• Job Description

  Req#: C9220-25-0342?language=en&page=447&sort=publicationDateDesc

  Job summary

  Health Care Assistant - BAND 3

  Contract - 12 months Fixed Term - 5 days per week/ Term time ONLY

  Islington Additional Needs and Disability Team (IANDS) is a multidisciplinary service for children and young people 0-19.We are seeking Band 3 Health Care Assistant to join our supportive team. The successful applicant will work across special schools in Islington: Richard Cloudesley school, Samuel Rhodes school and Bridge Academy. All three schools have been rated outstanding, and support children and young people with a variety of needs, including physical disabilities, learning difficulties and autistic spectrum conditions. This is an excellent opportunity for those wishing to gain experience in the healthcare field.

  Your primary role will be assisting the school nursing team in the effective delivery of individualised support and care for children attending schools. Clinical responsibilities may include daily feeds via special feeding tubes (Nasogastric and Gastrostomy), giving medication and supporting with health care plans, including epilepsy plans. You may assist with suctioning, tracheostomy care, and other relevant health care activities. You will support children with their health care plans under supervision from a school nurse.

  You will work alongside a team of experienced health care assistants, and full training and support will be provided by a School Nurse.

  Main duties of the job

  The Health Care Assistant/ Administrator will work as a member of the Special Needs School Nursing Team and will be responsible for assisting in the effective delivery of individualised support and care to children attending Special Schools in Islington. She/ he will undertake clerical and clinical duties as directed to provide a health service to children and young people.

  The post holder will be based between Samuel Rhodes Primary and Secondary school, Richard Cloudesley Primary and Secondary schools. and Bridge Academy Primary and Secondary schools. A key part of the role is providing direct clinical support to children with their daily health care needs including administering gastrostomy feeds and medications. They will also be responsible for assisting the school Nurse with co-ordination of clinics, whole school input and training, liaison with other agencies and supporting children with their health care plans. They may assist other teams or departments within the service with their administrative tasks. They will receive regular supervision from the school nurse and participate in in-service training and team meetings.

  The primary focus of the role will be supporting the health needs of the children.

  About us

  Whittington Health serves a richly diverse population and works hard to ensure that all our services are fair and equally accessible to everyone. Nowhere is this more obvious than in the way we look after our staff. We aim to employ a workforce which is as representative as possible of this population, so we are open to the value of differences in age, disability, gender, marital status, pregnancy and maternity, race, sexual orientation, and religion or belief. The Trust believes that as a public sector organisation we have an obligation to have recruitment, training, promotion and other formal employment policies and procedures that are sensitive to these differences. We think that by doing so, we are better able to treat our patients as well as being a better place to work.

  Details

  Date posted

  30 May 2025

  Pay scheme

  Agenda for change

  Band

  Band 3

  Salary

  £30,039 to £31,088 a year Pro rata, per annum, inclusive of HCAS (pro rata)

  Contract

  Fixed term

  Duration

  12 months

  Working pattern

  Term time hours

  Reference number

  220-WHT-3105

  Job locations

  Richard cloudesley Primary & secondary school

  101 Whitecross Street

  London

  EC1Y 8JA

  
  

  Job description

  Job responsibilities

  Role Responsibility:

  To be a member of the Special School multi-agency team and share information with team members as directed and appropriate, keeping confidentiality at all times.

  To maintain accurate school records through accessing the electronic notes system (currently Rio), filing and organisation in accordance with Whittington Health guidelines.

  Ensure that up-to-date written and electronic records are maintained in accordance with Trust standards with guidance from supervisor.

  Respect the individuality, values, cultural and religious diversity of children and their families, and contribute to the provision of a service sensitive to these needs.

  Assist team members with liaising with other agencies involved in the childs care including: education, Social Services, Voluntary Services

  Form professional relationships with children, families and children centre staff and communicate with them in a way that respects their views, autonomy and culture.

  To use a variety of verbal and non-verbal communication skills and tools to communicate with children who are non verbal, of a non English speaking background, requiring an interpreter, with a hearing impairment, with altered emotional states, with a cognitive/learning/behavioural disability.

  Liaise with other agencies involved in the childs care, including relatives and carers, as appropriate to the childs needs, as directed by team members

  Report effectively any issues or concerns to supervisor/line manager

  Demonstrate effective communication over the telephone to parents/carers and external agencies (especially teachers and teaching assistants).

  To support the School Nurse/ Senior Practitioner in planning programmes of care for identified children.

  To provide and assist the care of children with special needs such as administration of medication, feeding, and health promotion across all school sites.

  Clinical Responsibility:

  To arrange appointments with parents/carer (school medicals, Dietician/ Professionals meetings).

  Administer nursing care and undertake health care activity when trained and assessed as competent by the school nurse. This may include feeding children via gastrostomy, following epilepsy care plan procedures, administering medications, suctioning, and other relevant health care activities.

  To provide cover, once trained, to other HCAs supporting individual students at the school with health care tasks including suctioning, tracheostomy care, medication management or other health care plans.

  To undertake screening procedures such as vision, hearing, growth, to include percentile calculations. To identify and refer any concerns arising from the screening or highlighted by the parent/ child/ school staff, to the school nurse.

  To assist in the planning and implementation of immunisation sessions within the school setting.

  To assist in completing risk assessment of environment and safety under the guidance of senior team members following local and Trust policies

  Leadership and Staff Management Responsibility

  Review and reflect own practice, workload, and performance through effective use of regular professional and operational supervision and appraisal

  To meet regularly with the school nurse to plan work to be undertaken and to receive feedback. The school nurse will delegate specific roles and responsibilities to this staff member when trained and assessed as competent by the school nurse.

  Adhere to the Trusts Policies and Procedures including having basic understanding of Moving and Handling Legislation, Infection Control, Clinical Supervision and Child Protection, referring any concerns to the school nurse or Team Leader.

  Administrative Duties

  To keep up to date records on clients following Service Policy.

  To attend relevant staff and service meetings.

  To provide cover for administrative duties such as answering the telephone, photocopying and filing when requested.

  Financial Responsibility

  Highlight stock issues to team members

  Service Development and Improvement

  Implements the Policies and Procedures that have been determined by Islington Additional Needs & Disability Service

  To highlight service provision problems to line manager in order to identify unmet needs and gaps in service provision

  To undertake surveys or audits as directed by supervisor/line manager

  Ensure that work areas are well maintained are comply with Health and Safety Guidelines, ensuring the safe use of equipment, cleaning and storage of materials

  Communication

  To support children and families to promote achievement of goals with close guidance and support

  To regularly work with children and adolescents with complex emotional, social and behavioural difficulties.

  To identify and report concerns regarding Safeguarding

  To be able to complete required work load within time frames and deadlines set by line manager/supervisor, which may be stressful at times

  To deal sensitively with clients and their carers who may be distressed.

  Physical Working Conditions and Environment

  Assists with transfers of children occasionally using equipment such as hoists and wheelchairs

  Light to moderate effort for several short periods during the day requiring use of lifting equipment e.g. hoists and transfer manoeuvres

  Knowledge, Training and Education

  To take part in a structured induction programme, aimed at identifying learning needs

  Demonstrate a basic level of understanding of the effects of medical conditions on functioning

  Have a basic understanding of the Moving and Handling Legislation and apply manual handling principles in best practice

  To participate in a designated aspect of induction training and education of students, work experience and other relevant staff.

  Attend all mandatory training set by the trust and the department

  To demonstrate ongoing personal development through participation in internal and available development opportunities, recording learning outcomes in a portfolio (CPD)

  To ensure that mandatory training is kept current and up-to-date

  Undertake relevant activities to meet training objectives identified with supervisor

  Job description

  Job responsibilities

  Role Responsibility:

  To be a member of the Special School multi-agency team and share information with team members as directed and appropriate, keeping confidentiality at all times.

  To maintain accurate school records through accessing the electronic notes system (currently Rio), filing and organisation in accordance with Whittington Health guidelines.

  Ensure that up-to-date written and electronic records are maintained in accordance with Trust standards with guidance from supervisor.

  Respect the individuality, values, cultural and religious diversity of children and their families, and contribute to the provision of a service sensitive to these needs.

  Assist team members with liaising with other agencies involved in the childs care including: education, Social Services, Voluntary Services

  Form professional relationships with children, families and children centre staff and communicate with them in a way that respects their views, autonomy and culture.

  To use a variety of verbal and non-verbal communication skills and tools to communicate with children who are non verbal, of a non English speaking background, requiring an interpreter, with a hearing impairment, with altered emotional states, with a cognitive/learning/behavioural disability.

  Liaise with other agencies involved in the childs care, including relatives and carers, as appropriate to the childs needs, as directed by team members

  Report effectively any issues or concerns to supervisor/line manager

  Demonstrate effective communication over the telephone to parents/carers and external agencies (especially teachers and teaching assistants).

  To support the School Nurse/ Senior Practitioner in planning programmes of care for identified children.

  To provide and assist the care of children with special needs such as administration of medication, feeding, and health promotion across all school sites.

  Clinical Responsibility:

  To arrange appointments with parents/carer (school medicals, Dietician/ Professionals meetings).

  Administer nursing care and undertake health care activity when trained and assessed as competent by the school nurse. This may include feeding children via gastrostomy, following epilepsy care plan procedures, administering medications, suctioning, and other relevant health care activities.

  To provide cover, once trained, to other HCAs supporting individual students at the school with health care tasks including suctioning, tracheostomy care, medication management or other health care plans.

  To undertake screening procedures such as vision, hearing, growth, to include percentile calculations. To identify and refer any concerns arising from the screening or highlighted by the parent/ child/ school staff, to the school nurse.

  To assist in the planning and implementation of immunisation sessions within the school setting.

  To assist in completing risk assessment of environment and safety under the guidance of senior team members following local and Trust policies

  Leadership and Staff Management Responsibility

  Review and reflect own practice, workload, and performance through effective use of regular professional and operational supervision and appraisal

  To meet regularly with the school nurse to plan work to be undertaken and to receive feedback. The school nurse will delegate specific roles and responsibilities to this staff member when trained and assessed as competent by the school nurse.

  Adhere to the Trusts Policies and Procedures including having basic understanding of Moving and Handling Legislation, Infection Control, Clinical Supervision and Child Protection, referring any concerns to the school nurse or Team Leader.

  Administrative Duties

  To keep up to date records on clients following Service Policy.

  To attend relevant staff and service meetings.

  To provide cover for administrative duties such as answering the telephone, photocopying and filing when requested.

  Financial Responsibility

  Highlight stock issues to team members

  Service Development and Improvement

  Implements the Policies and Procedures that have been determined by Islington Additional Needs & Disability Service

  To highlight service provision problems to line manager in order to identify unmet needs and gaps in service provision

  To undertake surveys or audits as directed by supervisor/line manager

  Ensure that work areas are well maintained are comply with Health and Safety Guidelines, ensuring the safe use of equipment, cleaning and storage of materials

  Communication

  To support children and families to promote achievement of goals with close guidance and support

  To regularly work with children and adolescents with complex emotional, social and behavioural difficulties.

  To identify and report concerns regarding Safeguarding

  To be able to complete required work load within time frames and deadlines set by line manager/supervisor, which may be stressful at times

  To deal sensitively with clients and their carers who may be distressed.

  Physical Working Conditions and Environment

  Assists with transfers of children occasionally using equipment such as hoists and wheelchairs

  Light to moderate effort for several short periods during the day requiring use of lifting equipment e.g. hoists and transfer manoeuvres

  Knowledge, Training and Education

  To take part in a structured induction programme, aimed at identifying learning needs

  Demonstrate a basic level of understanding of the effects of medical conditions on functioning

  Have a basic understanding of the Moving and Handling Legislation and apply manual handling principles in best practice

  To participate in a designated aspect of induction training and education of students, work experience and other relevant staff.

  Attend all mandatory training set by the trust and the department

  To demonstrate ongoing personal development through participation in internal and available development opportunities, recording learning outcomes in a portfolio (CPD)

  To ensure that mandatory training is kept current and up-to-date

  Undertake relevant activities to meet training objectives identified with supervisor

  Person Specification

  Qualifications

  Desirable

  • Relevant short courses (e.g. Moving and Handling Training/ child development/ health care related)
  • NVQ Health Care Assistant/ Childcare or Equivalent

  skills and abilities

  Essential

  • Positive interest in working with children with disabilities and their families
  • Good organisational and prioritisation skills
  • Flexible enough to cope with varied demands of the job
  • Shows initiative
  • Good communication skills (written and verbal) and negotiation skill

  Desirable

  • Experience working with children with physical or learning difficulties

  knowledge & Experience

  Essential

  • Awareness of role of school nurse

  Desirable

  • Experience working in a school setting

  Person Specification

  Qualifications

  Desirable

  • Relevant short courses (e.g. Moving and Handling Training/ child development/ health care related)
  • NVQ Health Care Assistant/ Childcare or Equivalent

  skills and abilities

  Essential

  • Positive interest in working with children with disabilities and their families
  • Good organisational and prioritisation skills
  • Flexible enough to cope with varied demands of the job
  • Shows initiative
  • Good communication skills (written and verbal) and negotiation skill

  Desirable

  • Experience working with children with physical or learning difficulties

  knowledge & Experience

  Essential

  • Awareness of role of school nurse

  Desirable

  • Experience working in a school setting

  Disclosure and Barring Service Check

  This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.

  Employer details

  Employer name

  Whittington Hospital NHS Trust

  Address

  Richard cloudesley Primary & secondary school

  101 Whitecross Street

  London

  EC1Y 8JA

  
  

  Employer's website

  https://www.whittington.nhs.uk/ (Opens in a new tab)

  Employer details

  Employer name

  Whittington Hospital NHS Trust

  Address

  Richard cloudesley Primary & secondary school

  101 Whitecross Street

  London

  EC1Y 8JA

  
  

  Employer's website

  https://www.whittington.nhs.uk/ (Opens in a new tab)

• About the company

  National Health Service (NHS) is the umbrella term for the publicly-funded healthcare systems of the United Kingdom (UK). The founding principles were that services should be comprehensive, universal and free at the point of delivery—a health service based on clinical need, not ability to pay. Each service provides a comprehensive range of health services, free at the point of use for people ordinarily resident in the United Kingdom apart from dental treatment and optical care.

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