Healthcare Assistant

NHS; Workington; Hybrid; GBP 20,000 - 25,000; Full time

Job summary

A local healthcare charity in Workington is seeking qualified Healthcare Assistants to provide compassionate end-of-life care for patients in their homes. The ideal candidates will possess NVQ Level 2 in Health and Social Care, excellent communication skills, and the ability to work flexibly. This role offers full-time, part-time, and flexible working patterns with a supportive team. Responsibilities include personal care and emotional support for families during difficult times.

Benefits

Flexible working

Pension package

Wellbeing support

Generous holiday entitlement

Qualifications

• Demonstrable clinical competence in palliative care or willingness to undertake additional training.
• Experience providing palliative care in various settings is desirable.
• Enhanced DBS required.

Responsibilities

• Provide personal care and support to patients in a home environment.
• Assist with practical care including food, nutrition, and hydration support.
• Communicate effectively with families and healthcare professionals.

Skills

Communication skills

Compassionate approach

Ability to work alone

Flexibility to changing situations

Education

NVQ Level 2 Health and Social Care

NVQ Level 3 Health and Social Care

Skills for Life Certificate

Tools

IT skills with Office applications

Job description

Job Summary

Do you have a caring and compassionate approach? Excellent communication skills? A desire to make a difference? If you want to be part of an innovative and developing team who are passionate about providing high quality end of life care to support patients and families we have the role for you.

We are looking for qualified Healthcare Assistants who can think on their feet and respond to changing situations.

The role of the Healthcare Assistant is to work on a one-to-one basis with patients, families and carers in a home environment, providing care and support in a way which maintains and respects the privacy, dignity, safety and lifestyle of the patient receiving care.

The post holder will assist with practical care (including personal care, food, nutrition and hydration support, catheter care, pressure care, simple dressings, and other activities of daily living) aligned to individualised care plans.

You will be part of a motivated team who cover 7 days per week, 365 days per year. The Home Nursing Team operates primarily at night with flexibility to provide day-time respite.

Upcoming Work Hours

Working pattern: Full‑time, Part‑time, Flexible working, Annualised hours.

About Us

Hospice at Home West Cumbria is an established and highly respected local charity, with an outstanding reputation for delivering excellent palliative and end of life services in the heart of the community.

We offer flexible working, pension, wellbeing package for staff, generous holiday entitlement, and personal development and support.

Responsibilities

• Understands that any care and support complies with best practice and regulatory requirements and is up to date with changing policies and practices.
• Undertakes and observes the Hospice at Home West Cumbria Initial Home Assessment, recognising when to inform the team lead/senior hospice nurse or out of hours on call of any situations that may pose a risk or threat to colleagues, patient or family.
• Provides direct nursing care aligned to individualised care plans to patients with palliative care needs and those approaching end of life.
• Undertakes continued assessment of the patient during the episode of care and recognises and responds to any change in the patient's condition, seeking additional advice and support from out of hour professionals: related to direct patient care and management.
• Assists with last offices as and when needed.
• Provides families and carers with emotional and psychological support, effectively communicating information to improve their end‑of‑life management and the bereavement experience of those important to them.
• Attends and participates in supervision and de‑briefings for patients, families and carers alongside other health and social care professionals on an as‑required basis and as part of maintaining own resilience and wellbeing.
• Produces documentation of the care given which complies with documentation standards and is legible, traceable, permanent, contemporaneously recorded, original and accurate.
• Works as a member of the wider hospice and organisational teams and participates and supports the induction of new staff, building positive relationships internally and externally including peers and local health care professionals.

Qualifications & Experience

• NVQ Level 2 Health and Social Care (essential).
• NVQ Level 3 Health and Social Care (desirable).
• Skills for Life Certificate (desirable).
• Demonstrable clinical competence in palliative care or willingness to undertake additional training (essential).
• Awareness of Hospice at Home West Cumbria and care services (desirable).
• Experience providing palliative care in a variety of settings (desirable).
• Experience working in the community (patients own home) (desirable).
• Experience working in isolation with awareness of associated risks (desirable).
• Enhanced DBS required.

Technical & Interpersonal Competencies

• Ability to communicate and transfer information effectively with patients, families, carers and other health care professionals.
• Ability to work alone without direct supervision for the provision of personal care and clinical care, including catheter care, pressure care, simple dressings and other activities of daily living.
• IT skills with a working knowledge of Office applications and willingness to develop competencies within organisational and EMIS clinical systems.
• Ability to work as a member of a team and build positive relationships internally and externally.
• Ability to cope with constantly changing situations to achieve the best outcomes for patients, carers or family members.
• Ability to empathise and understand the needs of others, handle conflict, de‑escalate challenging situations and recognise self‑needs to maximise resilience.
• Flexibility during times of change to support new ways of working and respond to changing working patterns over a 24 hour period 7 days a week.
• Ability to travel across the geographical area covered by the post to attend meetings or undertake training (face‑to‑face or remote).

Disclosure and Barring Service Check

This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and requires a submission for Disclosure to the Disclosure and Barring Service. An Enhanced DBS is required.

Employer Details

Hospice at Home West Cumbria

Park Lane, Workington, Cumbria, CA14 2RW

Contact Information

Telephone: [phone] (Rachael McAllister or Rachael Rooney – Team Leader / Deputy Team Leader).

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

Email: [e-mail]

Closing date: 10:00 a.m. Monday 5 January 2026

Interview date: Monday 19 January 2026