Heart Failure Healthcare Assistant

NCH&C is proud to be the first standalone NHS community trust in the UK to achieve an 'Outstanding' rating from the Care Quality Commission (CQC). Our focus is on continually improving the quality of care we offer to local people and on improving access to that care, helping people to move seamlessly from one service to another. Praising NCH&C's "compassionate, inclusive and effective leadership at all levels", the CQC observed that our staff are well supported to make positive changes and innovations.
Norfolk Community Health & Care NHS Trust is committed to continuing to create a modern and inclusive work environment. As part of this commitment we actively promote flexible working opportunities where possible, to meet the needs and wishes of our workforce to maintain and improve their wellbeing. The trust offers a range of flexibility, including flexible working patterns, and we would encourage you to discuss this with the recruiting manager before or during the application process if this would interest you.
We welcome applications from people who share our values and can help us deliver outstanding care in our local community., We have an exciting opportunity for a Band 3 Health Care Assistant to join the Norwich Heart Failure Nurse Team, based at Norwich Community Hospital.
This small, friendly team requires a keen and motivated health care assistant to work within the heart failure team to provide care and support to Heart Failure patients in the Norwich area.
This service operates Monday to Friday, 9-5, some flexibility around working hours., This role involves providing support to the registered nurses to visit patients in their home, providing telephone support delivering lifestyle advice, support with telemonitoring and exercise management. In addition you will be supporting patients and families with disease progression and acting in a holistic manner working as a team member.
Good communication and collaboration as part of the heart failure team is essential. You will have regular supervision and professional development opportunities.
The Heart Failure Team, provides specialist advice and guidance to families either in their home, clinic or telephone. Working with patient and families to educate and support to be able to self manage condition.
This post involves driving to patients homes and you must have a valid driving license to drive in the UK and access to a vehicle., To work generically in provision of care, to patients under the supervision of a qualified practitioner, following a prescribed treatment/care plan to prevent admission to hospital.
Plan and prioritise own visits to delegated patients.
Ensure digital patient record is completed for each patient contact on a daily basis.
Make basic judgements on patients' response to prescribed treatment/care plans, and report findings to a qualified practitioner.
Liaise with other health care professionals as required.
Communicate with patients/carers by exchanging factual information, reassurance, tact and empathy.
Deliver and install equipment used for telehealth monitoring. Teach patients and carers to correctly use the equipment and assess patient.
Maintain accurate records for delivery and collection of equipment.
Establish and maintain appropriate working relationships with colleagues, patients, carers and other health care professionals.
Demonstrate dexterity and coordination when undertaking treatment of patients where accuracy is important, e.g. taking blood pressure.
Be responsible for ensuring equipment is used safely, following relevant training, and that it is maintained appropriately.
Demonstrate an awareness and understanding of consent, and gain consent as appropriate following organisational policies.
Share responsibility of indirect patient contact tasks, such as, answering telephones, arranging appointments, processing referrals and inputting activity data.
Undertake health promotion / education as required, e.g. exercise advice, smoking cessation, falls, dietary education, managing breathlessness, etc.
Utilise universal precautions and adhere to infection control policies as appropriate.
Attend and contribute to multi-disciplinary team meetings and other meetings where appropriate.
Attend in-house and competency training as required in development of current job role.
Work predominately independently on specified tasks, with regular clinical support and supervision by a qualified practitioner.
Be aware of limitations of own scope of practice and competency, and when to involve a more senior practitioner, both in daily practice and in emergency situations.
Acknowledge and recognise peoples' expressed beliefs, preferences, and choices.
Demonstrate an awareness of clinical governance and risk management and apply to work situation.
To provide peer support to other assistants.
Actively contribute to team working and express ideas on improving services for users and the team.
Share responsibility for maintaining store cupboards, cleaning specialist equipment and general housekeeping tasks.
This job description is not exhaustive and may be amended from time to time in consultation with the post holder. The post holder will be required to undertake any other duties as may be required for the effective performance of the post.
Equal Opportunities - We are an equal opportunities employer and welcome all applications irrespective of age, disability, gender, sexual orientation, race or religion. Additionally, people with disabilities that fall under the Disability Confident Scheme will be offered an interview providing they meet the minimum criteria for the post (outlined in the Person Specification). All sites are Smoke Free.
Immigration Status - Norfolk Community Health & Care NHS Trust is a diverse employer and welcomes all job applications. However, potential applicants should note that although the Trust is registered with the Home Office as a sponsor organisation for migrant workers, sponsorship can only be offered against Skilled Worker visas. If you are an applicant from outside the UK and do not already hold a self-gained right to work, we recommend you check the Home Office eligibility requirements before making an application.
Please note: Although we are a registered sponsor organisation, we are unable to offer sponsorship for some job roles, and this will be identified through filtering questions at the start of any job application on the Trac recruitment system.
Redeployment - Please note that in the first instance priority for this vacancy will be given to NCH&C staff who are on the Trusts Redeployment Register.
DBS - If this post is subject to a Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check and you are not a current employee of Norfolk Community Health and Care NHS Trust or being recruited as an Apprentice then the cost of the DBS check will be automatically removed from your first month's salary. However if you are registered with the update service this may not be required.

NCH&C is committed to the development of future health clinicians and there will be an expectation that the Band 3 Health Care Assistant will be highly motivated team player that provides high standards of care to our patients. You will also live, breathe and promote the NCH&C's People Promise.