 to take up a fundamental role as healthcare assistant within our core oncology team. The healthcare assistant will deliver all aspects of bedside nursing care for inpatients. The inpatient medical wards are 28 beddeds ward caring for a range of patients who are undergoing cancer treatments, experiencing side effects from their treatment, receiving palliative care or end of life care.
The inpatient medical wards have a strong teamwork ethos and is looking for someone to join our team of dedicated, compassionate and caring staff who hold patient care at the heart of everything we do.
Where required, assist nursing staff if they are conducting procedures or investigations.
Assisting patients in gaining access to, and in the use of, appropriate toilet facilities including catheter care, measuring and recording body waste/fluid balance accurately.
Ensuring a clean and safe environment for patients and escalating any concerns.
Fluid balance monitoring.
Handling patient’s personal possessions, ensuring money and valuables are kept securely.
Performing enhanced observations - one-to-one as appropriate.
Ensuring patients receive adequate nutrition and hydration
Ensuring accurate documentation Assisting patient’s to reposition Work within the team to deliver outstanding care
The Christie is one of Europe’s leading cancer centres, treating over 60,000 patients a year. We are based in Manchester and serve a population of 3.2 million across Greater Manchester & Cheshire, but as a national specialist around 15% patients are referred to us from other parts of the country.
We provide radiotherapy through one of the largest radiotherapy departments in the world; chemotherapy on site and through 14 other hospitals; highly specialist surgery for complex and rare cancer; and a wide range of support and diagnostic services. We are also an international leader in research, with world first breakthroughs for over 100 years.
We run one of the largest early clinical trial units in Europe with over 300 trials every year. Cancer research in Manchester, most of which is undertaken on the Christie site, has been officially ranked the best in the UK.
DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES
Clinical:
1. Welcome and orientate patients, visitors and others to the clinical area/department and ensure that all communications result in effective customer care. Answer queries promptly and courteously, taking appropriate actions according to the mode of enquiry or the information required, providing appropriate information and referring enquiries or problems/issues to the relevant qualified staff where appropriate.
2. Escalate an unwell patient to a senior member of staff in a timely manner, ensure NEWS2 and ECG’s are carried out by a band 3 or above
3. At the delegation of the Registered Nurse transfer the patient/client from one care area to another, i.e. outpatient’s environment to another clinical environment. Chaperone the patient as required ensuring appropriate support.
4. Perform and record height & weight, urine testing, BMI, etc. as per Trust policy, reporting results on CWP and to a Registered Nurse or appropriate clinician. Where required, undertake screening swabs, take and label pathology samples, excluding bloods.
5. Assist patients in their mobility requirements, help move and position appropriately to maximise their physical comfort utilising equipment as directed by the multi professional team. Assist in the care of patients’ pressure areas and prevention of pressure sores. Assist, direct and escort patients/visitors where and when appropriate.
6. Assisting patients in gaining access to, and in the use of, appropriate toilet facilities including catheter care, measuring and recording body waste/fluid balance accurately where appropriate.
7. Complete all appropriate documentation relevant to care provided and update patient’s named nurse / shift coordinator where required.
8. Support the team in ensuring that patients receive basic cardio-pulmonary resuscitation as required.
9. Assist in the correct procedure of duties relating to last offices for deceased persons. Ensure that all religious and cultural wishes, obligations are adhered with, in line with Trust policies and procedures.
10. Communicate well within the team at all times. Demonstrate a pleasant and approachable manner and help create and promote a good team working relationship. Proactively help patients and carers to take an active role in care delivery. Contribute to effective team working, by being fully involved, committed and participative to achieving full potential.
Clinical Support:
1. Assist with undertaking screening swabs, taking and labelling of pathology samples, excluding bloods.
2. Under the delegation of the Registered Nurse undertake personal care delivery, record the patient interventions carried out utilising the patients nursing records. These records must be countersigned by the Registered Nurse who delegated
3. Appropriately monitor patients, informing relevant staff of progress and/or any difficulties relating to dietary/fluid intake.
4. Prepare individual patients and the environment to ensure effective movement and/or handling procedures.
5. Actively support and assist in alleviating distress and anxiety of patients or carers, consistent with their personal beliefs and preferences.
6. Prepare trolleys for specific clinical procedures in line with trust policy utilising asceptic non touch technique practices.
7. Recognise and report abusive behaviour to an appropriate member of staff, documenting the same.
Environment Support:
1. Be responsible for self and others through identifying risks and undertaking work activities in a safe manner.
2. Maintain cleanliness in the work environment, ensuring a clean and safe environment for patients, adhering to infection control policies and guidance in line with Trust health and safety policies. Ensure waste is correctly disposed of according to Trust policy.
3. Prepare and maintain environments for clinical procedures.
4. Undertakes cleaning of equipment/environment as per Trust policy.
5. To check the appropriate linen stock is adequate until the next due delivery. Contribute in the supply and maintenance of materials and equipment to ensure the efficient running of the clinical environment.
6. Ensure patient beds/trolleys are changed, including strip, clean, remake beds/trolleys. Collect full bags of soiled linen and move to collection points.
7. Assist with the checking and recording of deliveries to the clinical areas against original orders. Ensure stock rotation is undertaken to minimise the risk of equipment becoming out of date.
8. Assist in the transfer of materials and equipment as requested, including the maintenance of equipment as appropriate.
7. Report faults on the department/unit as necessary.
8. Reports all accidents and complaints according to the agreed policy to shift coordinator or senior staff.
9. Contributes to the continuous improvement of services.
10. Undertake all training required to perform duties effectively to the requirements of the post, including but not limited to attending all required mandatory training courses.
11. Maintain own professional portfolio in accordance with personal development plans.
12. Demonstrates the agreed set of values and accountable for own attitude and behaviour.
Professional:
1. Demonstrate respect for the individual patient, ensuring religious, cultural and social needs are considered at all times and acknowledge their individual rights. In all situations ensure consideration is made to the patients cultural background.
2. May be required to demonstrate and assist more junior staff to gain clinical experience, skills and knowledge.
3. Exchange information with patients and staff on the admission of patients.
4. Communicate information about appointments schedules to patients.
5. Communicate with patients who may be anxious, angry or upset.
6. Exchange relevant information with health care professionals.
7. Deal compassionately with distressing situations.
8. Liaise with other members of staff regarding patient concerns.
Administration:
1. Assist in preparing for clinic by printing labels and proformas if and when required, but also escalating missed prepped documentation to the clinic prep team/informing band 4’s, 5’s and 6’s. Assist in preparing patient’s notes, relevant charts, nursing etc.
2. Undertake clerical duties as directed by the Registered Nurse in relation to all verbal and written communications, ensuring messages and communications are passed to other team members, storage of patient information and retrieval of such information.
3. Plan/support nursing and medical staff for patient admissions, appointments and discharge.
These duties and responsibilities are neither exclusive nor exhaustive and staff may be required to undertake other duties and responsibilities consistent with the band. Skills development is encouraged and you may wish to consider additional skills/duties as part of your appraisal/PDR process.
Report job
