Bank Health Care Assistant - Hospice at home

Integrated Care System; Harlow; On-site; GBP 40,000 - 60,000; Part time

Job summary

A healthcare organization based in Essex seeks a Bank Health Care Assistant to deliver specialized palliative care in the community. The position requires experience as a health care assistant and involves working closely with families to provide individualized support. Candidates should have NVQ level 3 in Health and Social Care, excellent communication skills, and a flexible approach. Competitive hourly wages of £12.60 apply.

Qualifications

• Experience working as a health care assistant or other health care professional.
• Community experience, particularly with palliative patients and their families.
• Commitment to equality and understanding of diversity.

Responsibilities

• Deliver high standard individualised care for palliative patients.
• Assist with personal care and clinical interventions per care plan.
• Provide support and comfort to bereaved relatives.

Skills

Excellent listening and communication skills

Ability to communicate effectively with colleagues in MDT

Flexible approach and the ability to prioritise workload

IT skills to record data on electronic patient records

Education

NVQ level 3 Health and Social Care

Job description

Bank Health Care Assistant - Hospice at home

Location:Based at St Clare Hospice, Hastingwood, Essex delivering care in the community across West Essex

Salary:£12.60 per hour

Hours:Bank

Please note St Clare Hospice do not hold a Certificate of Sponsorship, we are therefore unable to sponsor visa applications.

Overview of role

Do you have experience working as a health care assistant? (HCA). We are currently looking to recruit a bank HCA, who has an interest in specialist palliative care, to join our Hospice at Home service. This is an exciting established service and involves close collaborative working with other healthcare professionals.

If you would you like to be part of a friendly and supportive team delivering excellent specialist palliative care to patients their families and carers, please read the job description (link below) for further details.

In return for your commitment, we offer a full induction into your role

Main duties of the job

Work as part of the Hospice at Home team: in the provision of a high standard ofspecialist individualised care for palliative patients and their families/carers. To includemeeting their personal, physical, emotional, psychological and spiritual needs.

To have an understanding of and be able to work within the philosophy of palliativeand end of life care.

To assist the Head of Community Service, Team Leaders, and members of othermulti-professional teams in the provision of high standard specialist palliative care topatients with life-limiting conditions, their families and carers in their own homes.

To perform associated clinical and general duties ensuring a compassionate andprofessional service to our patients and their families in their own homes.

About us

St Clare Hospice is a charity providing specialist palliative care to improve the lives ofpeople affected by a life-limiting illness in West Essex and the borders of EastHertfordshire. Our care helps patients, their families, and carers, to make the most ofevery moment together, no matter how long they have left to live.We support them at home and in the Hospice. With limited NHS funding, we need to raisemore than 70% of our annual costs to provide our vital services; in 2024/2025 the runningcosts of our charity are expected to be £8.1 million.We therefore rely on our local community to help us raise money each year so we cancontinue being there for local families facing one of the most difficult journeys in life.The Hospice at Home team of Nurse Team Leaders and Health Care Assistants workclosely with other health and social care providers in the community, to provideindividualised care and support for people with life limiting conditions, their families andcarers in their own home.

Job responsibilities

On completion of appropriate training, be responsible for the delivery of agreed carefor patients in their own homes. Ensuring that all personal care and clinical.interventions are documented in accordance with St Clare policy. Adhere to PoliciesBank HCA Hospice at Homeand Procedures of St Clare in including those relating to Health and Safety, riskmanagement and clinical activities.

Work closely with other members of the Hospice at Home Team in the provision ofhands on personal care to patients with life limiting conditions or at the end of life.

To work autonomously in patients, own homes, respecting their environment and beable to identify any risks and report them to the Hospice at Home Team Leader.

Ensure infection control measures are considered in the home.

Respond flexibly and promptly to requests which may involve last minute changes toplanned work, as advised and requested by the Hospice at home Team leader or otherSenior Clinician.

To be aware of the changing needs of patients and their carers identified in the initialassessment, and to provide holistic palliative care in accordance with the care plan.

Report promptly to the Hospice at Home Team Leader any changes in the condition ofindividual patients.

To communicate effectively with patients and their carers, supporting them in theexpression of emotional distress and ensuring that they have access to the informationthey need. As part of routine practice, continually assess patients physical comfortand condition and report on where there are changes or concerns.

Help provide support and comfort to bereaved relatives/friends/carers.

Participate in verbal and written reports. Maintain good communication with colleaguesas appropriate and to report back to hospice and community colleagues. To maintainaccurate records.

To ensure that equipment used is properly cleaned and maintained and that you arecompetent in its use.

Refer patients to volunteer support workers where appropriate carrying out riskassessments of the home prior to referral.

Support and direct a group of volunteers with guidance from the Hospice at homeTeam Leader.

To work as a member of the multi-professional team, respecting the skills andknowledge of all its members.

Maintain personal and professional development by attending relevant study sessions.To complete all mandatory training, and eLearning modules.

Take an active part in group supervision and reflection sessions, maintaining self andpeer group support, acknowledge the challenges of working in the environment of end of-life care.

At all times maintain confidentiality with regard to patients, relatives/ carers and otherstaff, abiding by St Clare Hospice policies and procedures.

To report accidents/incidents/potential risks to Hospice at Home Team Leaderimmediately.

At all times act as an ambassador for St Clare Hospice to patients, relatives,colleagues and members of the public.

Be willing to work in other clinical areas within the Hospice organisation as appropriateand requested by a senior clinician, or Line Manager.

Person Specification

Other requirements

• Hold a Full valid UK Driving Licence and have access to a car.

Experience

• Has worked as a Healthcare assistant or other health care
• professional
• Has worked with palliative patients their families/carers
• Community Experience

Skills and Abilities

• Excellent listening and communication skills.
• Ability to communicate with patients and families/carers in
• Ability to communicate effectively with colleagues in MDT
• Evidence of ability to provide personalised care sensitively.
• Flexible approach and the ability to prioritise workload
• Ability to coordinate and supervise volunteers.
• IT skills to record data on electronic patient records
• Familiar with the use of Outlook, micro- soft windows etc.

Knowledge

• Understands the philosophy and ethos of specialist palliative
• Understands the changing and variable needs of patients with
• life limiting conditions
• Has knowledge of latest initiatives in palliative care

Qualifications

• NVQ level 3 Health and Social Care or completed end of life
• modules at NVQ level. Or undertake/ willing to undertake
• relevant training to gain NVQ

Personal Qualities and Attributes

• Commitment to equality and valuing diversity and
• understanding of how this applies to own area of work
• Commitment to the aims and charitable objectives of St Clare
• Hospice
• Committed to own continuing professional learning and
• development

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.