Lancashire Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust logo

Endoscopy Decontamination Health Care Assistant

Lancashire Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
Full-time
On-site
Preston, Lancashire, United Kingdom

Job overview

Are you an enthusiastic and motivated individual looking for a decontamination role?

If so, we welcome you to join our friendly Endoscopy team! 

Our speciality makes us exciting, ambitious and forward-thinking and we are looking for a committed, enthusiastic, motivated and resilient Health Care Assistant to join our decontamination team.

This exciting opportunity will allow you to work as part of our dedicated, hardworking and friendly decontamination team in one of our two JAG accredited Endoscopy units within the Trust.  Although you will initially be based at the Royal Preston Hospital, you will be expected to provide cross site cover at Chorley District Hospital Endoscopy unit when needed.

Previous Endoscopy decontamination experience would be desirable; however, this is not essential as support and extensive training will be given to an excellent standard.

This is not a predominantly patient facing role so if you can work well and have attention for detail, this could be the post for you.

Advert

The Health Care Assistant's main responsibility is the decontamination of endoscopes.

They will demonstrate excellent problem solving skills as the role can be physically demanding as we strive to deliver a service with excellent standards. This is a fast paced environment with a highly skilled team who have a commitment to quality in delivery.

Across both units, we carry out a range of diagnostic and therapeutic endoscopic procedures to both outpatients and inpatients.

Procedures at Royal Preston Hospital include:

  • GI procedures including; OGD/Colonoscopy/Flexible sigmoidoscopy/Endoscopic Mucosal Resection (EMR)/Endoscopic Retrograde Cholangiopancreatography (ERCP)/Endoscopic Ultrasound (EUS) .
  • We work with the National Bowel Cancer Screening Programme (BCSP) as part of the team in the north-west.
  • Diagnostic bronchoscopies.
  • GI Emergency Bleed rota.
  • Diagnostic and therapeutic bronchoscopy including: Endobronchial Ultrasound/Trans Bronchial Needle Aspiration (EBUS/TBNA)/Endobronchial Valves and coils and stents/Thoracoscopy/Indwelling Pleural catheter (IPC) placement/Nasal-endoscopy for Induced Laryngeal Obstruction (ILO).

Procedures at Chorley District Hospital include:

  • GI procedures including; OGD/Colonoscopy/Flexible sigmoidoscopy/Endoscopic Mucosal Resection (EMR)/Endoscopic Retrograde Cholangiopancreatography (ERCP)/Breath Tests.
  • Diagnostic bronchoscopies.
  • We work with the National Bowel Cancer Screening Programme (BCSP) as part of the team in the north-west.

Working for our organisation

We have 10,000 fantastic people working hard to deliver quality services to our patients.  Whatever your role, you help look after 370,000 people in our local area & give specialist care to 1.5 million people across Lancashire & Cumbria.

Working with us gives you the knowledge and sense of pride that every activity you do genuinely does make a difference to support our patients & staff, ensuring we keep thriving & delivering outstanding healthcare right across our local towns.

You’ll have access to varied development opportunities, learn new skills, meet fab people & do things you’d never have done.  You’ll learn about working in a hospital, interacting with people from all different roles to build skills & enhance your career path. 

You’ll make an impact, be challenged to think differently, be bold & help innovate to keep improving things. Everything we do centres around patient care which means your role is pivotal and something really to be proud of.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

Duties to include but not limited to:

  • Provide good quality personalised care in accordance with agreed local and national standards. 
  • Assist the endoscopist to take specimens during endoscopy procedures.
  • Undertake decontamination duties relevant to clinical area following achievement of appropriate competences.
  • Undertake clinical duties relevant to clinical area following achievement of competencies. 
  • Assist to maintain patient safety, conforming to health, safety and security legislation, policies, procedures and guidelines. 
  • Assist in maintaining standards of care to improve the patient experience and outcome of care. 
  • Promote equality in care and practice by recognising, respecting and meeting the needs and choices of individuals. 
  • Contribute to maintaining safe, clean, and productive care environment, compliant with standards for hygiene and cleanliness. 
  • Maintain and develop own competence 
  • Actively try to resolve issues and complaints at local level and then report the outcome to line manager. 
  • Extended duties include: monitoring patient observations, moving and handling, patient positioning, maintaining a safe and clean environment,  observing patients for changes in condition, removal of cannulas, under the guidance and supervision of the nurse in charge. 

Thanks for taking the time to view this advert; we’re looking forward to receiving your application.  You should be aware that the vacancy may close earlier than the published date if sufficient applications are received so it would be best to apply as soon as you can.  We’ll contact you by e-mail to update you on the progress of your application so please check the e-mail account that you applied from (including spam/junk) regularly. 

We are committed to promoting equality of opportunity, celebrating and valuing diversity and eliminating any form of unlawful discrimination across our workforce, ensuring our people are truly representative of the communities we serve.  All individuals regardless of race, age, disability, ethnicity, nationality, gender, gender reassignment, sexual orientation, religion or belief, marriage and civil partnership, neurodiversity or veteran status are encouraged to apply for this post.  Our Statement on the Recruitment of Ex-Offenders is available Here

To support you in your application process we’ve created a What we can offer you guide that shows what you can expect when you join our hospitals. The guide includes links to our strategic aims and objectives as well as our values, development support and rewards and benefits.  To help you get the best from your application we’ve also put together two guides to help you make your application the best it can be.  Just click here and here to go through them, or have them open as you complete your application.

We recognise that the recruitment process may present barriers for some and you may need personal adjustments to enable you to participate in our recruitment process.  Please make contact with the recruitment team at the earliest opportunity to ensure that measures can be put in place to enable your application for this post.  

Use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) when writing job applications

If you choose to use AI or other tools to assist in writing your application, it's essential to personalise this information, particularly your supporting information section. While AI can help streamline the writing process, these tools cannot fully grasp the context or requirements of the job you’re applying for. There is also a risk that it can generate false or misleading information. 
 
AI-generated job applications can often be generic, impersonal and may not accurately reflect your qualifications, knowledge, skills, and experiences. It is crucial that you personalise your supporting statement by articulating these in your unique voice. Relying solely on AI to write your application or supporting information section is not advocated by Lancashire Teaching Hospitals and could negatively impact your chances of success in the application process. 

We have added a disclaimer to our application process advising that the use of AI is monitored and if applicants have used it then they are required to declare this. 

Supporting Information

The supporting information section is an opportunity for you to showcase how your qualifications, knowledge, skill and experiences align with the requirements and criteria outlined in the job description and person.
 
Our recruiting managers score applications based on the criteria listed in the person specification. They will be looking for evidence of how you meet these criteria. To increase your chances of securing an interview, provide examples of how you have applied your skills and knowledge in real-life situations. Share work-related successes and challenges you’ve navigated that align with the criteria.  These could be from various aspects of your life, including work, education, and personal experiences.
 
Consider structuring your supporting information section with clear headings or bullet points. This approach will help both you and the recruiting manager navigate through your application more effectively.

Working Smarter pledge

We are reminded everyday of how important life is, so as part of our Working Smarter pledge we offer a variety of flexible working options and wellbeing support to enable our people to find and maintain the right work-life balance.

Secondments

If you are applying for a secondment role please ensure you have agreement from your current line manager prior to attending an interview. Also please ensure you have read the LTHTR Secondment Policy. A copy of this can be found on the intranet or by contacting [email protected]

Young People

Please note a young person must be in part-time education or training until they’re 18. therefore if you are under 18 we are unable to employ you on a full time basis, unless it is in an apprenticeship role.

Disclosure and Barring Service checks

If the role you’ve applied for requires a Disclosure and Barring Services (DBS) check we will administer this on your behalf and the cost will be recovered from your salary, either as a one-off payment, or over 3 months. The level of check required depends on the role that you have been offered. Currently the charges are - Basic DBS check £26.40 Standard DBS check £26.40 and Enhanced DBS check £54.40.  You should be aware that if you are successful in obtaining a position that requires a DBS check but later withdraw your application, you may be required to reimburse the cost of the DBS check.  DBS checks remain free of charge for volunteer positions. The DBS Code of Practice can be accessed here.

In line with guidance from United Kingdom Health Security Agency, all staff and volunteers are required to comply with Trust Infection Prevention and Control processes in relation to safe working.  This includes mask wearing and adherence to social distancing at all Trust sites. 

NO UNSOLICITED ADVERTISING COMPANY APPROACHES

For more information about the Trust take a look at our Application Guide or visit our website www.lancsteachinghospitals.nhs.uk   You can also keep up to date with us on Facebook, Twitter, Linked In and Instagram.

We look forward to hearing from you soon!