Health Care Assistant - In Patient Unit (Perm & Bank positions)

St Michael's Hospice (Hastings & Rother); St Leonards; On-site; GBP 24,000 - 28,000; Full time

Job summary

A community-focused hospice provider in St Leonards is seeking a motivated Health Care Assistant to join their In-Patient Unit. The ideal candidate will support high standards of palliative and nursing care for patients and their families. Required qualifications include a Level 2 vocational qualification in Health and Social Care, along with effective communication and interpersonal skills. This role offers both permanent and bank positions with a supportive team atmosphere and a commitment to quality care.

Benefits

Good pension scheme

Employee Assistance Programme

Annual leave up to 33 days

Subsidised employee meals

Free refreshments

Free parking

Supportive supervision

Access to a Blue Light Card for discounts

Qualifications

• Good standard of general education in maths.
• Experience working with adults in a health care setting.

Responsibilities

• Assist and support qualified staff in providing nursing care.
• Deliver high standards of palliative and nursing care.

Skills

Effective communication skills

Ability to work in multi-disciplinary teams

Interpersonal skills

Computer literacy

Knowledge of Palliative/Holistic Care

Experience in a Hospice setting

Medication support/administration

Education

Level 2 vocational qualification in Health and Social Care or equivalent

Working towards Level 3 vocational qualification in Health and Social Care

Job description

Health Care Assistant - In Patient Unit (Perm & Bank positions)

The closing date is 21 December 2025.

At St Michaels Hospice, we are committed to providing the highest quality of care to our patients and their families. As a member of our clinical team, you will have the opportunity to make a meaningful difference in the lives of those we serve.

We have an exciting opportunity for enthusiastic, motivated and flexible Health Care Assistants to join our In‑Patient Unit, both on a permanent contract and bank.

Main duties of the job

As a key member of a skilled interdisciplinary team, you will support the holistic needs of patients, their families and carers. Working alongside our Registered Nurses and other healthcare professionals, you will deliver the highest standards of service, including compassionate and dignified care for patients at the end of life and those closest to them, ensuring that personal goals and priorities are fulfilled.

About us

At St Michaels Hospice we offer a friendly, team‑oriented work environment, a good pension scheme with the option to continue any existing NHS pension scheme membership, an Employee Assistance Programme (Benenden Healthcare), up to 33 days annual leave plus bank holidays, subsidised employee meals and free refreshments, free parking, supportive supervision along with an proactive Education Department to support your development. Hospice employees also qualify for a Blue Light Card with access to a huge array of discounts.

Job responsibilities

The Health Care Assistant is a member of the care team who is appointed to assist and support the qualified staff in providing high standards of palliative and nursing care to the patients and their relatives.

Please see attached Job Description for full details of this role.

Person Specification

Qualifications

• Good standard of general education in maths
• Level 2 vocational qualification in Health and Social Care or equivalent.
• Working towards Level 3 vocational qualification in Health and Social Care

Skills/Ability/Knowledge

• Ability to demonstrate effective communication skills with colleagues, patients and others
• Ability to work effectively within multi-disciplinary team
• Good interpersonal skills
• Keyboard skills and be computer literate
• Be willing to learn about Palliative/Holistic Care
• Experience of working in a Hospice
• Support/administering of medication

Qualities/Attributes

• Able to act on own initiative
• Able to motivate oneself
• Able to work under pressure and adapt as required
• Communicate in a sensitive manner
• Flexible in approach towards role

Other Requirements

• Physical effort
• Frequent moderate physical effort over short periods. Lift and push light objects, bend over patients, kneel, turn, and move patients. On feet for majority of shift (6 or 12 hours)
• Emotional effort
• Frequent requirement for high levels of concentration. Pattern predictable. Frequent exposure to distressing or emotional circumstances, care of terminally ill patient, deterioration/death

Experience

• Experience working with adults in a health care setting providing direct patient care
• Worked in Residential/
• Nursing Home or Hospital environment

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.

Employer name

St Michael's Hospice (Hastings & Rother)

£24,590 to £27,296 a year Enhancements for unsociable hours