Community Healthcare AssistantNHS
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.
St Elizabeth Hospice is an independent charity and hospice, which improves life for people in the East Suffolk, Great Yarmouth and Waveney areas living with a progressive or life-limiting illness. Established in 1989, the hospice has built a reputation for delivering high-level care to patients and the community it serves. Through medicine and therapy, they ease pain; give life purpose and make life liveable. Last year the charity supported over 4,000 patients and their families.
Our most recent Care Quality Commission report rated the hospice as Outstanding
We are looking for Healthcare Assistants to join our dynamic Virtual Ward team that is part of our Community team. This role offers the unique opportunity to work alongside our outstanding multi-disciplinary team, providing planned or reactive care to patients and support to their loved ones.
If you would like an opportunity to find out more about working at the hospice and how it can fit your own career aspirations, we recommend an informal visit/discussion prior to you completing your application
Main duties of the job
Our ideal candidate will have NVQ level II in Health and Social Care or the Care Certificate, with experience in community / palliative care.
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.
Every patient and family member is valued, and we pride ourselves in giving dedicated time to care for patients, whether it is in a patients home, on the telephone through OneCall or at the In-Patient Unit in Ipswich.
Salary:WTE: £25,272.00 per annum (based on 37.5 hours per week)
Hours:Various hours available covering 7 days a week, day and night shifts
PLEASE NOTE THAT WE DO NOT OFFER SPONSORSHIP FOR THIS ROLE
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.
INTERVIEW DATE - to be confirmed
Job description
Job summary:
To work as part of the Virtual Ward team to provide holistic and specialist end-of-life care to patients to meet their preferred place of care; whilst working flexibly and responding to changing situations within the community.
Safeguarding responsibilities:
To demonstrate a commitment to keeping adults and young people safe
To report any disclosure made to you to the appropriate person
To report any safeguarding concerns in the workplace to the appropriate person
To maintain an awareness of the hospices policies in relation to safeguarding
Key responsibilities:
To carry out agreed tasks involving direct patient care and activities within patients' homes, (IPU and Outpatient unit as required) working within the level of training and competence.
To assist in physical care involving hygiene, elimination, eating and drinking, mobilisation, rest, sleep and comfort needs.
To assist in meeting the patients and their familys spiritual and psychological needs, recognising and respecting religious and cultural beliefs.
To respect the patients need for social interaction or solitude, recognising the importance of work and recreation.
To assist in providing support and comfort for the dying patient and his/her family.
To work as part of a 24 hours a day, 7 days a week service supporting the OneCall service alongside community nursing team overnight which includes answering the phone and any duties delegated by the nursing staff. This could involve completing documentation on SystemOne, driving, stock checking, preparing equipment for nursing colleagues and supporting patients with personal care needs.
To assist in effective verbal and written communication between patients, families and professionals working in the community and Hospice.
To maintain accurate records of patient care.
To perform certain clinical tasks such as bladder washouts - if appropriate and after passing competencies and training.
To refer to additional Hospice services or/and District Nurse or Family Support Worker any symptoms, concerns for either the patient or family and changes or deterioration of the patient's condition.
To have an understanding of safeguarding principles and be able to apply these within everyday practice and intervention/within your role.
Responsibilities for all staff:
Act as a positive ambassador for St Elizabeth Hospice
Where the postholder is a member of a professional body, comply to the professional standards set by that body. Ensure registration is current and practice continuous professional development.
Because of the special nature of the hospice and its work, the postholder may on occasion be asked to undertake other duties to help maintain our high standards of care and engagement.
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.