POSITION DESCRIPTION POSITION TITLE
Patient Services Assistant, Ward 10
REPORTS TO
Operational: Nurse Unit Manager Professional: Deputy Director, Nursing
AWARD/AGREEMENT/CONTRACT
Health and Allied Services
POSITION TYPE e.g. Registered Nurse Div 1,
Patient Service Assistant
HOURS PER WEEK
As per contract
1.
ORGANISATIONAL CONTEXT
Austin Health is one of Victoria’s largest health care providers. Comprised of Austin Hospital, Heidelberg Repatriation Hospital and Royal Talbot Rehabilitation Centre, Austin Health is a major teaching and research centre with numerous university and research institute affiliations. Catering to diverse multicultural and veteran communities, Austin Health delivers vital statewide services to Victorians and a vast array of specialty services to the people of Melbourne’s north-eastern corridor in a safety-focussed, team-orientated and stimulating work environment. The new 400 bed Austin Hospital Tower opened mid 2005 and further redevelopment is underway. Austin Health Values The Austin Health values play a critical role in shaping how we operate as an organisation. They influence our performance planning, recruitment, training and development, and relationships with colleagues, work mates, our patients and their relatives and friends. The Austin Health values set standard that we expect all staff to live up to in the way they undertake their duties and responsibilities across the Hospital. Our Values: • • • •
Integrity We work in the spirit of collaboration and honesty to build effective working relationships across the whole organisation. Accountability We are transparent, responsible and build trust by fulfilling promises and communicating effectively. Respect We care about others and treat each other with consideration, equality and fairness. Excellence We continually strive to advance patient focused care through innovation, research and effective stakeholder management.
Revised October 2008
2.
LOCAL WORK ENVIRONMENT
(Role of the department including any special
features of the workplace and relationships) Located on the Repatriation Campus, ward 10 will be a newly refurbished 24 bed ward when it opens in August 2009. It has been designed specifically to care for patients still requiring low level acute care prior to their transfer to rehabilitation, residential care or their home. This new ward provides a unique and rare opportunity for staff to be part of a dynamic and innovative team that provides high quality care. 3.
POSITION OBJECTIVE (Primary purpose and key performance objective) •
Perform the duties of this position efficiently to the standards of the department, including participating in the Austin Health performance appraisal program.
•
Patient Service Assistants as part of the team, will assist in the delivery of patient care services through the competent provision of defined services.
4.
POSITION REQUIREMENTS (Main duties and other specific requirements, activity and end result/outcome, regularly performed)
Position specific 1.
Ensure confidentiality by undertaking not to reveal to any person or entity any confidential information relating to patients and employees, policies, processes and dealings including making public statements relating to the affairs of Austin Health without prior authority of the Chief Executive Officer.
2.
The role of the PSA involves the performance of a wide range of tasks, which include those set out below. Due to the different service needs of wards and departments the range and types of tasks may vary from area to area.
3.
Food Services: •
Serving of patient meals and beverages
•
Changing of water jugs
•
Collection of meal trays
•
Maintenance of pantry areas
•
Cleaning of food areas
Revised October 2008
4.
Cleaning Routine and periodical cleaning tasks include: •
Waste collection
•
Cleaning rooms such as bathrooms, showers, utility rooms and offices
•
Vacuuming carpets
•
Dusting, both damp and dry
•
Interior window cleaning
•
Cleaning patient lockers, overbed and bedside tables
•
Mopping and buffing floors
•
Disinfecting beds and discharge cleaning
•
Cleaning / changing bed screens and rails
•
Cleaning the pan rooms including pan trolley, buckets, pans, bowls, suction bottles and tubing.
•
Wash rinsing of CSSD trays.
•
Cleaning of commodes, wheelchairs and seats (other than actual rinsing after use, which remains the responsibility of nursing staff)
5.
•
Cleaning of IV poles.
•
Cleaning of patient transport and conduct equipment safety checks
•
Removal of soiled linen and infectious waste
Patient Movement •
Under the supervision of nursing staff, assist with patient movement and handling in accordance with the “no lift” system
6.
•
Transportation of patients according to the relevant protocol
•
Transport of deceased patients
General •
Perform duties as assigned under emergency response procedures
•
Restocking of imprest supplies and stock distribution
•
Delivery or reception of urgent messages
•
Directing ward visitors to the nurse in charge
•
Such other duties as are directed by the nurse in charge of the shift and which are relevant to the role of a PSA.
Revised October 2008
7.
General Procedural Information •
In line with the patient care objective, PSA staff are encouraged to adopt a team approach and assist each other in the performance of daily tasks.
•
To ensure the highest standard of service, PSA staff will actively participate in training programs.
•
Safety is the responsibility of all staff and safety hazards are to be reported to the appropriate staff. PSA staff should also ensure that their work practises do not place people at risk.
•
No private information, whether it be medical condition or otherwise, is to be divulged to the patient or any other person. Medical records and other documents remain confidential.
•
PSA’s should observe manual handling and infection control regulations in regard to all tasks.
Generic •
Abide by Austin Health corporate policies and practices as varied from time to time.
•
Participate in the emergency incident response activities, as defined within the Emergency Response Manual, as and when required, at the direction of management.
5.
KEY SELECTION CRITERIA (Key skills, qualifications, knowledge and behavioural
attributes, together with physical requirements, necessary for performance of the role) Essential for Performance of the Position •
A commitment to Austin Health values: Integrity, Accountability, Respect & Excellence.
•
PSA Certificate – Certificate III in Health (Patient Services)
•
Willingness to carry out all PSA duties and tasks and work in a team
•
Ability to use initiative and to prioritise tasks and problem solve
•
Physically capable of undertaking the full range of PSA duties
•
Basic verbal and written English skills
•
Patient / customer focused approach to care delivery
•
Open, flexible & innovative
•
Commitment to quality, best practice and environmental safety
Desirable but not essential for Performance of the Position •
Knowledge of legal and ethical requirements
•
Willingness to assist as requested in other wards/units
•
Commitment to assist with orientation of new staff
Revised October 2008
6.
OTHER RELEVANT INFORMATION
(Other information to be made known to
persons interested in appointment to this position) Pre-Existing Injury Prior to any person being appointed to this position it will be required that they disclose full details of any pre-existing injuries or disease that might be affected by employment in this position. 7.
DOCUMENT REVIEW DETAILS
Date Position First Documented (if known):
____/____/____
Date of this Position Description Review:
____/____/____
Signature of Manager:
Date: ____/____/____
Signature of Employee:
Date: ____/____/____
Austin Health promotes a healthy work environment and is progressively moving toward achievement of an entirely smoke free environment. Smoking is no longer allowed in any Austin Health building or vehicle or on the grounds of Heidelberg Repatriation Hospital and Royal Talbot Rehabilitation Centre. Whilst smoking is still allowed in designated outdoor areas at Austin Hospital, this site will become totally smoke free on 1 July 2009.
Revised October 2008
