Healthcare Assistant

NHS; Crawley; On-site; GBP 23,000 - 27,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading hospice organization in Crawley is seeking a Healthcare Assistant to provide expert care. This full-time role works 37.5 hours per week, with some flexibility required including nights. Experience in healthcare is essential, along with excellent communication skills. The position is a fixed term contract until May 2026, offering a salary range of £23,902 to £26,017 depending on experience.

Qualifications

• Experience of caring for patients.
• Excellent communication skills, both verbal and written.
• Ability to work as part of a multi-disciplinary team.

Responsibilities

• Delivering expert personalised care.
• Understanding basic nutritional needs.
• Promoting dignity in care.

Skills

Compassion

Professional communication skills

Ability to work independently

Understanding of health and safety procedures

Education

General good level of literacy and numeracy

Care Certificate

NVQ 2/3 in Health/Social care or equivalent

Job description

Job Summary

Please apply for this vacancy via the St Catherines Hospice Website: https://stcatherineshospice.peoplehr.net/Pages/JobBoard/Opening.aspx?v=558ce176-861b-4be8-b05a-8c5412814c05

Are you an experienced healthcare assistant? Would you find it rewarding to provide expert personalised care and make a difference when it matters most? Then our Healthcare Assistant role might be for you!

Responsibilities

The successful candidate will have experience delivering care, awareness of health and safety procedures and excellent professional communication skills including managing various barriers to communication. An understanding of compassion, dignity and the ability to work under your own initiative are essential.

This role is offered on a full time basis, working 37.5 hours per week across nights on a shift basis. Some flexibility will be required including some day shift work. Part time hours (minimum 23 hours per week) will also be considered for the successful candidate.

The position is a 6 month fixed term contract until 31 May 2026.

Person Specification

• Qualifications:
  • General good level of literacy and numeracy
• Desirable Qualifications:
  • Care Certificate
  • NVQ 2/3 in Health/Social care or equivalent
• Experience:
  • Experience of caring
  • Awareness of health and safety procedures and infection prevention and control and how they affect people in the workplace
  • Excellent professional communication skills. Awareness of ways that may help to overcome barriers to communication (dementia, sensory disability, confusion, Non English speaking, etc.)
  • Ability to use own initiative to plan own work for the shift in order to meet the needs of a given group of patients.
  • Ability to work as a member of the multi‑disciplinary team.
  • An understanding of basic nutrition needs
  • Able to demonstrate methods of promoting dignity
  • Communication skills (both verbal and written) proficient in English.
  • Be able to effectively communicate with compassion and understanding with people on a variety of levels using tact, diplomacy, and empathy
  • Ability to undertake training and direct own learning
• Desirable Experience:
  • Experience of delivering care to patients within a Hospice, Hospital, Community or Care Home
  • An understanding of the nature of hospice work, and an ability to seek support for his/herself as a result of distressing circumstances
• Attitude and Behaviours:
  • Reliable, honest, and trustworthy
  • A flexible approach to work and an ability to work day and night shifts.
  • Motivated, enthusiastic and innovative
  • Approachable and adaptable
  • Demonstrates commitment to St Catherine's vision and values.
• Desirable Attitude and Behaviours:
  • An understanding of the need for self‑care when working in a palliative care 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.

Job Details

• Date posted: 21 November 2025
• Salary: £23,902 to £26,017 a year Depending on experience
• Contract: Fixed term
• Duration: 6 months
• Working pattern: Full-time, Part-time
• Reference number: B0271-VA210

Job Locations

• St. Catherines Hospice
• Grace Holland Avenue
• Pease Pottage
• Crawley
• West Sussex
• RH119SL

Employer Details

St Catherine’s Hospice
Grace Holland Avenue
Pease Pottage
Crawley
West Sussex
RH119SL

Website: https://www.stch.org.uk/