Clinical Support Worker (Luton and Dunstable Hospital)

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

Please see the full job description attached.

You will work at all times under the supervision of the Registered Nurse in charge of the shift and will be accountable to the Registered Nurse that you are working with and to the Senior Sister/Charge Nurse of the ward or department.

You will work to the level of your experience, assessed competence and skilled acquired within the post.

You will require immediate and direct supervision in areas of unfamiliar work.  You should not undertake any task that you are unfamiliar with.

Clinical

1.     To accurately and promptly carry out tasks delegated by the registered nurse/nursing associate who is professionally accountable for the delivery of care.

2.     To provide personal care to patients, who require varying degrees of assistance.  Personal care includes washing, mouth care, eye care, hair care, toileting, feeding and dressing.

3.     Under the direction of a registered nurse/nursing associate and following training and completion of any competency requirements provide a range of delegated clinical duties:

a.     Physiological observation monitoring

b.     Fluid intake and output

c.     Skin checks and risk assessments

d.     ECG recording

e.     Point of care testing; including but not exhaustive of blood glucose, ketones, pregnancy, urinalysis.

f.      Venepuncture

g.     Peripheral  cannulation

h.     Obtaining swabs and specimens

i.       Record keeping, including risk assessments and documentation of care delivered

j.       Any other limited clinical duties for your clinical area of work as directed by your line manager

4.     To only undertake duties relevant to your level of competence that you have received appropriate training and/or have been deemed competent by an authorised Registered Nurse/Midwife/Nursing Associate as per Trust guidelines.

5.     To assess patient condition through observations/ test results, assess patient comfort and report any concerns in behaviour or in clinical condition to the registered nurse/nursing associate.

6.     To ensure that all documentation is countersigned by the registered nurse/nursing associate, ensuring confidentiality at all times.

7.     To be aware of own role when dealing with medical emergencies, responding appropriately to ensure the patient received appropriate care.

8.     To be aware of the Trusts policies/guidelines/procedures for all undertaken tasks.

9.     Participate in the admission of patients, ensuring that they are orientated to time and place and responding to any questions or concerns that they have.

10.  To maintain and clean and tidy clinical environment for bot staff and patients.

11.  Provide support to patients pre, during and post procedures, under the direction of a registered nurse/nursing associate/Dr.

12.  To prepare equipment for department based procedures, under the direction of a registered nurse/nursing associate/Dr.

13.  To chaperone/escort patients during procedures or to different clinical environments following a risk assessment from the registered nurse/nursing associate.

14.  To support relatives and carers but answering questions within their scope of practice and experience, escalating to a registered nurse/nursing associate as required.

15.  To assist in the discharge process under the guidance of the registered nurse/nursing associate.

16.  Follow infection prevention and control advice and practices to minimise the spread of infection.

17.  Ensure waste is disposed of appropriately.

18.  Support patients at times of distress, addressing their concerns and using de-escalation techniques if required.

Communication 

1.     To welcome patients, carers and visitors to the clinical area, proving support and information as required.  Recognising the potential barriers to communication and working with the patient/carers/visitors to minimise these.

2.     To answer the telephone in a polite manner and when required passing enquiries to the registered nurse/nursing associate.

3.     Generally communicate in a way that is kind, compassionate and empathetic to both staff and patient that demonstrates the Trust’s THRIVE values.

4.     Communicate effectively with other team members to ensure that care is co-ordinated and hand over is seamless.

5.     To contribute to handover of patients under the supervision of the registered nurse/nursing associate.

6.     Report incidents, accidents or complaints to the registered nurse/nursing associate.

7.     Use the Trust computer systems required by the clinical area.

Management and Leadership

1.     To support the induction of all new Clinical Support Workers, by providing an orientation to the environment and routine, and acting in the role of induction buddy.

2.     Sign off the national Care Certificate practice standards, for all those new to care.

3.     Provide feedback to staff on their performance and expect to receive feedback on your own performance.

4.     Act as a role model to staff and patients, by behaving a manner which is line with the Trust THRIVE values.

5.     Participate in audits under the direction of a registered nurse/nursing associate.

6.     Ensure patient areas and equipment are kept clean during the patients stay and following discharge, in preparation for admission.

7.     To share the responsibility for care and maintenance of equipment, reporting defects in a timely manner.

8.     Be able to multi-task and manage own time to ensure that effective patient care is delivered.  Escalating to the registered nurse/nursing associate if tasks cannot be managed.

Personal/Professional Development

1.     To ensure the compliance of all mandatory and statutory training topics are maintained.

2.     To identify on an annual basis during appraisal, a personal development plan which supports future career aspirations.

3.     To participate in training relevant to clinical area.

4.     To complete all required competencies prior to undertaking tasks unsupervised.

5.     Understand own limitations or scope of practice and highlighting these to the registered nurse/nursing associate.