In-Patient Unit Healthcare Assistant

St Elizabeth Hospice; Ipswich; On-site; GBP 20,000 - 25,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

27 days annual leave

Pension scheme

Life Cover

Cycle to Work Scheme

Car Leasing Scheme

Health Service Discounts

Occupational Sick Pay

Blue Light Card

Employee Assistance Programme

Job summary

St Elizabeth Hospice in Ipswich is seeking a Healthcare Assistant with an interest in palliative care to join our multidisciplinary team, delivering physical, psycho-social and spiritual care to patients and families.

No prior experience is required as comprehensive training will be provided to gain a recognised health and social care qualification. We support your career development and safeguarding with robust policies and procedures.

Qualifications

• Effective communication with patients, families and colleagues.
• IT literacy and comfortable with digital records.
• Numeracy and literacy skills at a good standard.
• Desirable care certificates and formal health and social care qualifications.

Responsibilities

• Work under the supervision of a Registered Nurse to provide individualised patient care.
• Support safeguarding and maintain patient safety and dignity.
• Assist in meeting physical, psycho-social and spiritual needs of patients and families.

Skills

Effective communication

IT literate

Education

Numeracy & literacy

Care Certificate or Level 2 in health & social care

NVQ Level III in direct care

Job description

Job summary

If you have a passion for caring and are interested in making a real difference to patients and their families, come and join the outstanding St Elizabeth Hospice team. We are seeking a Healthcare Assistant with an interest in palliative care to work within our multi-disciplinary team who provide physical, psycho-social and spiritual care to patients. You do not necessarily need experience in health and social care or palliative care. You may be looking for a career change. If this is you, look no further, we will support you with all the necessary training in order for you to gain a recognised health and social care qualification, whilst providing excellent career development opportunities. While possessing a care certificate or having experience of healthcare or care work is desirable, it is not essential as there are no set entry requirements to become a healthcare assistant at St Elizabeth Hospice. In addition our commitment to you is that we will open up excellent training and development opportunities in order for you to progress your career within St Elizabeth Hospice. Rated Outstanding from the Care Quality Commission, St Elizabeth Hospice improves life for people living with a progressive or life-limiting illness. Our work is centred on an individual's needs, which means care whenever and wherever it is needed, whether at home, in the community or at the hospice. We are well respected and praised for our responsiveness and expertise by people we serve.

Main duties of the job

St Elizabeth Hospice offers the unique opportunity to work alongside our outstanding multi-disciplinary team, providing planned and reactive or urgent care to patients and support to their loved ones. Every patient and family member is valued and we pride ourselves in giving dedicated time to care for patients. As well as joining our rewarding and well-respected organisation, St Elizabeth Hospice is here to support your career, with progression and training opportunities available to enhance your skills and development. Interview Date: 2nd November 2026. Hours: Full or part time. Full rotation, 24/7 days a week. If you would like an opportunity to find out some more about working at the hospice, and how it can fit your own career aspirations, we recommend a discussion prior to you completing your application. St Elizabeth Hospice is committed to safeguarding and protecting the adults and young people that we work with and has a zero-tolerance approach to abuse, neglect and discrimination of any person. As such, all posts are subject to a rigorous safer recruitment process, including the disclosure of criminal records and vetting checks. We have a range of robust safeguarding policies in place which promote safeguarding across the hospice and staff are expected to undertake regular, mandatory safeguarding training to equip them with the knowledge and skills to identify and respond to potential risks.

About us

St Elizabeth Hospice is an innovative and compassionate organisation. Hear from Healthcare Assistants themselves on why working at St Elizabeth Hospice is so special:

“Joining the hospice is the best thing that has ever happened to me and I cant imagine working anywhere else, its a very special place to be and to work.”

“Many people have said it must be very sad to work at the hospice, which it can be, but it is also the most uplifting and positive place that I have ever worked.”

“I wouldnt change my job for the world. Being able to continue supporting people during difficult times in their lives, has been one of the most rewarding and proudest moments in my career.”

“People often assume working at the hospice is dark, gloomy and sad, but this is not the case. We work with the living and help make a difference to people during very difficult times in their lives. It is a real privilege to be a part of an organisation that provides this special care and I have felt this same feeling ever since I joined.”

The hospice offers a generous benefit package, including:

• 27 days annual leave entitlement
• Pension scheme
• Life Cover
• Cycle to Work Scheme
• Car Leasing Scheme
• Health Service Discounts
• Occupational Sick Pay
• Blue Light Card
• Employee Assistance Programme

Job responsibilities

To work at all times under the supervision of a Registered Nurse in order to provide individualised care to patients and families whilst respecting patient choice. Demonstrate a commitment to keeping adults and young people safe. Report any disclosure made to you to the appropriate person. Report any safeguarding concerns in the workplace to the appropriate person. Maintain an awareness of the Hospices policies in relation to safeguarding.

KEY ACCOUNTABILITIES

• To carry out agreed tasks involving direct patient care and activities within the clinical area, in accordance with the patient care plan.
• To provide personal care involving all hygiene, elimination, eating and drinking, mobilisation, rest, sleep and comfort needs.
• Reports on patients condition to registered staff.

To assist in meeting the patients and their familys spiritual and psychological needs, recognising and respecting religious and cultural beliefs. To assist in providing support and comfort for the dying patient and his/her family. To assist in effective verbal and written communication between patients, families and members of the multi-disciplinary team. To provide assistance to the Occupational Therapists and Physiotherapists as planned and as required. To promote quality of life and offer activities as appropriate. To have an understanding of safeguarding principles and to be able to apply these within everyday practice and intervention within your role. Report any clinical incidents in accordance with the incident management policy. Work effectively with other members of the multiprofessional team so that care is coordinated. To deliver care in accordance with agreed policies and procedures. Records patient information. Contribute to fostering a learning and patient safety culture on the Inpatient Unit for all staff as well as students and visitors. Ensure adherence with relevant Infection Prevention and Control policies and procedures, raising any risks to the IPC group / Ward Manager.

• To have an understanding of safeguarding principles and to be able to apply these within everyday practice and intervention within your role
• Report any clinical incidents in accordance with the incident management policy.
• Work effectively with other members of the multiprofessional team so that care is coordinated.
• To deliver care in accordance with agreed policies and procedures.
• Records patient information.
• Contribute to fostering a learning and patient safety culture on the Inpatient Unit for all staff as well as students and visitors.
• Ensure adherence with relevant Infection Prevention and Control policies and procedures, raising any risks to the IPC group / Ward Manager.

Person Specification

Specific Skills

Essential

• Effective communicator ability to establish and maintain communication with patients, their families and colleagues.
• IT literate.

Qualifications

Essential

• Good standard of education in numeracy and literacy

Desirable

• Care Certificate or level 2 certificate in health and social care (or willing to undertake)
• NVQ level III in direct care

Experience

Essential

• Experience of working within a multi-disciplinary team.
• Demonstrate experience of team working.

Desirable

• Community/palliative care experience.
• To have an understanding of safeguarding principles and to be able to apply these within everyday practice and intervention within your role.

Personal Qualities

Essential

• Demonstrable experience of team working.
• Be willing and able to develop own knowledge and deliver care across all Hospice settings.
• Ability to withstand sensitive and potentially stressful situations.
• Be adaptable, flexible, responsive & positive to change and service development.

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.