Date: May 2017 Job Title : Health Care Assistant Department : Maternity Location : As recruited Reporting To : Midwife Manager Direct Reports : N/A Functional Relationships with : Internal Maternity staff on the ward/unit Medical staff from various teams Duty Managers Allied Health team Cleaning and Orderlies Food Services External External Agency Staff Women and newborn infants Family Members Visitors Our Purpose, Values and Standards At the heart of Waitemata DHB is our promise of better care for everyone. This promise statement is the articulation of our three-fold purpose to: 1. promote wellness, 2. prevent, cure and ameliorate ill health and 3. Relieve the suffering of those entrusted to our care. At the heart of our values is the need for all of us to reflect on the intrinsic dignity of every single person that enters our care. It is a privilege to be able to care for patients, whānau and our community, a privilege that is sometimes overlooked in our day to day work. Our standards and behaviours serve as a reminder to us all about how we are with our patients and with each other. Director of Nursing & Midwifery 4/05/2017 Page 1
Purpose of the role To ensure that the health and wellbeing of families is supported by a therapeutic environment that is clean, welcoming and safe. To provide additional help and support to the midwifery team in order to deliver high quality care to new mothers and their babies, thus enhancing the experience for women and whanau. Health Care Assistant Key Tasks/ Outcomes Provides support under the direction and delegation of a Registered Midwife/Nurse. Manages ward environment Ensures patient dignity, privacy and respect is maintained during care delivery Orientates women and their families to the ward environment. Supports bedside handover process. Answers bells and responds appropriately to requests made. Provides support to ensure hygiene needs are met includes showering, following birth/cs, access to toiletries, sanitary towels, clean clothes, dry towels, TEDs and clean linen. Assists LMC with refreshments for mother following birth. Acts proactively to ensure comfort of mother and baby. Assists with basic well newborn cares. Assists women to access appropriate diet/fluid intake includes ordering of meals for GDM women and other dietary adjustments. Provide additional food and drink to women as required. Facilitates protected meal times for women/mothers. Undertakes other tasks as delegated by the midwife manager Maintains tidy ward and bed space environment each shift. Cleans/space and makes bed ready following discharges. Prepares ward environment for next shift. Maintains clean/tidy sluice room. Monitors and maintains clinical supplies, stationary and linen. Undertakes Oracle orders as required to maintain stock levels. Manages and follows up Biems requests for repairs/maintenance issues. Director of Nursing & Midwifery 4/05/2017 Page 2
Communicates clearly Greets women and their families with respect and introduces self/role Upholds the welcoming and friendly philosophy of WDHB. Explains care support to patients and gains consent for care delivery. De-escalates challenging behavior situations seeking appropriate help where required Supports women with communication difficulties for example, identifies need for interpreter and passes this on to midwifery team. Interacts appropriately with family members/visitors Maintains privacy of patient information. If the HCA documents weights, fluids they must document to an appropriate standard Clerical support Prepares admission and discharge packs. Answers telephone, doorbell and orientates visitors to the ward. Inputs data into Healthware Ensures mothers have discharge pack and papers. Breastfeeding support in line with BFHI Helps mothers get ready for feeding baby, ensuring comfortable feeding position and refreshments offered. Sets up and sterilizes breast pump equipment. Maintains BFHI education requirements. Maintains role boundaries and Informs Charge midwife of concerns around mother/baby wellbeing. expected behaviors Refers to midwife/nurse for instructions of care/client information. Acknowledges tasks outside job description. Verbalizes decisions to maintain role boundaries. Is punctual and reliable. Shows respect for and works effectively within the health care team. Attends available education. Maintains annual updates (CPR, Infection Control, Fire, Privacy, Moving and Handling). Shows compassion to women and their families. Manages time and workload effectively. Maintains patient/staff safety Maintains infection control practice. Mobilises women safely, using correct moving and handling techniques. Proactively supports the delivery of care to prevent falls. Supports the team to manage emergencies. Escalates incidents of challenging behavior appropriately and seeks assistance from charge midwife, uses Code Orange if required. Director of Nursing & Midwifery 4/05/2017 Page 3
Meets Statutory & Treaty of Waitangi obligations To recognise individual responsibility for workplace Health & Safety under the Health and Safety at Work Act 2015 Ensures the professional and political integrity of WDHB by carrying out all functions in compliance of the Treaty of Waitangi and by demonstrating a serious commitment to keeping the treaty alive. Shows sensitivity to cultural complexity in the workforce and maternity unit population Contribute to a safe and healthy workplace at WDHB by: All Level Managers Following, implementing, monitoring & ensuring compliance with all H&S policies & processes Timely escalation of issues to Risk Register as required Planning, organising & managing H&S activities directed at preventing harm & promoting wellbeing in the workplace Ensuring a safe working environment & safe working practices through the Safe Way of Working H&S system Early and accurate reporting of incidents at work and raising issues of concern when identified. Activities that may NOT to be performed or delegated to the HCA Taking patient observations, e.g. blood pressure, pulse, respirations and temperature. HCA s do not administer medications in any form, tablet or liquid. This includes eye drops, ear drops, nebulisers and oxygen (these are prescribed drugs). Point of Care Testing this includes blood glucose monitoring Touch or manage an infusion or feeding pump used to administer fluid, medication or feeds. This includes silencing alarms or disconnecting them from a patient Have patients allocated to them Assess, plan or evaluate care Wound or pressure area dressings Discuss patient s condition with visitors and medical staff A HCA may not delegate a patient related task to another HCA or any other employee Director of Nursing & Midwifery 4/05/2017 Page 4
PERSON SPECIFICATION POSITION TITLE: Qualification Experience Skills/ Knowledge/ Behaviour VERIFICATION: Employee: Manager: Date: Health Care Assistant NZQA Level 3 National Certificate or similar is preferred However if no qualification then must be committed to taking part in the WDHB National Certificate program at the first available opportunity Current CPR / first aid certificate would be advantageous It is strongly preferred that the candidate has worked in a health care setting as a HCA or related occupation Has worked in a care giving role formally or informally Good computer skills. Desire to work with people compassionate nature. Positive manner. Remains calm under pressure, is even, consistent and mature personality. Is able to prioritise workload appropriately. Upholds confidentiality with a reputation for high integrity and discretion. Works well in a team. An active listener who values everyone s opinions. Excellent customer service practices. Good verbal and written skills in English. Accepts direction, guidance and supervision. Looks for ways to improve the quality of service. Good timekeeping/reliability. Willing to learn. Able to work in a busy setting, providing physical care and work actively across a full shift. Note: his job description forms part of an individual s contract of employment and must be attached to that contract. Director of Nursing & Midwifery 4/05/2017 Page 5