Health Care Assitant

NHS; York; On-site; GBP 20,000 - 30,000

Job description

Could you make a real difference to patients and their families at the end of life?

Do you want to join the St Leonard's Hospice Team providing excellent care to patients from York and the surrounding area at the end of life?

We have an exciting opportunity for a skilled and compassionate individual to join the Hospice as a Health Care Assistant within the Carer Support team. This is a very rewarding role which provides social and practical support to patients with palliative and end of life care needs whilst their carers attend appointments, go shopping or have a break from the caring role. The support we give to carers is essential in enabling people to remain at home and crucial in supporting people to meet their end of life wishes.

Whilst there are daily communications with the Co-ordinator at the Main Hospice site, you will be provided with the equipment to enable you to carry out your work whilst in the community. As this role is based in the community, it is essential for you to have a driving licence and drive your own car.

Main duties of the job

As a Health Care Assistant, you will work as part of the multi-disciplinary team and would be expected to:

• Support the needs of the patient several hours at a time, this could be playing cards, listening to music, chatting or even watching TV (whatever the person wants to do!)
• Provide some hands-on care to the patient
• Provide excellent communication skills to the patients and their carers and members of the multi-disciplinary team
• Maintain accurate records of care
• Work with a dedicated team of professionals, ensuring the needs of the patients and families are met with compassion and excellence

What we can offer you:

• Salary above NHS pay scales
• Up to 41 days annual leave
• Opportunity to continue NHS pension and length of service based annual leave entitlement
• Work at a Hospice that has research and campaigning at the forefront of its mission
• Free car parking
• Training to support the role functions

What we need from you:

• Excellent interpersonal skills
• Ability to respond appropriately to emotionally challenging situations
• No previous care experience is required

This is a full-time position working 37.5 hours per week between 9am - 5pm, Monday to Friday. There will be a requirement to work occasional weekends with advance notice to support special requests.

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.

We do not have sponsorship status and therefore all our offers are made conditional upon our candidates submitting evidence of their right to work in the UK in conjunction with our other pre-employment checks.

Job responsibilities

This is a hands-on role with a need to deliver person-centred, individualised care and social support to meet the needs of patients and their families. You will be expected to travel to the patients' address and stay with them for several hours at a time to allow their carers much-needed respite and breaks from their caring role.

With the support of the wider Hospice and other community teams, this vital role will involve lone working to provide essential support to the carers of patients with Palliative Care needs. In allowing regular breaks for carers, at times to suit their needs, we are better able to support patients in meeting their end of life wishes.

Main duties and responsibilities

Professional

1. Develop excellent communications with the patient and his/her family, to support their needs, passing on all relevant information to a Registered Nurse as appropriate.
2. Inform a registered nurse of any change in the patients or carers condition.
3. Respect the privacy and dignity of the patient at all times and keep strict confidentiality.
4. Carry out personal care for the patient when required as per patient care plans.
5. Maintain accurate records of care.
6. Support the patients social/activity needs during visits.

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

Person Specification

Personal

• Work confidentially and with discretion
• Awareness and ability to cope with pressure
• Ability to work in a challenging environment
• Flexible to the changing needs of the post
• Be accurate and methodical
• Honest, trustworthy, reliable and punctual
• Approachable, team player
• Committed to providing a quality and measureable service
• Ability to accept support from other team members
• Respect for others ethnic or/and religious/spiritual beliefs
• Committed to own continuing professional development
• A commitment to Hospice care and to have a philosophy and concept of Hospice care

Experience

• Experience of palliative care
• Experience of working as a carer

Other

• Be prepared to assist with Hospice fundraising activities
• Vehicle owner with full UK driving licence
• Enhanced DBS check
• Knowledge of York and surrounding area

Qualifications

• Care Certificate or willingness to undertake training
• NVQ Qualification in Care

IT

• Good basic IT skills
• Knowledge of Microsoft applications (Word, Excel, Powerpoint, Outlook)

Communication

• Good written and verbal communication
• Good interpersonal skills
• Ability to be sensitive and empathetic
• Able to work effectively in a multi-disciplinary team

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.