Job Description

Job Title Healthcare Assistant

Job reference number HC01
Department Recruitment & Workforce
Agenda for Change Banding 2
Accountable to Recruitment & Workforce Manager
Reports to Recruitment & Workforce

Values and Behaviours

All roles within the Trust require staff to demonstrate our core values in the care they provide to
patients. All members of staff should consider these behaviours an essential part of their job role.
Summary of Post
1. To assist and support Registered staff in the delivery of high quality, individualized, dignified and
compassionate care to patients.
2. To contribute to the effective running of the Ward / Department by concentrating on tasks that
directly support the needs of the patient and assist their journey, prioritizing as required.
3. To work under the supervision of a member of Registered staff at all times, communicating and
documenting appropriately ensuring relevant information is communication to other member of the
care delivery team in a timely and professional manner.
4. The ability to work to a high standard at all times, influencing and role modelling patient centred
care.
5. Individuals must be willing to undertake the care certificate training program. Bank Staff have a
maximum of six months to complete the care certificate.

Key duties and responsibilities

1. All patients should receive care to the highest standard. Duties include:

 To assist the patient with all aspects of personal hygiene as and when required.
 To allow the patient a choice in the selection of clothing and assist as appropriate.
 To ensure privacy, respect and dignity at all times.
 To assist the patient with selection of an appropriate menu, ensuring correct dietary and
nutritional needs are met.
 To recognise the difficulty a patient may have with dietary intake for whatever reason and
report the change.
 To support and assist patients with eating and drinking in a compassionate, caring manner.
 To understand and adhere to the practices of protected mealtimes for patients.
 To support the patient to have an experience which makes them feel safe, cared for and
listened to during their hospital stay/visit.
 This role will involve staff understanding the aspects of care they are involved in, following
appropriate training, keeping patients safe and protected.
2. All HCA’s fully understand the aspects of care they are involved in; following
appropriate training, keeping patients safe and protected

 To observe and report the signs of discomfort or pain to the Registered Nurse responsible
for the patient at that time.

 To understand any potential risks to patients and to prevent any harm coming to them e.g.
the prevention of pressure sores, falls, malnutrition and dehydration.

 To assist with toileting as requested, adhering to infection control principles and in doing so
maintain the patient’s privacy and dignity.

 To competently assist with the manual handling of any patient requiring assistance using
the appropriate equipment within own competence.
3. Maintain good communication with staff, patients and carers at all times.
To ensure the involvement of patients, relatives and significant others in all communication as
appropriate.
Refer all queries which relate to the medical and/or treatment status of the patient within their care
to the Registered Nurse or members of the medical team.
To ensure all care is correctly documented, such as patient observations and care interventions.
To observe any perceived changes to the condition of patients in your care and to report
observations to the registered nurse. This will include emotional and physical changes.
To undertake clerical duties as required such as answering the telephone. 5. To record the
successful or unsuccessful completion of any physical intervention performed at the instruction of
the qualified practitioner.
To undertake any observations following training and successful assessment, as directed by trained
staff, documenting accurately in the appropriate place and communicating back to the Registered
Nurse all necessary changes.
4. To always act in a way that supports good quality care with the courage to question
and speak out; be familiar with hospital policies and procedures.

To comply with risk management strategies and policies.

To undertake duties on the Ward / within the Department to ensure a safe, clean and sympathetic
environment for patients, staff and visitors.
To report any concerns immediately and without fail.
5. To undertake any training as requested by the Trust and to ensure personal development
needs are identified.
To exercise restraint in the use of Ward / Department resources and to actively look for
areas of savings whilst promoting quality and patient safety at all times.
Equality and Diversity
All employees are required to follow and implement the Trust’s equal opportunities policy and to
undergo any training and development activities to ensure that they can carry out their duties and
responsibilities in terms of promoting, developing, implementing and reviewing the policy
arrangements in the course of their work.
Infection Control

It is the responsibility of all staff to ensure that they understand and follow the infection control policies,
procedures and best practice applicable within the Trust.
In particular:
1. To observe all infection control policies and practices relevant to this post.
2. To act as a role model to others regarding infection control best practice.
3. To keep up to date and attend all relevant training relating to infection control issues applicable to
this post.
4. To ensure, where applicable, patients, visitors and contractors are aware of and follow infection
control best practice.
5. To report non-compliance or concerns regarding infection control issues / best practice to line
manager.
Health and Safety Responsibilities
To ensure that the Trust’s Health and Safety Policies are understood and observed and that
procedures are followed.
To ensure the appropriate use of equipment and facilities and that the working environment is
maintained in good order.
To take the necessary precautions to safeguard the welfare and safety of yourself, patients, visitors,
and staff, in accordance with the Health and Safety at Work Act.
To undertake appropriate health and safety training to support safe working practice, including
where appropriate, its management.
To demonstrate a practical understanding of risk assessment in relation to their areas of
responsibility and to ensure safe systems of work are in place.
To ensure that all incidents occurring within the department are reported in accordance with Trust
procedures, investigated and corrective action taken as necessary and/or reported to senior
management and specialist advisers.
Moving and Handling Responsibilities
To ensure that all moving and handling tasks within their area of responsibility are assessed, that
there is a manual handling plan indicating safe systems of work, and that documentation is regularly
maintained and updated.
To observe and monitor the application of M&H skills, ensuring safe practice.
To attend appropriate training in accordance with the M&H assessed risks within the work area.
Confidentiality
All staff are required to respect confidentiality of all matters that they learn as a result of their
employment with the NHS, including matters relating to other members of staff, patients and
members of the public.
Safeguarding Children and Vulnerable Adults
All employees have a duty for safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and vulnerable
adults.
Staff must be aware of the Trust’s procedure for raising concerns about the welfare of anyone with
whom they have contact.
Staff must also ensure they receive the appropriate level of safeguarding children and vulnerable
adult training depending on their role in the Trust.
Trust Values
To work in line with the Trust values and promote these within teams, departments and divisions in
the Trust
Please note: that this job description is not an exhaustive list of duties but merely a guide to the
responsibilities of the post holder. The post holder may be required to undertake additional duties
within the sphere of their competence and to meet the changing needs of the service

Personal Specification
Criteria Essential / Assessment
Desirable Method
A I R
Education and Qualifactions
Four GCSE Grade D or equivalent in Maths and English (e.g. √
Key Skills or Functional Skills in literacy and numeracy at E
appropriate level)
NVQ Diploma level 2 in Clinical Health Support or equivalent D √
A willingness to undertake Care Certificate Training E √ √
Knowledge and Experience

Current care experience D √ √

Previous care experience in an NHS environment/acute Trust D √ √
Experience of working / communicating with the general public E √ √
Understanding of the importance of professional behaviour at all E √ √
times
Experience of working within a team E √ √
Skills, Abilities and Competencies

Ability to adapt appropriately to different situations E √ √

Good telephone manner E √ √
Basic IT skills E √ √
Accurate document presentation and attention to detail E √ √
Ability to act as an advocate for patients and work autonomously E √ √
The ability to interact appropriately with patients, relatives, team E √ √
members and other staff groups
Ability to provide patients with an environment that supports E √ √
privacy, dignity and respect
Enthusiastic and self-motivated E √ √
Punctual and reliable E √ √
 Agenda for Change Effort Factors (For Job Evaluation Purposes only)

*Please mark all relevant boxes below, and include the frequency of the tasks that you have
selected in line with this role.
- examples provided below

1.0 WORKING CONDITIONS

Inclement weather X Fleas/Lice/Infestation X

Extreme Temperatures X Humidity
Unpleasant smells X Driving/Being Driven
Noxious Fumes X Contaminated equipment/work area
Dangerous Chemicals – Substances in X Dangerous Chemicals – Substances X
containers (uncontained)
Excessive noise/vibration Exposure to physical aggression X
(little/no support)
Continuous use of VDU equipment Driving/Being Driven
Unpleasant substances X (normal conditions)
Infectious material X Exposure to verbal aggression X – Frequent
(little/no support) exposure
Body Fluids, Faeces/Vomit X Dust/Dirt
2.0 PHYSICAL EFFORT

Running Standing/sitting with limited scope for

movement
Working in uncomfortable conditions Kneeling, crouching, twisting,
bending, stretching
Working in physically cramped Walking for long periods
conditions
Making repetitive movements Heavy duty cleaning X
Lifting weights/equipment without X– Pushing/pulling trolleys or similar X
mechanical aid Occasional equipment
exposure
Climbing or crawling Working at heights
Manipulating objects Controlled restraint i.e. in post X
requiring training/certification
Manual Digging
3.0 EMOTIONAL EFFORT

Processing (e.g. typing/transmitting) Giving unwelcome news to X – Frequent

news of highly distressing events patients/clients/carers/staff exposure
Caring for the terminally ill X Dealing with difficult X – Frequent
situations/circumstances exposure
Designated to provide emotional support Communicating life-changing events X – Frequent
to front line staff exposure
Dealing with people with challenging X Attending scenes of accidents
behaviour
4.0 MENTAL EFFORT

Prepare detailed reports Check documents

Carry out formal student/trainee Drive a vehicle
assessments
Carry out clinical/social care Perform calculations X
interventions
Analyse statistics Make clinical diagnoses
Operate equipment/machinery X Carry out non-clinical fault finding
Give evidence in court/tribunal/formal Carry out screening tests/microscope
hearings work
Attending meetings

5.0 FREEDOM TO ACT

Does the post holder generally work without close supervision? No

Does the post holder work without direct access to a manager No

Does the post holder work without access to a manager by telephone No

Is the post holder the lead specialist in their field No

Daily Weekly
How often on average does the post holder give guidance and
advice to others? X

Other Frequency:

Monthly or less

Manager:

Post Holder:

Date: 26.10.2023