Paediatric Outpatients Care Assistant

Job summary To provide a high quality care to paediatric patients and their families in the outpatients department.
You will be a trained phlebotomist contributing to the efficient running of the phlebotomy service, as well as assisting the nursing team in the efficient running of the outpatients department.
This will involve preparing patients for their appointments with the medical team, obtaining weights and heights.
performing observations and ECGs.
Acting as chaperone when necessary.
Keeping accurate and concise documentation.The post holder will be required to work independently, liaise with other healthcare professionals, clinicians, laboratory staff, patients and/or their representatives.
This will primarily be in the paediatric outpatient department but may also include attending to paediatric patients in other areas of the hospital.The post holder must observe the policies and procedures relevant to the role including dealing with patients and staff problems and if necessary take them to the main supervisor or clinical nurse manager.
The work involves routinely handling biological samples that may contain pathogenic micro-organisms.
All patient categories including high risk and isolation patients are included in the job requirements.
There is the potential for some shift and weekend work that necessitates a flexible approach to the hours and site of employment.
Main duties of the job o To be fully competent in all aspects of paediatric venepuncture and practice different approaches to the technique maintaining competency levels through annual reassessment protocols.o Acting as the first point of contact for routine day-to day Phlebotomy queries and issues relating to their team.
Using judgement to decide upon appropriate course of action and where necessary escalating these to the Service Manager / Paediatric outpatients sister / charge nurse for resolution.o To take samples for procedures such as glucose tolerance testing etc.
and where fasting samples are required ensure appointments are offered for the early morning.o To assist in training of health care professionals in phlebotomy.o To carry out routine stock taking and monitor stock levels.o To act as receptionist in the Patient Waiting Area and help with patient enquiries when required.o To deliver high quality care to patients within the clinical setting and/or the ward environment .
About us Bedfordshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust provides hospital services to a growing population of around 700,000 people living across Bedfordshire and the surrounding areas across two busy hospital sites in Bedford and Luton.
Both hospital sites offer key services such as A&E, Obstetrics-led Maternity and Paediatrics.You will be joining a friendly, high performing Trust committed to ensuring the health and wellbeing of staff.
As one of the largest NHS Trusts in our region you will have access to a programme of high quality training and development to help you grow your career.We have state-of-the art facilities placing us at the heart of cutting edge health care.
The Trust continues to be committed to delivering the best patient care using the best clinical knowledge and technology available.Please note that vacancies may close prior to the advertised closing date when sufficient number of applications have been received.
Please ensure that you make your application as soon as possible.All new staff will be subject to a probationary period covering their first six months in post.
Travel between hospital sites may be required.Please review all documents attached to this advert to ensure you familiarise yourself with all requirements of the job.
Job description Job responsibilities To work effectively within the Multi-Disciplinary Team (MDT).
To work flexibly and innovatively to meet the needs of the service.
Treat patients as individuals.
Maintain accurate and contemporaneous documentation to ensure timely, effective communication and data collection.
Be accountable for maintaining skills, knowledge and competence in the use of the Trust IT systems.
Be aware of the Data Protection Act to ensure appropriate action is taken to ensure confidentiality and the protection of patient identifiable information at all times.
Follow approved training and update training as deemed necessary to achieve and maintain competence.
To learn and maintain an up to date knowledge of the blood tests performed by the various departments and their appropriate bottles and containers.
To label blood samples as directed in Trust guidelines.
To ensure samples are correctly packaged for transportation to the laboratory.
To be fully conversant with the Clinical Guidelines and departmental Standard Operating Procedures [SOPs] relevant to the practice of Paediatric phlebotomy.
To liaise with the other staff especially the doctors and nurses on the paediatric ward and in paediatric outpatients.
Able to present information to a wide range of patients and/or their representatives where empathy and overcoming barriers to understanding is required.
To organise own workload, ensuring that the phlebotomy clinics runs to time and the service delivered is of the quality demonstrated by the Trust values.
Ensure that there are sufficient stocks to perform the daily workload.
To clean and sterilise the working areas.
This will include disposal of clinical waste and decontamination procedures.
To maintain Statutory Training as require for the role.
To ensure departmental performance targets are met by continually assessing priority of work, taking into account the individual needs of the patient.
To be aware of Clinical Governance, reporting critical incidences using the Trust procedure and recording errors and/or breaches to the line manager.
To answer the telephone queries politely and helpfully.
To be responsible when allocated to answer the phlebotomy phone and email inbox to make appointments for patients on the hospital booking system.
Understand the importance of providing urgent appointment slots where clinically indicated.
To assist in departmental clerical duties.
Ensure staff absence and annual leave are communicated to the out-patients bookings coordinator to enable closing or opening of clinics as required.
To adhere to infection control policies.
To report any problems or difficulties encountered in the performance of his/her duties immediately.
To participate fully in individual performance review and objective setting process of the Bedfordshire Hospitals NHS Trust.
To have an understanding and up to date training in childrens safeguarding and aware of the processes to follow for safeguarding concerns and was not brought children.
Person Specification Qualifications Essential Excellent standard of written and spoken English.
3 pass grades at GCSE level NVQ 3 qualification/ apprenticeship course (or working towards / evidence of equivalent experience) Desirable Experience of caring for or working with children of all ages.
Experience Essential Able to perform all aspects of phlebotomy without supervision.
Desirable Awareness of laboratory functions.
Knowledge Essential First Aid.
Health and Safety awareness.
Safeguarding Children.
Personal Skills Essential Ability to work independently, accurately and quickly in an organised manner with attention to detail.
Computer literate.
Good interpersonal skills.
Able to handle patients and relatives sympathetically.
Ability to work in a team as well as individually.
Able to recognise the additional needs of some patients and put in place appropriate measures to support eg; play specialist involvement / therapeutic holding.
Desirable Experience of working with the PIMS appointment management software.
Other Essential Must be prepared to take blood from "high risk" patients.
Physically able to assist less able & wheelchair bound patients.