Paediatric Ambulatory Care Assistant

279 University Hospitals Sussex NHS Foundation Trust

About
About our Trust
At UHSussex, we're proud to be at the heart of the NHS. As one of the UK's largest acute Trusts, we're a leading example of the excellence, ambition, and values that have embodied the NHS for over 70 years.

Our hard-working, talented, and dedicated people work together towards a common goal to always put our Patient First. In fact, our mission is summed up by our 'where better never stops' motto, and you will play a part in driving us forwards and improving the lives of patients across Sussex.

At UHSussex, diversity is our strength, and we want you to feel included to help us always put the Patient First. Your uniqueness and experiences will be part of our creative and innovative community where everyone is encouraged to succeed. We have a range of Staff Networks to help break down barriers and can offer a buddy to help new members settle in. We're proud to be a Disability Confident Employer (Level 2) and a Veteran Aware Trust.

We treat our patients and staff with the same compassion and empathy we expect for ourselves. We're here for them when they need us, and we go above and beyond to meet their needs. This can be seen in our Wellbeing Programme for staff, which is extensive and designed to support you when you need it, including where possible, flexible working to support work-life balance - because we know that to look after others we must first look after ourselves.

As a university trust and a leader in healthcare research, we value learning, teaching, and training so that we can be the best that we can be. From the moment you start with us and throughout your career, we will help you to grow and develop. We hope that in choosing UHSussex, you are choosing a long and happy career where you will be able to see the difference you make and feel valued for all that you do.

We look forward to receiving your application and the start of your journey with UHSussex.

Key details
Location
Site: St Richard's Hospital
Address: Spitalfield Lane
Town: Chichester
Postcode: PO19 6SE
Major / Minor Region: East Sussex

Contract type & working pattern
Contract: Fixed term: 12 months (Maternity Leave cover)
Hours: 37.5 hours per week

Salary
Salary: £24,625 - £25,674 per annum pro rata
Salary period: Yearly
Grade: (Band 3)

Specialty
Main area: Paediatrics

Job Overview
An exciting opportunity has arisen to join our team on the Children's Assessment Unit (CAU) located on Howard Children's Ward working as a Paediatric Ambulatory Care Assistant.

CAU is an assessment unit which treats babies, children, and young people from birth up to 18 years of age. It is currently open Monday to Friday, but this has the potential to change to meet the needs of the service. The work is varied and can be fast-paced, with no two days the same.

Advert
The successful applicant will join the team in CAU carrying out assigned tasks as part of the clinical team. Your work will involve supporting registered nurses, which includes undertaking administrative tasks and clinical care. You will be expected to undertake some aspects of care provision without direct supervision.

You will be provided with a competency framework to work towards and will be given appropriate support and training in order to complete this from both our ward and practice development team.

The successful applicant will be able to demonstrate excellent team working, time management, and IT skills. You will also need to work well under pressure.

Excellent communication skills are essential, as is previous experience of working with babies, children, and young people.

For further information, please see the Job Description and Person Specification.

Working for our organisation
At UHSussex, diversity is our strength, and we want you to feel included to help us always put the Patient First. Your uniqueness and experiences will be part of our creative and innovative community where everyone is encouraged to succeed. We have a range of Staff Networks to help break down barriers and can offer a buddy to help new members settle in. We're proud to be a Disability Confident Employer (Level 2) and a Veteran Aware Trust.

We treat our patients and staff with the same compassion and empathy we expect for ourselves. We're here for them when they need us, and we go above and beyond to meet their needs. This can be seen in our Wellbeing Programme for staff, which is extensive and designed to support you when you need it because we know that to look after others we must first look after ourselves.

As a university trust and a leader in healthcare research, we value learning, teaching, and training so that we can be the best that we can be. From the moment you start with us and throughout your career, we will help you to grow and develop.

We hope that in choosing UHSussex, you are choosing a long and happy career where you will be able to see the difference you make and feel valued for all that you do. We look forward to receiving your application and the start of your journey with UHSussex.

Candidate Information Pack: https://www.uhsussex.nhs.uk/resources/candidate-information-pack/

Detailed Job Description And Main Responsibilities
Main duties by factor:
Communications And Relationship Skills

• Actively involved in the smooth running of the Children's Assessment Unit under the direction and supervision of qualified nursing staff.
• Work as part of a team ensuring effective communication with all health care professionals within the clinical team and across all disciplines.
• Ensure telephone enquiries are managed sensitively and appropriate action initiated.
• Provide excellent customer care skills to ensure patients come first.

Analytical And Judgemental Skills

• Ensure that best practice care is delivered.

Planning And Organisational Skills

• Provide support for the nursing, clerical, and medical staff by admitting and discharging patients on the careflow system, booking appointments, tracing notes, filing reports, preparing patient case notes, and photocopying.

Patient/ Client Care

• To ensure children and their families receive high quality clinical care and a positive patient experience, having regard for their customs, religious beliefs, and doctrines.
• Recognise and avoid situations that may be detrimental to the health and well-being of the individuals.
• To act as an advocate for patients within the department, to ensure a patient-oriented approach to the delivery of care and to meet standards within the NHS Plan and other relevant guidelines.
• Provides support and assistance to professionals in the implementation of plans of care for individual patients.
• Participating in meeting the needs of the child and their family and the needs of the service in accordance with agreed standards.

Policy and Service Development Implementation

• Working with the manager/nursing team/medical team in maintaining and collecting data for essential benchmarking purposes.
• Be aware of and work in accordance with the policies, procedures, and philosophy of the Trust.
• Be competent in contacting social worker/health visitor when concern is raised about non-attendance as appropriate.
• Be aware of the Trust's Safeguarding procedures, reporting any concerns to a senior member of the team.

Financial and Physical Development (inc. equipment, stock etc)

• Keep patient areas pleasant, clean, safe, and tidy.
• Ensure that CAU has appropriate equipment available for the smooth running of the service. Collect, clear, and clean equipment as required.
• Keep storage areas in good order.
• Organise repair and maintenance of equipment within CAU as required.
• Assisting with the maintenance of supplies and stock levels, liaising with the relevant departments.

Human Resources (Inc. developing and delivering training)

• Involved with the induction, supervision, and training of Band 2 HCAs, volunteers, student nurses, and medical students.
• To act as a role model for your peers.
• To provide support to junior colleagues.

Information Resources

• Document written evidence of care.
• Be aware of Information Governance and maintain the confidentiality of information about patients, staff, and other health care professionals.
• Assist both the medical and nursing teams with audits and collecting relevant details.
• Complete Datix as appropriate.

Professional (not included in any of the above factors)
Staff are expected to demonstrate appropriate behaviours and attitudes that contribute to an organisational culture where patients are at the heart of everything we do. This means being:

• Kind
• Friendly
• Respectful
• Professional
• A Team Player

Important Information For Applicants
Please note, the use of AI generated applications will be closely monitored. It is at the manager's discretion to reject your application if they feel the majority has been created through the use of AI tools.
Closing Adverts Early
Some of our adverts are capped for a limited number of applications; therefore, the advert will close once the cap has been reached. We therefore encourage you to submit your application as soon as possible if you are interested in the position to prevent you from missing out on applying for the opportunity.

Flexible Working
DBS Checks:
Skilled Worker Visa
UHSussex reserves the right to close the role early if we receive a high volume of applications.

Further Information
For help with the application process for Nursing vacancies, please email [email protected].
For help with the application process for Non-Nursing vacancies, please email [email protected].

Applicant requirements
This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975 (Amendment) (England and Wales) Order 2020, and it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service.

Person specification
Qualifications
Essential criteria

• English and Maths equivalent at GCSE level
• Level 2 or 3 in Healthcare Qualification

Desirable criteria

• Care Certificate
• NNEB Diploma or NVQ 111 in Child Care

Experience
Essential criteria

• Customer Care Skills
• Aware of confidentiality procedures
• 1 year experience of working with children/babies

Desirable criteria

• Experience in working with children and young people
• Proven experience of working in a caring environment
• Knowledge of hospital environment
• Knowledge of Health Promotion

Skills
Essential criteria

• Good Communication skills
• Ability to prioritise workload

Desirable criteria

• Teaching skills
• To work independently
• Venepuncture and cannulation

Analytical and Judgmental
Desirable criteria

• Able to work independently with minimal supervision.

Information Resources/IT
Essential criteria

• Computer literate

Desirable criteria

• Familiar with Trust IT systems

Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion
Essential criteria

• Evidence of having championed diversity in previous roles (as appropriate to role).
• Evidence of having undertaken own development to improve understanding of equalities issues.

Documents

• Job Description and Person Specification (488.3) PDF KB
• Our Trust at a glance (153.0) PDF KB
• All Staff Networks About Us Flyer (304.4) PDF KB
• Guide to completing an application form (385.9) PDF KB

Further details / informal visits contact
Name: Nicky McKee
Job title: Matron for Children's Services
Email address: [email protected]
Telephone number: 01243 831444
Additional information:
Nicky McKee 01243 831444 for any further information about the post or if you would like to visit the Unit.