Vascular Assistant

Here at Portsmouth Hospitals University NHS Trust, we are proud to provide expert, compassionate care for our local population. We are ranked as the third in the country for research, embedding education and training across the organisation. Our main hub is the Queen Alexandra Hospital, which is one of the largest hospitals on the south coast employing over 8,700 staff.

Our patients come from all walks of life and so do we. We hire great people from a wide variety of backgrounds because it makes our hospital stronger. If you share our values and our enthusiasm for getting it right for patients, colleagues, and our community, you will find a home at Portsmouth Hospitals University NHS Trust

Band 3: £9,974 - £10,639

Part time hours: 15 hours per week

Permanent contract

An exciting opportunity has arisen for a Vascular Assistant to join our small but dedicated team within the Vascular Assessment Unit at Portsmouth Hospitals University NHS Trust. This is a part-time (15 hours per week) permanent position, working on Thursdays and Fridays.

Clinical Practice

• As the Vascular Unit Assistant, support the Vascular Scientists and Vascular Nurse Specialist in 3 diagnostic clinical rooms where diagnosis of various blood flow abnormalities is carried out, both in the Unit and occasionally on the wards in addition.
• Work independently in specific areas as directed by the registered practitioners. Organise own day to day tasks, exercising judgement and referring to senior staff for issues outside own scope of practice.
• Ensure all possible steps are taken to safeguard the welfare, safety and security of patients (in- and out-patients), visitors and staff in accordance with Trust policies
• Promote individualised patient care managing the complex nature of specific needs of Vascular and General Medical patients. Maintain personal hygiene and physical comfort of a complex case mix ensuring that privacy and dignity is maintained at all times.
• Work in partnership with patients to respect their rights and choices. Promote dignity, respect, and comfort whilst acknowledging the diverse needs of patients and their relatives during all aspects of care and assessment, in accordance with Trust values and Equality and Diversity Policy.
• Escort patients safely into/out of the examination rooms, positioning patient on examination couch, using Manual Handling procedures according to Portsmouth Hospital Trust policy as appropriate. Confirm patients’ identity and details.
• Explain procedures to patients for follow-up of diagnostic results, occasional requirement to emotionally support patients following receipt of distressing news (e.g. need for amputation)
• Prepare trolleys and ensure cleanliness of all equipment.
• Prepare patients, using initiative, experience and knowledge of the requirements of the many individual test procedures and individual Vascular Scientist techniques.  Assist the Vascular Scientists with patient positioning and test procedures as appropriate.
• Re-apply basic wound dressings if removed for scanning and liaise with ward staff regarding re-dressing.
• As frequently required to work in an environment with highly unpleasant working conditions e.g. bodily fluids, necrotic tissue, gangrene and unpleasant odours, act professionally and with sensitivity.

For additional information see attached Job description

Essential

• NVQ III in care or equivalent

Desirable

• Working with people within a caring setting
• Experience in relevant field – e.g. out-patients, vascular care
• IT skills

Skills and Knowledge

Essential 

• Ability to work as part of a team
• Effective patient/client care skills
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills.
• Numeracy and literacy skills
• Competence in use of Word, Excel

Desirable

• European Computer Driving Licence (ECDL)

Personal Qualities

• Motivation to meet the patients needs for self and others.
• Ability to demonstrate confidentiality and trustworthiness.
• A willingness to be flexible and part of a team.
• Ability to juggle many priorities at one time, whilst remaining calm
• Accurate and critical in recording data

The health and wellbeing of our staff is at the forefront of everything we do. We are proud to be able to offer our staff some fantastic benefits including our on-site Nursery, access to our free Beach Hut for those long summer days, our on-site Wellness Centre including a gym and a swimming pool, access to our fantastic staff networks including LGBTQ, Race Equality and DisAbility, and awards ceremonies to recognise your achievements. We believe we can offer support to all of our staff when they need it the most.

We welcome the unique contributions that you can bring in terms of your education, opinions, culture, ethnicity, race, sex, gender identity and expression, nation of origin, age, languages spoken, veteran’s status, colour, religion, disability, sexual orientation, and beliefs.