Health Care AssistantNHS

Job summary

Are you a caring and compassionate person looking to make a real difference to patients at the end of life when they need it most? Do you want to work for a highly-respected local charity that supports the York community?

St Leonard's Hospice is recruiting skilled and empathetic individuals to join the Hospice@Home team as Health Care Assistants to make a difference both personally and professionally to patients who require palliative and end of life care. This is a great opportunity to consider a career move into palliative care, as you don't need to have any previous care experience. There is time at the Hospice to provide the best standards of care and to build relationships with patients and their families which makes us different to other care settings.

We are recruiting full-time positions which work 37.5 hours per week either 3 days over 7 working long shifts or 5 days over 7 working short shifts. The clinical teams operate on a rotational shift pattern which includes earlys, lates and long days over weekends and bank holidays. Shifts are allocated well in advance so our team can have a great work/ life balance. The salary band for this role is £25,909 - £27,653 per annum plus shift enhancements.

Whilst we cannot accept applications that are submitted directly on NHS Jobs, please apply for this role on our website.

Main duties of the job

Under the guidance of Registered Nurses, our Hospice@Home Health Care Assistants play a pivotal role by:

• Delivering high standards of holistic care within the community which is tailored to individual patients
• Providing excellent communication to patients and their families and members
• Maintaining accurate records of care
• Working with a dedicated team of professionals, ensuring the needs of the patients and families are met with compassion and excellence

Our ideal candidates will:

• Be committed to delivering exceptional care
• Have excellent interpersonal skills
• Have the ability to respond appropriately to emotionally challenging situations
• Be willing and flexible to working unsocial hours including weekends and bank holidays

As this role is based in the community, it is essential for you to have a driving licence and be a confident driver. For insurance purposes, you need to have held your driving licence for at least one year.

What we can offer you:

• Salary above NHS payscales
• Shift enhancements for working unsociable hours
• Up to 41 days of annual leave
• Continuation of NHS pension and annual leave entitlement (T&Cs apply)
• Attractive pension scheme for non-NHS staff
• Extensive employee discounts and Blue Light Card discounts
• A supportive induction and tailored development plan
• Free on-site car parking
• Transport provided for those working in Hospice@Home
• A supportive and friendly working environment

Job description

To work as a member of the multi-disciplinary team in providing a high standard of care for patients and their families under the care of the Hospice.

Main duties and responsibilities

Professional

1. Develop excellent communications with the patient and their family, passing on all relevant information to a qualified nurse.

2. Inform a qualified nurse of any change in the patients condition.

3. Respect the privacy and dignity of the patient at all times and keep strict confidentiality.

4. Carry out personal cares for the patient under the direction of a qualified nurse.

5. Maintain accurate records of care under the supervision of qualified staff.

6. When required to act as a patients escort on external visits.

7. Undertake light domestic and catering duties.

8. Participate in full rotation across all shifts including nights, weekends and bank holidays.

Managerial

1. Follow Hospice procedures when giving or receiving telephone messages.

2. Follow Hospice procedures in the care and custody of patients valuables and property.

3. Follow the Hospice procedures on the reporting of all accidents, incidents, hazards or complaints.

4. Exercise care and economy in the use of property and equipment.

5. Maintain a caring and mutually supportive working environment for all members of staff and volunteers, being sensitive to the emotional needs of colleagues and giving appropriate support to them.

Education

1. Assist with the orientation of new staff members and others on placement within the Hospice.

2. Is prepared to work towards achieving the Care Certificate.

About us

Our mission is to provide excellent care and support to those living with life-limiting illness and to the people they care about, to enrich their lives and to contribute to the ongoing development of end-of-life care. We do this by placing our patients at the centre of everything we do, and through involving patients and their families in all decisions regarding their care.

We can only achieve this with the help of our amazing colleagues, by developing and recognising their contribution, and by sharing our knowledge and skills through education, audit and research.