Title of Post: Senior Health Care Assistant (Band 3) s1

Northern Ireland Hospice

Job Description

Title of Post: Senior Healthcare Assistants

Location: Horizon House

Reports to: Care Team Manager

Responsible to: Head of Childrens Hospice Services

Minimum Qualifications: As per Job Specification

The Senior Healthcare Assistant, as a member of the care team, will meet the needs of children using Horizon House. He/she will work with or without direct supervision and will undertake delegated tasks in which they have been trained and assessed as competent. This post will include day and night duty.

Key responsibilities

Clinical skills-health and well-being

 Assist or undertake the daily care of children including- o Distributing meals and assisting in feeding o Attending to the child’s hygiene and dressing needs o Participating in an appropriate programme of activities to meet the child’s needs and likes.  Undertake delegated care for children requiring enhanced clinical procedures for which you have been trained and deemed competent such as- o Children requiring enteral feeding o Children requiring oral, nasal-pharyngeal or tracheal suction o Children with tracheostomies o Children requiring ventilatory support  Care for children with unpredictable conditions under indirect nursing supervision.  Support and monitor children during nebulisation therapy.  Give accurate and appropriate information to children and families within own competence.  Alert nursing colleagues to changes in the child’s condition.

HR/Job Descriptions/Senior Healthcare Assistant HH Communication

 Communicate effectively with children and families, recognising their needs for alternative methods of communication.  Communicate effectively with other team members.

Personal and people development

 Take responsibility for own learning and performance,  Attend mandatory training  Participate in the induction of new team members, students and others.  Participate in the competency development of new team members within scope of role.

Health, safety and security

 Identify risks within the Hospice environment, take steps to minimise risks and report risks according to Hospice policy.  Use and encourage others to adopt appropriate infection control procedures and maintain work areas so that they are clean, safe and free from hazards.  Know the general principles of first aid and resuscitation  Follow child protection guidelines and health and safety policies and procedures.

Service improvement

 Be aware of and, if appropriate, assist in audit and service evaluation  Contribute to the preparation of local guidelines, protocols and standards  Contribute to the development of current and new services and other initiatives

Quality

 Ensure own actions are consistent with Hospice policies and procedures.  Practice in accordance with agreed standards of care.  Use resources effectively.  Participate in the care of equipment.  Manage own time effectively.  Use professional and personal skills appropriately to respond to concerns or complaints, notify the nurse in charge and act in accordance with the Hospice Complaints procedure.

Equality and diversity

 Ensure own actions support equality, diversity and rights.  Act in ways that recognise the importance of people's rights, interpreting them in a way that is consistent with procedures.  Respect the privacy, dignity, needs and beliefs of children and families.

HR/Job Descriptions/Senior Healthcare Assistant HH Information processes

 Record information and activities undertaken with children in an accurate and timely fashion.  Maintain confidentiality of information relating to children, relatives, staff and the organisation  Take the necessary precautions when transmitting information

This job description is not meant to be definitive and may be amended to meet the changing needs of Northern Ireland Hospice

HR/Job Descriptions/Senior Healthcare Assistant HH NORTHERN IRELAND HOSPICE

Employees of Northern Ireland Hospice are required to support its mission which is:

“ To provide a range of holistic in-patient and community specialist palliative and rehabilitative care services (for children, young people and adults) , in an environment of learning and research, enabling individuals with life-threatening and life-limiting illnesses and their families to maximise the quality of their lives.”

Northern Ireland Hospice is also committed to the following core values, which employees are expected to apply in all relevant aspects of their work:

Personal

Affording due and equitable attention to the individual and diverse needs of each of our patients, family members, carers, volunteers, staff, and supporters

Passionate

Affirming the individual and organisational commitment to the highest standards of care and excellence in all that we do

Professional

Applying appropriate skills and experience, in an ethical and/or responsible manner as each situation demands, to ensure the best possible outcomes for all concerned

Pioneering

Constantly striving for innovative and creative solutions to old and new challenges

General Responsibilities

 Members of staff are expected at all times to provide a caring service and to treat all those with whom they come into contact in a courteous and respectful manner.

 Staff are expected to demonstrate their commitment to Northern Ireland Hospice by their regular attendance and the efficient completion of all tasks allocated to them.

 All staff must comply with Northern Ireland Hospice Smoking Policy.

 All duties must be carried out in compliance with Northern Ireland Hospice Health and Safety policy and statutory regulations.

 Northern Ireland Hospice is an Equal Opportunities Employer. You are required to adhere to Northern Ireland Hospice Equal Opportunities Policy throughout the course of your employment.

 All information relating to patients and staff must be held in the strictest confidence and must not be divulged to any unauthorised person at any time, unless to do so is in the best interest of the individual. A breach of confidentiality will result in disciplinary action being taken in accordance with the Northern Ireland Hospice Disciplinary Procedure.

HR/Job Descriptions/Senior Healthcare Assistant HH Northern Ireland Hospice

Job Specification

Post: Senior Healthcare Assistants

Department: Children’s Services

Band: Based on Band 3 (£15,753 - £18,854 per annum)

Hours: Full-Time/Part-Time/Waiting List/Temporary/Permanent (including rotation onto Night Duty/Twilight)

Essential Criteria

Experience - One year’s experience of working with children who have complex healthcare needs - Experience of working unsupervised.

Qualifications and training - NVQ Level 3 in Health and Social Care or a related field (or equivalent) - Competency achievement in a range of clinical procedures including enteral feeding and oral; naso-pharyngeal and tracheal suction and tracheostomy care.

Knowledge and skills - Demonstrate an understanding of the role of the Senior Healthcare Assistant. - Clinical skills and competency relevant to the role. - Ability to make appropriate judgements when a child’s condition changes. - Understand issues regarding accountability and delegation. - Understand the issues and healthcare needs of children using the Children’s Hospice services.

Personal qualities - Motivation, reliability and commitment to team working and the development of others. - Flexible, reliable and responsive to change. - Demonstrate an ability to value the opinions of others. - Demonstrate a high level of self awareness, ie strengths and weaknesses, personal qualities and skills.

Physical skills - Manual dexterity and manipulation skills.

HR/Job Descriptions/Senior Healthcare Assistant HH Mental and emotional effort - Concentration required daily, e.g. Ability to deal with occasional exposure to distressing circumstances or emotional events. - Ability to work with competing priorities. - Ability to deal tactfully and empathetically with distressed or anxious children and families.

Communication and verbal skills - Able to communicate routine information that requires tact and persuasive skills, or where there may be barriers to understanding. - Ability to communicate effectively via telephone or group discussion. - Good interpersonal skills. - Proven customer care skills.

Management and supervision skills - Ability to participate in the induction and training of new members of staff, students and others.

Desirable Criteria

- Competency achievement in the care of children requiring ventilatory support.

HR/Job Descriptions/Senior Healthcare Assistant HH