About this role
Job summary At St Clare Hospice, our Community Hospice Services team provides specialist palliative and end of life care to people in their own homes across West Essex and East Hertfordshire.
We are looking for compassionate and dedicated Healthcare Assistants to join our night team, delivering care and support to patients and families when they need it most.
This is a rewarding opportunity to provide personalised care within patients own homes, helping people remain comfortable, supported and cared for in their preferred place of care. Every night brings the chance to make a meaningful difference to patients and those important to them during some of lifes most significant moments.
Main duties of the job This is a rewarding and highly valued role within Community Hospice Services, providing compassionate overnight care and support to patients with palliative and end of life care needs in their own homes.
As a Health Care Assistant (Nights), you will play an important role in helping patients remain in their preferred place of care, providing comfort, reassurance, and practical support during some of the most significant moments in a person's life. You will work closely with families and carers, helping them feel supported and confident throughout the night.
The role requires a high degree of autonomy and confidence when working in community settings. You will be responsible for recognising changes in patients' conditions, responding appropriately within your competence, and escalating concerns promptly to the Registered Nurse or wider clinical team when required.
Although you will frequently work independently in patients' homes, you will be part of a supportive Community Hospice Services team, with access to clinical advice, escalation pathways, and senior support throughout every shift.
About us St Clare Hospice provides specialist palliative and end of life care to adults with lifelimiting conditions across the communities we serve. Community Hospice Services deliver high-quality, coordinated care in patients' own homes and other community settings, enabling people to receive personalised care in their preferred place of care wherever possible.
Working as part of the wider multidisciplinary team, Community Hospice Services provide responsive support tailored to individual needs, addressing physical, emotional, psychological, social, and spiritual wellbeing. The service works collaboratively with hospice teams, healthcare professionals, and community partners to provide safe, compassionate, and patient-centred care throughout the palliative and end of life care journey, including overnight support where required.
Job description Job responsibilities Deliver high-quality, person-centred palliative and end of life care in community settings, in line with care plans, training, assessed competencies, and scope of practice. Work autonomously overnight within Community Hospice Services, using sound judgement to recognise changing needs, respond appropriately, and escalate concerns promptly. Provide hands-on care with compassion, dignity, and respect, supporting patients, families, and carers during periods of uncertainty, distress, and at the end of life. Identify deterioration in a patient's condition, comfort, or care needs and take appropriate action, escalating to relevant professionals in accordance with hospice policies and procedures. Contribute to maintaining patients in their preferred place of care wherever this is safe and appropriate. Support patients, families, and carers before and after death, providing practical and emotional support with sensitivity and compassion. Accurately record care, observations, and concerns using electronic patient record systems in accordance with organisational policies. Identify and manage risks relating to patient care, safeguarding, moving and handling, infection prevention, lone working, and equipment use. Work flexibly across Community Hospice Services and wider hospice services as required, responding positively to changing patient needs, service priorities, unforeseen operational demands, and occasional short-notice changes to planned deployment. Collaborate effectively with hospice colleagues and external professionals to support coordinated and responsive care. Participate in handovers, supervision, reflective practice, training, and competency assessment to support continuous professional development. Act as an ambassador for St Clare Hospice, demonstrating professionalism, compassion, accountability, and the hospice's values at all times.
Person Specification
Qualifications Essential
Experience working as a Health Care Assistant or in a similar care role, demonstrating a compassionate and personcentred approach. Understanding of the principles and ethos of palliative and end of life care, or a willingness to develop this within the role.
Desirable
NVQ Level 3 in Health and Social Care (or equivalent qualification). Experience of community-based care and/or palliative care services.
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.
Employer details Employer name St Clare Hospice
Address St Clare Hospice
Hastingwood Wood
Hastingwood
Essex
CM17 9JX
United Kingdom
Employer's website https://stclarehospice.org.uk/ (Opens in a new tab)