Health Care Support Worker

The Methodist Church in Britain; Birmingham; On-site; GBP 21,000 - 25,000; Full time

Job summary

Hope House Children’s Hospices in Birmingham is seeking a Health Care Support Worker to provide compassionate care under nurse supervision for children and young people with life-limiting conditions.

You will assist with personal care, participate in play and learning activities, and help with medicines checks and administration after appropriate training and competency assessment.

Qualifications

• Willingness to undertake NVQ Level 3 Health and Social Care (childcare).
• Willingness to undertake further training relevant to the role.
• Experience of working with children, young people or young adults in care, community or educational setting.
• Some experience of basic personal care tasks.
• Physically fit to move a child with hoisting equipment.

Responsibilities

• Provide high-quality care to each child or young person under registered nurse supervision.
• Provide holistic care and support to children and young people with complex, life-threatening conditions and their families.
• Work in partnership with each child and family to meet their needs.
• Promote dignity and privacy, including end-of-life care.
• Take part in play, recreational and learning activities with play leaders.
• Help check and administer medicines under registered nurse supervision.
• Complete the training needed for safe medicines management.
• Undertake a range of personal care duties after training and competency assessment.

Skills

Communication skills

Reading & writing

Verbal skills

Computer skills

Confidentiality

Education

NVQ Level 3 Health and Social Care (childcare)

Job description

This permanent Health Care Support Worker post sits within Hope House Children's Hospices, a palliative care service for children, young people and their families. The work centres on personal care under registered nurse supervision, play and learning, and helping with medicines checks and administration. The post suits full-time or part-time hours with twelve and a half hour day and night shifts. Applicants need a willingness to work towards NVQ Level 3 and must be fit to move children with hoisting equipment.

What the job involves

• Provide high-quality care to each child or young person in line with their individual care plan, under registered nurse supervision
• Provide holistic care and support to children and young people with complex, life-threatening conditions and their families
• Work in partnership with each child and family to meet their needs
• Promote dignity and privacy, including end-of-life care
• Take part in play, recreational and learning activities with play leaders
• Help check and administer medicines under registered nurse supervision
• Complete the training needed for safe medicines management
• Undertake a range of personal care duties after training and competency assessment

Qualifications

• Willingness to undertake NVQ Level 3 Health and Social Care (childcare)
• Willingness to undertake further training relevant to the role

Experience

• Experience of working with children, young people or young adults in a care, community or educational setting
• Some experience of basic personal care tasks

Skills & knowledge

• Able to work alone, use initiative and respond assertively
• Good communication skills, including reading, writing, verbal and computer skills, and liaising with colleagues
• Understanding of the effects of living with a life-limiting or life-threatening condition, and sensitivity to the child and family
• Understanding of the importance of play and fun when caring for children and young people
• Understanding of the importance of confidentiality

Other

• Physically fit enough to move a child with hoisting equipment, following training

Nice to have

• NVQ Level 3 Health and Social Care or childcare
• Nursery Nurse qualification or equivalent
• Experience of caring for a child, young person or adult with complex health needs and/or disability