Bank Palliative Care Support Worker/ HCA (Band 2)

Integrated Care System; Bristol; On-site; GBP 20,000 - 23,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading health service organization is seeking a Bank Palliative Care Support Worker/ HCA to provide compassionate care for patients in the Inpatient Unit. This role requires teamwork, commitment to high-quality emergency care, and effective communication skills. Candidates should have relevant qualifications and a genuine interest in end-of-life care.

Qualifications

• Minimum of 6 months experience in a care environment in the last 12 months.
• Ability to work under supervision and initiative.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.

Responsibilities

• Support registered nurses in patient-centered care delivery.
• Assist in personal care and documentation as per standards.
• Participate in education and training relevant to patient care.

Skills

Communication

Teamwork

Empathy

Education

Functional skills Level 2 English Language and Maths

GCSE Grade C or above in Maths and English Language

Care Certificate

Job description

Bank Palliative Care Support Worker/ HCA (Band 2)

As we move forward with our strategy and develop our services, we arerecruiting for Band 2Palliative Care Support Workers/ Health Care Assistantsto join theInpatient Unit (IPU) bank.If you are a dedicated and proactive PCSW/ HCA with an interest in working in End-of-Life Care we would like to hear from you.Joining the Hospice in this role will involve providing specialist palliative care for our patients and support for their families. You will also work closely with the registered nurses and the wider multi-disciplinary team to ensure a holistic approach to care.

Main duties of the job

The post holder works as part of the Inpatient Unit and St Peters HospiceTeam under the supervision of registered nurses and will be expected towork a range of Early, Late and Night shifts, covering a 7-day week.

About us

Weve spent over 40 years helping people die in peace, and with dignity. Combining compassion with clinical expertise, we provide patients with the best possible care at the end of their lives.Were here for the people around our patients too those closest to them. Before, during and after a bereavement, we provide support thats remembered forever.We think its that unforgettable support that inspires people to give back to St Peters. To fundraise for us. Donate. Volunteer. Were not exaggerating when we say that we couldnt do what we do without our wonderful supporters. We really cant thank them enough.We want to help many more people to die well. And were doing this by teaching others. As a centre of educational excellence, we share our skills with other health professionals, helping the NHS and care homes to provide better end-of-life care.Were here for all, for free, forever.

Job responsibilities

Participate in the delivery of patient centred care, alwaysmaintaining a compassionate and professional attitude.Contributes to the high-quality safe care given on the inpatient unitand St Peters HospiceContributes to the positive, inclusive, and supportive culture of theinpatient unit.Supports the registered nurse in the provision of a caring and safeenvironment.Work cooperatively as part of the multi-disciplinary team supportingcolleagues in work associated with patient care.Understands own level of responsibility and accountability inrelation to registered staff.Communicate clearly effectively and appropriately with themultidisciplinary team, patients and their family, visitors, andcarers.Assist and provide personal care to patients.Following appropriate training and supervised practice, undertakeidentified competency-based practices which are required for theunit after such tasks have been delegated to them by a registerednurse.Complete documentation of care in line with SPH Documentationstandards.Assist Registered Professionals in the implementation andevaluation of individualised care plans.The post holder will function at a competency level in line with therequirements of the post and achieve and maintain both mandatory andstatutory training requirements associated with the role.CommunicationMaintain a high standard of personal behaviour and ensure effectivecommunication with all members of the multidisciplinary team,patients, carers, and relatives.Communicate effectively with patients and carers, recognising theremay be a need to utilise alternative methods of communication.Use paper and electronic systems to retrieve and record patientinformation.Band 2 Health Care AssistantBand 5 Registered NurseCommunicate with patients, carers, and families in a sensitive,supportive, and caring manner, considering their individual personalbeliefs and preferences.Feedback any information and observations related to patient care.Ensure all documentation is completed accurately and legibly and inaccordance with hospice policy and Information Governancerequirements.Apply the principles of information governance and patientconfidentiality to all aspect of your role.Obtain verbal consent from the patient before any clinical interventionis undertaken.Answer the phone/ greet visitors promptly in a polite and professionalmanner and deal with enquires as appropriate, pass on written andverbal information as required to colleges and patients.Participate in discussions about patient care and unit issues athandover and unit meetings.In instances when a patient / visitor feels the need to raise concernor complain inform a registered nurse.Accept Constructive feedbackEscalate concerns and incidents through the appropriate route.Personal & People DevelopmentActively participate in, and contribute to, the individual performancereview and development process.Support and mentor new HCAs as required. Role model best practice.Welcome and support all staff working on a placement in the IPU.Keep up to date with all mandatory and statutory training.Actively engage in education and learning that will benefit patientcare.Participate in the IPU teaching programmeMaintain clinical competencies relevant to role.Alongside a Registered Nurse take responsibility of an allocated linkrole. Develop knowledge and share expertise with colleges.Work to maintain your own physical and mental health to enable youto be fit and resilient for the role.Provision of Care to Meet Health and Wellbeing NeedsAct first and foremost to care for and safeguard the patients andpublic, practice in a safe, compassionate, and patient centred manner.Following completion of training, demonstrate an understanding ofyour role and responsibilities relating to Safeguarding.Respond swiftly to individuals, who require assistance, are in pain ordistressed or using their call bell, where required report this to aregistered nurse.Recognise where a patient is becoming agitated, confused or is noncompliant with their care or treatment, support colleagues whendealing with such patients, report this to a registered nurse.Obtain specimens ensuring accurate documentation andtransportation to appropriate department. Undertake infection controlscreening as requested.Undertake patient transfer/escort duties between clinical areas,completing all relevant documentation.Following the completion of training undertake a range of physical /clinical observations appropriate to the area of practice.Achieve and maintain competence in using a range of equipment toundertake these, record the outcome and report and escalateexceptions to the registered nurse who delegated the tasks to you.Measuring and recording may include: Blood pressure, Pulse rate andrhythm (manually and using electronic equipment), Temperature,Height and weight, Fluid balance, Stool charts, food diary, Bloodglucose monitoring, Urine testing / Urinalysis, Respiratory rate,Oxygen saturationsObtain prompt assistance during an emergency as requested or usingthe agreed practice i.e.: emergency call bell.As required by the unit and following agreement with the line managerundertake training to achieve and maintain competence in specificareas of clinical practice e.g., bladder scanning, and 12 lead ECGrecording and point of care testing as directed by a registered nurse.Assist patients of all genders with all aspects of personal care.Daily assist and support patients of all genders when mobilising,repositioning in bed or chair whilst promoting patient independenceusing aids as appropriateRecognise and understand the importance of adequate nutrition andhydration of the patients by serving food and drinks and assistingpatients with feeding and drinking when necessary.Recognise and maintain any specific dietary instructions associatedwith individual patients.Recognise where a patient may display problems with swallowing andrequire further assessment and report this to a registered nurse.Demonstrate awareness of wound / skin changes associated withdamage caused by incontinence and pressure / friction.Report any changes to a registered nurse and document accordingly.Following delegation from a registered nurse make appropriate use ofprescribed pressure relieving equipment and skin productsHealth Safety and SecurityBe aware and Comply with all SPH policies and procedures whichgovern Health and Safety and clinical practice.Actively promote the prevention of cross infection to and from allpatients, visitors staff, and the environment, by encouraging andeducating others in the use of standard precautions.Maintain a clean and tidy environment including cleaning ofequipment and medical devices.Ensure that prior to using any medical device you are trained andcompetent.Report any accidents, incidents and near misses to a registerednurse and report via the SPH reporting system.Report and raise concerns in relation to poor practice, attitude, andbehaviour of any health care professional through line managementstructures.Manage own time effectively, ensure good time keeping in relationto shift commencement and breaks.Prepare patient rooms for new patients and orientate patients andtheir relatives and carers to the department and demonstratebedroom facilities.Contributes to the high-quality safe care given on the inpatient unitand St Peters HospiceContributes to the positive, inclusive, and supportive culture of theinpatient unit.Service ImprovementContribute to continually monitor standards of nursing care andcontribute to improvement of care through audit and research asrequired.Be alert to any possible improvement to service and makesuggestions as appropriate.QualityFollowing direction from a registered nurse undertake aspects ofcare for a patient/ group of patients.Practise in accordance with agreed standards of care within yourlevel of competence.Assists in audits and research as required.Equality and DiversityInterprets equality and diversity and rights in accordance withlegislation policies procedures and good practice.Actively promotes equality and diversity in relation to meeting theneeds of a diverse patient groupActively fosters a non-discriminatory approach and acts as a rolemodelPromotes equality and diversity within the workforce and ensurespolicies are adhered toManages people and applies internal processes in a fair and equalwayActively challenges unacceptable behaviour and discrimination andworks in accordance with hospice policySupports people who need assistance in exercising their rights.

Person Specification

Qualifications

• N/A
• Functional skills Level 2 English Language and Maths Qualification or
• GCSE Grade C or above in Maths and English Language (D) Level 2/3
• NVQ/ Diploma in Health (D)
• Care Certificate or evidence or Training & Development associated
• with Health Care Support Worker role (D)
• Level 2/3 NVQ/ Diploma in Health

Experience

• Experience of working / participating as part of a team.
• Evidence of ability to work using own initiative and under minimal
• supervision
• Minimum of 6 months experience in a care environment in the last 12
• months

Additional Criteria

• Excellent communication skills, both written and verbal
• Excellent interpersonal skills able to engage and build effective
• relationships at all levels
• Sound IT skills able to use word processing packages, email and
• spreadsheets confidently
• Able to manage and deal with conflict

Additional Criteria

• A skilled facilitator, able to get the best out of people within a
• workshop situation
• An understanding and empathy for the work of the Hospice
• Ability to work under pressure

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.