Support Service Domestic Attendant

Principal Duties and Responsibilities

• Maintain a high standard of hygiene in the area s/he is assigned to

• Hoovering, dusting, washing floors, buffing and polishing floors

• To be responsible for the correct use and care of equipment and cleaning materials

• To assist with the preparation and service of meals to staff and patients

• To have the basic knowledge of cooking

• To be able to manage stock control in residential units and inpatients units (weekly shopping, shelf life of products, weekly supplies)

• Taking care of laundry in residential units (washing, ironing etc)

• Reporting faults and breakdowns

• To be familiar with the personal alarm system in the Acute Units and fire regulations and evacuation procedure in the service

• To attend all mandatory in-service training as required

• To observe the hospital policies and procedures on discretion and confidentiality relating to patients and/or their families and colleagues

• To maintain a good standard of personal hygiene

• Other duties may be requested from time to time by Support Service Supervisor

The above Job Specification 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

Candidates must on the closing date

• Have 2nd level education to Junior Certificate Level at a minimum, which includes pass in 5 subjects.

Or

• Have completed a relevant examination at a comparable standard in any equivalent examination in another jurisdiction

And

• Have 1 year continuous relevant employment in a household/ catering environment in a healthcare setting i.e. Hospital/ Nursing Home/ Day Care Facility or in the hospitality sector within the last 3 years

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

Transport

Access to appropriate transport to fulfil the requirements of the role.

Additional eligibility requirements:

Citizenship Requirements

Eligible candidates must be:

(i) EEA, Swiss, or British citizens

OR

(ii) Non-European Economic Area citizens with permission to reside and work in the State

Read Appendix 2 of the Additional Campaign Information for further information on accepted Stamps for Non-EEA citizens resident in the State, including those with refugee status.

To qualify candidates must be eligible by the closing date of the campaign.

Read more about Department of Enterprise, Trade & Employment Work Permits.

Skills, competencies and/or knowledge Demonstrates the following:

Knowledge

• 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.

Teamwork

• Demonstrate ability to work as part of a multi-disciplinary team.

• Demonstrate motivation and an innovative approach to job.

• Demonstrate ability to present a neat and tidy appearance.

• Demonstrate ability to carry out instructions and appreciate the importance of providing quality care to patients.

Planning and Organising

• Demonstrate evidence of ability to plan work effectively and efficiently.

• Demonstrate flexible approach to working hours, rostering, e.g. unsocial hours/shift work, night duty, on call, attitude to work.

• Demonstrate ability to work on own initiative.

• Demonstrate ability to work under pressure.

Quality & Patient/ 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 ability to communicate with colleagues in a professional and respectful manner.

• Demonstrate ability to communicate with patients in a compassionate, respectful and dignified manner.

• Possess a competent level of spoken and written English to compile HACCP and other documents.

• Demonstrate ability to listen openly, using questions to check understanding/ avoid misinterpretation.

• Demonstrates excellent communication skills, including sufficient command of the English language so as to effectively carry out the duties and responsibilities of the role.

Campaign Specific Selection Process

Ranking / Shortlisting / Interview A ranking and or shortlisting exercise may be carried out on the basis of information supplied in your application form. The criteria for ranking and or shortlisting are based on the requirements of the post as outlined in the eligibility criteria and skills, competencies and/or knowledge section of this job specification. Therefore it is very important that you think about your experience in light of those requirements.

Failure to include information regarding these requirements may result in you not being called forward to the next stage of the selection process.

Those successful at the ranking stage of this process (where applied) will be placed on an order of merit and will be called to interview in ‘bands’ depending on the service needs of the organisation.

Code of Practice The Health Service Executive will run this campaign in compliance with the Code of Practice prepared by the Commission for Public Service Appointments (CPSA). The Code of Practice sets out how the core principles of probity, merit, equity and fairness might be applied on a principle basis. The Code also specifies the responsibilities placed on candidates, facilities for feedback to applicants on matters relating to their application when requested, and outlines procedures in relation to requests for a review of the recruitment and selection process and review in relation to allegations of a breach of the Code of Practice. Additional information on the HSE’s review process is available in the document posted with each vacancy entitled “Code of Practice, Information for Candidates”.

Codes of practice are published by the CPSA and are available on www.hse.ie/eng/staff/jobs in the document posted with each vacancy entitled “Code of Practice, Information for Candidates” or on www.cpsa.ie.

The reform programme outlined for the Health Services may impact on this role and as structures change the job description may be reviewed.

This job description is a guide to the general range of duties assigned to the post holder. It is intended to be neither definitive nor restrictive and is subject to periodic review with the employee concerned.

Tenure

The posts are pensionable. A panel may be created from which permanent and specified purpose vacancies of full or part time duration may be filled. The tenure of these posts will be indicated at “expression of interest” stage.

Appointment as an employee of the Health Service Executive is governed by the Health Act 2004 and the Public Service Management (Recruitment and Appointments) Act 2004 and Public Service Management (Recruitment and Appointments) Amendment Act 2013.

Remuneration The Salary scale for the post (01/02/26)

€35,082 €36,925 €38,298 €38,871 €39,113 €39,684 €40,270 €40,730 €41,283

New appointees to any grade start at the minimum point of the scale. Incremental credit will be applied for recognised relevant service in Ireland and abroad (Department of Health Circular 2/2011). Incremental credit is normally granted on appointment, in respect of previous experience in the Civil Service, Local Authorities, Health Service and other Public Service Bodies and Statutory Agencies.

Working Week

The standard working week applying to the post is to be confirmed at Job Offer stage.

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

Superannuation

This is a pensionable position with the HSE. The successful candidate will upon appointment become a member of the appropriate pension scheme. Pension scheme membership will be notified within the contract of employment. Members of pre-existing pension schemes who transferred to the HSE on the 01st 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 which they were entitled to at 31st December 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.

Protection for Persons Reporting Child Abuse Act 1998

As this post is one of those designated under the Protection for Persons Reporting Child Abuse Act 1998, appointment to this post appoints one as a designated officer in accordance with Section 2 of the Act. You will remain a designated officer for the duration of your appointment to your current post or for the duration of your appointment to such other post as is included in the categories specified in the Ministerial Direction. You will receive full information on your responsibilities under the Act on appointment.

Infection Control Have a working knowledge of 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.

Health & Safety It is the responsibility of line managers to ensure that the management of safety, health and welfare is successfully integrated into all activities undertaken within their area of responsibility, so far as is reasonably practicable. Line managers are named and roles and responsibilities detailed in the relevant Site Specific Safety Statement (SSSS).

Key responsibilities include:

• Developing a SSSS for the department/service , as applicable, based on the identification of hazards and the assessment of risks, and reviewing/updating same on a regular basis (at least annually) and in the event of any significant change in the work activity or place of work.

• Ensuring that Occupational Safety and Health (OSH) is integrated into day-to-day business, providing Systems Of Work (SOW) that are planned, organised, performed, maintained and revised as appropriate, and ensuring that all safety related records are maintained and available for inspection.

• Consulting and communicating with staff and safety representatives on OSH matters.

• Ensuring a training needs assessment (TNA) is undertaken for employees, facilitating their attendance at statutory OSH training, and ensuring records are maintained for each employee.

• Ensuring that all incidents occurring within the relevant department/service are appropriately managed and investigated in accordance with HSE procedures .

• Seeking advice from health and safety professionals through the National Health and Safety Function Helpdesk as appropriate.

• Reviewing the health and safety performance of the ward/department/service and staff through, respectively, local audit and performance achievement meetings for example.

Note: Detailed roles and responsibilities of Line Managers are outlined in local SSSS.