About this role
Job summary
This role matters:
As part of the Hospices commitment to the South Lakes, we have an exciting, permanent opportunity for a Senior Healthcare Assistant (Nights) to work within the South Lakes area.
We are looking for someone who is compassionate and driven to make a difference to patients and their loved ones at a difficult time in their lives. This is a truly unique role.
St John's is committed to further strengthening our specialist palliative services within the South Lakes, which will allow us to reduce travel time and work alongside our community colleagues to ensure that on the journey towards the end of life, we provide the right care, in the right place at the right time.
The Hospice night-sitting service is a special part of the care we provide within our community, providing support and peace of mind through the night. Our team of experienced and dedicated Senior Healthcare Assistants provide respite care for patients and their carers within the patients own home. Many people choose to spend their last weeks or days at home, and our Hospice at Home team are there to support this wish where possible.
If you are looking to take on a role where every day you can see the difference you have made to peoples lives, come and join us.
Informal enquiries are welcome, please get in touch.
Main duties of the job
JOB PURPOSE
As a Healthcare Assistant, working to the standards set out in the Code of Conduct for Healthcare Support Workers, you will provide overnight support for patients, with life limiting conditions, in their own homes giving vital overnight respite for carers across the North Lancashire and South Lakes locality. The Night Sitting Service enables patients to remain in their own homes towards the end of life.
Key role information >>
Hours include - being in the patients home from 9.45pm - 6.45am (9 hours), plus 15 minutes travel time and 15 minutes reading time (to be completed before arriving at the patients home). This is a waking night sit service. Visits will be predominately in the South Lakes area, however visits may be anywhere in our full catchment area if required by the needs of the service. It is essential you hold a full UK driving license and have access to a vehicle during working hours.You will be entitled to claim out of pocket expenses (mileage and parking) in accordance with our policy.You will travel from home, with the reclaimable amount as any extra cost incurred above the normal home to place of work cost. Home is defined as the place you live and work is defined as the St John's Hospice Windermere base. You will be required to attend the main Hospice for training, meetings and other events as and when required, including one-week of daytime shifts (per year) to reflect on practice, complete your annual appraisal and spend time with the wider team.
About us
St John's Hospice is a well established and respected local charity, and we offer free palliative care to patients with life shortening conditions both in our inpatient unit and through our Community Services (Hospice at Home), whichserves the South Lakes, North Lancashire and parts of North Yorkshire.
The majority of the people who St Johns cares for are looked after in their own home, in the community. Many people choose to spend their last weeks or days at home, and our community team are there to support them.
The Hospice community services are made up of Clinical Nurse Specialists, who are experts in pain and symptom management and advance care planning; the Hospice at Home team who support patients and their families in the last few weeks of life and the Respite team who provide day respite and night sits for the family who are caring for their loved ones at home in those last few weeks.
Our Hospice at Home service is led by an experienced and supportive Management Team. Our patients are at the heart of everything we do, and you would play a key role in a person's wish to stay, and be cared for in their own home, providing crucial respite care for them and their loved ones.
With close working relationships with the Inpatient Unit, CNS team, MDT and the area's District Nurses, the Hospice at Home team is a valued and well respected service in the local community.
St John's Hospice is rated as CQC Good.
Job description Job responsibilities
Accountable To: Director of Nursing & Quality
Reports To: Head of Hospice at Home
Key Working Relationships:
Community Services HUBDistrict NursesOut-of-hours GP service
MAIN DUTIES
Provide care and compassion for patients who are approaching end of life in their own homes.Undertake a broad range of nursing care and duties relating patients with end-of-life care needs.Provide care for patients in accordance with the patients care plan as defined by the District Nursing and Hospice at Home Community Services team.Follow the risk assessments completed for the patient.Work to the standards set out in the Code of Conduct for Healthcare Support Workers.Use effective interpersonal skills with patients, carers and health professionals in a professional manner.Recognise changes in patients symptoms and conditions and notify the necessary on-call services for advice, help and support.Direct patients with their own administration of regular oral medication where the patient is self medicating, and asks families to prepare oral medicines prior to the night shift if the patient needs assistance.Understand the boundaries of the HCA role in managing medications and is ready and willing to accept advice from on-call services.Makes the clinical decision to call district nursing services when patients have uncontrolled symptoms and are unable to take medication orally.Manages patient distress effectively, using compassionate communication to comfort and support whilst lone working.In line with Hospice policy monitors the administration of medication being given by syringe drivers and undertakes first line troubleshooting in line with Achieved and updated training and competences.In line with Hospice policies and best practice guidance on patient documentation, updates patient records ensuring entries are accurate, relevant and contemporaneous and hand over care given appropriately.Provides emotional and practical support to patients carers or family members.Demonstrates safe and appropriate use of hoists and manual handling equipment, applying principles of utilising this equipment whilst lone working.Supports patient and family at time of death and afterwards, taking necessary responsibility to ensure all legal requirements are followed.Takes responsibility for clinical tasks and procedures they are trained in and competent to complete.Participates in audits, surveys or other clinical governance activities as requested.Maintains IT competency in order to make full use of electronic communications and to access appropriate hospice data sources and training opportunities.Responsible for the health, safety and well-being of patients, carers and self by being aware of and adhering to risk assessments, hospice policies and guidelines on Health and Safety at Work; Fire Precautions and Regulations; Security of Lone Worker; and Infection Control.Maintains a portfolio of professional development and participates in the St Johns Hospice performance appraisal scheme, identifying personal achievements, objectives and development needs.Works according to the principles of the St Johns Hospice HCA Code of Conduct.Understands the philosophy and ethos behind the care provided at St Johns Hospice, and to assist the registered nurses in developing and maintaining a safe, compassionate caring and supportive environment for patients, relatives and staff.Shares the responsibility within the nursing teams for delivering high quality holistic nursing care for the patients and their families.Is part of the multi-disciplinary care of patients.Liaises with internal Hospice team to update patient and family changes and incidents in a timely manner.Acts in a responsible, professional manner at all times whilst employed by and undertaking duties at St Johns Hospice. To be aware of the policies governing health, safety and fire prevention and reporting accidents / incidents.OTHER
Works outside of the South Lakes locality as required by the needs of the service.Works contracted weekly hours during daytime shifts within the Hospice at Home team (based at the main Hospice) for one week each year, to reflect on practice, complete the annual appraisal, and spend time with the wider team.Attends monthly night-sitting team meeting each month, either in person or via teams.Attends training, meetings and other events at the main Hospice as and when required.GENERAL
In addition to the specific duties and responsibilities outlined in this job description, all employees should be aware of their specific responsibilities towards the following:St Johns Hospice operates a no-smoking policy. The post holder should either be a non-smoker or be prepared not to smoke in any Charity premises, grounds or vehicles or when on Hospice business outside the office.Adhere to all health, safety and fire regulations and to co-operate with the Hospice in maintaining good standards of health and safety.Adhere to Lone Worker working practices as set out in the relevant policy documents.Uphold ethical and professional standards and not behave in a manner that is likely to bring the Hospice into disrepute.Promote and sustain a responsible attitude towards equal opportunities and diversity within the Hospice.Demonstrate a commitment to ongoing registration requirements or any national, professional or occupational standards associated with the role.Demonstrate a commitment to ongoing learning and development and to participate in any training relevant to the role.This job description is not exhaustive. It merely acts as a guide and may be amended to meet the changing requirements of the charity at any time after discussion with the post holder.
The post-holder will be expected to participate in induction and on-going training and development and work in accordance with Hospice policies and procedures and to act at all times with due regard to the health and safety of self and others.
STANDARD/ENHANCED DISCLOSURE REQUIREMENT
Enhanced DBS disclosure + Adult Barring Check required for this post.
DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES TO ST. JOHNS HOSPICE
Please refer to the uploaded Job description for full details of the points below
1. Confidentiality
2. Health and Safety
3. External Interests
4. Statutory Training
5. Flexibility
6. Safeguarding
7. Disclosure and Barring
8. Equality and Inclusion
9. Volunteers
Person Specification
Knowledge and Skills Essential
Knowledge of holistic patient care for those at end of life. Ability to respond appropriately to changes in patient conditions. Good Communication & interpersonal skills. Knowledge of prioritising a patients care needs. Ability to work without direct supervision in a patients home. Uses own initiative. Good IT skills and able to use a range of software (e.g. Word, Outlook, Excel etc). Accurately document care given in patient documentation. Communicates well with information about care to carers and families.
Desirable
Managing difficult conversations.
Values and personal attributes Essential
Willingness to work flexibly, including unsocial hours. Positive attitude. Motivated. Committed to self -development. Mature and responsible attitude. Empathy and understanding.
Miscellaneous Essential
Full UK driving licence (manual transmission). Access to own vehicle during working hours (business use insurance required).
Desirable
Lives in South Lakes or willing to be based in South Lakes for work.
Qualifications Essential
Willing to work towards satisfactory completion of Care Certificate & Hospice competency framework for HCAs. Full UK Driving Licence.
Desirable
NVQ 3. Completed the Care Certificate.
Experience Essential
Recent experience of patient care at end of life. Experience of working in the community setting. Experience of working as part of a wider team.
Desirable
Experience of working in a specialist palliative care setting. Experience of lone working.
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 John's Hospice
Address St John's Hospice
Oldfield Court
Windermere
LA23 2HJ
United Kingdom
Employer's website https://www.sjhospice.org.uk/ (Opens in a new tab)