Healthcare Assistant

Blue Eye Designs; Sunderland; On-site; GBP 24,000 - 27,000; Full time

Job summary

A healthcare provider is seeking an enthusiastic Hospital Elder Life Programme Assistant to provide compassionate care for patients with delirium and dementia. The role involves delivering therapies, assisting with diet, and engaging patients in meaningful activities. Ideal candidates will have experience in caring roles, significant communication skills, and knowledge at level 1 in Maths and English. This is a permanent role with both full-time and part-time options available, offering a salary between £24,465 and £26,598 per year.

Benefits

Access to a fitness centre

Career progression opportunities

Flexible working policy

Qualifications

• Experience in a caring role, paid or unpaid.
• Ability to assist patients to move safely.
• Willingness to complete relevant training.

Responsibilities

• Provide 1:1 care for patients with delirium or dementia.
• Assist with feeding and dietary support.
• Engage in reminiscence work and crafts with patients.

Skills

Customer care skills

Communication skills

Basic IT skills

Education

Maths and English at level 1 or above

NVQ Level 2 in health and social care (desirable)

Job description

Job Summary

Band2/3 (move to Band 3 when competencies are met)

Note: The Trust is not able to offer Skilled Worker Sponsorship for this role as it does not meet the UKVI threshold requirements. Applicants are requested to consider this when making their application. Please visit Gov.UK for further information.

We are looking for a highly enthusiastic individual to work with the Hospital Elder Life Practitioners within our trust. The post offers a challenging opportunity to gain knowledge of delirium and dementia. We are searching for a new band 3 who is a dynamic, highly motivated and passionate individual committed to high quality patient care within the hospital setting.

The Hospital Elder Life Programme Assistant will provide therapies and support to cognitively frail patients across the trust. These therapies will be conducted both with the Alexandra centre at Sunderland and also within the ward environment at both South Tyneside and Sunderland. These therapies will aid in improving patients experience, reducing incidence of delirium, reducing falls, providing an enhanced level of care for patients and improving orientation. The team provides multi‑component therapies within the inpatient setting in order to reach these goals and will act as shining examples of the quality care we provide to this patient group.

About Us

One Team One Trust. From our commitment to putting people first to our accessible services and award‑winning teams. We have a passion for research, innovation and tackling inequalities. We are committed to respect, fairness and civility and promote a compassionate, caring and positive culture / working environment.

We welcome all applications irrespective of peoples race, disability, gender, sexual orientation, religion/belief, age, gender identity, marriage and civil partnership, pregnancy/maternity and in particular those from under‑represented groups. Looking after our workforces health and wellbeing is a priority for us. We also provide access to high quality education, training, career progression and support. Flexible working is supported via our Flexible Working Policy.

The Trust employs around 8,746 people and provides a range of hospital services to a local community of around 430,000 residents. We offer our staff outstanding benefits – Fitness Centre (SRH), libraries at both hospital sites, chaplaincy support and access to a Care Co‑ordinator to help staff with childcare arrangements.

Job Description

Assistant the registered practitioner (or other healthcare practitioners) in providing high‑quality compassionate patient care and assistance to patients / relatives and their carers appropriate to their needs.

Responsibilities

• Provide enhanced 1:1 care for patients who have an ongoing delirium or dementia, ensuring appropriate stimulation, engagement, re‑orientation and meeting dietary and fluid intake requirements.
• Assist with diet and fluid support for patients around the trust, including feeding assistance, ensuring appropriate prompting, documentation and encouragement of dietary and fluid intake.
• Carry out life‑story sessions and engage in reminiscence work within our patient group, including music therapy where appropriate in the Alexandra centre.
• Facilitate crafts and themed sessions both on wards and within the Alexandra centre.
• Ensure patients’ mobility needs are met and contribute to the PJ Paralysis initiative by ensuring patients are as mobile as possible during their inpatient stay.
• Provide appropriate personal care to maintain patient privacy and dignity at all times.
• Support house‑keeping and other ward duties (general tidiness, stock levels, clinical equipment cleanliness, etc.).
• Assist with admin and clerical duties as required.
• Contribute to the multi‑disciplinary team and departmental objectives.

Qualifications

• Maths and English at level 1 or above (GCSE A‑E or equivalent).
• Substantive customer services experience or experience of working in a caring role (paid or unpaid).
• NVQ Level 2 qualification in health and social care / customer care or equivalent in any subject (desirable).

Skills & Knowledge

• Ability to communicate messages and instructions accurately to colleagues, both verbally and in writing.
• Good customer care skills and the ability to communicate effectively with patients, carers and visitors.
• Present yourself as courteous, respectful and helpful.
• Basic keyboard and IT skills.
• Willingness to complete Competency‑Based Assessments and a Portfolio of evidence, to achieve the Care Certificate and any other training related to this role.
• Ability to assist patients to move, as per Trust Moving and Handling Policy.
• Work effectively under direct supervision as part of a multi‑disciplinary team.

Person Specification

• Essential: Ability to assist patients to move, as per Trust Moving and Handling Policy.
• Essential: Substantive customer services experience or experience of working in a caring role (paid or unpaid).
• Essential: Maths and English at level 1 or above (GCSE A‑E or equivalent).
• Desirable: NVQ Level 2 qualification in health and social care / customer care or equivalent in any subject.

Additional Information

Salary: £24,465 to £26,598 a year PRO RATA FOR PART TIME HOURS.

Contract: Permanent.

Working pattern: Full‑time, Part‑time.

Locations: Sunderland Royal Hospital (Kayll Road, Sunderland, SR4 7TP) and South Tyneside NHS Foundation Trust (Harton Lane, South Shields, NE34 0PL).

Reference number: C9155-MDNM-1125-30-1.

Contact for informal enquiries: Claire Boylan and Kathryn Wressell – telephone [phone].

Disclosure and Barring Service Check

This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service to check for any previous criminal convictions.