About this role
Job summary Do you have the desire and passion to make the difference when it matters the most? Are you a Health Care Assistant or Carer looking for an opportunity to utilise your caring skills and knowledge in palliative care? Or someone with life experience and the motivation to use that learning to support patients and their loved ones?
We are recruiting for a Palliative Care Support Worker to join our inpatient unit. You will be dedicated to providing professional and compassionate emotional support and personal care to patients and families.
Main duties of the job
Assist with patients personal clinical care and record observations in accordance with care planEnsure patients & their families experience a welcoming, relaxed and friendly environmentWork collaboratively with other healthcare professionalsSupport with admission and discharge of patientsFacilitate opportunities for patients and families to talk and create memories
About us Keech Hospice provides free specialist palliative and end of life care for people of all ages. We support adults in Bedfordshire. Children and their families in Bedfordshire, Hertfordshire, and Milton Keynes. At home, in hospice, or wherever were needed.
As a teaching hospice, our exceptional people, training, and facilities are helping local communities to live and die well.
Job description Job responsibilities
1.Ensure patients and families are received at the hospice into a welcoming, relaxed and friendly environment.
2.To work closely with other members of the Care Team, recognising and working within own capabilities, but always acting in the best interest of the Patient and family.
3.Take responsibility for the general care and safety of patients allocated by the Team Leader, ensuring care is carried out to a high standard, following the patients individual care plan and that clear reports are given to other staff.
4.Assist with patients personal clinical care, record patient observations, collect specimens and other tasks for which competence has been assessed, in accordance with the patients individual care plan and under the supervision of the registered clinician.
5.Take the opportunity to sit with patients when they are alone and would like company; get to know them and what matters to them.
6.Provide support and assistance to registered clinicians when carrying out nursing procedures.
7.Work collaboratively with other healthcare professionals to provide patient centred care and use the experience to develop your own knowledge and confidence.
8.Keep accurate, contemporaneous records and ensure that care is carried out in accordance with each individual patients care plan, and ensure relevant templates are updated within the patients electronic record.
9.Support the clinicians with the admission and discharges of patients, including the completion of assessment templates on the patients electronic record as requested, within scope of assessed competence.
10.Report any concerns with regards to patient care, changing needs or safeguarding concerns to the shift leader, and record this in the patients electronic record.
11.Facilitate opportunities for patient and families to talk, should they wish to. To understand the importance of listening and develop listening skills with the appropriate training. Be prepared to give pre and post bereavement support to families, in conjunction with the Clinical Team and Family Support Service.
12.Be familiar with the range of support available for patients and carers and assist patients and families to create memories.
13.Communicate information to patients using, reassurance, tact and sensitivity, overcoming barriers to understanding using a range of methods appropriate to the needs of the patient.
14.Ensure that patient and family confidentiality is always maintained.
15.Undertake a link role to develop own knowledge and skills and participate in audits as requested.
16.Support colleagues to achieve their objectives within their own link roles.
17.Actively participate in maintaining a safe environment, taking care of the equipment available, and ensuring all daily and weekly checks are completed, with any concerns escalated through the appropriate channel.
18.Take the opportunity to attend debrief and supervision sessions as part of self-care management and support for other colleagues.
19.Take the opportunity to attend training sessions, consider how your learning will change how you work, and share learning with other colleagues.
Person Specification
Qualifications Essential
Good standard of English & Maths. Good standard of communication. Evidence of training relevant to the role in a health care setting, or personal experience of caring for patients.
Desirable
NVQ in health studies level 3, or equivalent
Experience Essential
Understands the role of the Palliative Care Support Worker in the hospice or community setting.
Ability to prioritise work.
Understands the work of the primary health care team Previous work in a hospice or community setting, or relevant, transferable experience.
Desirable
Understanding of palliative care services available in the local area. Caring for patients with palliative conditions Care of patients in the dying phase of their illness. Experience as a Palliative Care Support Worker, or equivalent.
Additional Criteria Essential
Good interpersonal and communication skills working with patients, families, carers, and professionals. Ability to work with others and unsupervised. Ability to work under pressure. Accurate and methodical approach to work. Organised and able to prioritise and adapt to presenting situations. Ability to problem solve. IT skills to include Word. Ability to work in a culturally aware way with many different cultural and faith groups.
Desirable
Experience of supporting families when distressed.
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 Keech Hospice Care
Address Keech Hospice
Great Bramingham Lane
Streatley
LU3 3NT
United Kingdom
Employer's website https://www.keech.org.uk/ (Opens in a new tab)