Health Care Assistant

To assist in the delivery of care planned and assessed by the Registered Nurses, and other
registered healthcare professionals.
To carry out that care & other duties under direct supervision.
***Preference will be given to internal Trust staff, as well as ‘Priority’ and 'At Risk' status including NHS At Risk staff throughout Devon who are able to display recent relevant experience as dictated by the Person Specification.***

• Provide and deliver a high standard of nursing, care (i.e. washing, mouthcare, toileting, manual handling and mobility), recognising and meeting the specific needs of patients.
• Prioritise own tasks under the direction of registered nurse.
• To carry out clinical observations on patients, recognising, recording and reporting all changes in patients condition to senior staff.
• To support maintenance of fluid balance and dietary charts, recognising, recording and reporting all adverse findings to senior staff.
• Undertake the escort of patients to appointments/other Departments under the direction of the registered nurse (when deemed competent).
• To support nutritional needs of patients by assisting with feeding and drinking, reporting on concerns about dietary intake to senior staff, taking into consideration specialist stroke care needs.
• An awareness of skin integrity over pressure points, recognising and reporting all adverse findings to senior staff.
• To recognise the importance of health education and teaching patients and carers, and referring patients to senior staff
• Document and sign for all observations and care given with a counter signature from a registered practitioner.
• To maintain his/her professional development, attending courses/further training to enhance and optimise his/her role within the work area.
• To promote and safeguard the well-being of patients, their families, and colleagues.

We are a people business – where every member of staff matters and can make a difference. Patients are at the heart of everything we do. Joining University Hospitals Plymouth NHS Trust means becoming part of a team of dedicated staff, who are committed to leading the way through innovation, clinical excellence and great customer care. The Trust has great opportunities for career development in a highly progressive working environment. We offer all of this in a vibrant, modern city with a historic reputation for adventure. PLEASE NOTE THAT ALL COMMUNICATION WILL BE ELECTRONIC, PLEASE CHECK YOUR EMAIL ACCOUNT REGULARLY. If you have any issues with applying online and need additional support including reasonable adjustments with the application process please contact the recruitment team on 01752 432100. We recognise that work life balance is important for our colleagues and so we invite requests from applicants around less than full time/flexible working for our advertised roles. Please contact the recruiting manager to discuss this prior to your application submission. We commit to giving this full consideration in each case. We encourage people from diverse backgrounds to apply for our roles, as diversity strengthens our teams. It is sometimes necessary to close vacancies before the closing date. If you have not heard from us within 4 weeks of the closing date, please assume that you have not been shortlisted.
Develop the skills to obtain consent prior to giving care in accordance with Trust
Under supervision follow individual patient care plans and report any changes immediately to the Registered Nurse/Assistant
Participate in basic patient assessment whilst providing personal care and feeding back to the registered nurse to ensure high standards of care, in particular relating to skin integrity and the alertness of the patient
Practice safe standards of care to patients following Trust guidelines and policies and be able to concentrate for periods throughout the day with occasional
Ensure care is given in accordance with the infection prevention and health and safety policies and
Ensure that the patients bed space is clean, tidy, and accessible and that the person has what they need within easy
Develop the skills to actively facilitate self-care and independence with
Promote health education specific to the clinical area and in line with national and local policies
Develop the skills to maintain effective record keeping and communication with patients, relatives, and members of the Multidisciplinary team regarding all aspects of care demonstrating a range of appropriate communication
Ensuring equipment and stores are well maintained, taking appropriate action if the equipment is faulty
Work effectively as part of a team.
For further details please see attached JD&PS