Healthcare Support Worker Review

My role involves looking after patients in the hospital environment. Helping with day to day things such as toileting and bathing. Also getting them out of bed for some movement. I also help with the breakfast or lunch runs and helping patient. Where I work I help doctors to apply splints and take of back slabs from broken bones.

I have learnt how to wash and care for patients. Helping the patients with whatever needs they have. This can include getting them out of the bed into the chair. I have also learnt how to look for sore areas and how to treat them. I have also learnt how to apply splints and take off back slabs.

I have enjoyed learning new things and working on a different ward to gain the experience. I have also liked making new friends from meeting them at the study days to talk about our different experiences. This has helped my knowledge as I have work on an out patients ward.

I have found that the organisation of the program has not been set out very well. It was first over team which was a struggle for some people as they didnt have the technology or the internet capacity. It was also hard to learn the lay out of the ONEFILE. Having to accept a task to then do it to then upload it. I was unable to carry on whilst on maternity leave. I think this had an impacted on how long I was doing the course.

I have received a lot of support from my employer such as letting me research in work time sometimes and also letting me up onto the ward to learn new bit. She has also given me time to the study days. She has supported me coming back into work after time off due to maternity.

I have received support from the trainer provider but it would be much better if it was done at the hospital rather than travelling half an hour to be there the day. It is not very helpful if you are not from the area. She has supported me by giving me extra information that is needed.

The training has helped me perform better in my role as it has given me more information on how to do things and what support I can get. It has also helped me understand different legislations to help with the work and who can help. The training has also helped with confidence within the role.

The are not many extra curricular activities as a whole but my department does a day where we can all gather and have fun as well as learn something new. This is very helpful to get to know new people and new consultant that come in. They do social events within the department such as lunches where everyone bring food in for special events. We get accessories for this aswell.

Yes

There is a lot of training to help you. There is also a lot of opportunities to grown into different roles within the hospital. There is also relevant workshops you can attend to expand your knowledge. There is many opportunities to make new friends who are in the same knowledge area and people who can help you as well.

My advice to others applying for the NHS is to never doubt yourself and go for opportunities when they come. Don't think you are not good enough as you can learn new things and expand your knowledge. You don't have to do one job that is everything you know. You can also get help and learn.