Health Care Assistant

Zoe’s Place Baby Hospice; Tees Valley; On-site; GBP 18,000 - 22,000; Full time

Job summary

A care facility for children in Tees Valley is seeking Health Care Assistants to support clinical teams in providing palliative care for babies and children with complex needs. Candidates should possess an NVQ level 2 or Care certificate and have experience in healthcare settings. The role involves ensuring high standards of care, collaborating with families, and participating in team training. Flexible shift work is required, including nights and weekends. This position is integral to the mission of supporting vulnerable children and offering quality care.

Qualifications

• Experience working as a HCA or in a school, nursery, healthcare environment.
• Experience with children and families with complex needs and life limiting illnesses.

Responsibilities

• Support clinical team and provide palliative care for children.
• Ensure interactions and care are of the highest standards.
• Co-operate with outside agencies for improved support.

Skills

Caring and approachable

Good interpersonal skills

Ability to provide holistic care

Ability to follow policies and procedures

Ability to work shifts

Reliable, punctual and organised

Education

NVQ level 2 / Care certificate

Job description

Health Care Assistants will work as part of a team to support the clinical team and outside agencies in providing specialised short break and palliative care. Due to the wide range of health needs of the children, the health care assistant will be trained to competently and confidently carry out clinical skills to ensure the babies and children are safe and comfortable. The postholder will ensure that all care and interactions are of the highest standards. Following robust competency assessments, the postholder will carry out clinical care, and provide holistic individualised care and support to children and their families.

Main duties of the job

Maintain high standards that reflect best practice guidelines, organisational policies, andhospice values.

Actively encourage a family atmosphere within the hospice.

Ensure good time management and punctuality and maintain a professional appearance at alltimes. Conduct yourself at all times in a professional manner.

Adhere to Zoes Place policies and procedures, guidelines and standards at all times andpromote these to others.

Ensure that all patient notes are accurate and thorough in accordance with professional andorganisational standards.

Attend and participate in an annual appraisal and regular reviews of performance andobjectives, identifying gaps in knowledge/skills and developing a plan to enhance service andself-development.

Encourage and promote the philosophy of Zoes Place and present a good public image.

Co-operate with all staff in maintaining good relationships with outside agencies in order touphold the Charitys image and win increased support for our work.

Report any incidents and accidents to the Nurse in charge in a timely manner and ensure thatthey are recorded in the appropriate documentation.

Promote and maintain dignity, privacy and confidentiality at all times.

About us

Zoes Place Baby Hospice is nurse-led, providing 24-hour short breaks and end of life support forbabies and children up to the age of six (extended to age 8 years as needed) who have lifelimiting and life-threatening complex needs.

Job responsibilities

Health Care Assistants will work as part of a team to support the clinical team and outside agenciesin providing specialised short break and palliative care. Due to the wide range of health needs of the children, the health care assistant will be trained to competently and confidently carry out clinical skills to ensure the babies and children are safe and comfortable. The postholder will ensure that all care andinteractions are of the highest standards. Following robust competency assessments, thepostholder will carry out clinical care, and provide holistic individualised care and support tochildren and their families.

Experience

• Experience working as a HCA or in a school, nursery, healthcare environment
• Experience of working with children and families with complex needs and life limiting illnesses.

Attributes

• Caring and approachable.
• Good interpersonal skills.
• Ability to provide holistic care.
• Ability to follow policies and procedures.
• Ability to follow instructions from senior members of the team.
• Ability to work shifts including nights and weekends.
• Reliable, punctual and organised.
• Demonstrates commitment to equal opportunities.
• Ability to maintain professional boundaries.
• Aware of responsibilities in relation to data protection and confidentiality.
• Awareness of the skills, interactions and models that underpin effective
• communication with children who have life limiting, life threatening conditions and their families
• Ability to deal with difficult situations

Qualifications

• NVQ level 2 / Care certificate

Skills Knowledges and Competencies

• Enthusiastic and motivated with a good conscientious attitude.
• Flexibility to meet service demand.Problem solving and decision making skills.
• Ability to work within a team setting.
• Ability to follow instructions but use own initiative for the best interests of the child, family and service.
• Has been involved in developing and reviewing policies and procedures.
• Has been involved in developing clinical competencies.

Other

• Understanding of clinical governance and able to apply this to practice.
• Work shifts, day and night

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.