Staff Nurse (COVID-19 drive-through swab service) - COVID-19 in Reading

The Royal Berkshire Foundation Trust is pleased to announce that following our recent CQC inspection we have maintained our rating of ‘Good’. The CQC reported a strong patient-centred culture with a staff committed to keeping their patients safe and encouraging them to be independent. In return patients and relatives spoke highly of the staff and how they were informed of treatment plans, and how these would affect them.

This is a great opportunity to join our clinical or non-clinical teams to create a positive and motivating environment within our trust. Come and join our team in this exciting time of change as we pride ourselves, our staff and our services on excellence.

At the Royal Berkshire NHS Foundation Trust we put our patients at the heart of every element of health and care that we provide. The Trust works together as a community to deliver its vision which is “Working together to provide outstanding care for our community.”

We are Compassionate in our thoughts, words and actions

We are Aspirational and have a true desire to be dynamic and to innovate

We are Resourceful and responsible in the way we work and live

We are Excellent in our development, fairness and sharing best practice

Amazing things happen at the Royal Berkshire NHS Foundation Trust; delivered by amazing people……why don’t you come and join us…….

Band 5 Staff Nurse (COVID-19 drive-through swab service) - Full Time / Part Time

PLEASE NOTE: These posts are fixed-term for 6 months (with a possibility to extend).

The COVID-19 pandemic affects all our communities, now is the time for us to come together to truly make a difference.

To increase testing for COVID-19, the Trust has significantly expanded its swabbing capacity and staffing. As a result, there has been a COVID-19 drive through swab service installed at the RBH, providing essential swabbing for patients about to undergo surgical procedures, 72 hours prior to their appointment.

The centre is equipped with shelter and security protection and established with the strictest safety measures in place to protect both staff and patients. The team swab up to 250 patients each day, 6 days a week, maintaining an efficient and professional service that we are proud of.

The post holder will understand the swab process and be responsible for the supervision of the swabbing staff, as well as administration, liaison and effective communication between the drive-through service and the associated service providers.

We are currently recruiting staff to join the team and help us achieve our targets.

Job Purpose:

To carry out clerical duties in all aspects of the Covid-19 Swabbing Service at the Royal Berkshire NHS Foundation Trust, giving support to patients using the service, maintaining an effective customer focused service. You will positively contribute to the development of a rapidly transforming service.

Key Result Areas:

• Allocating daily work for the team.
• Supporting and teaching junior members of staff.
• Check daily appointment list is up to date and accurate adding additional urgent patients if needed.
• Be aware of the importance of needing to swab on a specific date, particularly in relation to all patients having surgery or admissions into the hospital and the impact cancelling/not attending has as a result for the patient.
• Demonstrate an understanding of infection control issues including attendance at mandatory training; an understanding of policy and procedure and accept responsibility for their own infection control practice and a willingness to challenge others’ practice.
• To work as part of the team to deliver direct and indirect patient care, working under the direction of a registered member of staff.
• Ensure that all swabs are collected using the correct process outlined in the Standard Operating Procedure document, maintaining safety of patient and staff at all times.
• Ensure that all swabs are accurately labelled and bagged and taken to pathology drop-off point in a timely way.
• Observe the guidelines for wearing PPE at all times as appropriate.

Communication:

• Contact patients to attend appointments at short notice should they need to be re-swabbed.
• Deal with queries, escalating where appropriate, liaises with the booking teams/managers in relation to appointment queries or slot capacity issues.
• Liaise with colleagues, notifying them of patient’s cancellations on the day.
• Ensure effective and polite communication with the laboratory staff regarding processing of swabs and results.

Clerical Duties:

• Ensure that the correct patient details are obtained if necessary.
• Checking swab results over the weekend for patients attending on Monday. Process results as per local procedure and action as required.
• Ensure that the swabbing trolleys are well stocked with PPE and all equipment needed for swabbing.
• Ensure information is passed onto colleagues efficiently.
• Report any defects in equipment or environment to the relevant department.
• Participate in audits as required.

General Items:

• To provide short-term cover for colleagues during periods of leave.
• To ensure that all Trust standards are maintained and monitored to improve the quality of care to all whom come into contact with services provided by Royal Berkshire NHS Foundation Trust.

The Tent is open from 7.45am – 6pm Mon-Weds, Friday-Sunday, therefore, successful candidates need to be able to work on a shift pattern.

In return you will be offered:

• Full time employment, 37.5 hours per week to start ASAP (part -time options are available).
• Secure environment of a 6 month fixed-term contract, with the potential for FTC to be extended.
• Additional benefit of working with the NHS.
• Be part of an essential, hardworking and rewarding service.
• Sense of pride that you are supporting the nation and NHS in the fight against COVID.