NursingNetUK

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

SECTION 1- MAIN RESPONSIBILITIES:

CLINICAL:

• Work within the ward/department setting, providing high quality, caring, compassionate and personal care to patients and their families/carers
• Work under the direction of the Registered Healthcare Professionals and senior colleagues, both independently and as part of the multi- disciplinary team.
• Under the direction of a Registered Health Care Professional ensure a high standard of service provision within ward/department, by practicing effective clinical and administrative preparation, effective communication and care delivery, prioritising workload appropriately and contributing to service improvements
• Participate in giving compassionate high quality personal care to patients prioritising appropriately and developing competencies that safeguard practice
• Act always in a manner, which illustrates respect for privacy, dignity, equality, diversity, and confidentiality.
• Always exhibit a professional attitude behaviour and demonstrate excellent customer care skills.
• Contribute to effective team working by being fully involved, committed, and participating towards achieving own and others full potential.
• Develop positive relationships with patients, families, and carers.
• Communicate effectively with patients, relatives, and healthcare practitioners.
• Welcome and orientate patients and visitors to the ward/department.
• Use communication tools (verbal/ nonverbal) to gain informed consent with patients where there will often be barriers to effective communication e.g., loss of hearing, altered perception, expressive and receptive dysphasia, pain, fear etc.
• Report information concerning the patients, including information of their care delivery and wellbeing to other members of the team, including Registered Healthcare Professionals, in a timely manner.
• Ask for, listen, and value the views of patients and their relatives/carers on their experience, including complaints and discuss with the Registered Healthcare Professional in a timely manner.
• Communicate effectively with dignity and respect to all patients, relatives and others considering potential barriers to understanding.
• Recognise and report any situations, behaviours or errors that could result in poor care outcomes.
• Assist in preparing patients notes, relevant charts/documentation.
• Maintain effective working relationships with ward colleagues particularly those highlighted within the organisation chart above
• Welcome and orientate new staff, patients, and visitors to the ward/department.
• Carry out routine personal care procedures as directed.
• Use a range of techniques for infection prevention and control including waste management, hand washing and the use of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE).
• Ensure patients nutritional needs are met through assisting in the preparation of patients prior to meals and beverages, providing help and assistance in feeding/drinking as necessary.
• Appropriately record and monitor dietary intake of patients, informing relevant staff of progress and/or any difficulties relating to dietary/fluid intake as required.
• Assist patients in their mobility requirements, help move and position appropriately to maximise their physical comfort, utilising equipment a trained to use and as directed by the multi professional team.
• Prepare individual patients and the environment to ensure effective movement and/or handling procedures to ensure patient and staff safety.
• Assist in the care of patient’s skin integrity by observing pressure areas and undertaking actions as appropriate to prevent pressure ulcers, escalating concerns to the Registered Healthcare Professional in a timely manner, recording and maintaining relevant documentation as directed.
• Assist in the duties relating to last offices for deceased persons as required. Ensure that all religious and cultural wishes, obligations are adhered to.
• When necessary, initiate and assist with basic cardio-pulmonary resuscitation procedures.
• At the delegation of the Registered Healthcare Professional, transfer the patient from one care area to another, i.e. to discharge lounge/ another ward.
• Assist in providing conditions to meet the patient’s need for rest and sleep.
• Chaperone the patient as required ensuring appropriate support.
• Actively support and assist in alleviating distress and anxiety of patients or carers, consistent with their personal beliefs and preferences, seeking help and support as required.
• Support patients with dementia/cognitive impairment/delirium, providing Enhanced Supervision where required.
• Proactively help patients and carers to take an active role in their care.
• Assist in maintaining and monitoring cleaning standards within the clinical area ensuring fixtures/ fittings and equipment is cleaned in accordance with guidelines.
• Promote standards of health and safety in working practice and the workplace, by being responsible for self and others through identifying risks, undertaking work activities in a safe manner.
• Prioritise own workload
• Undertake tasks and workload activities whilst ensuring that their practice is guided by standard operating procedures and established protocols.
• Under the delegation of the Registered HealthCare Professional participate in the delivery of patient care, as outlined above.

• Demonstrate self-directed development to ensure practise is in accordance with established protocols and standard operating procedures under close, but not continuous, supervision.
• Provide basic health promotion advice to patients and relatives/carers, as directed/ appropriate.
• Act always in a manner, which illustrates respect for privacy, dignity and confidentiality.  
• Contribute to effective team working, by being fully involved, committed, and participating, to achieving full potential.

ADMINISTRATIVE:

• Maintain accurate and timely records.
• Undertake basic administrative tasks including answering the telephone when required and taking of messages and passing on relevant information in a timely manner
• Attend ward /departmental meetings as required
• Under the direction of the Registered Healthcare Professional, record patient’s items of property in the ward property and valuables book, ensuring valuables are correctly placed into safekeeping.
• Exercise personal duty of care in the safe use and storage of equipment.
• Assist with the checking and recording of deliveries to the clinical areas against original orders.
• Ensure stock rotation is undertaken to minimise the risk of equipment becoming out of date.
• As directed be responsible for ordering consumables and equipment to meet the needs of the service.
• Assist in the transfer of materials and equipment as requested,
• Use IT systems as appropriate following training as required.
• Responsible for use of and security of assets within the department including own use and correct use by others e.g., IT equipment
• Have a responsibility to ensure all information processed for patients and staff is kept confidential, accurate and in line with the Data Protection Act 1998 and Caldecott principles
• Participate in ward/ departmental audit activity as required e.g., Ward Accreditation

HUMAN RESOURCES MANAGEMENT:

• Support new or less experienced work colleagues to adapt to the workplace
• Assist in the induction of new ward staff as directed.
• Working with the Registered Healthcare Professionals act as a role model providing guidance and support to Trainee’s, junior staff, and work colleagues as required, helping to always ensure the efficient and effective running of the ward/department.
• Contribute to a culture where all staff feel safe to raise their concerns and that speaking up about what these are is a normal part of their routine.
• Be familiar and comply with all Trust Policies and Procedures.
• Adhere to Trust Uniform Policy.
• Adhere to Trust social media Policy.

SECTION 2- KNOWLEDGE AND SKILLS

• Demonstrate a good understanding of the Mental Capacity Act / Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards and apply the principles to everyday practice seeking advice / guidance from the Registered Healthcare Professional as required.

• Have a responsibility to ensure all information processed for patients and staff is kept confidential, accurate and in line with the data protection act 1998 and Caldecott principles.

• Be environmentally aware and prudent in use of resources and energy.

• Maintain responsibility for the identification of own continuing educational needs and development and take part in annual appraisal.
• Recognise and consistently work within boundaries of the role and acquire skills and knowledge to develop competencies in the service area as directed.
• Maintain competence in Statutory and Mandatory training.
• Attend appropriate training courses and keep up to date with developments within the service area.

SECTION 3- EFFORT AND ENVIRONMENT

• Frequent moderate effort for several short periods/occasional intense effort for several short periods.
• Use of hoists and wheelchairs/manoeuvring clients for toileting, bathing.
• Promote standards of health and safety in working practice and the workplace, by being responsible for self and others through identifying risks, undertaking work activities in a safe manner.
• Use a range of techniques for infection prevention and control including waste management, hand washing and the use of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE).
• Maintain cleanliness in the work environment in line with Trust Health and Safety and Infection Prevention Practice policies.