Health Care Assistant

St Helena Hospice; Colchester; On-site; GBP 24,000 - 27,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading healthcare organization in Colchester is seeking Health Care Assistants to provide care in both hospice and home environments. Ideal candidates will assist with daily living activities, support registered nurses, and provide emotional and spiritual care. Responsibilities include maintaining patient independence, implementing care plans, and recognizing psychosocial needs. The position offers a competitive salary, flexible working hours, and ongoing training opportunities.

Benefits

Competitive salary

Enhanced hourly rates for unsocial hours

NHS Pension

Clinical Supervision

Employee Assistance and Wellbeing support

Covered DBS Check

Uniform provided

Free on-site parking

Subsidised dining and complimentary drinks

Qualifications

• Proven ability to work off own initiative and as part of a team.
• Experience working in health or social care setting.
• Knowledge of illness and ability to recognize holistic care needs.

Responsibilities

• Assist registered nurses and therapists in providing care.
• Support patients and families while promoting independence.
• Carry out duties across both the Inpatient Unit and Community Services.

Skills

Initiative

Flexibility

Communication

Emotional resilience

Education

GCSE in English and Maths

NVQ in Care

Full driving licence

Job description

St Helena Hospice is seeking Health Care Assistants, to work within the Hospice IPU. The shifts are 12 hours and both full and part time hours will be considered.

Main duties of the job

The key priorities of this role are:

• To assist registered nurses, OT's and physiotherapists in providing high standards of specialist care to patients and their relatives.
• To provide physical,social, emotional and spiritual care in the patients home and the inpatient unit in agreement withthe patient and family.
• Identify and adapt clinical support given under the varying professions guiding principles of care and be able to switch approach as directed.

About us

St Helena Hospices core values and behaviours will be embedded in our recruitment, our training and development review and our decision making process.

Training and competencies within the specialities, as well as on‑going support and professional development, will be tailored to meet your individual needs.

In return we offer;

• A competitive and progressive salary.
• Enhanced hourly rates for working unsocial hours
• NHS Pension (for active members who wish to transfer and continue their membership)
• Clinical Supervision
• Employee Assistance and Wellbeing support
• We cover the cost of your DBS Check and the periodic renewal
• Uniform provided
• Free on site parking
• Subsidised dining and complimentary drinks

Job responsibilities

Duties & Responsibilities:

You should be flexible and adaptable to changes in your duties depending on patient demand, staffing levels, and operational priorities. For this role a willingness to support colleagues and work collaboratively across the wider team is essential to meet the needs of the service. These duties will be carried out across both the Inpatient Unit and Community Services.

Hospice MDT

In conjunction with other members of the team, and in line with your level of competence, assist in meeting the needs of patients: hygiene, elimination, nutrition, mobilising, maintaining independence, pain.

Be able to recognise and advocate for the promotion of independence and personalised care, based on patients' life histories and expressed preferences about their own care.

Meet the therapy needs of the patient through the delivery of the therapy plan of care devised by the registered therapist.

Identify the psychosocial and spiritual needs of families and friends under his/her care and communicate to the Registered Nurse.

To implement rehabilitation programmes devised by the OT or physio and when needed, follow up interventions.

To practice daily living activities with patients on the ward under the guidance of the OT/Physio, e.g. functional transfers, personal care, or mobility.

To assess and provide basic mobility and daily living equipment aids to patients, report to the Occupational Therapist (OT) or Physio (PT) as appropriate and arrange for loan or replacement of equipment with statutory services.

To implement therapeutic interventions such as exercise, stretching, energy conservation, pacing and relaxation, reporting to OT/PT as necessary.

Perform Last Offices to deceased patients including safe custody of valuables and belongings.

Maintaining health and safety within the ward area, i.e. ensure fire exits are clear, cupboards safely stocked, and hazards removed and reported.

Check and ensure that equipment is clean and in working order ready for use.

Ensure that all information recorded by the individual is in accordance with St Helena policy (i.e patient records, incident/accident reports).

Escort patients to hospital appointments, home visits or recreational trips.

Assist in checking Controlled Drugs with Registered Nurse (on completion of Drugs Competency Framework).

Ensure you follow all policies and procedures in relation to prevention and infection control.

Undertake and record clinical observations reporting results to Registered Nurse.

Undertakes simple dressings independently, within level of competence and assist Registered Nurses with complex dressings.

Hospice in the Home MDT:

To assist/supervise family members in caring for the patient or other untrained carers in the patients home.

To involve and enable the family and friends to continue caring for the patient and support them as appropriate.

To assist the Single Point RNs in assessment and care of patients.

To care for the person and their family holistically i.e. recognising the importance of physical, emotional, social and spiritual aspects of care.

To work unsupervised in the patients home.

To report back to Single Point any symptoms, concerns, changes or deterioration of the patients condition.

To take advice / instructions from St Helena Medical and Senior Staff on call when necessary.

To act as a call handler when required, being the first point of contact for patients, relatives and healthcare professionals. With a calm telephone manner and excellent communication skills to obtain the relevant information. IT skills and experience will be needed to then log the call for triage.

To act as a driver for the Registered Nurse during a night shift.

To communicate effectively with members of the interdisciplinary team, District Nurse, GP, Social Services etc.

To have an awareness of the function and use of equipment used in the care of the palliative/end of life patient at home.

To participate in educational programmes carried out within St Helena, as both provider and recipient.

To mentor and direct new Health Care Assistants.

You will be required to work independently, including patients' homes and community environments, in line with the needs of the service. When lone working, the postholder must adhere to the organisations Lone Working Policy and follow all relevant safety protocols. A lone worker device will be provided to support personal safety, and emergency alerts.

Person Specification

Qualities

• Proven ability to work off own initiative and as part of a team.
• Flexible to meet needs of service.
• Physically able to undertake the job.
• Proven coping strategies when under emotional pressure

Qualifications

• Full driving licence
• GCSE in English and Maths
• NVQ in Care

Communication

• Proven written and verbal communication skills.
• Clear verbal communication skills demonstrable with a range of people.
• Ability to accurately record any information required i.e. patient records, telephone messages or information as requested by patients

Skills and Knowledge

• Proven awareness of the possible needs of patients, families under the care of St Helena
• Knowledge of illness as a carer and the ability to recognise when a person has physical, social, psychological or spiritual care needs.
• Demonstrated commitment and understanding to the Hospice philosophy and the work of St. Helena.

Experience

• Experience working with people and handling difficult situations.
• Experience of working in health or social care setting.

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.

£24,672.78 to £26,315.85 a year Depending on experience