Senior Healthcare Support Worker, Ophthalmology

Job overview

Working as a Senior Healthcare Support Worker in a ward / department within the hospital setting.

Carry out assigned tasks involved with direct patient care whilst maintaining the privacy and dignity of patients.  This will be whilst demonstrating excellent care, compassion and communication, and in support of and supervised by a Registered Nurse or Nursing Associate, incorporating:

• Undertaking and recording of Vital Signs
• Moving & Handling of patients to support independence
• Infection Prevention and Control

Safeguarding of adults and children.

Main duties of the job

1.    Assist the Medical team or Nurse practitioners in completing intravitreal injections, minor operations and cross-linking clinics

2.    Assist in the supervision and training of less experienced HCAs, also help in the orientation of new nurses and support student nurses alongside the trained nurses.

3.    Looking after patient’s pre and post op eye surgery and assisting with basic care.

4.    Taking patients to theatre and collecting patients’ post-surgery following LA.

5.    Working in the eye clinic completing vision, visual field test and eye pressure tests.

6.    To liaise with the multi-disciplinary team as required, e.g. Orthoptists, Photography team, Eye Clinic liaison officer, and admin support.

7.    You will be expected in your role as a B3 HCA, to work as a member of the ophthalmic team undertaking Patient Care in a specialised area. To be able to complete essential competency-based assessments for patients being cared for within the Eye Unit, attending for Eye Day surgery or the eye clinic.

8.    Teach patients safe drop instillation technique, including use of drop aids.

9.    Assist registered nurses in admitting and discharging of patients in the eye ward.

10.    Communicate in a timely manner to the nurse in charge any changes observed in a patient’s condition or any worries the Patient or their family and carers have.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

1. Assist the Medical Team or Nurse Practitioners in completing intravitreal injections, minor operations and cross-linking clinics

2. Assist in the supervision and training of less experienced HCAs, also help in the orientation of the new nurses and support student nurses alongside the trained nurses

3. Looking after patients pre and post-op eye surgery and assisting with basic care

4. Taking patients to theatre and collecting patients' post-surgery following LA

5. Working in the eye clinic completing vision, visual field test and eye pressure tests.

6. To liaise with the multi-disciplinary team as required, e.g. Orthoptists, Photography Team, Eye Clinic Liaison Officer, and admin support.

7. You will be expected in your role as a B3 HCSW, to work as a member of the Ophthalmic Team, undertaking  Patient Care in a specialised area. To be able to complete essential competency-based assessments for patients being cared for within the Eye Unit, attending Eye Day Surgery or the Eye Clinic. Competency based assessments include:

• Taking patients to theatre and collecting patients' post surgery following LA
• IOL master examinations  and be able to report anomalies to the Nurse-in-Charge
• Instillation of prescribed eye medication
• Other prescribed diagnostic tests

8.  Undertake clinical skills following training and have been deemed competent by an authorised registered nurse, as per the Trust guidelines

9. Teach patients safe drop instillation technique, including use of drop aids

10. Assist registered nurses in admitting and discharging of patients in the eye ward

11. Communicate in a timely manner to the Nurse-in-Charge any changes observed in a patients conditions or any worries the patients or their family/carers have

12. Assist in the induction  of and mentor newly appointed healthcare assistants, undertake the formative assessment, reporting progress to the Eye Unit Sister/Charge Nurse