Senior HCA (SMH B3) - Hospice at Home - Days and Nights

Integrated Care System; Basingstoke; Hybrid; GBP 24,000 - 32,000; Full time

Job summary

A local healthcare provider is seeking a passionate Senior HCA to join their Hospice at Home team. You will provide palliative care to patients and their families in the comfort of their homes, working alongside a multi-disciplinary team. Excellent communication skills, flexibility, and a compassionate approach are essential. A full UK driving license and access to a vehicle are required for this role, which includes both day and night shifts.

Benefits

Competitive salary

27 days annual leave

Contributory pension

Health and wellbeing plan

Qualifications

• Previous experience as HCA, preferably in a community setting.
• Ability to perform clinical tasks under supervision of RN.
• Must possess excellent communication skills.

Responsibilities

• Provide palliative care and symptom management at home.
• Assist with personal care for patients.
• Collaborate with healthcare professionals to ensure quality care.

Skills

Palliative care principles

Patient personal care

Communication skills

Teamwork

IT literate

Education

RQF or NCFE Level 2 in health and/or social care

GCSE Grade 4 & above in key skills

RQF or NCFE Level 3 in health and/or social care

End-of-Life Care - Level 2 NCFE CACHE Award

Job description

Senior HCA (SMH B3) - Hospice at Home - Days and Nights

Were looking for motivated and passionate persons with previousexperience working as a healthcare assistant to join our expanding Hospice atHome (H@H) Team. The ideal person would already have experience working in thecommunity setting, with patients at the end of life.

The successful applicant will be part of a multi-disciplinaryteam, providing palliative and end of life care to patients and families in thecommunity; on occasions you may be required to work within the HospiceInpatient Unit

The applicants must be, enthusiastic, flexible, and have a passionfor palliative and end of life care, have excellent communication skills andwork well as part of a multi-disciplinary team.

This role involves working shifts, includingboth long days and night shifts (07:30-20:00 /19:30-08:00) and regular weekends.

A full UK driving license and accessto a vehicle are essential, as you will be travelling across the communitywithin the hospices catchment area.

St. Michaels Hospice is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of vulnerable adults, children and young people. All staff are expected to share this commitment. Successful candidates will be required to undergo relevant background checks, including a DBS check and provide satisfactory reference before starting the role.

Closing date - 24 August 2025

Main duties of the job

The role is based within the Hospice at Home team where the postholder is required to support the H@H Team to deliver 24/7 specialist palliative care to enable patients to be supported in the last 2 weeks of life, to stay at home where possible and desirable and provide support to their carer(s). The team will provide a rapid response to facilitate discharge from hospital to home and reduce hospital admissions.

The post holder will carry out assigned tasks involving direct patient care in support of and supervised by a Registered Nurse (RN) and will maintain a high standard of care within a patients home.

The H@H team consists of a multi-professional team working together to deliver the 24/7 Hospice at Home service for St. Michaels Hospice.

Key responsibilities:

• Deliver personalised palliative care and symptom management at home, visiting patients 24/7.
• Support the SMH Living Well Service, including MND and long-term neurological conditions.
• Maintain high standards of care, communication, and record-keeping.
• Collaborate with healthcare professionals, patients, families, and carers to ensure a seamless, compassionate service.

To assist the RN with general and specific care of patients within the hospice and community, this includes practical nursing care and emotional support to patients and their carer(s).

About us

St. Michaels Hospice is a registered charity providing specialistpalliative and end of life care services since 1992, for the people of NorthHampshire. We are dedicated to providing care to people throughout NorthHampshire who are affected by life limiting illness to attain the highestpossible quality of life by providing a choice of specialist care and support.

As a charity, we depend on the kindness and support of our localcommunity to continue offering our services free of charge. This care is madepossible by supporters donating, taking part in fundraising events andactivities, playing our lottery, shopping in our retail outlets, leaving giftsin their Wills or giving freely of their time to volunteer.

We offer a competitive salary with attractive benefits, including,free onsite parking, life assurance, 27 days annual leave, with serviceincrements, plus bank holidays, and an extensive health and wellbeing plan and contributorypension.

Job responsibilities

The role is based within the Hospice at Home team where the postholder is required to support the H@H Team to deliver 24/7 specialist palliative care to enable patients to be supported in the last 2 weeks of life, to stay at home where possible and desirable and provide support to their carer(s). The team will provide a rapid response to facilitate discharge from hospital to home and reduce hospital admissions.

The post holder will carry out assigned tasks involving direct patient care in support of and supervised by a Registered Nurse (RN) and will maintain a high standard of care within a patients home.

The H@H team support the patients actively under the care of St. Michaels services by providing a community visiting service. This includes care for patients known to the Living Well Services, SMH Motor Neurone Disease (MND) Service and the SMH Long-Term Neurological Conditions Service.

The H@H team consists of a multi-professional team working together to deliver the 24/7 Hospice at Home service for St. Michaels Hospice.

Responsibilities

To assist the RN with general and specific care of patients within the hospice and community, this includes practical nursing care and emotional support to patients and their carer(s).

To efficiently undertake duties requested by the qualified nurses

To report any observed deterioration or change in patient symptoms to the RN

To continually assess/re-assess the manual handling needs of patients to ensure patient and staff safety.

To ensure that Infection Prevention and Control standards are maintained at all times.

To contribute to care plans under the guidance of the RN

To accurately document care delivered, supporting the RNs with the completion of nursing documentation as directed

Support the RN with the completion of the CHC Fast Track documentation within the limitation of the SHCA role

Respond with sensitivity and empathy, providing basic emotional support

To provide care for the deceased patients body after death, meeting any specific patients wishes and instruction, ensuring the safe and timely removal of the body from the home working within the procedures in place within the community.

To contribute to the ordering and storage of clinical stores required for hospice at home

To ensure that equipment is kept clean and in good working order, is checked routinely and that any defect or malfunction is reported

Work as directed by the Hospice at Home Lead

Clinical Skills

Undertake clinical tasks under direction of registered nurses, and within assessed competencies, which may include:

• Assist with personal care of the patient
• Assist with patient transfers and mobility
• Vital signs observations, e.g., temperature, blood pressure, pulse rate, respiration rate, pulse oximetry
• Blood Glucose
• Urethral Catheter insertion and care
• Urinalysis
• Simple wound dressings
• Venepuncture
• Care for the persons body after death

Communication and MDT working

To hold the hub phone and deal with all enquiries with a consistent level of courtesy and consideration

Work collaboratively alongside other members of St. Michaels Hospice and other organisations caring for those at the end of their life

Attend and participate in handovers, IPM's, caseload reviews and team meetings

Supports patients and family members to foundation level 1 psychological support during the end of life (NICE approved four tier model of psychological support)

To offer emotional support to patients and/or carers particularly during breaking of bad news and at time of death, recognising own limitations and referring to the RN as appropriate

To report any feedback, concerns and complaints, issues around safeguarding from patients, their relatives, or others acting on their behalf.

Ensure all safeguarding concerns are raised in line with SMH policy and escalated to the SMH Nominated Healthcare Professional for Safeguarding or their deputy or a member of the Safeguarding Committee.

Understand and maintain confidentiality, adhere to GDPR and data protection rules.

General

To respect the property of the patients and their carer(s) at all times.

To complete competency documents related to this role.

To attend clinical supervision

This role involves working shifts across long days, including both day and night shifts. The pattern of work will be working flexible across Monday Sunday as part of the Hospice at Home team, working patterns are changeable and will be routinely reviewed to meet ongoing demand and service development. Contracted hours are worked over a 4-week roster period.

A full UK driving license and access to a vehicle are essential, as you will be travelling across the community within the hospices catchment area. A pool car is available although sometimes you will be required to use your own car for which mileage can be reclaimed

To be aware of the security of the Hospice building out of office hours

To adhere to the SMH lone working policy. Continually risk assess the working environment, reporting new concerns or risks to the RN and/or H@H Lead.

Person Specification

Skills, Knowledge, Abilities

• IT literate.
• Awareness of palliative care principles and philosophy.
• An understanding around basic patient personal care.
• Ability to perform the following activities:
• Vital signs observations
• Urinalysis
• Blood Glucose
• The ability to work well with others.
• Be confident in the use of electronic patient record IT systems, e.g., EPR, CHIE,
• Ability to perform the following activities:
• Urethral Catheter insertion cand care
• Simple wound dressings
• Venepuncture
• Care for the persons body after death
• Recognise death and dying in patients.

Qualifications

• An RQF or NCFE Level 2 qualification in health and/or social care (NVQ, T-Level, BTEC) or at least 2 years experience working as an HCA in a healthcare environment.
• Educated to GCSE Grade 4 & above or Grade C & above or equivalent in key skills level 2 or functional skills level 2 numeracy and literacy.
• An RQF or NCFE Level 3 qualification in health and/or social care (NVQ, T-Level, BTEC).
• Awareness of End-of-Life Care - Level 2 NCFE CACHE Award (RQF) Course.
• Sage and Thyme communication Skills.

Experience

• Previous work as an HCA.
• Demonstrated skill in providing personal care.
• HCA experience within the community setting.
• Experience of working within patients homes.
• Professional appearance
• Ability to communicate with all levels of staff
• Ability to exchange factual information accurately
• Ability to deal with sensitive situations
• The ability to work well under pressure
• Patience and the ability to remain calm in stressful situation
• Kind and compassionate
• Ability to work in death and dying
• Positive and flexible approach
• Willingness to learn new skills

Other requirements

• A full UK driving license and access to a vehicle with Business Insurance
• Ability to work, days, nights, weekends and public holidays
• Ability to work 12.5hr shifts

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.