Porter Supervisor

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

To allocate duties and shifts using an agreed staff roster system, ensuring effective Portering cover within allocated budget.

To supervise on a day to day basis, the Portering staff ensuring continued service supervision during times of absence, annual leave or sickness.

To effectively manage staff sickness, absence and annual leave.

To provide monthly payroll information to the Portering Manager ensuring all shift enhancements and overtime is captured correctly.

To ensure Portering equipment is operated in line with safe operating procedures and manufacturers operational guidelines, reporting any defects to the Portering Manager.

To ensure Portering staff complete all required statutory and mandatory training in line with Trust policies.

Ensure Portering staff receive adequate training in all aspects of their role and that this is documented for each individual.

To complete return to work interviews with staff following periods of sickness, absence.

To carry out annual staff appraisals with Portering staff, setting robust job related objectives with the aim of improving service performance.

To complete Back Care Facilitator training and as part of this role, assess Portering manual handling procedures and complete manual handling risk assessments.

To ensure all waste handling equipment is operated and maintained in line with safe operating procedures and manufacturer recommendations.

To proactively manage the informal process of addressing sickness, absence in line with Trust policies and procedures.

Support staff when dealing with front line distressing and emotional activities relating to crash team calls, mortuary duties and critical accident and emergency response.

Play a key role in ensuring the hospital site remains operational in the event of extreme weather conditions, clearing snow from roads and footpaths and salt gritting overnight to maintain safe access.

To assist in the development of operational procedures for tasks performed by the Portering department.

To liaise with service users to ensure the Portering provision meets the operational needs of the clinical services and to organise adhoc workloads.

To assist in the recruitment, interview and induction of staff.

To maintain expected standards of conduct, in line with Trust values, of all Portering staff and ensure that all wear the approved uniform and safety footwear.

To ensure Portering staff are given all relevant information through staff briefs, feedback from meetings and other sources of information.

To be fully aware of Fire Response Procedures ensuring all Porters are trained to a competent level of fire marshal and response team requirements.

To have input in identifying ways to improve the department both operationally and financially.

To assist departments with the movement of patients using clinical manual handling procedures including “pat sliding” and “log rolling” techniques. To use reasonable judgement when preparing to move a patient and check with clinical staff if unsure.

Use machinery, equipment or materials as required throughout the hospital site, ensuring the use of such, is in full compliance with Trust policies and safe operating procedures.

To replace medical gas cylinders where required and to check the cylinders and regulators for leaks in accordance with defined procedures. Report any defects to the senior nurse on the wards or department and remove from service.

Collect pathology specimens, containers and units of blood, on a routine collection round plus when requested, ensuring a record of collection is logged in the specimen book on each ward or department. Transport all items in accordance with safe handling procedures.

Collect and deliver pharmacy supplies, fluids, controlled drugs and emergency equipment as required, following approved procedures and ensuring paperwork is completed.

Undertake non-routine Portering duties such as office and equipment movement, escort duties including the retrieval/movement of patient notes and medical records.

Complete role specific, on the job training and site familiarisation with new Portering staff or agency/bank support staff as part of the staff induction process.

Respond to service delivery issues using own judgement and problem solving skills when the Portering Manager is not available.

Assist security staff, when requested, with challenging patients or relatives using approved techniques. Complete site lockup and unlocking as instructed.

Deliver and collect patient food trolleys across the hospital site using the designated “Master Mover” equipment and approved manual handling procedures.

Undertake the movement of deceased patients from clinical areas to the mortuary in line with approved procedures, and clinical manual handling techniques.

Move and retrieve trolleys, beds and wheelchairs as necessary across the hospital site ensuring items are stored in the dedicated areas and available for use.

Collect and sort mail for delivery across the hospital site. Sort mail into the required postal streams and process outgoing mail through the franking machine.

Attend all Trauma/Adult/Cardiac/Major Incident/ Fire Calls as part of the emergency response team. Investigate and assess fire alarms and situations in line with operational procedures and inform the Duty Operational Manager.

Carry out daily cleaning of all portering wheelchairs in line with Infection Control Cleaning Procedures and ensure all other bed frames, trolleys and bariatric equipment are cleaned prior to storage.

To deliver clean linen to all wards and departments and complete routine collections of soiled linen so that it is not left to build up in wards or corridors.

To undertake the collection of all waste, at routine times, in accordance with safe operating procedures and Trust waste management policies. Use electric tugs and trailers for the movement of waste around site. 

To carry out ward curtain changes as part of the terminal cleaning process, will include high level ladder use.

Provide Portering cover to the radiology department when required. This will include the transporting of patients, using reasonable judgement and liaising with clinical staff to ensure the patient identity is checked prior to movement.

To provide a priority Portering response to the Accident & Emergency Department and Emergency Assessment Unit in support of helping to improve patient waiting times.

To complete all required training, including statutory, mandatory and role specific, and adhere to all Trusts policies and procedures.

To communicate with Trust colleagues, managers, patients, visitors and the general public in an appropriate manner that promotes the Trusts values at all times.

To undertake any other reasonable duties as and when requested to assist in the smooth delivery of healthcare services.