The Role

The Senior Health Care Assistant is a member of a multidisciplinary Ward/Departmental team who undertakes duties in relation to patient care and ward/department administration, to support the 5 principles of the Nursing and Midwifery Strategy which reflect the organisation's commitment to quality and the expectations of high quality nursing care in the Acute Hospital setting.

Delegated work and duties will be assigned and carried out under the direct and indirect supervision of a Registered Nurse or Midwife as appropriate, in accordance with the Trust Clinical Competencies. Where additional skills training is identified as required in the job description the postholder will not undertake those duties until training has been undertaken (except as part of the supervised learning experience).

To maintain the highest possible standards of compassionate and professional patient care with particular attention to privacy and dignity.

• Assist patients with personal care, hygiene and sanitary needs, ensuring privacy and dignity is maintained
• Ensure that patient’s bedding, nightwear and clothing is maintained in a clean and comfortable state
• Assist in the meeting of patients’ nutritional needs, including non-oral nutritional and fluid intake
• Where identified in the plan of care ensure that food and fluid intake and elimination output are accurately documented on appropriate charts
• Assist in skin and pressure area care to prevent pressure ulcers developing
• Under the supervision of registered nurses, ensure patients are helped to move position to prevent discomfort and / or pressure ulcers and promote effective respiratory function
• Assist patients with safe mobilisation according to their plan of care and where appropriate seek help from other members of the ward team
• Utilise appropriate moving and handling aids to reduce the risk of injury to the patient and themselves
• Assist registered staff in the taking and recording of vital signs as per the patient’s plan of care
• Communicate to the nurse in charge any changes observed in a patient’s condition