Health Care Assistant

As a Healthcare Assistant, your duties may include working with another carer in a private care home, providing dedicated 1:1 support to an allocated resident/service user, and delivering care within the community.

Key responsibilities:

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• Provide safe, respectful and person-centred care in accordance with individual care plans.
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• Support service users with personal care, including washing, bathing, dressing, grooming, oral care, toileting and continence care.
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• Maintain each person’s privacy, dignity, independence and personal choices at all times.
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• Work alongside another carer when two members of staff are required to provide personal care, repositioning, transfers or mobility support.
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• Use moving and handling equipment safely, including hoists, transfer aids and wheelchairs, following training and risk assessments.
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• Provide dedicated 1:1 care to an allocated resident, remaining attentive and present throughout the shift.
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• Understand why the resident requires 1:1 care and follow all relevant care plans, risk assessments and behavioural support guidance.
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• Observe the resident closely and take appropriate action to reduce risks such as falls, wandering, distress, challenging behaviour or harm to themselves or others.
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• Provide reassurance, companionship and meaningful activities suited to the resident’s interests, abilities and preferences.
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• Encourage and assist with meals and drinks, recording food and fluid intake when required.
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• Support safe mobility, repositioning and pressure-area care in line with the care plan.
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• Prompt or support with medication only when trained, authorised and instructed to do so.
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• Complete accurate, timely and detailed care records, including hourly 1:1 notes where required.
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• Clearly document the care provided, the resident’s presentation, activities, risks identified, interventions and outcomes.
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• Immediately report changes in health, behaviour, mobility, skin condition or wellbeing to the nurse, senior carer or manager.
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• Report accidents, incidents, safeguarding concerns and near misses without delay.
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• Communicate professionally with residents, families, care-home staff, nurses and healthcare professionals.
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• Direct medical or clinical questions from relatives to the nurse or appropriate senior member of staff.
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• Deliver community-based care by travelling to service users’ homes and arriving at each visit punctually.
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• Support people in the community with personal care, meal preparation, medication prompts, mobility, light household duties, shopping and companionship, as specified in their care plans.
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• Promote independence by encouraging service users to do as much as they can safely for themselves.
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• Follow infection-prevention procedures and use personal protective equipment correctly.
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• Maintain confidentiality and comply with safeguarding, health and safety, equality, data protection and company policies.
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• Attend mandatory training, supervision, appraisals and team meetings as required.
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• Maintain professional standards, including appropriate uniform, identification badge, punctuality and responsible conduct.
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• Treat every resident and service user with kindness, patience, compassion and respect.
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