General Porter

Principal Duties and Responsibilities

• The person holding this post is required to support the principle that the care of the patient comes first at all times and will approach their work with the flexibility and enthusiasm necessary to make this principle a reality for every patient to the greatest possible degree
• Maintain throughout the Group’s awareness of the primacy of the patient in relation to all hospital activities.
• Have a working Knowledge of the health information and quality Authority (Hiqa) standards as they apply to the role for example, Standards for Healthcare, national Standards for the prevention and control of healthcare Associated infections, Hygiene Standards etc and comply with associated HSE protocols for implementing and maintaining these standards as appropriate to the role.
• Support, promote and actively participate in sustainable energy, water and waste initiatives to create a more sustainable, low carbon and efficient health service.
• Ensure accuracy in Patient Identification.
• Ensure all patients are dealt with in a dignified and professional manner.
• Assist with movement of Patients to all areas within the hospital.
• Assist with moving & handling of patients in all wards and departments as requested.
• Assist with transfer of patients to all departments.
• Collect blood and laboratory specimens and transfer to laboratory.
• Assist with transfer of deceased patients from the wards to the mortuary.
• Keep patients trolleys clean and prepared with clean linen and supplied with oxygen at all times.
• Keep wheelchairs in each ward and department clean and in good repair.
• Perform telephone and reception duties if required.
• Attend for in-service training as required.
• Rotate to 24 hour roster as required.
• Work as part of a team.
• Co-operate and assist with National Audits.
• Ability to prioritise job requests.
• Checking Oxygen (Medical Gases) levels and changing when required.
• To work in Theatre when required.
• Ability to attach and remove Positioning Devices to theatre table. (After training)
• Perform cleaning duties as set out in the cleaning schedule for portering department
• Adhere to the colour coding for cleaning as set out in the National Cleaning Manual
• To perform any other duties that may be assigned appropriate to their work. KPI’s
• The identification and development of Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) which are congruent with the Hospital’s service plan targets.
• The development of Action Plans to address KPI targets.
• In conjunction with line manager assist in the development of a Performance Management system for your profession.
• The management and delivery of KPIs as a routine and core business objective.

PLEASE NOTE THE FOLLOWING GENERAL CONDITIONS:

• Employees must attend fire lectures yearly and must observe fire orders.
• All accidents within the Department must be reported immediately and an incident form completed
• Employees must attend hand hygiene education sessions at least every 2 years and adhere to the 5 moments of hand hygiene as stipulated by the WHO guidelines.
• Infection Control Policies must be adhered to.
• In line with the Safety, Health and Welfare at Work Act, 2005 all staff must comply with all safety regulations and audits.
• In line with the Public Health (Tobacco) (Amendment) Act 2004, smoking within the Hospital Buildings is not permitted.
• Hospital uniform code must be adhered to.
• Provide information that meets the need of Senior Management.
• To support, promote and actively participate in sustainable energy, water and waste initiatives to create a more sustainable, low carbon and efficient health service.
• All employees must complete the HSeLanD on line Children First programme and report any concerns to their line manager.

Risk Management, Infection Control, Hygiene Services and Health & Safety

• The management of Risk, Infection Control, Hygiene Services and Health & Safety is the responsibility of everyone and will be achieved within a progressive, honest and open environment.
• The post holder must be familiar with the necessary education, training and support to enable them to meet this responsibility.
• The post holder has a duty to familiarise themselves with the relevant Organisational Policies, Procedures & Standards and attend training as appropriate in the following areas: o Continuous Quality Improvement Initiatives o Document Control Information Management Systems o Risk Management Strategy and Policies o Hygiene Related Policies, Procedures and Standards o Decontamination Code of Practice o Infection Control Policies o Safety Statement, Health & Safety Policies and Fire Procedure o Data Protection and confidentiality Policies
• The post holder is responsible for ensuring that they become familiar with the requirements stated within the Risk Management Strategy and that they comply with the Group’s Risk Management Incident/Near miss reporting Policies and Procedures.
• The post holder is responsible for ensuring that they comply with hygiene services requirements in your area of responsibility. Hygiene Services incorporates environment and facilities, hand hygiene, catering, cleaning, the management of laundry, waste, sharps and equipment.
• The post holder must foster and support a quality improvement culture through-out your area of responsibility in relation to hygiene services.
• It is the post holders’ specific responsibility for Quality & Risk Management, Hygiene Services and Health & Safety will be clarified to you in the induction process and by your line manager.
• The post holder must take reasonable care for his or her own actions and the effect that these may have upon the safety of others.
• The post holder must cooperate with management, attend Health & Safety related training and not undertake any task for which they have not been authorised and adequately trained.
• The post holder is required to bring to the attention of a responsible person any perceived shortcoming in our safety arrangements or any defects in work equipment.
• It is the post holder’s responsibility to be aware of and comply with the HSE Health Care Records Management/Integrated Discharge Planning (HCRM / IDP) Code of Practice.

The above Job Description is not intended to be a comprehensive list of all duties involved and consequently, the post holder may be required to perform other duties as appropriate to the post which may be assigned to him/her from time to time and to contribute to the development of the post while in office.

Eligibility Criteria Qualifications and/ or experience Professional Qualifications, Experience, etc. (i) Obtained at least grade D (or pass) in Higher or Ordinary Level in five subjects from the approved list of subjects in the Department of Education established Leaving Certificate Examination or Leaving Certificate Vocational Programme or Leaving Certificate Applied. Or (ii) Passed an examination of at least equivalent standard Or (iii) Satisfactory relevant experience which encompasses demonstrable equivalent skills

Health A candidate for and any person holding the office must be fully competent and capable of undertaking the duties attached to the office and be in a state of health such as would indicate a reasonable prospect of ability to render regular and efficient service.

Character Each candidate for and any person holding the office must be of good character

Post specific Requirements

• Demonstrate previous portering experience in a healthcare setting

Other requirements specific to the post

• Flexibility regarding working hours as role will include working unsocial and flexible hours including evenings and weekends and night duty as this is a 24/7 service
• Patient Manual Handling certificate will be required prior to commencement of employment

Skills, competencies and/or knowledge Professional Knowledge & Experience

• Demonstrate evidence of knowledge of EHO, HIQA and HACCP regulations and the requirements in this role to adhere to same.
• Demonstrate knowledge to carry out the duties and responsibilities of the role
• Demonstrate knowledge in the area of healthcare
• Demonstrate an ability to apply knowledge to best practice
• Demonstrate a commitment to continuing professional development
• Demonstrate a commitment to assuring high standards and strive for a patient centred service
• Demonstrate knowledge of the basic food hygiene.
• Demonstrate the ability to maintain own and others health, safety and security in the workplace.

Planning and Managing Resources

• Demonstrate the ability to manage deadlines and effectively handle multiple tasks and experience in working effectively under pressure.
• Demonstrate sound practical judgement and decisiveness
• Demonstrate evidence of ability to plan work effectively and efficiently
• Demonstrate the skills required for a multi skilled role
• Demonstrate flexible approach to working hours, rostering, e.g. unsocial hours/shift work, night duty, on call, attitude to work

Building & Maintaining Relationships including Leadership and Team Skills

• Demonstrate teamwork skills including the ability to work with multi-disciplinary team members.
• Demonstrate the ability to work on own initiative or as part of a team.
• Demonstrate commitment to maintaining high work standards and delivering a quality service.
• Demonstrate ability to carry out instructions and appreciate the importance of providing quality care to patients.

Commitment to Providing Quality Care/Customer Focus

• Demonstrate a focus on quality.
• Demonstrate evidence of ability to empathise with and treat patients, relatives and colleagues with dignity and respect.
• Demonstrate motivation to fulfil the role and contribute to improving the service.
• Demonstrate the ability to maintain confidentiality.

Communication & Interpersonal Skills

• Demonstrate effective communication skills including the ability to present information in a clear and concise manner.
• Demonstrate an ability to receive and implement instructions in an effective and efficient manner
• Ensure confidentiality when sharing information within the working environment, at all times maintaining client confidentiality and ensuring HSE Data Protection Guidelines are observed

Tenure

A panel may be formed as a result of this campaign for University Hospital Waterford from which current and future, permanent & specified purpose vacancies of full or part-time duration may be filled. Appointment as an employee of the Health Service Executive is governed by the Health Act 2004 and the Public Service Management (Recruitment and Appointment) Act 2004.

Remuneration

The Salary scale for the post is (01/03/2025): €35,195 €37,039 €38,147 €38,905 €39,562 €40,412 €40,931 €41,815 €42,723

Working Week

The standard working week applying to the post is 39 hours HSE Circular 003-2009 “Matching Working Patterns to Service Needs (Extended Working Day / Week Arrangements); Framework for Implementation of Clause 30.4 of Towards 2016” applies. Under the terms of this circular, all new entrants and staff appointed to promotional posts from Dec 16th 2008 will be required to work agreed roster / on call arrangements as advised by their line manager. Contracted hours of work are liable to change between the hours of 8am-8pm over seven days to meet the requirements for extended day services in accordance with the terms of the Framework Agreement (Implementation of Clause 30.4 of Towards 2016).

Annual Leave

The annual leave associated with the post will be confirmed at job offer stage

Superannuation

Membership of the HSE Employee Superannuation Scheme applies to this appointment. Existing Members who transferred to the HSE on 1st January 2005 pursuant to Section 60 of the Health Act 2004 are entitled to superannuation benefit terms under the HSE Scheme which are no less favourable to those to which they were entitled at 31st December 2004. Appointees to posts in the Mental Health Services which formerly attracted fast accrual of service should note that the terms of Section 65 of the Mental Treatment Act 1945 do not apply to New Entrant Public Servants as defined by Section 12 of the Public Service Superannuation (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2004.

Age

The Public Service Superannuation (Age of Retirement) Act, 2018* set 70 years as the compulsory retirement age for public servants. * Public Servants not affected by this legislation: Public servants recruited between 1 April 2004 and 31 December 2012 (new entrants) have no compulsory retirement age. Public servants recruited since 1 January 2013 are members of the Single Pension Scheme and have a compulsory retirement age of 70.

Probation

Every appointment of a person who is not already a permanent officer of the Health Service Executive or of a Local Authority shall be subject to a probationary period of 12 months as stipulated in the Department of Health Circular No.10/71.