Radiotherapy Healthcare Assistant - UPMC Hillman Cancer Centre Waterford

Radiotherapy Healthcare Assistant - UPMC Hillman Cancer Centre Waterford Location: UPMC Whitfield Hospital

Job Type: Permanent

Overview UPMC is hiring a Radiotherapy Healthcare Assistant on a permanent, full time contract to assist with the delivery of patient care under the supervision and direction of Nursing or other Professional Staff. Healthcare assistants provide assistance, support and direct personal care to patients and residents in a variety of healthcare settings such as hospitals, clinics, nursing homes, aged care facilities, as well as community and domestic settings. They generally work in support, or under delegation, direction and supervision, of health professionals. They support multi disciplinary teams in the delivery of high quality care (International Standard Classification of Occupations (ISCO .

Primary Duties and Responsibilities Duties appropriate to the Health Care Assistant may vary depending on the care setting. The successful candidate will accompany patients between UHW and the Hillman Cancer Centre for Radiotherapy. Other duties and responsibilities within the Cancer Centre are outlined below.

Core Responsibilities

• Assist under the direction of the CNM2 & CNS's in the provision of quality service by promoting and adopting UPMC core values, working in line with national and locally devised policies and regulations.
• Perform all duties according to hospital procedure, policy and guidelines.
• Do not perform a duty or procedure outside of the job description and in which he/she has not received training.
• Accept and make every reasonable effort to correct mistakes and improve performance as required.
• Carry out baseline clinical observations under delegation of the nurse in charge, recording blood pressure, pulse, temperature and urinalysis.
• Demonstrate motivation and appreciate the importance of providing a quality service for patients and the public.
• Respect the patient and their families and colleagues as individuals showing dignity, courtesy and professionalism at all times.
• Act as an advocate for patients.
• Actively promote the participation of patients in their own care and encourage as much independence as possible.
• Maintain the confidentiality of all information made available to him/her during the course of his/her work.
• Demonstrate good interpersonal skills and be able to work as part of a team.
• Promote a culture that values diversity and respect in the workplace.
• Assist in pretreatment protocols, e.g. bladder filling.
• Assist as chaperone when requested by patient or clinician.
• Maintain a safe environment by following all safety guidelines and taking appropriate action when required.
• Maintain infection control policies by following procedures as specifically outlined and maintaining areas at risk such as: Immediate Patient Environment, Sluice Room.
• Maintain stocks of linen, clinical room requirements, solutions and office stationery as requested by the Clinical Nurse Manager or Deputy.
• Access policies on Q Pulse and log incidents as required.

Quality and Safety

• Support the implementation and evaluation of quality standards and improvement initiatives.
• Work within own role, adhering to current legislation, policies, procedures, protocols and guidelines.
• Undertake assigned duties under the direction of a Registered Nurse in such a way as to ensure that care is of a high standard.
• Report all complaints in accordance with service policy.
• Ensure all actions support the enhancement of a person centred service and a person centred culture within the team.
• Co operate with quality reviews/service evaluations and assist with the implementation of any necessary corrective action.

Health & Safety - Maintaining a Safe Environment

• Observe all rules relating to Health and Safety and conduct at work and use any equipment provided in a safe and responsible manner.
• Understand and adhere to all relevant policies, guidelines, and procedures; comply with health and safety, infection control and risk management procedures.
• Report any accidents, near misses, incidents or potential incidents to the person in charge and take appropriate action including completion of near miss/incident forms.
• Attend training courses as required. Only undertake duty related to patient care for which he/she is trained and deemed competent.
• Maintain a strict code of personal and general hygiene in the workplace as per work schedules and existing policies.
• Wear agreed attire, footwear and identification, following highest standard of attire and personal hygiene; do not keep personal mobile phones while delivering patient care.
• Conduct oneself in a manner that ensures safe patient care and maintain a safe environment for patients, visitors and staff by identifying potential hazards and removing them.
• Report broken or unsafe items that need repair and remove them from circulation; move or assist in moving equipment and/or furniture as necessary.
• Attend to hygiene (disinfecting and cleaning) of equipment such as IV stands, infusion pumps, hoists, beds, patient chairs, commodes or other departmental equipment.
• Be responsible for appropriate storage and infection prevention of patient equipment in the department.
• Assist in keeping all areas clean and tidy and dispose of clinical waste according to hospital policy.
• Return equipment to proper storage areas; attend to spillages promptly to prevent accidents.
• Ensure cleaning tasks are for equipment attached to the patient directly and address spillages safely.
• Be aware of fire risks, minimise them, keep fire exits free, attend mandatory fire training and participate in fire drills.
• Escort/transport patients within or outside the hospital when necessary.
• Provide support for patients who require enhanced care.
• Assist patients with mobility and reduce the risk of falls for patients and the general public.

Education & Training

• Attend induction and mandatory in service education.
• Participate in induction of new staff as directed.
• Participate in team based development, education, training and learning.
• Participate in appraisal and develop a personal development plan with line manager.

Communication and Teamwork Effective communication is a core skill required by Health Care Assistants. These skills will be used to provide a caring service to the public in a courteous and effective manner.

• Operate in accordance with the Core UPMC Values:

1. Quality and safety: We create a safe environment where quality is our guiding principle.
2. Dignity and respect: We treat all individuals with dignity and respect.
3. Caring and listening: We listen to and care for our patients, health plan members, fellow employees, physicians and community.
4. Responsibility and integrity: We perform our work with the highest levels of responsibility and integrity.
5. Excellence and innovation: We think creatively and build excellence into everything we do. We deal courteously with patients, their families, visitors, other healthcare workers and anyone we interact with during our duties.

• Demonstrate a range of listening skills appropriate to the context of patient, visitor and ward situations. Be perceptive in interpreting non verbal communication. Communicate effectively with patients considering varying levels of ability to understand and their condition.
• Use a range of communication methods to exchange information with nursing staff. Direct all enquiries about a patient's condition to a member of the nursing staff. This includes both telephone and verbal inquiries. Report to nursing staff any requests from patients or relatives and any complaints of pain and distress expressed by patients. Complete records accurately.
• Report to nursing staff any changes in the patient's physical and emotional condition or behaviour using ISBAR or similar communication framework/communication tool as per local policy. Require training in the communication framework/communication tool.
• Communicate effectively with all grades of staff and disciplines contributing to effective team working. Respect culture and diversity within the team. Foster good working relationships, handle conflict, work cooperatively with colleagues in all disciplines and develop and maintain interpersonal relationships.
• Participate in and contribute to the team including handovers/meetings/care planning, as appropriate on service related issues. Contribute to development of a multidisciplinary assessment and care plan and assist in its implementation and evaluation.
• Participate in maintaining a physical environment that communicates peace, comfort and caring to patients and their families.
• The HCA has important obligations in relation to maintaining confidentiality. This applies to information accessed through interactions with patients and their relatives or other staff. Report to the nurse or relevant authority any information that may indicate potential harm to any person.

Mobilising

• Assist patients with walking when it is appropriate.
• Position patients comfortably and in a manner that enables mobility either in bed/trolley or on a chair.
• Assist with repositioning the patient on a trolley/treatment bed.
• Assist patients with aids that enhance mobility in consultation with the nursing staff.
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