Healthcare Support Worker - Palliative Care

University Hospitals Dorset Nhs Foundation Trust; Poole; On-site; GBP 26,000 - 29,000; Full time

Job summary

University Hospitals Dorset NHS Foundation Trust is seeking an experienced Health Care Assistant to join the specialist palliative care team. The role covers both community care (hospice at home) and the inpatient Macmillan Unit/ Forest Holme, delivering compassionate End of Life care.

You must have NHS palliative care experience, be able to drive, and willing to work flexible shifts, including weekends. Band placement may start at Band 2 or Band 3 depending on care certificate competencies.

Qualifications

• Good general education is required.
• NVQ2/NVQ3 in a relevant field is desirable.
• Life experience and previous caring experience are essential.
• Experience caring for cancer or terminally ill patients is desirable.
• NHS palliative care experience is desirable.
• Paperwork accuracy and confidentiality are required.
• Ability to drive and have access to a car is essential.

Responsibilities

• Provide a high standard of care to patients in palliative care.
• Work flexible hours, including 7 days a week, 24 hours a day.
• Support both community (hospice at home) and inpatient care (Macmillan Unit/Forest Holme).
• Maintain accurate documentation and records.
• Communicate effectively with patients, families and the care team.

Skills

Basic Nursing skills

Good communication

Paperwork accuracy

Effective communication

Interpersonal skills

Learning environment

Confidentiality

Driver with car

Education

General education

NVQ2/NVQ3

Tools

Computer literate

Job description

Job summary

An exciting opportunity has arisen for an experienced Health Care Assistant to join the specialist palliative care team working both within the community under hospice at home and the inpatient ward at the Macmillan Unit and Forest Holme. We provide palliative and End of Life Care to patients with life limiting disease. The successful candidate would need to be compassionate and demonstrate a keen interest in Palliative care. They would also demonstrate the ability to provide a high standard of quality care to our patients. The candidate needs to have excellent interpersonal skills and be able to work flexible hours.

Previous NHS experience of working in palliative care environment is essential.

You will need to drive and have access to a car for this role.

The role covers shift work 7 days a week 24 hours a day.

New starters to the trust will have to undertake a numeracy and literacy test.

This post is being advertised as a Band 3, however applicants that do not meet the required care certificate competencies will initially be employed as a Band 2. Applicants who hold a care certificate accreditation will start in post at Band 3.

Base Location: Christchurch Hospital / Forest Holme

Interview Date: 19th or 20th October 2026

Please note we are unable to offer sponsorship for this position.

Main duties of the job

To understand the role in more detail please read the full job description and person specification documents which are attached to this advert.

About us

Our values define who we are as #TeamUHD. They underpin everything we do now and in the future. They define how we treat our patients, visitors, and each other, our valued team mates and colleagues.

If a role or service relocates as part of a planned move, excess mileage will not be reimbursed. Travel from home to the new work base will be classed as a normal commute. Any other changes will be managed under Trust or national terms and conditions.

Job responsibilities

To understand the role in more detail please read the full job description and person specification documents which are attached to this advert.

Qualifications

Essential

• Good standard of general education

Desirable

• NVQ2/NVQ3

Experience

Essential

• Life Experience
• Previous experience of caring for people.

Desirable

• Previous experience of looking after cancer or terminally ill patients.
• Previous experience working in palliative care environment in NHS

Technical Skills Competencies

Essential

• Basic Nursing skills & Good communication skills
• Ability to complete paperwork accurately with required information.
• Ability to establish & maintain effective communication with people
• Good interpersonal skills
• Able to work within a stressful environment
• Participate within the learning environment
• Understanding of the importance of confidentiality
• Drive and have access to a car for work

Desirable

• Computer literate

Knowledge

Essential

• Good level of nursing care
• Knowledge of dying or bereavement.
• Basic understanding of the emotional needs of patients and their families

Interpersonal skills

Essential

• Good interpersonal skills including empathy and open minded approach to patients
• Sensitivity to the needs of others
• Emotionally able to work within the field of palliative care

Desirable

• Able to understand the importance of boundaries in relationships with patients and their families

Other requirements specific to

Essential

• Willingness to and interest in acquiring new skills
• Ability to work in a demanding environment

Personal Attributes

Essential

• Ability to show initiative + prioritize work efficiently Motivated
• Ability to work as a part of the team.
• Ability to travel within the geographical areas as required by the service/requirements of the post.
• Ability to work flexible hours.

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.