About this role
Job summary
We are looking for enthusiastic Health Care Assistants to work in our Inpatient Ward. A Care Certificate or equivalent qualification is essential for this role. This position is for 37 hours per week and there is a requirement to work across a full rotation 24/7.
Our 12-bed unit is a well-supported setting where you work alongside a multidisciplinary team of Registered Nurses, Health Care Assistants, specialist Medical team and Allied Health Professionals. Additionally, our volunteers bring plenty of positivity and invaluable support to our ward. This diversity of skills, knowledge and experience is fundamental to excellent care, and the wards friendly and supportive atmosphere.
Main duties of the job
- Delivery of a high standard of fundamental care for patients experiencing palliative and end of life care, on Sylvan Ward.
- Awareness of the need to act within own role as delegated by nursing staff and escalate concerns regarding patient care, appropriately.
- Delivery of informal education and training for family and carers to deliver care and support for patients experiencing palliative and end of life care
- Ability to work independently and as part of a team to deliver individual and person-centred care.
- Actively support and model the SNHC values: Compassion, Accountability, Respect, Equity.
About us
St Nicholas Hospice Care is a successful charity serving the local area of West Suffolk and Thetford. Every year we support nearly 2,000 local people, delivering care across multiple settings. Our services are not just for patients, but for their family and friends too, and include everything from specialist medical care to bereavement support and practical help.
Outstanding Benefits
Free onsite parking (guaranteed space)
25 days paid annual leave (increasing with service)
Excellent training and development opportunities
NHS pension continuation or access to a group pension scheme
Home-made meals in our onsite bistro
Life assurance
Blue Light Card scheme discounts
Health Cash Plan & Wellbeing programme (dentistry, optical, emotional wellbeing support)
Enhanced Occupational Sick Pay
Social events (photography group, quiz nights, picnics, and more)
Supportive management with regular 1:1s, appraisals, team meetings, and away days
Unsocial hours uplift of up to 60% for some shifts
Job description Job responsibilities
Clinical
- Ensure the provision of personal care and comfort measures for patients on Sylvan Ward, ensuring that these are individualised at all times
- Awareness of the importance of fundamental care interventions which underpin quality care, such as regular repositioning and use of pressure relieving equipment, to support pressure area care
- Undertake additional clinical duties within scope of training such catheter care or wound care, as delegated by nursing staff
- Prepare and manage environments and resources required to support patient care
- Prepare and support patient admissions and discharges, within scope of role
- Support patients to safely manage and maintain their independence, with use of assistive devices, mobility aids, etc
- Demonstrate awareness of the importance of emotional and psychosocial care and support for patients and families, referring to MDT colleagues for support as appropriate
- Maintain accurate and timely patient records at all times, reporting issues outside area of own role and responsibility promptly
- Utilise opportunities to support patients to choose and participate in activities which are meaningful to them
- Support and direct volunteers, as required
- Contribute to or undertake clinical assessments within range of competence as delegated by nursing staff, reporting these to nursing staff as appropriate
- Contribute to care planning and review by implementing, monitoring and evaluating therapeutic interventions within an overall plan of care, documenting outcomes in a timely and accurate manner
- Demonstrate an understanding of safeguarding and the need to escalate these to nursing staff in a timely manner.
Leadership
- Act as a professional role model at all times
- Support the learning needs of colleagues, both formal and informal
- Undertake additional duties or responsibilities within scope of competency, at the request of the senior nursing team
Person Specification
Qualifications Desirable
Completion of Care Certificate, or NVQ Level 2 in related subject or willingness to work towards this
Skills and Abilities Essential
Enthusiasm for developing skills in delivery of palliative and end of life care Excellent communication skill Self-aware and able to work within emotionally challenging situations Able to work effectively as part of a wider multi-disciplinary team Able to demonstrate understanding of the need to work within professional boundaries and report to nursing staff, as appropriate Able to approach care with patience and compassion, sensitive to the needs of patients and families experiencing loss and grief Self-aware and ability to face emotionally challenging situations Flexible approach to hours and shift patterns, our service provides care 24/7, 365 days per year and clinical roles are rostered to provide this cover Willingness to follow St Nicholas Hospice Cares One Team approach, and work in all clinical areas at needed in order to support business continuity IT literacy and ability to use systems such as MS Outlook
Desirable
Keen to extend skills and knowledge
Experience Essential
Experience of working in a care role
Desirable
Knowledge and experience in end of life palliative care.
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 Nicholas Hospice Care
Address Hardwick Lane
Bury St Edmunds
Suffolk
IP33 2QY
United Kingdom
Employer's website https://stnicholashospice.org.uk/ (Opens in a new tab)