Clinical Support Worker - Ambulatory Care Unit (ACU)

*** TO BE AVAILABLE TO WORK ACROSS BOTH SITES - DRI & BASSETLAW HOSPITAL ***

An exciting opportunity has arisen within the Ambulatory Care Unit of the Emergency Care Group.

This is to work alongside the Advanced Clinical Practitioner team and medical team in the Acute Medicine environment to enhance the patient’s journey from admission to discharge. It will enable rapid access to necessary tests, improve the review of the patients and the continuity of treatments.

The role of the Clinical Support Worker will require excellent communication and organisational skills, to provide a flexible, efficient and effective service.

Experienced clinical support workers, with the skills to level 3 are required for these posts. Applications from people that are willing to work towards obtaining skills will also be considered.

Adherence to infection prevention control practices is essential, with ongoing opportunities to update clinical skills in accordance with Trust policies and validation

We are a forward thinking dynamic department who believe in providing the best possible care for our patients. The CSW role is an integral part of this team.

We believe that the best care to our patients and community is provided by a professional and motivated team, so we invest heavily in training and education. There will also be lots of opportunities to support your development and improve your skills.

At Doncaster & Bassetlaw Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust you’ll be rewarded by a team that’s proud to support its staff in all aspects of their lives. If you are up to the challenge, submit an application to become part of team DBTH.

It is our goal to give those who join Team DBTH the tools and opportunities in order to grow their career, so whether you spend just one year or fifty with us, it’s our pledge to help you Develop, Belong and Thrive, Here.

CLINICAL

• Provide basic hygiene needs to patients, demonstrating respect for privacy and dignity and patient choice
• Provide assistance to patients requiring toilet facilities, demonstrating respect for privacy and dignity
• Assist patients to mobilize to their optimum ability within Trust policies and under the guidance of the nursing staff
• Demonstrate understanding of patients’ nutritional needs, provide drinks and meals to patients as appropriate, offer support and assistance to patients requiring feeding and/or feeding implements/tools. Be involved in the identification of patients’ nutritional risk assessments and care planning
• Monitor and record vital signs (temperature, pulse, respirations, oxygen saturation level and blood glucose level) of patients, demonstrate an understanding of the normal range and report any abnormal recordings to practitioner/medical staff. Record early warning score and report any abnormal reading to nursing staff
• Perform venepuncture as requested by practitioner/nursing/medical staff within Trust policy and once appropriate training has been given
• Record ECG’s once appropriate training has been given and within Trust policy, reporting findings to nursing/medical team
• Carry out cannulation as requested by practitioner/nursing/medical team once appropriate training has been given
• Facilitate the safe transfer of patients to other wards and departments within the Trust and within Trust guidelines and policies
• Monitor and record weight of patient, monitor and record patient height and record body mass index
• Test urinalysis and record findings, report any abnormalities to practitioner
• Obtain specimens of bodily fluids for culture/sensitivity when requested by practitioner/nursing/medical staff, using universal precautions
• Carry out urine pregnancy tests as appropriate and with patient consent. Record results and report findings to staff
• Set up and assist practitioner/nursing/medical staff in clinical procedures using aseptic technique once appropriate training has been given and within own limitations and boundaries
• Carry out wound dressings using aseptic technique and universal precautions and once appropriate training has been given
• Monitor and record the pain score of patients. Report findings to practitioner/medical/nursing staff
• Monitor and record the conscious level of patients (where applicable) once training has been given, report findings to practitioner/medical/nursing staff

HEALTH AND SAFETY

• Clean, check and store clinical equipment as required and within Trust guidelines and policies once appropriate training has been given, under the guidance of nursing staff
• Carry out universal precautions when dealing with body fluids and waste
• You must not willfully endanger yourself or others whilst at work
• Safe working practices and safety precautions must be adhered to
• Ensure an environment that is conducive to safe working, share responsibility for clean, tidy working environment

CLINICAL GOVERNANCE

• Report adverse health incidents to facilitate improvements in the service and its process

COMMUNICATION/DOCUMENTATION

• Assist in the assessment of patients; obtain relevant information from patients and their families e.g. demographics and normal activities of daily living, document appropriately
• Assist in the risk assessment of patients e.g. pressures sore risk, moving and handling risk and nutritional risk. Provide appropriate equipment to minimize risk to patient and/or staff (pressure relieving mattress, moving and handling aids). Under the guidance of the nursing staff, within Trust policies and once appropriate training has been given
• Assist in obtaining results of investigations, basic computer skills required, training and computer access will be provided
• Communicate effectively with the other members of the acute medical team

PROFESSIONAL

• Demonstrate ability to recognize own limitations and act accordingly
• Demonstrate professional manner and empathy when dealing with patients and their families
• Work effectively with the emergency department team and other allied health professionals required for the patients’ care
• Demonstrate professional manner and empathy when dealing with telephone enquiries, respect patients’ confidentiality

EDUCATION/TRAINING

• Ensure that own competence and education requirements are fulfilled
• Demonstrate willingness to learn new skills and enhance existing skills
• Attend annual mandatory updates
• Attend annual personal/professional review
• Recognize that education and training requires commitment of both employer and employee

Further amendment is expected, taking into account of changing patterns of nursing research, education and management.