Locum Bank Healthcare Assistant

Full Job Description attached.

• Welcome patients and introduce the role clearly.
• Confirm patient identity before undertaking any care or recording information.
• Explain procedures within the postholders competence and obtain appropriate consent.
• Support patients to move safely through the service.
• Maintain patients privacy, dignity and comfort.
• Assist patients who require reasonable adjustments, mobility support or communication assistance within the roles scope.
• Observe patients while they are waiting and immediately escalat any concern about deterioration.
• Record care and observations accurately and contemporaneously.
• Maintain appropriate professional boundaries.
• Escalate any request or concern that falls outside the HCAs competence.

• measuring and recording blood pressure
• measuring pulse, respiratory rate, temperature and oxygen saturation
• measuring height, weight and body-mass index
• undertaking basic physiological observations
• completing approved early-warning or observation records
• urinalysis and specimen handling
• blood-glucose or other approved point-of-care testing
• preparing patients and rooms for clinical assessment
• assisting clinicians during minor procedures
• cleaning and preparing reusable clinical equipment in accordance with policy
• supporting mobility and safe positioning within assessed competence
• and escalating abnormal observations promptly to the responsible clinician.

The postholder must not independently interpret observations, diagnose a condition, alter treatment, discharge a patient or reassure a patient about abnormal results.

Depending on service requirements and individual competencies, HCAs may also be asked to undertake:

• phlebotomy
• 12-lead ECG recording
• NHS or locally commissioned health checks
• long-term-condition observations and monitoring
• wound-care support
• removal of sutures or clips
• specimen collection
• smoking-status recording and brief signposting
• blood-pressure or cardiovascular-risk clinics
• vaccination-clinic support
• administration of specified medicines only where legally permitted, appropriately authorised and supported by organisational policy
• spirometry or other diagnostic support where training and quality assurance are in place
• and project-specific screening or prevention activities.

Inclusion on the Vertis bank does not automatically authorise the postholder to undertake these duties.

Each enhanced competency must be evidenced, current and accepted by the organisation.

• Act as a formal chaperone after completing the required training.
• Understand the purpose and boundaries of the chaperone role.
• Maintain an appropriate position during the examination or procedure.
• Remain attentive throughout and avoid undertaking another task at the same time.
• Raise concerns immediately if the postholder observes inappropriate behaviour or if the patient indicates discomfort or wishes the examination to stop.
• Ensure chaperone involvement is documented in accordance with local procedure.
• Escalate if the postholder cannot safely or appropriately act as chaperone.
• Formal chaperoning is a core requirement of the HCA role in the example Hillcrest staffing model, alongside observations, patient flow and contingency support.

• Remain alert to visible or reported changes in a patients condition.
• Repeat observations when directed and within the approved protocol.
• Immediately notify the responsible clinician of abnormal observations or deterioration.
• Activate the site-specific emergency process when instructed or when urgent help is clearly required.
• Know the location of emergency equipment, oxygen and the automated external defibrillator, where provided.
• Support emergency care within training and competence.
• Call emergency services in accordance with local procedures.
• Document observations, escalation and actions accurately.
• Participate in emergency exercises and scenario-based training.

• Work with administrators and clinicians to maintain safe patient flow.
• Help monitor waiting-room occupancy and identify patients who may need clinical review.
• Prepare patients for assessment when directed.
• Support the reconciliation of patients expected from another service with those who arrive.
• Alert the team to delays, non-arrivals or patients who leave before assessment.
• Support handover between shifts and service locations.
• Provide limited contingency reception support only where trained, authorised and operationally appropriate.
• Never allow operational pressures to result in clinical duties being undertaken without appropriate supervision.

• Follow hand-hygiene and infection-prevention procedures.
• Use personal protective equipment correctly.
• Clean clinical surfaces and equipment between patients in accordance with local schedules.
• Maintain appropriate separation of clean and used items.
• Dispose of sharps, clinical waste and…