Important Job Application Information
Thank you for your interest in NHS Tayside vacancies
Please see below Job Description/Person Specification and General Conditions of
Service
Your Application Form must be completed in full. Please note copies of Curriculum
Vitae, Qualifications and Course Certificates will not be accepted at this stage.
Please return your completed Application Form to recruitment.tayside@nhs.net
(quoting the vacancy reference number in the subject box) or to the postal address
given on the General Conditions of Service.
All completed applications are held in Human Resources until the closing date.
After the closing date a panel will meet to prepare an interview shortlist. Once this
decision has been made, all shortlisted applicants will be emailed to invite them to
attend for interview. It is important that you check your emails regularly.
This process takes approximately 6 weeks. Therefore, if you have not been
contacted regarding interview within 6 weeks of the closing date, your application
has been unsuccessful and you will receive no further correspondence from Human
Resources.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION:Find out more about living and working in Tayside at:
www.dundeecity.gov.uk
www.angus.gov.uk
www.pkc.gov.uk
NHS TAYSIDE – AGENDA FOR CHANGE
JOB DESCRIPTION
1
Job Title
Health Care Assistant / Renal Care Assistant
Department(s)/Location
Critical Care Clinical Group/Renal Services/
Ward/Area:24
JOB IDENTIFICATION
Number of Job Holders
2.
JOB PURPOSE
As part of a multidisciplinary team the post holder will carry out routine individual care duties for patients,
clients, carers and relatives in support of and supervised by a registered nurse. Carry out assigned duties to
maintain hygiene, order and safety within the environment specified in Section 4 below.
3
ORGANISATIONAL POSITION
Director of Nursing & Patient Services
Manager/Lead Nurse

Senior Charge Nurse

Charge Nurse

Registered Nurse

Health Care Assistant/Renal Care Assistant (This post)
4. SCOPE AND RANGE (please complete as appropriate for the specific area)
To provide a high quality, safe and supportive environment in order to care for patients/clients, carers, relatives and
staff within the Renal Service of the Critical Care Clinical Group to meet identified care needs.
The Renal Service provides a regional service for patients and their families throughout Tayside and Northeast Fife.
The post holder may be required to provide care in the following types of environment for acute and chronic
patients:







Renal Ward in-patient facility (ward 22)
Haemodialysis Unit Ninewells
Chronic Haemodialysis Facility at PRI
Chronic Haemodialysis Facility at Arbroath Infirmary
Peritoneal Dialysis Service
Renal Replacement Therapies outwith Renal Service (Patient home, Hospices, Care Homes,
Wards/Departments in NHS Tayside Hospitals)
Nurse-Led Clinics/Services
The postholder has responsibility for:
Staff Management/Supervisory Responsibilities:
Support registered nurses in the orientation of new staff to the area

Support registered nurses in the delivery of patient/carer training and education
Budgetary Responsibilities:Effective participation in dealing with supplies ordering, patients valuables and use of equipment
5.
MAIN DUTIES/RESPONSIBILITIES
Induction Standards & Code of Conduct
Your performance must comply with the national “Mandatory Induction Standards for Healthcare Support
Workers 2009” and with the Code of Conduct for Healthcare Support Workers.

Care Delivery
1.
Carry out assigned tasks in delivering and supporting patient care under the direction of a registered nurse
to ensure delivery of a high quality of patient care
2.
Co-operate with and maintain good relationships with other disciplines that are attending and treating
clients to maximise care
3.
Maintain good relationships and an empathic approach to patients/clients’/carers and relatives and refer
them to a registered nurse for any questions they may have on the clients’ condition or for any
suggestions or complaints that they wish to raise
4.
Report observed changes in the clients’ physical/psychological needs and participate in maintaining
accurate and up-to-date records to ensure effective communication
5.
Encourage patients /client’s /public to adhere to Infection Control Policies
6.
Participate in quality improvement initiatives within the clinical area e.g. trials of new equipment and
supplies

Health & Safety
7.
Work within NHS Tayside policies and procedures to ensure maintenance of safe working practices for
patients, colleagues and self

Resource Utilisation
8.
The Health Care Assistant/Renal Care Assistant will adhere to NHS Tayside procedures regarding the
use of supplies and equipment in order to promote the effective and efficient use of resources
9.
Maintain stock levels of supplies to support the smooth running of the area as required e.g. check agreed
stock levels and seek authority to order as required.

Education
10. Participate in personal and career development plan to maintain skills and develop personal growth in
order to maximise contribution to service delivery

11.
6.
Quality
Acknowledge the diversity of individuals respecting their rights, privacy and confidentiality
COMMUNICATIONS AND RELATIONSHIPS
Communicates continuously re: routine daily activities, with a wide range of health and social care workers,
patients and families utilising a wide range of media such as telephone, information technology, verbal and
written communications overcoming barriers to communication e.g. clinical conditions, sensory impairment.
Demonstrates sensitivity and empathy when communicating with people
Establish and maintain relationships based on mutual respect communicating on a regular basis with the
patient/relatives/multidisciplinary team and external agencies (where appropriate) involved in the provision of
care.
7.
KNOWLEDGE, TRAINING AND EXPERIENCE REQUIRED TO DO THE JOB
SVQII or recognized equivalent in healthcare (or willingness to work/working towards) or equivalent work experience
working in a caring environment/role
Ability to work with people and as part of a multidisciplinary team
Effective written and verbal communication skills
Ability to carry out assigned tasks effectively in a busy environment
Demonstrate use of own initiative as agreed by registered nurse where appropriate.
Completion of in-house orientation Programme - supernumerary status – 2 months
8. SYSTEMS AND EQUIPMENT [insert as appropriate to area]
The nursing assistant will use, store and maintain the following types of equipment in line with local
policies/procedures. Shared responsibility.
Information Technology :
Fax/E-mail/Internet/Intranet
Incident reporting via adverse incident management system
Local database systems
Laboratory vacuum system
Word processing
Moving & Handling :
Dialysis equipment and supplies
Mechanical aids (e.g. hoists, ambulifts)
Infusion stands
General manual handling equipment e.g. slide aids
Specialised Beds, Beds, trolleys
Wheelchairs/ Walking aids
Commodes
Bedpans
Bariatric equipment
Pressure reliving equipment
Fire evacuation equipment
Near Patient Testing :
Vital signs
Blood clotting times
Blood Glucose Monitoring
Blood Pressure Recording( automated)
Chemical reagents (urinalysis)
Pulse Oximetry
Medical Devices : (Stores and maintains)
All types of renal replacement therapy machines and associated equipment
Patient Controlled Analgesia
Infusion Devices
Scanning Equipment
Electrocardiograph equipment / Cardiac Monitors
Examination Equipment e.g. Auroscopes, opthalmoscopes etc.
Surgical Instruments
Control feeding pumps
Suction equipment
Treatments : (Stores, maintains and gathers equipment for registered nurse)
All types of renal replacement therapy treatments
Oxygen therapy
Nebulisers
Suctioning
Enteral/Parenteral Nutrition pumps
Basic life support and airway adjuncts
Humidification
RESPONSIBILITY FOR RECORDS MANAGEMENT
All records created in the course of the business of NHS Tayside are corporate records and are public records under the
terms of the Public Records (Scotland) Act 1937. This includes email messages and other electronic records. It is your
responsibility to ensure that you keep appropriate records of your work in NHS Tayside and manage those records in
keeping with the NHS Tayside Records Management Policy and with any guidance produced by NHS Tayside specific
to your employment.
9.PHYSICAL DEMANDS OF THE JOB [insert as appropriate to area-) Please indicate level / frequency/
Weight / duration. Examples may include:Physical Skills : Several times per shift , long periods over 20mins, intense predictable
Preparation, priming, connection and disconnection of all types of renal replacement therapy machines
Minor fault finding and manipulation of
equipment in response to alarm states of renal
machines/central water plant (within and outwith renal service) ( Machines – frequent ) (Water plant –
infrequent )
Removal of cannulation needles/venflons
Vital signs
Stoma care (occasional )
Cardio-Pulmonary Resuscitation ( occasional )
Attaching leads of monitoring equipment to patient (occasional )
Safely manoeuvre wheelchairs, trolleys, beds and other equipment
Safely support patient mobility
Preparation of patients for tests/procedures
Collection of medical/nursing notes and Dialysis records
Collection and preparation of specimens
Assist with patient positioning
Application of simple dressings ( repeated occurrence )
Removal of wound dressings ( repeated occurrence )
Provision of personal care to patients
MRSA & MSSA screening on admission/discharge ( repeated occurrence )
Physical Demands : Several times per shift, long periods over 20mins repeated occurrence, intense
predictable
Movement of renal replacement equipment, dialysate/filtration fluids and supplies within and outwith renal
services (up to 20kgs weight)
Patient movement with and without use of mechanical aides, manoeuvre patients
Push trolley’s, wheelchairs, beds, patient’s lockers,
Stand/walking for the majority of shift.
Daily and weekly general housekeeping for renal service
Moving quickly from task to task in response to needs of patients and nursing team
Mental Demands : Several times per shift, long periods over 20mins , intense, predictable
Concentration when operating specialised renal equipment
Can accurately recognise symptoms of fluid depletion in the patient who is undergoing renal replacement
therapy and take appropriate action as directed by registered nurse
Concentration required when undertaking personal care for patients
Frequent interruptions:- telephone, colleagues, patients’ buzzers
High volume throughput of patients
Accurate record keeping of fluid charts, weight charts, food record charts, event diary and observation charts
Concentration required when minor fault finding for Home dialysis patients via telephone. (occasional )
Concentration required when coping with unpredictable events: water plant failure – in frequent )
Emotional Demands : Several times per shift. Repeated occurrence , predictable, long periods over 20
minutes
Communicating with distressed/anxious/worried patients/relatives. (variable )
Caring for the terminally ill/end of life care. ( variable )
Caring for patients following receipt of bad news. ( variable )
Dealing with patients with severely challenging behavior
Dealing with people with sensory impairment
Care of the patient after death ( occasional 1 / 2 weeks )
Managing aggressive patients(variable)
Caring for patients with special needs e.g. learning disability ( variable )
Supporting patients awaiting diagnosis, recently diagnosed ( variable )
Caring for families/carers following sudden/unexpected death of patient. (occasional )
Caring for patients/families/carers faced with delays in commencing planned renal replacement therapy.
Assisting with caring for acutely ill patients
Assisting with caring for critically/acutely/chronically ill patients
Working Conditions: Several times per shift, long periods over 20mins , repeated occurrence
Exposure to body fluids, faeces, emptying bed pans/urinals, catheter bags
Exposure to blood/dialysis effluent due to high volume sampling and treatments
Exposure to verbal aggression (variable)
Exposure to physically aggressive behaviour (occasional )
Shift patterns - day, night rotation, emergency on-call
Cramped working conditions, large volumes of patients, portering chairs
Exposure to portable X-rays/guided imagery/radiotherapy/cytotoxic agents ( occasional )
Changing environmental temperature ( seasonal change and heat generated by electrical equipment )
Exposure to and compliance with substances hazardous to health guidance
10.
DECISIONS AND JUDGEMENTS
11.
Assignment of work will be by the Registered Nurse/Team Leader
Planning own order of assigned duties within service
Acknowledging changes in patients conditions, work or care environment and reporting to the registered nurse
or appropriate other healthcare individual
Work review and formal appraisal of performance will be carried out by the designated registered nurse
Under the overall supervision of the registered nurse demonstrate the ability to reprioritise unpredictable
workload
MOST CHALLENGING /DIFFICULT PARTS OF THE JOB
Planning own order of assigned duties within service
Recognising symptoms of fluid depletion in patients
Managing competing demands on time
Support patients to follow treatment plan
Ensuring patient safety at all times
12.
JOB DESCRIPTION AGREEMENT
The job description will need to be signed off using the attached sheet by each postholder to whom the job
description applies.
Person Specification
D/LR/171/13
POST REF NO:
JOB TITLE/BAND:
P/T Renal Care Assistants– Band 3
LOCATION:
NHS Tayside – Ward 22 Ninewells, Ninewells Renal
Dialysis Unit, PRI Dialysis Unit and Arbroath Infirmary
Dialysis Unit
HOURS:
22.5 hours & 30 hours per week
CRITERIA
ESSENTIAL

Previous experience
of working in a
healthcare setting
Good standard of basic
education
Must be prepared to
undertake all mandatory
training
Must be prepared to
undertake further training
in patient care and
dialysis therapies

Healthcare
qualification, e.g.
SVG Levels, 2 or 3 or
HNC in Social Care

Understanding of job
EXPERIENCE:
QUALIFICATIONS:
(Training; Research;
Publications)



KNOWLEDGE & SKILLS:

Good verbal and written
communication skills
PERSONAL QUALITIES:





Confidentiality
Team worker
Motivated
Good interpersonal skills
Demonstrate a caring
and good listening ethos
Flexible approach to the
needs of the service
Ability to travel for cross
site working between
Ninewells, PRI and
Arbroath Infirmary


OTHER:
(eg travel across Tayside)
DESIRABLE
General Conditions of Service
POST REF NO:
D/LR/171/13
JOB TITLE/GRADE:
RENAL CARE ASSISTANTS, BAND 3 (2 POSTS)
LOCATION:
RENAL SERVICES, NINEWELLS HOSPITAL
Conditions of Service
Remuneration
Hours of Duty
The terms and conditions of service for this post are those
determined by the NHS Staff Council.
The current salary scale for the post is £16,660 to £19,627
per annum (pro rata for part-time staff). Placing on the
scale on appointment is normally at the minimum but may
be higher subject to verification of previous relevant service.
Salary is paid monthly by Bank Credit Transfer.
The hours of the post are:
Post 1: 22.5 hours per week permanent post
Post 2: 30 hours per week (temporary for 6 months) to
provide cover for a career break
Superannuation
Start and finish times will be determined by the needs of the
service.
Membership of the NHS Superannuation Scheme is not
compulsory but is open to all staff between the ages of 16
and 70 (65 in some instances).
The contributions paid are a percentage of superannuable
pay, which is essentially basic pay excluding, for example,
overtime or travelling expenses.
Contribution rates with effect from 01.04.13 are as follows:
Annual Pensionable Pay
(Full-time equivalent)
Up to £15,278
£15,279 to £21,175
£21,176 to £26,557
£26,558 to £48,982
£48,983 to £69,931
£69,932 to £110,273
£110,274 and over
Annual Leave
Contribution
5%
5.3%
6.8%
9.0%
11.3%
12.3%
13.3%
Contributions are subject to tax relief and reduced National
Insurance contributions. NHS Tayside also makes a
substantial contribution towards scheme benefits – currently
around 14% of basic pay.
On appointment = 27 days (pro rata for part-time Staff) or
5.4 weeks per year.
After 5 years aggregated service = 29 days (pro rata for
part-time staff) or 5.8 weeks per year
After 10 years aggregated service = 33 days (pro rata for
part-time staff) or 6.6 weeks per year
References
Occupational Health
Clearance
Rehabilitation of
Offenders Act 1974
(Exclusions and
Exceptions) (Scotland)
Order 2003
Disclosure Scotland
Immigration, Asylum
and Nationality Act
2006
Public Holidays = 8 days (pro rata for part-time staff) or 1.6
weeks per year
All offers of appointment are subject to receipt of two
satisfactory references
All offers of appointment to new entrants to the
National Health Service are subject to a medical
examination. Medical examinations are arranged and
undertaken by the Occupational Health and Safety
Advisory Service (OHSAS).
All current or spent criminal convictions, cautions, warnings
or any case pending must be disclosed prior to
commencing in employment as detailed on the application
form.
Please note that having a conviction will not automatically
debar you from obtaining employment with NHS Tayside.
Careful consideration will be given to the relevance of the
offence to the particular post in question. However, if you
are appointed, and it is found that you did not reveal a
previous conviction your employment may be terminated.
The successful applicant will be required to become a
member of the Protecting Vulnerable Groups Scheme
(PVG) in respect of regulated work with protected adults
and regulated work with children.
It is a criminal offence for an employer to
employ anyone who
does not have permission to live or work in the
UK.
Shortlisted applicants will be asked to produce specific
original documentation at interview e.g. Passport, or full
birth certificate together with an official document giving the
applicants permanent National Insurance Number and
name issued by a Government Agency or a previous
employer, as well as photocopies of these documents.
Professional Registration/New entrants to NHS Tayside will be required to achieve
Induction Standards & Code
the mandatory Induction Standards for Healthcare Support
of Conduct
Smoking Policy
Applications
Workers (HCSWs) in Scotland and comply with the Code of
Conduct for HCSWs throughout your employment.
Internal candidates will be required to comply with the Code
of Conduct for HCSWs
Smoking is prohibited within NHS premises and grounds.
Completed forms should be returned to:
recruitment.tayside@nhs.net quoting the job reference in the
subject line
or to Human Resources Directorate, NHS Tayside, Level 9,
Ninewells Hospital, Dundee DD1 9
By Closing date of : Wednesday 9th April 2014