Community Hospice at Home Healthcare Assistant

Integrated Care System; St Albans; On-site; GBP 22,000 - 27,000; Full time

Job summary

A Community Healthcare Provider in St Albans is seeking a Healthcare Assistant to provide compassionate care in patients' homes. You will support individuals and their families at the end of life, requiring strong communication skills and a caring nature. Full training provided. This is a full-time role with a focus on personalizing care and working collaboratively with healthcare teams.

Qualifications

• Experience within the care setting.
• Experience of working within a community setting.
• Knowledge of and experience in care at the end of life.

Responsibilities

• Deliver individually tailored care and support.
• Observe and report changes in patient conditions.
• Assist with personal hygiene needs of patients.

Skills

Effective communication skills

Caring and empathetic approach

Ability to work autonomously

Excellent interpersonal skills

Drive and enthusiasm

IT knowledge of Microsoft Office

Education

Care certificate/NVQ Level 2 or equivalent

Job description

Community Hospice at Home Healthcare Assistant

Community Hospice at HomeHealthcare Assistant

• Hours: 37.5 hours per (30 hours considered)
• Location: In the community within the Rennie Grove Peace Locality NW Hertfordshire Area (St Albans, Harpenden and Dacorum
• Closing date: 06 August 2025 at 12 noon
• Interview date:19 August 2025

This role is part of our Community Hospice at Home Service, which delivers compassionate, end-of-life care to people in their own homes during the final weeks of life. You don't need formal medical experience to apply just a caring nature, compassion, and a genuine desire to help and support others at the end of their lives. Full training and support will be provided.

Main duties of the job

As a Healthcare Assistant, you will:

• Provide care and support to patients, families and carers at home.Be able to work alone with guidance and support from Hospice at Home nurses.
• Support the nursing team such as speaking with other healthcare providers and making appointments.
• Work closely with hospice colleagues and community partners to deliver joined-up care.
• Champion the Rennie Grove Peace philosophy in the local community.Develop your skills within HCA knowledge and competency framework, with full support provided.
• Drive between appointments, therefore a car and full driving licence are essential for this role.

About us

At Rennie Grove Peace Hospice Care, our unique care provides a lifeline of compassion and support to patients, carers, and families facing progressive life-limiting illness.

We provide palliative and end of life care support, including bereavement services, within Buckinghamshire and Hertfordshire and our patient services are available to adults, as well as patients transitioning into adult services (16 to 25 years.)

Bereavement support is offered for all ages to families of patients and those around them, as well as throughout the community, in schools and workplaces.

We are proud to offer care in the place that best suits the individuals needs, whether that's at home, in a care home, in a short stay in our inpatient unit, out in the community, or in our purpose-built Living Well Centre facilities.

As a hospice care charity, we have offered this support, free of charge, for over 40 years.Our staff team of 340+ includes a wide range of patient-facing disciplines plus operational support based in Watford, Tring, St Albans, Chalfont St Giles and Berkhamsted.

The Charity is now one of the larger UK hospice charities, reaching a GP population of 797,037 of whom 75% live in Hertfordshire and 25% in Buckinghamshire.

Job responsibilities

As a Healthcare Assistant, you will:

• Deliver consistently high standards of individualised care and support under guidance of theHospice at Home team.
• Work alongside the patients families and/or health care professionals, maintaining an approach that incorporates physical,psychological, social and spiritual aspects of care in accordance with theRennie Grove Peace philosophy.
• Observe and report changes in the patients symptoms, conditionsand circumstances to the Hospice at Home CNS and notify other healthcareprofessionals as necessary.
• Deliver care in accordance with the patients agreed care plan.
• Identify and act on any safeguarding concerns for patients ortheir families, in line with Rennie Grove Peace policies.
• Keep accurate andlegible records in accordance with legislative requirements and Rennie GrovePeace practice and procedure.
• Assist with the patients washing, bathing, showering, pressurearea and oral care.
• Understand and comply with all Rennie Grove Peace policies andprocedueres.

Person Specification

Experience

• Ability to communicate clearly and effectively in English, verbal and written
• Ability to work effectively in an emotionally demanding environment
• Able to keep accurate records in accordance with RGP policy and procedure
• Drive and enthusiasm
• Ability to work autonomously and as an effective member of the team, using initiative
• Caring and empathetic approach
• Excellent interpersonal skills
• Flexible and adaptable to a variety of tasks
• Ability to prioritise effectively and work, even under pressure
• Commitment to the Rennie Grove Peace Hospice Care purpose
• Able to maintain confidentiality at all times
• Experience working effectively in a team environment
• Care certificate/NVQ Level 2 or equivalent
• Experience of working within the care setting
• Experience of working within a community setting
• Knowledge of and experience in care at the end of life and after death
• Relevant experience in assisting patients/people with their personal hygiene
• IT knowledge of Microsoft office.

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.