Senior Healthcare Assistant - Spinal Injuries

An opportunity has arisen for dynamic, skilled individuals to join our friendly, caring team at the North West Regional Spinal Injuries Centre at Southport District General Hospital., There is currently a 12hour rotational shift pattern with the opportunity for shorter shifts to ensure availability of staff throughout the 24hour period. Staff are expected to be flexible as internal rotation between day and night duty is in operation and weekend working is to be expected.

The Health Care Assistant role at the North West Regional Spinal Injuries Centre is a key part of the multi-professional team & vital in supporting the rehabilitation process for patients with spinal cord injury.

The role involves providing direct care on a daily basis to ensure patients are able to achieve their goals for personal hygiene, eating & drinking, skin care & mobilising in a wheelchair, with expanded skills undertaken by the Band 3 Health Care Assistant.

The Centre comprises of 43 Inpatient beds, including up to 9 Acute & Respiratory Care beds. In addition we have developed an Outreach Service that currently offers 8 beds in a community setting.

We provide acute care and rehabilitation services for individuals who have experienced a spinal cord lesion due to trauma or other mechanism.

There is an extensive rehabilitation service provided by a comprehensive Multi-Professional team with dedicated rehabilitation & therapy facilities within the department, including a fully equipped Gym, Hydrotherapy pool, Gait Orthosis equipment and Occupational Therapy assessment / treatment area.

We are looking for caring and committed individuals who would like to expand their knowledge and skills within this challenging and rewarding environment. The ability to deal supportively with people of all ages and backgrounds, along with their families, in a period of unprecedented change is essential.

Communication skills and the ability to work as part of a multi-professional team are critical to the success of the role.

Previous experience of working within an acute hospital setting would be advantageous as this role involves expanded skills in caring for patients with spinal cord injury. You should have completed NVQ Level 3 in Healthcare / Care Certificate or equivalent or be undertaking the course with completion expected within 6 months of taking up post.

Mersey and West Lancashire Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust serves a population of over 600,000 with a workforce of over 9000 dedicated and skilled staff across 21 sites.

We strongly believe that the communities we serve should all have access to Five Star Patient Care.

Providing emergency and maternity services at Whiston, Southport and Ormskirk hospitals, and medical and surgical specialties across all our sites.

Primary Care

Providing primary care services at Marshalls Cross Medical Centre situated in St Helens Hospital.

Community Services

Providing adult community services for St Helens and a wheelchair service in Chorley, South Ribble, and West Lancashire. Our inpatient unit at Newton Community Hospital is where patients needing acute hospital beds can continue rehabilitation, freeing up space for more unwell patients. We also provide urgent care at our Urgent Treatment Centre located in St Helens town centre.

Specialist Regional Services

We provide the Mersey Regional Burns & Plastic Surgery Unit at Whiston Hospital and the Spinal Injuries Unit at Southport Hospital to more than 4 million people across the whole of Merseyside, West Lancashire, Cheshire, Isle of Man and North Wales.

Achievements:

o Rated Outstanding by CQC Inspection August 2018

o Top 100 places to work in the NHS (NHS Employers & Health Service Journal)

o National Preceptorship Accreditation (2023) for Nursing & AHP Preceptorship Programme