The Clinical Support Worker (CSW) work under the supervision of qualified nurses to ensure the smooth running and nursing support of Specialist Outpatient Gynaecology clinics (which include, Colposcopy, Hysteroscopy, Minor ops and operative hysteroscopy, Uro gynaecology and Vulval )
The Clinical Support Worker (CSW) work under the supervision of qualified nurses to ensure the smooth running and nursing support of Specialist Outpatient Gynaecology clinics (which include, Colposcopy, Hysteroscopy, Minor ops and operative hysteroscopy, Uro gynaecology and Vulval )
The Clinical Support Worker is proactive in monitoring and anticipating patients’ needs within the boundaries of the Job Description, ensuring that all the patients attending the department receive appropriate support and a good quality service.
Bedfordshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust provides hospital services to a growing population of around 700,000 people living across Bedfordshire and the surrounding areas across two busy hospital sites in Bedford and Luton. Both hospital sites offer key services such as A&E, Obstetrics-led Maternity and Paediatrics. You will be joining a friendly, high performing Trust committed to ensuring the health and wellbeing of staff. As one of the largest NHS Trusts in our region you will have access to a programme of high quality training and development to help you grow your career. The Trust continues to be committed to delivering the best patient care using the best clinical knowledge and technology.
Our Values
We not only recruit based on qualifications and experience - we recruit individuals who demonstrate the behaviours which underpin our Trusts core values. We achieve this by using values based recruitment. We are dedicated to making our recruitment practices as inclusive as possible for everyone, we are committed to promoting equality and diversity, and creating a culture that values differences.
Please note that vacancies may close prior to the advertised closing date when sufficient number of applications have been received. All new staff will be subject to a probationary period covering first 6 months in post. Travel between hospital sites may be required. Please review all documents attached to ensure you familiarize yourself with all requirements of the job.
Overview of Responsibilities:
Communication
1. Assist in the reception of new patients and visitors, orienting them around the department when required.
2. use a range of verbal and non-verbal communication tools to effectively communicate with patients during their visits, exercising empathy and reassurance skills at all times, including with regards to patients who may have been delivered bad news or may have learning difficulties or barriers to their understanding
3. Keep patients informed at every stage of their journey, providing explanation, advice and support where appropriate, escalating more complex queries to senior colleagues.
4. Liaise with medical secretaries and other departments as required to assist nursing staff in the booking of patient’s appointments.
5. Participating in ‘handover’ sessions within clinical departments, contributing to discussions about patients’ care needs.
6. Use accurate and clear written documentation within patients’ care records as advised by registered staff
7. Demonstrate a questioning approach to care, and using this to ascertain that instructions from registered staff are fully understood.
8. Recognise when a patient requires an interpreting service and ensure that this is facilitated.
9. Report any clinical incidents via Trusts incident reporting system and escalate promptly and appropriately
Patient and Client Care:
10. Work as part of a team and support the service providing specialist gynaecology clinics, working in all speciality clinics provided by Women’s Health.
11. Report and raise concerns related to safeguarding. Be conversant with Trust policies for safeguarding including thje assessment of mental capacity.
12. Deliver person centered care to all patients’ regardless of their values, customs, gender, race, culture, religion or preferences.
13. Together with clinical colleagues, deliver person centred care to meet the assessed needs of patients and clients. Always gaining the patient’s consent before carrying out the care.
14. Carrying out clinical nursing skills as appropriate including performing blood pressures, pulse, temperature, respirations and oxygen saturations. Recording the observations on electronic (or paper records) and escalating any concerns as appropriate
15. To monitor the well-being of patients within the outpatient department to ensure they are as comfortable as possible and report any changes in patients’ condition to the registered nurse or clinician.
16. Assist patients transferring onto the clinic chairs/couches, hoisting patients as necessary
17. Maintain the safety of patients and visitors while in the department
18. Help provide and promote a professional and caring environment for patients and visitors attending the department
19. Act as a chaperone for patients when asked to do so, providing emotional support and ensuring safety, privacy and dignity at all times.
20. Where possible, anticipate the individual needs of patients and adapt systems and processes accordingly to help meet those needs.
21. Count instruments and swabs pre and post procedure
22. Assist the Registered Nurse or Medical Staff with checking and labelling of samples for the Pathology laboratory
23. Work on own initiative and within the wider team. Able to plan own workload and be professional and be accountable for all aspects of your work.
General responsibilities
24. Ensure all case notes required for the clinics are present and complete in collaboration with the administrative staff, and that all details required for accurate documentation of patients are correct.
25. To ensure all examination rooms are cleaned and well-stocked, using the Agresso and procurement systems to ensure that stores are ordered in a timely manner.
26. To ensure clinic areas are safe, clean and infection prevention and control measures are adhered to at all times.
27. Participate in the setting up and organisation of the outpatient gynaecology clinics to ensure smooth and efficient running of the clinics, escalating any issues of concern affecting the operation of clinics to a senior member of staff
28. Maintain a thorough knowledge via a set of competencies related to the setting up and preparation required to maintain and run the colposcopy, hysteroscopy, uro-gynaecology and minor-ops clinics.
29. Be familiar with the medical equipment used and how to use it.
30. To assist the Registered Nurses in ensuring that all clinical equipment is kept in good working order and ready to use. Report repairs/maintenance issues appropriately.
31. Make journeys to other departments/areas in the hospital to deliver collect items, in particular taking specimens to the Pathology Department and collecting medication from Pharmacy if required.
32. To assist in the undertaking of surveys, audit and research and development activities as required
33. To assist in the training and induction of new, temporary and less experienced members of staff.
34. Use information and computing technology skills to access information about the Trust.
Personal and People Development:
1. The post holder is expected to take responsibility for self-development on a continuous basis, ensuring completion of any statutory and mandatory training as required.
2. Participate in in-service training and seminars as appropriate.
3. Act as role model to other Nursing Assistants, Student Nurses and other staff as appropriate.
4. Support Band 2 staff and other junior learners/apprentices.
5 participate in training to develop competence specific to the clinical area, for example: · Cannulation · Phlebotomy · ECG recording · Blood sugar monitoring
Health, Safety and Security:
1. To adhere to Trust policy and infection control principles and standards to minimise patient risk and ensure high quality patient care.
2. Undertake appropriate training and practice to ensure you have the right skills and are competent.
3. Ensure high cleaning standards to prevent infection and increase patient’s confidence.
4. The post holder is required to familiarise him/herself with and comply with the Trust’s policies and procedures.
5. The post holder must at all times respect patient confidentiality and in particular the confidentiality of electronically stored personal data in line with the requirements of the Data Protection Act (1998), the Caldicott principles and the common law duty of confidentiality.
6. The post holder must follow the record keeping guidelines established by the Trust to ensure compliance with the Freedom of Information Act 2000.
7. The post holder must be aware of individual responsibilities under the Health & Safety at Work Act and identify and report as necessary any untoward accident, incident or potentially hazardous environment.
8. When moving people and goods, the post holder must complete the relevant training as appropriate to the action, e.g. use of hoists.
9. Assist with the safe-keeping of patients’ property and valuables, ensuring that the appropriate paperwork is completed.
10. Assist with the obtaining, maintenance, cleaning and storage of equipment.
11. Report all faults and ensure that these are logged, reported, recorded and actioned as appropriate.
12. Ensure clean and dirty laundry is stored appropriately.
13. Understand and adhere to Trust policy in relation to:
- Fire and evacuation procedures
- Health and Safety at work
- Food Hygiene
- Complaints procedure
- Control of infection
- Maintenance of patient confidentiality
- Resuscitation
- Equal opportunities
- Data protection
- Uniform policy
- Safeguarding vulnerable adults
- Safeguarding children
Quality:
1. Participate in reviews of the clinical service and actions to improve care quality. The list of responsibilities above, are key primary requirements for the role, however, additional duties may be required to ensure patient and employee safety is met
