Health Care Assistant (Specified Purpose Contract)

Health Care Assistant (Specified Purpose Contract) Leopardstown Park Hospital Location: On site / Leopardstown Park Hospital Foxrock Dublin 18
Job type: Contract / Full-time
Sector and subsector: Medical & Healthcare Other
Annual Salary Range: from €36,288.00 to €45,484.00

Details of Service

Leopardstown Park Hospital is a registered centre for the provision of services to older people, it provides Day services and Long-Term Care, situated in South Co. Dublin. It was established in 1917 and continues to provide interdisciplinary services on a seven-day, twenty-four-hour basis.

It is currently registered for 120 long stay beds.

Reporting Relationship

The post holder will report to the CNM or deputy or other manager as appropriate.

Purpose of the Post

The role of the Health Care Assistant is to support nursing staff in the delivery of care to the resident under the supervision of the Clinical Nurse Manager (CNM2/CNM1) and Registered Nurses. The primary role is to assist Registered Nurses with direct and indirect patient care and associated duties. The HCA also works with other members of the Interdisciplinary Care team such as Physiotherapists, Occupational Therapists, Speech and Language Therapists, Activities staff, etc.

Eligibility Criteria Qualifications and/ or experience

Candidates must hold at the closing date for receipt of applications, hold:

• The Care of the Older Person Health Skills FETAC Level 5 qualification (all modules completed)
• A relevant healthcare qualification
• Personal competence and capacity to properly discharge the duties of the role.

Health

A candidate must be fully competent and capable of undertaking the duties attached to the office and be in a state of health such that a reasonable prospect of ability to render regular and efficient service exists.

Character

Each candidate must be of good character.

Relevant Health Skills (QQI Level 5)

• QQI Level 5 Healthcare Support
• QQI Level 5 Nursing Studies
• QQI Level 5 Community Care
• QQI Level 5 Community Health Services

(A full QQI/FETAC 5 Major award requires a minimum of 120 credits/8 modules - a component certificate will not suffice.)

Other requirements specific to the post

Good standard of literacy.

Principal Duties and Responsibilities A person holding this post is required to support the principle that the care of the resident comes first at all times and will approach their work with the flexibility and enthusiasm necessary to make this principle a reality for every patient to the greatest possible degree.

• Maintain throughout the Service awareness of the primacy of the person in relation to all unit/hospital activities.
• Participate in the hospital's performance management programme.

Maintaining a Safe Environment

• Assist in maintaining a safe environment for residents, service users, visitors and staff.
• Be knowledgeable of the Hospital Health and Safety Statement contents.
• Be familiar with and comply with Hospital policies: Health & Safety, Safety Statements, Fire, National Standards Authority I.S. 343 Food Safety Management (incorporating HACCP), Infection Control, Waste Disposal, Needle Stick Injury, Smoking Policy, Moving and Handling Policy.
• Be knowledgeable of the procedure in the event of a fire in the unit/hospital.
• Practice and promote best practice regarding hygiene including hand washing.
• Assist in keeping all areas clean and tidy.
• Move or assist in moving equipment and furniture as necessary.
• Wash and make up occupied and unoccupied beds.
• Return trays and equipment to proper storage.
• Attend to the hygiene of equipment such as I.V. stands, hoists, beds, resident chairs, commodes and other equipment.
• Attend to spillages by isolating and dealing with them quickly to prevent accidents.
• Assist in disposal of clinical waste according to policy.
• Assist residents's mobility safely within the unit/hospital.
• Escort/transfer residents as required.
• Prepare unit and bed areas for the reception of new residents.
• Assist with the safe keeping of resident's personal property.
• Report broken or unsafe equipment needing repair/replacement.
• Sort soiled laundry and prepare for collection.

• Sort and store clean laundry.
• Check on residents and record these checks as set out in the residents care plan.

Communication

• Assist in maintaining a physical environment that communicates peace, safety, comfort, for residents and their families.
• Communicate openly with the nursing staff regarding residents and relatives needs.
• Direct all inquiries regarding a resident's condition, both telephone and verbal to a member of the nursing staff.
• Obtain confidentiality and report potential risks to staff nurse or other relevant authority.

Resident Care Breathing

• Assist nursing staff in maintaining residents adequate breathing.
• Recognise signs of distressed breathing in residents and report to nursing staff.
• Assist with positioning the resident to reduce distress.
• Locate and bring oxygen supply equipment to the bedside as requested by the nursing staff.
• Position personal items such as drinks, tissues and reading materials within easy reach.
• Maintain the unit in a well ventilated condition.

Eating and Drinking

• Assist residents in preparation for their meals, e.g., to use toilet facilities and to wash hands before meals.
• Prepare the environment by making it aesthetically pleasant by removing unnecessary items.
• Assist residents with their meals as directed and with regard to their IDDSI status.
• Observe amounts of food and liquids consumed by residents who need special monitoring, and communicate outcomes to nursing staff and record on the electronic system.
• Make residents comfortable after meals, repositioning for rest, offering teeth or dentures cleaning.
• Encourage residents to drink plenty of fluid; offer refreshing drinks at correct consistency frequently.
• Record intake and output on Epiccare.

Elimination

• Assist residents to use the toilet.
• Supervise residents in toilets and bathrooms when necessary.
• Place residents on bedpans or commodes or assist nurses in doing this.
• Attend to residents' post elimination hygiene needs.
• Measure volume of urinary output and record on Epiccare, as directed.
• Empty urine drainage bags as directed.
• Attend to resident's soiled personal laundry.
• Adhere to universal precautions in infection control policy.

Dressing and Personal Hygiene

• Bed bathing residents.
• Assist residents in shower or bath.
• Help with or perform mouth care as directed by the nurse.
• Shave residents when necessary.
• Caring for residents' hair and nails as required.
• Help residents to dress and groom according to wishes.
• Ensure residents' personal hygiene needs are met.

Controlling Body Temperature

• Take appropriate measures as instructed to ensure maintenance of body temperature.
• Ensure resident has appropriate clothing for weather and temperature.
• Take and record resident's temperature.

Mobility and Assistance

• Assist residents with walking/mobilising as directed by nursing or therapy staff.
• Position residents comfortably and to enable movement while sitting.
• Assist with turning and positioning residents in bed.
• Provide residents with aids that enhance opportunities for mobility in consultation with nursing staff, physiotherapist.
• Participate in moving and handling residents as directed and according to guidelines.
• Report all falls/near miss falls and complete NIRF.

Care of Dying Resident

• Establish a quiet, comfortable, dignified environment for the ill/dying resident and family.
• Listen with respect and empathy to relatives.
• Provide comforting drinks or snacks for relatives as required.
• Assist with last offices and care of the body after death.
• Organise deceased's belongings for return to family.

Contribute as part of a Team

• Contribute to and attend IDT meetings.
• Check stocks and listing those needing recording, e.g., continence wear.
• Maintain orderly storage of supplies.
• Store resident's belongings appropriately in accordance with policy.
• Prepare special drinks/snacks for residents.
• Report to nursing staff any requests from residents or relatives.
• Report to nursing staff any complaints of pain, distress or other concerns expressed by resident.
• Undertake training and development of further skills as directed by Director of Nursing or Designated Officer.
• Unit Manager may request other appropriate tasks as required.

Risk Management, Infection Control, Hygiene Services and Health & Safety

• Management of risk, infection control, hygiene services and health & safety is everyone's responsibility.
• The post holder must be familiar with necessary education, training and support to meet this responsibility.
• The post holder has a duty to familiarise themselves with relevant Hospital Policies, Procedures & Standards and attend training as appropriate in the following areas:

. click apply for full job details