Job summary
Employer heading
Healthcare Assistant- Midland Centre for Spinal Injuries
NHS AfC: Band 2
Here at the Robert Jones and Agnes Hunt Orthopaedic Trust, we are very proud of our reputation for providing outstanding care to our patients. Our continued success is accomplished through the skills and expertise of our staff, which is underpinned by our values: Friendly, Caring, Excellence, Professional and Respect. If your values align to ours, and you would like to join us in aspiring to deliver world class patient care, we would love to hear from you.
Job overview
We have exciting opportunities to join our Midlands Centre for Spinal Injuries as a Healthcare Assistant/ Healthcare Support Worker.
At the Midland Centre for Spinal Injuries (MCSI), we are committed to supporting new members of staff to ensure they feel confident and enjoy working as part of our team.
You will be given the time and support to build your confidence whilst learning how to care for spinal cord injury patients.
We look forward to having the opportunity to welcome you to the team.
We have full-time, part-time roles available.
Amongst the facilities available in MCSI is Horatio’s Garden. Horatio’s Garden is a national charity that creates and cares for NHS spinal cord injury centres. Horatio’s Garden offers a sanctuary for patients with spinal cord injuries, which helps them with their physical and psychological well-being. This is an amazing facility for both our patients, families, and staff to enjoy, relax, participate in rehab, and importantly provides a tranquil rest and rehabilitation area.
Main duties of the job
The team at MCSI work closely together to give patients the best opportunities for maxiumum potential recovery following a spinal cord injury. This includes caring for a patient in the initial first few weeks following injury, rehabilitation, through to discharge post discharge care also. Patients are 'life long' patients of MCSI and are part of the MCSI 'family'.
Main duties of the role including teaching and supporting patients to be as independent as possible in their daily routine, working along side external care teams, ensuring clean and safe environments and supporting patients with nutrition and hydration.
Working for our organisation
The Robert Jones and Agnes Hunt Orthopaedic NHS Trust (RJAH) is one of the leading orthopaedic hospitals in the country, with some of the highest levels of staff and patient satisfaction, as well as a strong reputation for research and innovation.
Joining RJAH is more than just a job – we want our people to have the best opportunities to thrive in their role.
We have a range of fantastic staff benefits on offer to everyone who joins RJAH and you'll have access to outstanding professional development opportunities and state-of-the-art facilities – including our recently-opened £6 million Headley Court Veterans’ Orthopaedic Centre (the first unit of its kind in the UK).
RJAH has strong links with a range of universities including Staffordshire, Keele, Glyndwr, Chester and Birmingham.
The hospital is located on a site outside Oswestry in Oswestry, just off the A5. The nearest train station is in Gobowen, approximately two miles from the hospital. The station is part of the Chester to Birmingham line.
Detailed job description and main responsibilities
- Under the direct/indirect supervision of trained staff, be able to use own initiative and be able to assist patients in all activities of daily living within own level of competence.
- Assist patients to maintain and improve their mobility to their full potential. Assist with dressing, promoting independence as much as possible within the boundaries of the patient’s functional ability.
- Provide patient care, which may require the use of physical effort to roll, manoeuvre and stand patients. The use of manual handling equipment and training is essential, to reduce physical strain and maintain safety of the patient. Annual manual handling training is mandatory.
- Assist other team members to maintain the skin integrity of all patients and have a working knowledge of all aids that are available to support this practice.
- Provide a safe and clean environment for patients by having and demonstrating a working knowledge of all Health and Safety issues.
- Assist patients to select meals. Have a working knowledge of available supplementary foods, which may be prescribed. Provide assistance and monitoring with eating and drinking as required, whilst still attempting to promote patients' independence.
- To have a basic understanding in the safe use of wheelchairs, commodes and other equipment used on the unit.
Ensure due regard is given to the customs, culture, values and spiritual beliefs of the patient, family, carers and staff. To uphold the Trust's Diversity/Equal Opportunities Policy.
- Ensure due regard is given to the safety of patients belongings according to Trust policies.
- Be able to handle waste body fluids, ensuring correct disposal according to Trust policies. Take specimens of urine, faeces, sputum, wound and other swabs, when requested to do so from a qualified nurse.
- Assist with escort duties as required. Chaperoning patients during medical examinations.
- Basic life support skills are essential, and will be updated at least yearly.
- Ability to call help and support staff in the event of an emergency.
- Be accountable for own practice, and take every reasonable opportunity to sustain and improve knowledge and professional competence.
- Attend yearly statutory training to ensure adherence to Trust policy and current legislation.
- Attend relevant in house training sessions which is pertinent to own clinical practice, to enhance knowledge and skill, maintaining competencies.
- Maintain personal training records.
- Participate in a yearly appraisal, setting personal objectives for own professional development
plan.
Person specification
Qualifications
Essential criteria
- Completion of Care Certificate, or willing to complete within 12 months
Desirable criteria
- NVQ Level 2 Care (or equivalent)
Experience
Essential criteria
- Demonstrable experience in a caring environment
Desirable criteria
- Spinal injuries experience
Skills
Essential criteria
- Patient centred focus and approach to work
- Able to work on own initiative and under pressure
- Able to work within a multidisciplinary team
- Demonstrates good level of both written and oral communication skills
Knowledge
Essential criteria
- An understanding of the importance of family centred care
- Demonstration of maintaining personal development
Personal qualities
Essential criteria
- Ability to exemplify the Trust Values - friendly, excellence, caring, professional, respect.
- Motivated, good time keeper, flexible approach and able to use appropriate initiative
Applicant requirements
This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975 (Amendment) (England and Wales) Order 2020 and it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service.
Documents to download
Further details / informal visits contact
- Name
- Katy Coulson
- Job title
- Ward Manager
- Email address
- [email protected]
- Telephone number
- 01691404343
- Additional information
Ward Manager Hannah Richards 01691 404343
Ward Manager Jess Sheil 01691 404343
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