Carer (Bank)

Job responsibilities

To create a homely and welcoming environment in which families feel nurtured and rested. To provide friendship and care, (including physical, emotional, social and spiritual care) to the sick child and their immediate and extended family. To work flexibly alongside the families, supporting them in the manner that they choose. To develop a supportive relationship as a professional friend to named children and their families, keeping in touch with them between visits to the Hospice and maintaining close liaison with other practitioners and agencies involved in their care.

Relevant life or working experience which provides knowledge and experience which can be applied to enhance the care of children with life limiting conditions and their families. Childcare qualifications, (such as NVQ, BTEC or NNEB) are advantageous. Previous experience working with children essential, preferably working in partnership with families. Training in counselling and/or care of the dying and bereaved advantageous.

To contribute positively to the creation and sustaining of a caring, friendly and welcoming community environment, informal in nature and minimising institutional practices.

To offer friendship and support to the sick child and their families (parents, siblings and extended family) according to the individual needs and wishes of the family.

To provide total care (physical, emotional, social and spiritual) for the sick children and members of the family. This may include feeding; washing; play; specific medical/nursing care; counselling; giving information; and outings with the sick child and/or siblings. To work flexibly alongside the families, recognising the child and familys expertise, and allowing the family to choose the level of involvement from the Care Team.

To respect and follow the childs routine of care, as outlined by the parents, and ensure this is accurately recorded and clearly communicated to other Care Team members. If it becomes necessary to amend the childs care, to negotiate this with the childs family and liaise with other professionals involved with the child at home.

To participate equally with other Care Team members in general household duties, to facilitate the smooth running and family feel of the hospice and relieve the families of this pressure. This may include washing and ironing linen and childrens clothes; cleaning the children and family bedrooms; answering the telephone; offering hospitality to family visitors; preparing meals in the absence of the cook/chef; and other duties as reasonably required.

To foster close and effective working relationships with contact partners on the Care Team to ensure a cohesive and responsive support team for the children and families for whom you are the named contacts.

To develop and maintain a special interest in the children and families for whom you are a Contact, keeping in touch on special occasions and regularly whilst the child is at home, and help the children and families gain maximum benefit from the hospice services and support.

Provide ongoing care and bereavement support to families after their childs, tailoring the support provided to the needs and wishes of each individual family.

Liaise closely with other CHSW staff about any specific needs of the families for whom you act as Contact and maintain a close and collaborative working partnership with other professionals, services and agencies involved with the child and family at home.

Ensure that documentary records are kept of all communication with children and families undertaken as part of contact role.

Participate in the annual review of contact children/families playing an active role in identifying the level of CHSW service use by each child/family; the needs of the child/family; and the services and support provided at home.

To be conscientious and careful in the maintenance of accurate records of all types, written and computerised, and to ensure confidentiality is respected and protected at all times.

To be aware of the safety needs of children, siblings, parents and other staff and adopt a preventative safety approach at all times. Report all accidents and incidents accurately and promptly to the Head of Care or, in her absence, the Duty Manager or Shift Co-ordinator.

To be aware of your health and safety responsibilities, as an employee of Childrens Hospice South West, and adhere to these wherever you are working.

To regularly update and maintain your knowledge of safety rules; fire drills; internal security; and accident procedures and adhere to these at all times.

To be committed to the delivery of a quality service, keenly participating in any quality review measures in place at the Hospice.

To be responsive to feedback, actively seeking informal comments from families, and show a positive and open-minded attitude to new initiatives.

To be considerate and supportive of fellow Care Team members, and other staff and volunteers working for Childrens Hospice South West.

To recognise the emotional toll caused by working closely alongside seriously ill/dying children and grieving families and to take responsibility for taking account of your own emotional well being.

To take steps to maintain a balance between work and home life and to be aware of professional boundaries.

To access the pastoral support offered by the Care Management Team appropriately and to participate in staff support strategies available within CHSW.

To play an active role in both individual and group supervision sessions provided by your Line Manager on the Care Team.

To contribute positively to the cohesiveness and well being of the Care Team.

To regularly attend team meetings and other relevant meetings to be kept up to date with information and to participate in shared decision-making.

To value the skills and qualities other Care Team members bring to the Hospice and to be prepared to work in a multi-skilling environment.

To be open about your capabilities and limitations, sharing your particular expertise and learning new skills freely and willingly.

To welcome new members of the Care Team in a positive manner and assist them to integrate into the Care Team.

To participate in the orientation programmes for new members of staff.

To make good use of the agreed systems of communication, (such as Care Team Meetings; shift handover; communication book; consultation processes; etc) to promote successful two way communication.

To be aware of the need to use the resources of Childrens Hospice South West wisely and effectively to meet the needs of the children and their families but maintaining a cost conscious approach to avoid wasteful use of funds.

To participate in the collection of service use data for contact children on an annual basis in order to supply PCTs and other commissioners with an overview of service use.

To promote the philosophy and practice of childrens hospice care at CHSW beyond the establishment by, for example, acting as a resource to other health care professionals and speaking at seminars/training events/open days provided from the Hospice.

To take an active role in networking with fellow professionals involved in the care of contact children and families in order to assist the provision of seamless care for children and families.

To adopt a positive and reflective approach to personal and professional development, participating constructively in an annual performance review, and to seek and utilise learning opportunities of all types to enhance your performance.

To ensure your own practice is kept up-to-date and take steps to ensure any relevant qualifications remain up to date and credible.

To behave at all times in a professional manner and abide by the CHSW general notices and policies/procedures.

CHSW expects of its employees the highest standards of behaviour in carrying out their duties and responsibilities, which are in accordance with legislative requirements.

CHSW employees are expected to act fairly and with consideration, treating others as we would wish to be treated ourselves and uphold CHSWs values and behaviours at all times.

To be responsible for ensuring compliance with CHSW policies, procedures and contractual requirements.

To comply with CHSWs Equal Opportunities and Diversity Statement as set out in the CHSW Employee Handbook.

To abide by your professional code of conduct at all time.

Qualifications

Essential

• Relevant professional qualification in childrens healthcare, social care or play/education.
• Post qualification practice and experience, preferably working with children and their families.
• There are a limited number of posts available on the Care Team for those without a relevant professional qualification. However, we are only able to consider those with extensive work or life experience with children with learning disabilities or chronic health problems, and
• otherwise fulfilling the rest of the person specification. No other applications will be able to be considered.
• Caring, warm and friendly. A personal commitment to and empathy for
• the philosophy of childrens hospice care.
• A collaborative manner, which is caring, courteous, confident and nonconfrontational with both children and families and fellow team members.
• Resourceful and energetic. Sense of humour.
• Knowledge and understanding of the needs of children with life limiting conditions and their families and effective responses to
• these needs.
• Understanding of the philosophy and practice of childrens hospices.
• Evidence of ability to work to a high standard within chosen professional field.
• Excellent communication, listening and interpersonal skills.
• Evidence of problem solving ability.
• Flexible.
• Motivated.
• Creative, can do approach.
• Commitment to working in partnership with families and providing a family led service.
• Willing to share own knowledge, but also keen to learn from others.
• Good team worker with co-operative and supportive approach to fellow team members.
• Evidence of previous partnership working with children and families with a sensitive and non-judgmental approach.
• Full and current driving licence.
• Able and willing to work unsociable hours, including night, weekend and bank holiday working.

Qualifications

Essential

• Certificate, diploma or degree in: palliative care for children;
• counselling; or care of the dying.
• Previous experience working with children with life limiting or life
• threatening conditions and their families.
• Experience of working with children and families facing loss /
• bereavement.
• Previous experience working on a multi-disciplinary team.
• Knowledge and understanding of palliative care for children.
• Knowledge and understanding of loss and bereavement in childhood.
• Able and willing to drive a minibus.

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.

UK Registration

Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see NHS Careers website (opens in a new window).