Job overview

We are seeking a caring and compassionate Healthcare Assistant and have an exciting opportunity here at Mid and south Essex Foundation Trust to join our Ophthalmology team 

You Maintain excellent communication with patients, relatives and members of the MDT regarding all aspects of care demonstrating a variety of communications skills in accordance with the client group

Assist and maintain accurate patient care documentation utilizing a range of different IT systems eg DCIQ, electronic observations

Demonstrate care and compassion to patients, carers and relatives to help to ensure high quality patient centered care is delivered at all times.

Main duties of the job

Orientate patients to the ward or department

Escort patients to theatre

Under the supervision of a qualified nurse, support patients undergoing clinical procedures ensuring their dignity, respect, comfort and safety/chaperone

Measure & record a patients weight, height & BMI in preparation for assessment.

Help patients with personal and oral hygiene

Assist patients with eating & drinking ,monitor and record patients dietary and fluid intake appropriately reporting any abnormalities to the registered nurse

Complete Malnutrition Universal Screening Tool (MUST) and refer to a registered nurse as necessary

Identify the physical signs and symptoms of pressure damage during a skin assessment and escalate to a registered nurse

You will provide pressure area care to patients recognizing abnormal skin appearance

Recognise and assess patients who are in pain using a simple pain score and escalate to the registered nurse where appropriate

Following training and Trust competency assessment:
Record ECG’s as instructed by a Registered Nurse
Undertake venepuncture and/or cannulation if required within the clinical area
Perform neurological observations if required within the clinical area (specific areas)
Obtain blood gas samples if required within the clinical area (specific areas)

Continue the safe delivery of oxygen via a range of oxygen delivery devices following administration by a Registered Nurse

Remove peripheral cannula’s from patients following instruction from the Registered Nurse

Working for our organisation

The Mid and South Essex Integrated Care System (ICS) brings together key health, care, community, and voluntary sector organisations from across our area. Our aim is to work together in partnership to join up health and care services, improving our populations health and wellbeing and reducing health inequalities. One such example of this collaborative work is the launch of our HCA Academy, an ICS initiative between Essex Partnership University NHS Foundation Trust (EPUT) and Mid and South Essex NHS Foundation Trust (MSEFT) to support the incoming Health Care assistant (HCA) workforce. The academy models a ‘one workforce’ cross system approach to the onboarding, induction, education, and experience of Healthcare Assistants.

Successful candidates to this role will be able to access the additional support provided by the HCA Academy following their induction with MSEFT. This includes development opportunities, pastoral support, staff rewards and access to HCA exclusive resources such as HCA App.