ST. MICHAEL’S HOSPICE

JOB TITLE Health Care Assistant

DEPARTMENT In patient/Day hospice

Number doing this job: 17 Location(s) St. Michaels Hospice

Date 09/15

Main Purpose:

To support the multiprofessional team in providing evidenced based, individualised palliative care to patients adhering to statutory regulations and hospice policies.

Position in Organisation

(See organisation chart)

Scope of Job –main tasks, duties and responsibilities % Time/importance

Clinical65%

  • Work collaboratively with and under the direction of registered nurses in the delivery of high quality holistic nursing care, following care plans and care guidelines.
  • Contribute to the keeping of accurate and relevant records by recording the care provided, countersigned by a registered nurse.
  • Contribute to accurate record keeping in relevant clinical IT systems.
  • Report changes in condition noticed in patients and work with the multi-professional team to adapt care appropriately.
  • Provide a comfortable, safe and welcoming environment for patients, ensuring that privacy and dignity are maintained at all times.
  • Encourage patients to express needs and be responsive and available to these as appropriate
  • In conjunction with the registered nurse help patients with their meal choices, issue meals and help with feeding as appropriate, so dietary needs are met.
  • Care for the deceased patient by administering last offices and the safe and timely removal of the body from the hospice.
  • Perform clinical observationsi.e. signs or complaints of pain, condition of skin and pressure area observing for any abnormalities and reporting accordingly.
  • Perform blood sugar measurement following competency assessment, reporting and recording.
  • Observe and monitor elimination and record appropriately, perform urinalysis and report findings.
  • Under the direction of a registered nurse perform simple dressings.
  • Check drugs with a registered nurse after achieving drug competencies.
  • Be aware of the indications for use of syringe drivers; be involved in the syringe driver monitoring process and report problems to the registered nurse.
  • Attention to hygiene and comfort and prevention of complications due to immobility
  • Organise out patients clinicliaising with medical secretary regarding appointments,making sure appropriate records, information and equipment are to hand and providing support to patients, family and physician to facilitate smooth operations throughout the patients clinic experience

Communication20%

  • Establish and maintain effective communication and working relationships with the multi-professional teams within the hospice.
  • Communicate effectively with patients, carers and the bereaved to establish and maintain trusting relationships. Encourage patients/relatives/carers to express what is important to them to identify their needs
  • Offer emotional support to patients and/or carers particularly during admission, following the breaking of bad news and time of death, recognising own limitations and referring to the registered nurses as appropriate.
  • Contribute to the bereavement care offered to families by occasionally taking part in bereavement lunches and reporting any concerns regarding vulnerability to registered nurses.
  • Contribute information about patients/ relatives to the multi-professional team either directly at MDT meetings or via registered nurse

Health and Safety10%

  • Act at all times to promote the safety and wellbeing of patients, visitors, staff and volunteers.
  • Provide voluntary homemakers/day hospice volunteers with the information required to enable them to give appropriate care to patients and their visitors.
  • Be aware of patients that are at risk of falling and ways to prevent falls
  • Ensure that the environment is free from hazards and all nursing equipment is safely and appropriately used and stored.
  • Responsible for the timely disposal and documentation of clinical waste and laundry.
  • Safe storage and use of hazardous substances according to COSHH regulations.
  • Contribute to health and safety risk assessments and actions required as a result, as appropriate.
  • Checking building

Education 5%

  • Attend mandatory training.
  • Develop and maintain own knowledge and skills in palliative care.
  • Act as a mentor for visiting health care assistants.
  • Be involved in user feedback.

Dimensions and Limits of Authority/Influence

  • Give patient care under the direction of a registered nurse
  • Delegated responsibility for allocated patients’ care.
  • Report any concerns / changes in the patients’ condition and or family members’ wellbeing to the supervising registered nurse.
  • Be aware of own limitations and when to seek advice/help.
  • Responsible for the handling of patients’ valuables and property.

Skills/Activities InvolvedIndicator A-D

ABasic nursing care

AAbility to work within a large team

BGood communication and interpersonal skills

BUnderstanding of significance of tasks undertaken and the relevance of the need to report

BAbility to use own initiative

BAbility to respond to changing situations

BAble to identify personal coping strategies

BPersonal grief resolved sufficiently to cope with working in palliative care setting

CIT skills

Decisions/Recommendations

Decisions are made each shift as to the appropriateness of nursing interventions under the direction of a registered nurse.

Communications

Internal – patients, carers, relatives, all hospice staff and volunteers.

External - funeral directors, laundry services, emergency services.

Allocation/Checking of Work

Working under the direction of the registered nurse

Involves some initiation of own activities

Activity recorded as part of the patients’ records under the supervision of a registered nurse.

Clinical policies and procedural guidelines are in place for clinical activities

Physical Effort

Work is physically labour intensive, on feet for most of the shift and sometimes continuously. 80%

Regular safe manual handling of patients and equipment, including beds, mattresses, chairs and deceased bodies – significant risk with the manual handling of some patients who can be unpredictable (7-35 stone). 50%

Regular bending and stretching involved, at times in awkward difficult positions. 30%

Mentally tiring due to the prolonged episodes of listening and support for patients/ carers often in distress. 40%

Working Conditions

Routinely exposed to patients with infections, infected linen and body fluids. 30%

Some exposure to hazardous substances including chemicals, medical gases and medications. 10%

Recognised protective clothing including aprons/gloves to be worn as required. 60%

Daily contact with distressed patients, carers and relatives requiring an emotional support. Occasional verbal, rarely physical abuse. 20%

Involvement in the dying process and death. 10%

The in-patient unit can be hot in summer. 5%

Due to building layout this may at times necessitate the moving of patients to different rooms. 5%

Day shift required/night shift work. 80%/20%

Some weekend/bank holiday

Mental Ability (Qualifications/Professional)

NVQ Level 2 or above in Health Care

Able to demonstrate a good insight into palliative care principles and philosophy.

Experience

Experience working as a care assistant in other settings or other relevant experience

…………………………………………………………………………………………………..

Job Title: Health Care Assistant Department: Nursing

Date

Job Description written by: ………………………………………….

Signed: ………………………………..Signed: ……………………………......

(Job holder)(Manager)

Print name: …………………………. Print name: …………………………………..

Date: ………………………………….Date: …………………………………………..

N.B. This section will be removed from the copy to be used for Job Evaluation purposes.