Bank Hospice Care Assistant (Ward)

St Nicholas Hospice Care; West Stow; On-site; GBP 17,000 - 19,000; Part time

Benefits offered by this job

Free onsite parking

Onsite catering

Blue Light Card discounts

Job summary

St Nicholas Hospice Care in West Suffolk is seeking compassionate Bank Health Care Assistants to join Sylvan Ward on a bank basis. You will support patients and families with palliative care under qualified professionals, delivering care with kindness and respecting dignity.

The role requires collaboration with a multidisciplinary team to implement care plans and ensure comfort, safety, and respect for personal needs.

Qualifications

• Experience in caring for seriously ill patients is desirable.
• Ability to report and document care accurately.

Responsibilities

• Provide direct patient care and family support.
• Work with registered health professionals to deliver palliative care.

Skills

Compassionate care

Communication

Team collaboration

Dignity & confidentiality

Patient care

Education

Care Certificate

GCSE English & Maths

Job description

Job summary

We have a fantastic opportunity for passionate and committed Hospice Care Assistants to join our inpatient unit, Sylvan Ward on a Bank contract basis.

Main duties of the job

The Bank HCA will work independently providing safe, competent, and ethical client care under the guidance of registered healthcare professionals, in the delivery of palliative care to patients and their families, utilising protocols and procedures and report accordingly to appropriate professional.

About us

St Nicholas Hospice Care is a successful charity serving the local area of West Suffolk and Thetford. Every year we support nearly 2,000 local people, delivering care across multiple settings. Our services are not just for patients, but for their family and friends too, and include everything from specialist medical care to bereavement support and practical help.

As an employee, you will have access to the following Benefits:

• Free onsite parking
• Onsite catering
• Access to Blue Light Card scheme with a range of discounts

Key Responsibilities or Duties

• To carry out tasks involving direct patient care and support to patients and families
• Work with registered health professionals to deliver specialist palliative care to patients
• To act within the limits of own competence and authority
• To support and direct clinical care assistant volunteers
• Clinical intervention
• Communicate effectively with patients, carers and professionals
• Support individuals who are distressed
• Support individuals and carers to cope with their emotional and psychological and spiritual wellbeing
• Assist in the assessment of an individual's needs arising from their health and social status
• Assist in the assessment of the need for, and the provision of, environmental and social support in the community
• Undertake personal hygiene for individuals unable to care for themselves
• Support individuals during and after clinical therapeutic interventions
• Contribute to care planning and review by implementing, monitoring and evaluating care
• Prepare individuals for health care through appropriate moving and positioning
• Prepare environments and resources for use in health care activities
• Monitor an individual's progress in managing their illness and assist the individual's management of their condition and treatment plan
• Support others in providing health care actions through assisting the practitioner to implement healthcare activities
• Assist in the implementation of mobility and movement programmes for individuals to restore optimum movement and functional independence
• Assist individuals in undertaking activities and enable them to choose and participate in activities that are meaningful to them
• Help individuals to maintain mobility and support the use of technological aids to promote independence
• Support individuals to retain, regain, and develop the skills to manage their lives and environment including enabling individuals to use assistive devices and assistive technology
• Work in collaboration with family/carers to enable them to support individuals
• Deliver and collect clinical items or patients accessories to and from West Suffolk Hospital

Special Features of the job

Bank HCAs may be required to work across all the various services: community care including groups and clinics provided at outreach centres and Sylvan ward

Personal Development (all staff)

Each employee must co-operate and attend all appropriate mandatory and statutory training as required by the organisation

Health and Safety (all staff)

All staff have responsibilities to ensure that our working environment continues to be a safe, secure, healthy and fulfilling place to work. Employees of St Nicholas Hospice Care are required to work in line with the Health and Safety Policy to ensure not only their own health and safety, but that of others too.

Governance

• Be aware of and comply with all relevant Hospice policies, guidelines and procedures
• Ensure the maintenance of confidentiality in respect of patient, staff, volunteer, and organisational records
• Be aware of, and use the procedure to report any incidents, risks and safety concerns

General (all staff)

• Act as an ambassador for the charity and encouraging others to do the same
• At the heart of our strategic vision, our One Team approach aims to support creative and flexible responses from every member of our workforce in order to benefit each and every person using our services, from clinical care, retail, fundraising, education and the support services. There is an expectation for everyone to support colleagues beyond their own team
• Ensure the maintenance of confidentiality in respect of staff, volunteer and client records and all privileged information relating to the services of the Charity, its patients, staff and volunteers and particularly of the area for which directly responsible
• Undertake any other duties which may be reasonably required

The philosophy of the Hospice is based on a multi-skilled, cross-departmental approach. Staff regardless of grade or discipline, are required to participate in this concept. The role of volunteers is integral with the work of St Nicholas and paid staff are required to underpin this in their attitude and actions.

All staff must be sympathetic to and able to project the philosophy and concept of hospice care.

The Hospice has in place provision for staff support. Staff are expected to exercise responsibility in accessing and providing whatever forms of support might be appropriate for them to ensure that they are able to offer the professional care for which they are employed.

This Job Description may change and the duties listed are not exhaustive, but such change will only be made following consultation between the (relevant) "Manager" and the post holder.

Equality & Diversity

• Promote equality of opportunity and diversity
• Promote the rights and diversity of individuals

Management and Administration

• Contribute to the effectiveness of teams
• Maintain information/record systems
• Receive and pass on messages and information
• IT communication accurately and in a timely manner
• Participate in inter-disciplinary team working to support individuals both in the hospice and the community

Essential Experience

• Experience working as a Nursing/Care assistant
• Significant experience of working with seriously ill people

Desirable Experience

• Work based Palliative Care experience
• Competence in the use of hoists and manual handling equipment
• Have current manual handling training

Essential Skills and Abilities

• Ability to report competently, both verbally and in writing
• Able to work alongside registered nurses and other healthcare professionals
• Ability to communicate well within a multidisciplinary team
• Versatile
• Ability to work flexibly
• Patience and kindness
• Respectful of diversity and difference
• Enthusiastic about end of life care
• Eager and willing to learn new skills
• Ability to respect and maintain confidentiality
• Honest, organised and reliable
• Team player with commitment to the mission and values of St Nicholas Hospice Care

Desirable Skills and Abilities

• Able to communicate with sensitivity
• Skilled in end of life care
• Able to work in a multidisciplinary team

Essential Qualifications

• The Care Certificate or equivalent entry level caring qualification
• Numeracy and literacy skills at GCSE level or equivalent

Desirable Qualifications

• NVQ in Care Level 2/3 GCSE level or equivalent in English & Maths

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.

Closing date: 25 October 2026

Contact: Natasha Smith, Ward Manager, [e-mail], 01284766133