About this role
Job summary
To provide quality, holistic care to palliative and end of life patients in their own home as well as supporting their family and carers. Our service offers support 7 days a week, 365 days a year to enable patients to remain in their own home if this is their preference. The role is integrated into St Giles community services provision.
Main duties of the job
This role requires the post holder to have a flexible approach to ensure the holistic needs of the patient and their carers` are met. The support that you would be required to provide includes personal care visits, clinical interventions and observations as well as emotional support for our patients and their carers `and respite sits.
The Community Health Care assistant is expected to undertake care to meet the needs of the patients under the supervision and delegation of an appropriate Registered Health Care Professional, working within the Hospices policies and procedures.
The post holder will usually work in the community but will be required to support delivery of care on our in-patient unit dependent on team pressures at our Whittington site or other hospice locations.
The post holder will hold a Level 3 Health and Social Care Qualification (NVQ, Apprenticeship, Diploma).
About us
St Giles Hospice is a registered charity founded in 1983 by the Reverend Paul Brothwell, originally to improve the care of local people dying with cancer.
We now support patients, and their loved ones, living with a terminal illness. Our dedicated team provides individually-tailored care, free of charge, either at the hospice or in patients own homes across our communities.
We spend close to £10 million a year providing our specialist services. With just 18% of this funded by the Government, we rely heavily on donations and income generation from the local community.
Job description Job responsibilities
The role entails but is not limited to: -
Providing direct patient care in accordance with the District Nurse care plan and/or instructed by an appropriate healthcare professional. Liaising with other health care professionals involved in the patients care is therefore an integral part of this role
To work within the integrated St Giles Community team to facilitate early discharge from hospital or hospice
To work within the integrated team St Giles Community Team to prevent unnecessary admission to hospital
Assist patients to maintain all aspects of daily living activities in accordance with individual programmes of care, ensuring physical care is delivered with dignity and respect for the individual, always ensuring their safety
Ensure patient held records are completed for each visit on SystmOne, maintaining High standards of record keeping ensuring accurate, clear, and contemporaneous documentation is made as close to the event as possible
Ensuring clinical records are factually correct and reflect precisely what was done or observed
Communicate any change in the patients general appearance and condition as appropriate to a registered nurse to contribute to care plans for patients
Monitoring, recording, and reporting a patient's vital signs and other physical indicators to assess their overall health status
Clinical duties will also include: (competencies in bold are required at taking up the post, training can be provided in others)
Blood glucose testing, urinalysis, catheter care, collection of urine specimens, Simple Wound Care, Venepuncture
Demonstrate dexterity, co-ordination when undertaking treatment of patients where accuracy is important e.g. taking blood sugars and venepuncture (this list isnt exhaustive)
Providing support and guidance to family and carers to enable them to gain knowledge to care for the patient and to access relevant services, as they approach end-of life
Maintain excellent communication with patients, relatives and members of the MDT regarding all aspects of care demonstrating a variety of communications skills in accordance with the client group
Respecting the persons home as a working environment (classed as a no smoking area)
To prioritise patient visits based on location and urgency to ensure all patients receive expected visits in a timely manner
Maintaining IT competency to make full use of mobile phones, e-mail, the internet and on-line training
Accessing patient information via SystmOne to ensure up-to-date knowledge of the patients needs
Always protecting the patients dignity and right to confidentiality
Ensuring compliance with the Data Protection Act, Freedom of information Act and ensure patient confidentiality
The post holder will have the skills to undertake or assist with patients in emergency situations by providing basic life support.
Contribute to the reduction of healthcare acquired infection by ensuring a high standard of infection control practice in the light of research, current best evidence and legislation
In the absence of the Clinical Lead or deputy clinical lead, take responsibility for relevant administration and co-ordination of visits and deal with any issues or concerns that may occur and escalate as appropriate
Exercising responsibility by accessing and accepting opportunities for debrief sessions, peer support or clinical supervision
Supervise, where appropriate, less experienced Healthcare Assistants to maintain Core competencies
Ensuring regular communication and liaison with line manager as part of delivering an appropriate and high quality service including attendance at team meetings
Be aware of the health, safety and wellbeing of self, staff, patients and all others on hospice property and comply with the St Giles Hospice Health and Safety Policy
To attend all mandatory training and other education and training programmes to maintain competencies of relevant procedures and for self-development as required. Learn new skills associated with the role deemed necessary by the Clinical Lead
Utilise educational opportunities to facilitate learning in the clinical environment. Participate in education and training activities as required
Be aware of, and comply with all manner of St Giles Hospice policies, procedures, protocols and guidelines alongside observing a personal duty of care when using equipment or handling patients valuables
Undertake other duties as may be required, and which are consistent with the responsibilities of the post
Just so you know:
We may review applications before the application review date, however, if you apply after the application review date, your application may not be considered. We will accept applications until we have successfully filled the role, this may be earlier than the closing date.
If you have not heard within 14 days of the application close date, then please consider that your application has been unsuccessful at this time.
As part of your application your data will be managed in line with St Giles Hospice Privacy Policy and kept for 6 months. If you would like to see this in full, please visit https://www.stgileshospice.com/privacy-policy/
Person Specification
Skills Essential
Good communication/organisational skills Ability to work on own initiative Venepuncture (or work towards) Vital signs assessment Maintaining accurate and detailed patient records. Ability to Know when and how to escalate concerns Standard computer skills with ability to use common software applications
Qualifications Essential
RQF (Regulated Qualifications Framework) Level 3 Diploma in Health and Social Care or QCF Level 3 in health and social care or NVQ Level 3 in health and social care)
Experience Essential
Knowledge of health and safety issues Competent in the Key Aspects of Clinical Observations for HCAs Knowledge of health care terminology
Desirable
Previous experience in primary care Palliative/hospice care experience Previous experience in healthcare/domiciliary care
Values Essential
Exhibits our hospice values and behaviours
Personal Attributes Essential
Confidence to work alone and as part of a team Willingness to work unsocial hours across hospice departments Flexible approach Sensitive, caring and empathetic Team player Able to work under pressure Collaborative Ambassador for St Giles Hospice
Other requirements Essential
Valid driving licence Eligibility to work in the UK Please note that St Giles Hospice does not hold a sponsorship licence and is therefore unable to accept sponsorship requests
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 Giles Hospice
Address Fisherwick Road
Whittington
Lichfield
Staffordshire
WS14 9LH
Employer's website https://www.stgileshospice.com/ (Opens in a new tab)