Effort & Environment Skills

Job Description

1. Job Identification
Job title: Housekeeping Assistant
Responsible to: Housekeeping Supervisor
Department: Facilities
No of Job Holders:
Last Update: January 2014
2. Job Purpose
Working as part of the Housekeeping Team, assisting in all aspects of cleaning, house keeping and laundry related to the provision of a high quality Hotel service for patients, staff, volunteers and visitors at the Hospice ensuring compliance with national standards.
3. Role dimensions
·  To provide Housekeeping service assistance on a rota basis between the hours of 6am till 6.30pm, 7 days a week, in any part of the Hospice as required. On occasions Housekeeping assistants may be required to work out with these hours to cover functions.
·  To provide a high standard of domestic service ensuring all service users experience a pleasant, safe, clean and welcoming environment.
·  To carry out cleaning tasks throughout the building, laundry duties, assist with equipment and stock control under the direction of the Housekeeper.
4. Organisational position
5. Role of Department
·  To provide a comprehensive housekeeping service for the Hospice including all patient areas demonstrating consistent quality, efficiency and effectiveness to enhance patient care.
·  To play a key role in ensuring the implementation of Hospice infection control policies and procedures, complying with statutory and legal requirements.
·  To maintain a clean, welcoming and tidy environment for patients, visitors staff and volunteers.
·  To ensure economical and safe use of supplies and equipment.
6. Main Tasks, duties and responsibilities
·  Ensure that all surfaces, fixtures and fittings within the designated work area apart from medical apparatus are kept clean and tidy on a daily basis.
·  Ensure that all sanitary areas, i.e. bathrooms, toilets, sluices and showers are cleaned and sanitized.
·  Ensure all floor surfaces are kept clean.
·  Maintain and clean all equipment used in the carrying out of domestic duties.
·  Report faulty equipment to the designated supervisor.
·  Prepare and set up rooms for meetings/seminars and provide beverages and lunches, etc. as requested.
·  Ensure dirty crockery is washed as required
·  Removal and disposal of all domestic waste within the hospice
·  To assist in the maintenance of effective systems, and stock control.
·  To clean body fluid spillages in accordance with Hospice Infection Control policy and procedures.
·  To carry out allocated housekeeping duties.
·  To ensure ward stocks of linen are uplifted and replenished on a daily basis.
·  To change curtain screens in accordance with procedures.
·  To carry out washing/drying/ ironing and folding of Hospice laundry ready for distribution to ward areas where appropriate.
·  Add any other duties from St Andrew’s Hospice Hotel Services requirements e.g. Ice machines, coffee machines and vending machines
·  To comply with Hospice Policies/Procedures.
·  To assist in the maintenance of daily security procedures for stock and equipment
·  To report any concerns or issues regarding pest control using agreed procedures.
·  To assist with the movement of materials and equipment.
·  To participate in Environmental Audits and internal monitoring.
·  To liaise with other staff, volunteers and visitors regarding Housekeeping requests.
·  To accept / reject delivery of materials and equipment.
·  To participate in the Hospice performance and development review systems.
·  To attend mandatory and other training courses as necessary.
·  To attend team meetings and support other team members.
7a. Equipment and Machinery
·  Vacuum Cleaners
·  Buffers
·  Steam cleaner
·  Steam iron
·  Cloths – colour coded
·  Washing Machine
·  Tumble Dryer
·  Rotary Iron
·  Dishwasher
·  Cleaning & Laundry Trolley
·  Mops and buckets
·  Brushes outside
·  Ice making machines, water coolers
7b. Systems
·  Responsible for completing daily cleaning checklists
·  Responsible for receiving and providing accurate and sensitive information
·  Responsible for completing weekly, monthly and 6 monthly cleaning checklists
·  Responsible for identifying any work that has not been completed in handover and ensuring it is addressed
·  Responsible for completing vacated room checklists and infected room checklists
·  Health & Safety manual
·  Infection control guidelines
·  Pass on information book
·  COSHH Procedures
·  Cleaning Specifications
8. Assignment and Review of Work
·  Works within clearly defined procedures & parameters under direction of Housekeeper.
·  In the absence of the Housekeeper tasks will be allocated by the Hotel Services Manager.
·  Responsible for following daily schedules in absence of supervisor, ensuring all required tasks are completed.
·  Responsible to the Housekeeper for guidance, review of work and formal appraisal of performance.
·  Meets regularly with other team members / attends staff meetings / attends departmental development meetings.
9. Decisions and Judgments
Prioritise own workload within defined procedures.
Ability to respond to changing requirements.
Ability to respond to sensitive situations as required.
Ability to recognise risk and refer to Housekeeper
Ability to liaise with Housekeeper for advice/guidance.
Ability to respond to changing demands of clients.
10. Most Challenging / Difficult parts of the job
·  Undertake job with frequent close contact with patients with a life limiting illness.
·  Ensuring confidentiality is maintained within the service.
·  Working rotational shifts.
·  Compliance with all relevant guidelines and policies and procedures.
11. Communication and Relationships
·  Required to communicate and develop good working relationships with staff, volunteers, clients, visitors and patients throughout all areas of the hospice.
·  Promotes and maintains good relationships within the department and with all members of the multidisciplinary team throughout the hospice.
·  Ability to maintain patient confidentiality.
·  Sensitivity is required when in contact with patients, distressed relatives and visitors.
·  Responsible for communicating with clinical staff
·  Ability to respond appropriately to patient conversations and reporting appropriately to clinical staff.
·  Participates in regular team meetings.
·  Represent positively the work of St Andrew’s Hospice.
12. Physical, Mental, Emotional and Environmental Demands of the Job
Physical
·  Frequent use of cleaning equipment eg vacuum cleaners, polishing machines.
·  Standing, sitting and walking for majority of work sessions.
·  Moving and carrying equipment and materials necessary to complete tasks.
Mental
·  Using electrical equipment particularly in wet conditions eg floor maintenance.
·  Handling and preparing chemical solutions for cleaning tasks.
·  Meeting demands within constrained timescales and service deadlines whilst complying with all relevant guidelines.
Emotional
·  Working within a patient care setting where patients have a life limiting illness and occasionally witnessing distressing circumstances.
·  Daily interaction with patients and visitors.
·  Cleaning tasks within the mortuary area.
Environmental
·  Occasional lone working.
·  Exposed to wide variations in temperature and underfoot conditions.
·  Environment can be stressful due to unplanned interruptions to workload and tight timescales to meet priorities.
·  Unpleasant odours / dealing with clinical waste and soiled linen on a daily basis
·  Use of chemicals / disinfectants for cleaning purposes
13. Knowledge, Training and Experience required to do the job
Cleaning experience desirable within a healthcare setting
Evidence of team working skills
Effective communication skills
A pleasant manner and attitude to work
Others
Ethos and Mission of the Hospice
Lead by example and uphold the mission and ethos of the Hospice and of the Religious Sisters of Charity.
Health & SafetyAll employees must :
·  Take care of their own safety and others who may be affected by their actions or omissions.·  Adhere to Hospice and Departmental Health and safety Policies and use any equipment or personal protective equipment provided to ensure safety.
·  Co-operate with their managers to maintain safe systems and safe workplaces.
·  Report any accidents/incidents or ill health, failings in premises equipment or personal protective equipment through the Hospice reporting system.
·  Not interfere with any equipment provided to ensure Health and Safety.
·  Not attempt to carry out tasks or repairs beyond their competence.
·  Follow manual handling guidelines and principles, utilising all aids and attending yearly updates.
·  The employee must attend and complete the full induction programme and appropriate mandatory training relevant to job role

Effort & Environment skills

·  The role will involve walking and moving around the department and to other destinations within the Hospice.
·  Occasional exposure to and having to deal with situations that can / are distressing, difficult or aggressive.
·  Dealing with a variety of professionals, and, on occasion, patients, carers and relatives who will
have differing needs and requirements.

General & Corporate Duties

Records Management/ Data Protection

As an employee of the Hospice, you have a legal responsibility for the protection of all records (including patient health, financial, personal and administrative) that you gather or use as part of your work with the Hospice. The records may be paper, electronic, or audio, or x-ray images. You must consult your manager if you have any doubt as to the correct management of the records with which you work.
All employees are personally responsible for the quality of data entered by themselves, or on their behalf, on the Hospice’s computerised systems or manual records (paper records) and must ensure that such data is entered accurately to Hospice data standards, in a timely manner to ensure high standards of data quality in accordance with the Hospice Data Quality and Clinical Record Keeping Policies.
To ensure data is handled in a secure manner protecting the confidentiality of any personal data held in meeting the requirements of the Data Protection Act 1998 , Caldicott recommendations and other relevant legislation and guidance are applicable and should be adhered to.

Confidentiality and Information Security

As a Hospice employee you are required to regard as strictly confidential, and not disclose to any person, other than a person authorised by St Andrew’s Hospice, at any time during your employment with the Hospice any information acquired by yourself in relation to any patient including the identity of any patient or the medical condition of or the treatment received by any patient. Any information acquired about the patient’s relatives and circumstances will be similarly respected and will be confidential. Any breach of confidentiality by yourself may lead to disciplinary action being taken against you. This duty lasts indefinitely and will continue after you leave the Hospice employment. All employees must maintain confidentiality and abide by the Data Protection Act.

Infection Control

All staff are expected to adhere to current infection control policy and procedures as appropriate to their role and responsibilities in their work setting.
Hospice Policies
The Hospice operates a range of policies, e.g. Human Resources, Clinical Practice. All Hospice employees must observe and adhere to the provisions outlined in these policies. Failure to do so may result in falling foul of current legislation/ committing an unlawful act and will result in instigation of the Hospice’s formal policies and referral to outside bodies as appropriate.
Equal Opportunities
The Hospice provides a range of services and employment opportunities for a diverse population. As a Hospice employee you are expected to treat all patients/customers and work colleagues with dignity and respect irrespective of their sex, race, disability, sexual orientation, age or religion.
The Hospice may make ‘reasonable adjustments’ to the post/work place in order to facilitate the employment of individuals with a disability. These adjustments will be in line with the requirements of the Disability Discrimination Act 1995.
Disclosure of criminal background
St Andrew’s Hospice is required to check with CRBS the possible criminal background of staff and volunteers who apply to work with vulnerable patients. If it is a requirement of the post that such a check be undertaken, successful applicants will be asked to complete and sign a Disclosure Form giving permission for the check to take place.
Having a criminal record will not necessarily bar an applicant from working with the Hospice. This will depend on the nature of the position and the circumstances and background of offences. Please note applicants refusing to sign the form will not be progressed further.
Any other duties within the framework of the post
All employees will take responsibility for their own personal development.
The post holder may be required to undertake any other duties and responsibilities which are deemed appropriate to the grade. Where the duties and responsibilities may change in the light of experience and developments within the service the job description will be reviewed in conjunction with the post holder.
Safeguarding the Welfare of Children, Young People and Vulnerable Adults
All employees are expected to adhere to the Hospice’s policies and procedures in relation to Safeguarding Children and Vulnerable Adults and to undertake the appropriate level of mandatory training in this area.
Working with volunteers:
Volunteers are a vital resource to the Hospice and it is the responsibility of all staff to treat them with respect and to value their contribution appropriately. If a volunteer is assigned to assist you at any time you will retain responsibility for the requirements of the job in terms of accuracy, efficiency and standards of completion. You should also ensure good communication and be aware of your responsibility towards the volunteer in terms of Health & Safety
No Smoking Policy
St Andrew’s Hospice operates a No Smoking Policy for staff within the Hospice Buildings.
Standards of Business Conduct – Declaration of Interest
All Hospice employees should be impartial and honest in the conduct of their official duties and should not abuse their official position for personal gain or advantage.
Employees must not engage in outside employment which may conflict with their Hospice work or be detrimental to it. It is, therefore, Hospice Policy that employees will not be permitted to undertake business activities or other work where the Hospice considers that this is incompatible with its interests without seeking prior written authorisation from the relevant manager/Director, who will be responsible for judging whether a conflict has arisen.
Employees must ensure that they are not placed in a position which risks or appears to risk conflict between their private interests and their Hospice duties and to declare any relevant interests either on starting work or on acquisition of the interest.
14. JOB DESCRIPTION AGREEMENT
This job description is a general outline of the above post and it is not exhaustive. This job description is subject to periodic review with the postholder. Duties may change in line with the service changes and of the postholders own personal development.
I agree that this is an accurate reflection of the duties involved in my current role in St Andrew’s Hospice.
Job Holder’s Signature ______
Head of Department Signature ______/ Date:
Date:

ST ANDREW’S HOSPICE