Overview
Post Title: Health Care Assistant - Surgical Oncology Breast Service
Post Status: Permanent
Department: Breast Centre/Various Departments
Location: Beaumont Hospital, Dublin 9
Reports to: Clinical Nurse Manager 3, Divisional Nurse Manager Surgical Directorate
Salary: Appointment will be made on HCA Pay-scale (€35,434 - €44,539) at a point in line with Government pay policy
Hours of work: Full-Time 39 hours per week
Closing Date: 12 noon on 17/4/2025
Please note the hospital reserves the right to close the competition early should a substantial number of applications be received.
Position Summary:
The Symptomatic breast service at Beaumont Hospital has expanded exponentially over the past 12 years since the amalgamation of cancer services into the eight designated cancer centres. The new Beaumont Breast Centre opened in May 2022. The aim of the Breast Centre service in Beaumont hospital is to provide a high standard of treatment and care to Breast Cancer and Non-Cancer patients.
The post holder will work alongside the Nurse Specialists, CNM3, Directorate Nurse Manager, Surgeons, Oncologists, Radiologists and other professionals in the hospital to ensure that new and existing services are planned and carried out to ensure delivery of a patient focused service. The post holder will play a pivotal role within the multidisciplinary team in the breast centre and support the development of activities, new services, planning, co-ordinating and evaluation of breast cancer oncology services within the unit for Beaumont Hospital patients and their families.
This exciting role offers the post holder the opportunity to be a part of a diverse team that is focused on providing comprehensive breast care under one roof. New services such as B3 vacuum excisions, Nurse led clinics, face to face family history clinics and day of surgery assessment and preparation are to name a few service developments within the unit.
The role of the HCA is to support the delivery of patient care under the supervision and direction of qualified nursing personnel (Shannon et al., 2001).
Responsibilities
Responsibility
There is a clear relationship between the Health Care Assistant and the Clinical Nurse Manager or their deputy. The Healthcare Assistant also reports to the Assistant Director of Nursing.
Accountability
1. Health Care Assistants are accountable for their actions in the delivery of patient care and must not undertake any duty related to patient care for which he/she is not trained, in accordance with the educational qualifications outlined above.
2. The Health Care Assistant must report to and work under the supervision and direction of a Registered Nurse in relation to their duties/tasks and is expected to work as part of the ward/area/resident’s care team.
3. Nursing staff will delegate duties in accordance with their professional judgement and within the competence of the Health Care Assistant.
4. Nursing staff must not allocate any duty to the Health Care Assistant for which he/she has not been trained.
Key Activities
Patient/Residents may require assistance in some or all activities of daily living. It is the duty of the nurse to assess, plan, implement and evaluate the care required by the patient/resident. The primary role of the Health Care Assistant is to assist the nurse in the implementation of the care, as determined by the Registered Nurse.
Duties assigned to the Health Care Assistant will vary depending on the care setting and will include the following functions. This is not an exhaustive list:
1. To carry out assigned and delegated tasks involving direct care and all activities of daily living under the supervision of a Registered Nurse (e.g., to assist patients/residents maintain standards of personal hygiene, laundry, dietary intake, physical and mental health).
2. Assisting the Registered Nurse in the provision of quality nursing service by promoting and adopting a philosophy of care within the service area.
3. Assisting the Registered Nurse in duties associated with the delivery of care and management of the unit environment and other support duties as appropriate.
4. To report any incident or potential incident that may compromise the health and safety of residents, staff or visitors and take appropriate action.
5. Engage the residents in a personal and individual way and encourage socialisation and participation in meaningful activities.
6. Health Care Assistants should conduct themselves in a manner that conveys respect of the individual and ensures safe resident care. The personal characteristics that indicate principles should include:
o Confidentiality
o Courteousness
o Accountability
o Communication
o Dignity and privacy
o Health and safety
DUTIES:
Communication:
1. Communicates appropriately with patients/residents/relatives and colleagues and other members of the health care team.
2. Approaches interpersonal relationships in a manner that avoids antagonism, reduces conflict and prevents undue anxiety.
3. Recognises self-limitations and requests assistance.
4. Serve as an advocate as necessary for patients.
Mobilisation:
1. Assist patients with mobility issues to reposition if needed for exam or procedure.
2. Assist patient/residents with walking if required.
3. Ensure patients are comfortable in the unit.
4. Supervise patients who have poor safety awareness who are at risk of falls and wandering.
5. Materials Management including Linen, stores, patient gowns etc.
6. Clean, tidy and restock store and linen rooms daily and as frequently as necessary to ensure adequate supply available at unit level.
7. Assist with the ordering of stores and linen as requested by the staff nurse and/or Clinical Nurse Manager.
8. Ensure correct laundry bags are used, tied and labelled.
General Duties:
1. Receive patients/relatives to the unit with courtesy.
2. Work between Breast radiology and Breast clinic as required.
3. Chaperone patients undergoing breast exams/imaging/procedures.
4. Answer telephones and locate appropriate personnel as necessary.
5. Assist patient/residents around the hospital.
6. Check call bells are in working order and are in within reach of the patient/resident.
7. Assist with washing and disinfecting beds, lockers and wardrobes as required.
8. Clean and assemble equipment as required (e.g., trolleys, drip stands, commode, etc.).
9. Ensure sluice room is kept clean and tidy and that daily checklists are signed.
10. Assist with the disposal of clinical waste and clean procedures trolleys after use.
11. Make occupied and unoccupied assessment beds.
12. Move beds and furniture within the unit as necessary.
13. Attend to spillages immediately to reduce the risk of accidents.
14. Assist in keeping unit, day room and activities room tidy.
15. Change unit curtains as required.
16. Perform other duties appropriate to the post that may be assigned to him/her from time to time.
17. Demonstrate flexibility by assisting in other units as required.
18. Report broken items in need of repair to Clinical Nurse Manager.
Other responsibilities:
1. Be familiar and comply with the Hospital policies in relation to Health and Safety, Fire, Major Disaster, Infection Control, Waste Disposal including disposal of soiled linen, Smoking Policy, Health Act 2007 and the Health Information and Quality Authority (National Quality Standards for Residential Care Settings for Older People in Ireland).
2. Participate in audit collection as part of the interdisciplinary team to ensure the Raheny Community Nursing Unit meets HIQA Standards and Regulations.
3. Report all complaints, incidents and accidents involving self, residents or visitors to Clinical Nurse Manager or Staff Nurse in Charge promptly.
4. Assist with emergency first aid as directed.
5. Ensure Mandatory training is kept up to date (Manual Handling, CPR, Fire Drill, Major Disaster Planning, Hand Hygiene, Standard Precaution and Elder Abuse).
6. Attend in-service instruction as required.
7. To perform such other duties as appropriate to the post as may be assigned to him/her from time to time by the Chief Executive or such other Officer designated by the Beaumont Hospital Board.
THIS JOB DESCRIPTION INDICATES THE PRINCIPAL DUTIES OF THE POST AND IS SUBJECT TO REVIEW AND AMENDMENT
Qualifications
Selection Criteria:
Selection criteria outline the qualifications, skills, knowledge and/or experience that the successful candidate would need to demonstrate for successful discharge of the responsibilities of the post.
Applications will be assessed on the basis of how well candidates satisfy these criteria.
In exercise of the power conferred on me by Section 22 of the Health Act 2004, I hereby approve the qualifications, as set out hereunder, for the appointment and continuing as a Health Care Assistant.
1. Professional Qualifications, Experience, etc
1. Candidates must, on the latest date for receipt of applications, hold:
1. The relevant health Skills FETAC Level 5 qualification (8 modules must be completed. Mandatory modules that must be completed as part of the 8 modules are Infection, Prevention & Control, Communication and Care Skills) OR
2. An equivalent relevant health care qualification AND
3. Be currently employed as a Health Care Assistant or a comparable role
1. Candidates must have the personal competence and capacity to properly discharge the duties of the role.
2. Age
Age restriction shall only apply to a candidate where s/he is not classified as a new entrant (within the meaning of the Public Service Superannuation (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act, 2004). A candidate who is not classified as a new entrant must be under 65 years of age on the first day of the month in which the latest date for receiving completed application forms for the office occurs.
3. Health
Candidates for and any person holding the office must be fully competent and capable of undertaking the duties attached to the office and be in a state of health such as would indicate a reasonable prospect of ability to render regular and efficient service.
4. Character
Candidates for and any person holding the office must be of good character.
Desirable:
* Breast Care Experience
* Evidence of continued learning
* Experience with pre/post op care
* Must have two years Health Care Assistant experience in a Health Care setting.
The Hospital:
https://beaumontrcsicancercentre.ie/typesofcancer/breast-cancer/
Management Unit: katiekearns@beaumont.ie
#J-18808-Ljbffr