Position Overview:
As a Healthcare Assistant in Barking & Dagenham, you’ll be a vital part of the community’s healthcare network. You’ll deliver hands-on care to patients, supporting their physical and emotional well-being. Whether in local hospitals, care homes, or community settings, your role is to promote dignity and improve patient outcomes. Compassion, patience, and a commitment to quality care are key attributes for this role, as you’ll be helping individuals at their most vulnerable moments.
Key Responsibilities:
- Personal Care: Assist with bathing, dressing, feeding, and toileting while ensuring service user’s dignity is maintained.
- Health Monitoring: Regularly monitor and record vital signs such as blood pressure, temperature, and heart rate, and report any significant changes to the office and medical team.
- Support Medical Procedures: Assist healthcare professionals during service users’ examinations and minor procedures, offering reassurance to service users.
- Medication Assistance: Administer medications as prescribed and provide clinical care as trained and directed.
- Mobility: Help service users with mobility, including transfers from bed to wheelchair, ensuring safety at all times.
- Emotional Support: Provide compassionate emotional support, actively listening to service user concerns and communicating effectively with family members.
- Transport and Logistics: Safely transport service users within their residence and assist with moving them as per when required.
- Hygiene and Infection Control: Maintain a clean environment by following strict infection control procedures, ensuring service user and staff safety.
- Documentation: Accurately document care activities and report on the service user’s condition to senior healthcare staff.
- Team Collaboration: Work closely with nurses, doctors, and allied health professionals to deliver holistic care.
Required Skills & Qualifications:
- Educational Background: Be able to speak and understand basic English.
- Experience: Previous experience in a healthcare setting, such as hospitals or care homes, is preferred.
- Soft Skills: Strong communication skills, empathy, patience, and the ability to remain calm in high-pressure situations.
- Teamwork: Ability to work effectively within a multidisciplinary team and adapt to different working environments.
- Professionalism: Uphold high standards of care, respect confidentiality, and show dedication to patient safety.
Working Hours and Environment:
- The role involves flexible working hours, including shifts on weekends, nights, and holidays, depending on service user needs.
- Work environments include hospitals, residential care homes, community health centres, and occasionally service user homes.
Career Progression:
Healthcare Assistants in Barking & Dagenham have opportunities for growth, including:
- Senior Healthcare Assistant: Take on additional responsibilities and mentor junior staff.
- Nursing Associate: With further training, transition into more specialised roles in nursing.
- Registered Nurse or Allied Health Professional: Pursue formal education to become a registered nurse or enter specialised healthcare fields like physiotherapy or occupational therapy.
Why Work in Barking & Dagenham?
Barking & Dagenham is a vibrant and diverse borough that offers a close-knit community feel. Working here provides a unique opportunity to make a real difference in the lives of local residents while enjoying strong support from the local healthcare network. Additionally, ongoing training and development opportunities are readily available, helping you advance your career while serving the community.
