Healthcare Assistant Oncology Services - Limerick Cancer Centre
Location: Limerick Cancer CentreJob type: Permanent
Overview of role
We are hiring a Healthcare Assistant on a permanent, full‑time contract.
Primary Duties and Responsibilities
Reporting Relationship: When working in the Clinical area, the post holder will report to the Clinical Nurse Manager or designated officer. The post holder will be Accountable to the Operations Manager.
Purpose of the Post
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.
Key Working Relationships
The successful candidate will work closely with the Clinical Nursing team
Must be flexible to working within the Cancer Centre Network.
Other duties and responsibilities within the Cancer Centre are outlined below.
Principal Duties and Responsibilities
Duties appropriate to the Health Care Assistant, may vary depending on the care setting.
Other duties and responsibilities within the Cancer Centre are outlined below.
Core Responsibilities
The Health Care Assistant will:
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.
Does not on any occasion 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 of blood pressure, taking of pulse, taking of 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 pre‑treatment 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 specifically at risk such as: Immediate Patient Environment.
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
The Health Care Assistant will:
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.
Cooperate with quality reviews/service evaluations and assists with the implementation of any necessary corrective action.
Health & Safety including 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, comply with statutory obligations.
Report any accidents, near misses, incident or potential incident to the person in charge which may compromise the health and safety of patients/clients/residents, staff or visitors and take appropriate action including completion of near miss/incident forms.
Attend training courses as required. Only undertake any duty related to patient/ client/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 and procedures.
Present to work wearing the agreed attire, footwear, and identification, having regard to the highest standard of attire and personal hygiene.
Conduct his/her self in a manner that ensures safe patient/client care. Participate in maintaining a safe environment for patients, visitors and staff by ensuring vigilance in identifying potential hazards and removing them.
Report broken or unsafe items that need repair and take them out of circulation as required.
Assist in moving equipment and/or furniture as necessary.
Attending to hygiene of equipment such as I.V. stands, infusion pumps, hoists, beds, patient chairs, commodes or other departmental equipment.
Be responsible for the appropriate storage and infection prevention of patient equipment in the department.
Assist in keeping all areas clean and tidy.
Assist in the disposal of clinical waste according to hospital policy.
Return equipment to proper storage areas.
Attend to spillages when necessary as quickly as possible to prevent accidents.
Cleaning tasks relate only to cleaning of equipment directly attached to the patient, to ensure the environment is safely maintained.
Be aware of fire risks and minimise them where possible. Be aware of fire exits, keep free from obstructions, 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 or general public when possible.
Education & Training
Attend induction and mandatory in‑service education.
As directed, participate in the induction of new staff.
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.
The Health Care Assistant will operate in accordance with the Core UPMC Values:
Quality and safety – creating a safe environment where quality is our guiding principle.
Dignity and respect – treating all individuals with dignity and respect.
Caring and listening – listening to and caring for our patients, our health plan members, our fellow employees, our physicians, and our community.
Responsibility and integrity – performing our work with highest levels of responsibility and integrity.
Excellence and innovation – thinking creatively and building excellence into everything we do.
Deal courteously with patients, families, visitors, other healthcare workers.
Demonstrate listening skills and interpret non‑verbal communication.
Use appropriate communication methods with nursing staff and report to nursing staff any requests, complaints, etc. Complete records accurately.
Report changes in patient condition using ISBAR or similar framework as per local policy.
Communicate effectively with all grades of staff and contribute to effective team working.
Participate in handovers/meetings /care planning.
Maintain a physical environment that communicates peace, comfort and caring.
In addition to the core responsibilities, the HCA must maintain confidentiality and report to relevant authority any information indicating potential harm.
Assist Patients to Maintain Independence
Assist patients with walking when appropriate.
Position patients comfortably in bed, trolley or chair to enable mobility.
Assist with repositioning the patient on a trolley or treatment bed.
Provide assistance with mobility aids in consultation with nursing staff.
Participate in moving or handling patients as directed by policy.
Report all falls or other untoward events to nursing staff.
Collaboration in Other Care Activities
Efficiency and effectiveness depend on teamwork. The Health Care Assistant may be requested to undertake some activities that are indirectly related to patient care.
Check care area stocks using the KanBan 2 Bin system.
Maintain orderly storage of supplies.
Assist preparation for New Patient Clinics / Simulation Scans and treatment: preparing paperwork, patient information leaflets, etc.
Assist in clinical audit of areas for environmental cleanliness and safety.
Qualifications & Experience
Skills Essential to the Post:
Demonstrates evidence of experience working in a Health or Caring Service.
Demonstrates awareness of person‑centred approach.
Demonstrates awareness of role of the Nurse.
Demonstrates knowledge of Health & Safety regulations.
Demonstrates knowledge of Health Services and role of Health Care Assistant.
Demonstrates excellent communication skills, including sufficient command of the English language.
Planning & Organising:
Demonstrates evidence of effective planning and organising skills.
Demonstrates flexible approach to work.
Demonstrates ability to work on own initiative.
Demonstrates good organisational ability with practical competence.
Teamwork:
Demonstrates ability to work as a member of team and make positive contributions.
Understands own role and roles of others within the team.
Respects other team members.
Willingness to participate in change initiatives.
Understands need to be flexible and actively adapt within own role.
Works in a patient/customer focused environment.
Empathises with and treats patients, relatives and colleagues with dignity and respect.
Understands the diversity and cultural and ethnic needs of the service users.
Qualifications
Eligibility Criteria
Professional Qualifications – Candidates must hold a relevant health skills QQI level 5 qualification.
Health – Must be fully competent and capable of undertaking duties; in a state of health with reasonable prospect of rendering regular and efficient service.
Character – Must be of good character.
Experience:
Previous Care Assistant experience within a Hospital or Nursing Home setting.
Job Specific Competencies and Knowledge: Understand how information is obtained, transmitted and stored during delivery of the care service.
Use positive communication skills when interacting with patients and relatives.
Demonstrate evidence of effective planning and organising skill.
Build and maintain relationships in multidisciplinary team.
Empathise with and treat patients, relatives and colleagues with dignity and respect.
Commitment to providing a quality service.
Effective analytical, problem solving, decision‑making skills.
Excellent communication skills, including command of English.
Attend in a timely manner all mandatory education sessions.
Act quickly to address urgent matters.
Salary scale: €34,304.02 - €41,760.31 per annum based on a 39 hour week.
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