Job summary
- Main area
- Heart Failure Health Care Assistant
- Grade
- NHS AfC: Band 3
- Contract
- Permanent
- Hours
- Part time
- Flexible working
- Job ref
- 150-CP0020-WST-A
- Employer
- Sussex Community NHS Foundation Trust
- Employer type
- NHS
- Site
- Horsham Hospital
- Town
- Horsham
- Salary
- £22,816 - £24,336 per annum pro rata
- Salary period
- Yearly
- Closing
- 25/07/2024 23:59
Employer heading
Heart Failure Team Healthcare Assistant
NHS AfC: Band 3
Job overview
We are looking for an enthusiastic Healthcare Assistant who can support our specialist Heart Failure Nurses and administrator in delivering excellent quality care to our patients. Our Community Heart Failure Service has a well-established team of experienced Heart Failure Nurse Specialists who support patients across Horsham, Crawley, Mid Sussex & Chanctonbury aiming to improve patient’s symptoms and quality of life, using pharmacological and non-pharmacological interventions.
Our patients require close monitoring, of which you will help support, by taking patient observational recordings, ECG taking, basic physical assessments, phlebotomy, patient education, whilst we work together to reduce unnecessary hospital admission & supported discharges in line with National initiatives and guidance.
We are a very busy and passionate team so if you think you have the right skills please apply.
Main duties of the job
We are a very busy and dedicated specialist team. However, we will provide you with a supportive environment for gaining new skills and knowledge .
We are based at Horsham Hospital, you would work Monday - Thursday 9am-2pm and Friday 9am -1.45pm excluding Bank Holidays there is some level of flexibility so please discuss at time of interview.
Main duties:
- To contribute to the complex management of patients with Heart Failure in the community, supporting their care and treatment, whilst helping to reduce unnecessary hospital admissions, whilst under the direct care of Specialist Nurses.
- To liaise with secondary care and GPs as directed by HFSN to ensure seamless care.
- To ensure carers receive support and are signposted to appropriate services
- To ensure excellent end of life care as appropriate
- Work towards completing the Heart Failure Competency Framework for Health Care Professionals, under guidance from Heart Failure Nurse Specialists within the team
- Phlebotomy and ECG.
- Basic Physical Assessment under Supervision
Working for our organisation
We are the main provider of NHS community services across East and West Sussex. Our 6,000 staff serve a population of 1.3 million providing essential medical, nursing, and therapeutic care to adults and children.
Our Trust vision is to provide excellent care at the heart of the community, helping people plan, manage, adapt to changes in their health, supporting avoidable hospital admissions and reducing hospital stay times.
We have opportunities for everyone across our wide variety of services including medical, clinical, support and corporate services.
Why work for us?
- Positive 2022 NHS Staff Survey results, scoring highly in compassionate culture & leadership, and staff wellbeing support
- Variety of working environments across the community, in patients' homes, within our community hospitals and bases across the county
- Supportive flexible working patterns such as: part time, flexi time, annualised hours, and flexi retirement options
- Excellent training and development opportunities
- Research opportunities
- Cost-effective workplace nurseries in Crawley, Hove and Brighton
- Thriving BAME, Disability and Wellbeing, LGBT+ and Religion and Belief staff networks
- Level 3 accredited Disability Confident Leader, committed to creating inclusive workplaces
- Veteran Aware Trust, achieving accreditation from Veterans Covenant Healthcare Alliance (VCHA)
- Located in stunning Sussex, with easy access to the South Downs and the coast
- Access to a wide range of benefits and discounts for NHS staff
Detailed job description and main responsibilities
Main tasks
- The role of the Health Care Assistant is an integral part of the Community Heart Failure Service supporting Specialist nurses in the management of patients diagnosed with Left Ventricular Systolic Dysfunction.
- You will work to undertake delegated activities to help deliver individualised care.
- You will play a vital role in the management of Heart Failure patients, performing tasks such as basic physical assessment, blood pressure, heart rate, venepuncture, ECG taking, patient education under close guidance.
- Under close guidance you will facilitate in preventing unnecessary hospital admissions, supporting patients and the wider teams to provide seamless care.
- Be responsible for ensuring high standards of health care are maintained and an active role in clinical governance.
- Ensures that all medical and emergency equipment is kept in a safe condition and is ready for use when required and that faulty equipment is reported and/or replaced as necessary.
- Ensures competency in relation to medical devices and other equipment used.
- Participates in nursing and clinical audit as guided by the team.
- Ensures application of local standards and philosophies.
- Communicates proactively with all staff on the clinical condition and
treatments/discharge plans of patients and ensures accurate nursing records are maintained by self and other staff. - Actively involves others in communications between patients their relatives and the multi-professional team, both within the organisation and with external stakeholders, and ensures excellent communication.
- Supports specialist nurses in co-ordinating the discharge process and ensures written and verbal advice is available to patients, relatives and carers.
- Actively involves patients, relatives and carers in their treatment and encourages others to enable individuals to assist in their recovery.
- Acts an ambassador/role model for the organisation and the nursing professio
Please read the Job Description/Person Specification for more information on the role!
Person specification
Experience
Essential criteria
- Experience in Community Working
Desirable criteria
- Minimum 12 months experience in care environment
Skills & Knowledge
Essential criteria
- Ability to organise own workload
- Ability to take patients physical observations
- Phlebotomy skills
- Ability to advocate for patients and escalate concerns to professionals when required
Desirable criteria
- Ability work in a flexible way and respond positivly to change
Other Requirements
Essential criteria
- UK Car drivers Licence and access to car
- Access to car for work purposes
- Willingness to undertake training to develop role
Employer certification / accreditation badges
Applicant requirements
This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975 (Amendment) (England and Wales) Order 2020 and it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service.
Documents to download
Further details / informal visits contact
- Name
- Samantha Blackledge
- Job title
- Heart Failure Clinical / Team Lead
- Email address
- [email protected]
- Telephone number
- 01403620457
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