Expectations

Our expectations of you

• Office hours

  Search Health & Social Care operates 24 hours a day and offer an on-call emergency service for out of office hours. You can contact the team in the office between the hours of 8.30am and 5.30pm, Monday to Friday.

  Please note that our on-call service should only be used in an emergency (such as if you are late for a shift or have a personal emergency). All other enquiries can be made next working day.

• Useful numbers
  • Manchester 0161 835 8372 [email protected]
  • Leeds 0113 308 8080 [email protected]
  • Liverpool 0151 229 5543 [email protected]
  • Crawley 01293 384 8129 [email protected]
  • Glasgow 0141 272 7750 [email protected]
  • Edinburgh 0131 718 8079 [email protected]
  • Birmingham 0121 726 6010 [email protected]
  • Sheffield 0114 349 2109 [email protected]
• At all times you should
  • Conduct yourself in an appropriate and professional manner, i.e. not making inappropriate use of the customer’s computer systems, property and resources
  • Not using the customer’s email or internet systems for personal use
  • Not making or receiving personal telephone call or texts whilst working
  • Not using foul, obscene or abusive language or acting aggressively
  • Not falling asleep on duty (unless authorised as part of an ‘on-call’ assignment)
  • Not attending work under the influence of, or smelling of, alcohol or illegal drugs
  • Not smoking (unless in those areas where smoking is expressly permitted), chewing gum or eating when attending to patients or members of the public
  • Not be, or appear to be, in possession of firearms or other offensive weapons etc.
  • Keep confidential any information received about patients or clients
  • Be honest and act with integrity
  • Abide by the Working Time Regulations 1998
• Basic requirements of the role
  • Keep Search informed of your availability
  • Inform Search if you have booked a shift directly with the customer and obtain a reference number where necessary
  • Declare to Search if you are unfit to practise at any time
  • Keep mandatory training and appraisal up to date
  • Inform Search as soon as possible if unable to attend a booked shift/assignment – please ensure that you speak to a consultant or their manager – PLEASE DO NOT TEXT
• On accepting an assignment, you should
  • Keep a note or diary of accepted shifts to ensure that you do not double book yourself
  • Check travel arrangements to ensure you will be able to get there on time
  • Be punctual and ready to commence work at the start of the shift /assignment
• On arrival you should
  • Present yourself in a professional manner in line with the uniform policy or dress code of the customer
  • Identify who the shift supervisor is and what your duties will be on the assignment
  • Orientate yourself to the environment for the safety of yourself and others around you
  • Familiarise yourself with the patients you may be caring for
  • Wear a valid photo ID and confirm your identity with the supervisor
• During the assignment you should
  • Have the care, well-being and safety of patients and the customer as your first concern
  • Work as directed by the supervisor and follow all reasonable requests, instructions, policies, procedures
  • Standards and rules of the customer. This includes, but is not limited to, those relating to fire, health and safety requirements, on-site security, computer systems, information security, crash call procedures, ‘hot-spot mechanisms’ and ‘violent episode policies’, control of cross infection and notifiable diseases, manual handling and matters of discipline
  • Adhere to the customer’s health and safety requirements at all times and work within the customer’s culture and values
  • Work collaboratively and communicate effectively with the customer’s clinical areas or department’s own staff
  • Treat all patients/customers/visitors with dignity, courtesy, respect and with due regard to their age, gender, race, religion, physical and mental condition
  • Only undertake work and tasks that you are competent to do. If you are asked to do something that you are not competent to carry out, you must inform the supervisor
  • Move to a different area during the assignment if asked to do so by the customer due to patient need
  • Report all complaints, incidents or accidents that you witnesses to the supervisor, and if you are involved or affected you must also report this to Search
  • Report to the supervisor or Search any concerns you may have regarding possible fraud
  • Report to the supervisor in the workplace or Search if you feel you are being treated unfairly or inappropriately during the assignment
  • Not make unnecessary use of authority in connection with the discharge of the assignment
  • Not act in a manner likely to bring discredit upon the customer including, but not limited to; unlawfully discriminating or engaging in any form of physical or verbal abuse, threatening behaviour, harassment /bullying or be otherwise uncivil to persons encountered in the course of the assignment
• At the end of the assignment you should
  • Hand over the work or the care of patients/service user to the supervisor, or the person taking over and report any adverse incidents that have occurred
  • Make accurate and legible records of what you have done and of the care/support you have given before you leave, printing your name, role and identifying yourself as a temporary worker in the records
• Identification badges

  You will be provided with an identification badge which must be worn at all times and clearly shows:

  • Your full name (as listed in the relevant professional and regulatory body’s professional register, where applicable)
  • The relevant professional and regulatory body’s professional registration number (where applicable) and grade
  • A recent and clear digital photograph
  • An annual expiry date for that identification badge

  If you are in breach of the identification badge (for example, you do not have or persistently fail to carry and display the valid identification badge so that it is clearly visible at all times), then the customer shall adopt its on-site security policy and procedures. For example, the customer shall (acting reasonably) request that you immediately produce your valid identification badge or instruct you to leave the assignment and premises immediately.

• Dress code

  It is important that associates dress appropriately and always convey a professional image. As the dress code may vary in different organisations, your consultant will inform you of the appropriate dress code before each assignment. On occasion, dependent on your assignment, you will be required to wear a tunic. This can either be purchased via your consultant or privately. Please speak to your consultant for details.