Health Care Assistant

NHS; York and North Yorkshire; On-site; GBP 40,000 - 60,000; Full time

Job summary

A local charity in York is looking for caring and compassionate individuals to join as Health Care Assistants. You will provide essential palliative and end-of-life care, delivering high standards of support to patients and their families. With no prior care experience necessary, this role offers a wonderful opportunity to make a difference in the community. Full-time positions available with flexible hours, shift enhancements, and comprehensive benefits including above NHS pay and extensive leave.

Benefits

Salaries above NHS pay scales

Up to 41 days of annual leave

Golden Hello of £250

Free on-site car parking

Extensive employee discounts

Qualifications

• Good written and verbal communication skills.
• Ability to work effectively in a multi-disciplinary team.
• Knowledge of palliative care is preferable.

Responsibilities

• Deliver high standards of holistic care to patients.
• Provide emotional support to patients' loved ones.
• Communicate effectively with patients and their families.

Skills

Excellent interpersonal skills

Ability to respond to emotionally challenging situations

Education

Care Certificate or willingness to undertake training

NVQ Qualification in Care

Tools

Microsoft applications (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook)

Job description

Are you a caring and compassionate person looking to make a real difference to patients at the end of life when they need it most? Do you want to work for a highly-respected local charity that supports the York community?

St Leonard's Hospice is recruiting skilled and empathetic individuals to join the IPU team as Health Care Assistants to make a difference both personally and professionally to patients who require palliative and end of life care. This is a great opportunity to consider a career move into palliative care, as you don't need to have any previous care experience. There is time at the Hospice to provide the best standards of care and to build relationships with patients and their families which makes us different to other care settings.

We are ideally recruiting full time positions which work37.5 hours per week however we are happy to accept applications from candidates who are looking to work 30+ hours per week. The clinical teams operate on a rotational shift pattern which includes earlys, lates and long days over weekends and bank holidays. Shifts are allocated well in advance so our team can have a great work/ life balance.

Main duties of the job

Under the guidance of Registered Nurses, our Health Care Assistants play a pivotal role by:

• Delivering high standards of holistic care which is tailored to individual patients
• Providing emotional support to patients loved ones
• Providing excellent communication to patients and their families and members
• Maintaining accurate records of care
• Working with a dedicated team of professionals, ensuring the needs of the patients and families are met with compassion and excellence
• Creating a positive and safe environment for patients

Our ideal candidates will:

• Be committed to delivering exceptional care
• Have excellent interpersonal skills
• Have the ability to respond appropriately to emotionally challenging situations
• Be willing and flexible to working unsocial hours including nights, weekends and bank holidays

What we can offer you:

• Salaries above the NHS pay scales
• Shift enhancements for working unsociable hours

• £17.11 to £18.24 per hour for working Saturdays or nights (Monday to Friday)
• £21.38 to £22.80 per hour for working Sundays or bank holidays
• Golden Hello of £250 (after tax) as a special thank you and welcome to our team
• Up to 41 days of annual leave
• Continuation of NHS pension and annual leave entitlement (T&Cs apply)
• Attractive pension scheme for non-NHS staff
• Extensive employee discounts on shops, holidays and lifestyle choices and Blue Light Card discounts
• A supportive induction and tailored development plan
• Free on-site car parking
• A supportive and friendly working environment

About us

Our mission is to provide excellent care and support to those living with life-limiting illness and to the people they care about, to enrich their lives and to contribute to the ongoing development of end-of-life care. We do this by placing our patients at the centre of everything we do, and through involving patients and their families in all decisions regarding their care.

We can only achieve this with the help of our amazing colleagues, by developing and recognising their contribution, and by sharing our knowledge and skills through education, audit and research.

We do not have sponsorship status and therefore all our offers are made conditional upon our candidates submitting evidence of their right to work in the UK in conjunction with our other pre-employment checks.

Job responsibilities

Towork as a member of the multi-disciplinary team in providing a high standard ofcare for patients and their families under the care of the Hospice.

Mainduties and responsibilities

Professional

• Develop excellent communications with the patient and their family, passing on all relevant information to a qualified nurse.
• Inform a qualified nurse of any change in the patients condition.
• Respect the privacy and dignity of the patient at all times and keep strict confidentiality.
• Carry out personal cares for the patient under the direction of a qualified nurse.
• Maintain accurate records of care under the supervision of qualified staff.
• When required to act as a patients escort on external visits.
• Undertake light domestic and catering duties.
• Participate in full rotation across all shifts including nights, weekends and bank holidays.

Managerial

• Follow Hospice procedures when giving or receiving telephone messages.
• Follow Hospice procedures in the care and custody of patients valuables and property.
• Follow the Hospice procedures on the reporting of all accidents, incidents, hazards or complaints.
• Exercise care and economy in the use of property and equipment.
• Maintain a caring and mutually supportive working environment for all members of staff and volunteers, being sensitive to the emotional needs of colleagues and giving appropriate support to them.

Education

• Assist with the orientation of new staff members and others on placement within the Hospice.
• Be prepared to work towards achieving the Care Certificate.

Person Specification

Qualifications

• Care Certificate or willingness to undertake training
• NVQ Qualification in Care

Communication

• Good written and verbal communication
• Good interpersonal skills
• Ability to be sensitive and empathetic
• Able to work effectively in a multi-disciplinary team

IT

• Good basic IT skills
• Knowledge of Microsoft applications (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook)

Other

• Be prepared to assist with Hospice fundraising activities
• Enhanced DBS check
• Ability to work unsocial hours including nights and weekends
• Vehicle owner with full UK driving licence
• Knowledge of York and surrounding area

Experience

• Knowledge of palliative care
• Experience of working as a carer

Personal

• Work confidentially and with discretion
• Awareness and ability to cope with pressure
• Ability to work in a challenging environment
• Flexible to the changing needs of the post
• Be accurate and methodical
• Honest, trustworthy, reliable and punctual
• Approachable, team player
• Committed to providing a quality and measurable service
• Ability to accept support from other team members
• Respect for others ethnic or/and religious/spiritual beliefs
• Committed to own continuing professional development
• A commitment to Hospice care and to have a philosophy and concept of Hospice care

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.