Health Care Assistant

Shooting Star Children’s Hospices

The closing date is 13 April 2025

Job summary

Due to the expansion of the in-hospice services we have an opportunity for a caring and compassionate Health Care Assistant to join our experienced team. This is a rare opportunity to support children and young people with life-limiting conditions and their families.

As a Healthcare Assistant you will take a role in creating a welcoming, safe and caring environment in which families can be relieved of all or some of the care needs of their child, working alongside them and supporting them.

You will provide care within Christopher's Hospice near to Guildford, working alongside the wider multi-disciplinary team.

The post requires a person with relevant experience of working with children and families in a health or social care setting. You will be expected to participate in a rota to cover 24/7, working a reasonable share of weekends and public holidays.

Main duties of the job

To support and assist in providing nursing / palliative care for the children, ensuring that the needs of the children and their families are at the centre of all decisions.
To participate in the appropriate clinical care of the children.
Assist with nutrition where applicable (i.e. assisting with menu completion, feeding assistance), working closely with the Nurses.
Participate equally with all Care Team members in general household duties.
To behave at all times in a manner that is sensitive to the differing cultural and religious needs of the children / families.
To ensure that the provision of care is consistent with the policies and philosophy of Shooting Star Childrens Hospices.
To be aware of child protection issues and be able to take the required action. To identify personal training and development needs with the Care Team Leader / Head of Care.
To attend appropriate in-house training as identified in the personal development plan and to take proactive advantage of the professional support offered by Shooting Star Childrens Hospices to meet the demands of working within this challenging field.
To work with the Lead Nurses and the Head of Hospice Services to promote and develop the work of Shooting Star Childrens Hospices.
To ensure the maintenance of effective communication skills with the children and families, within the care team, and with the Shooting Star Childrens Hospices Management team.

About us

Shooting Star Childrens Hospices provides specialist care and support to families who have a baby, child or young person with a life-limiting condition, or who have been bereaved. Rated Outstanding by the Care Quality Commission, we support families across Surrey, north-west London and south-west London from diagnosis to end of life and throughout bereavement with a range of nursing, practical, emotional and medical care.

Our specialist care and support is free of charge to families and available 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. It includes specialist nursing in the community, symptom management and pain relief, overnight respite stays, end-of-life care, specialist bereavement care and a comprehensive range of therapies, groups and clinics for the whole family.

At the heart of what we do are our dedicated staff; their exceptional commitment and professionalism means every family has the opportunity to make every moment count.

It costs £10 million a year to run Shooting Star Childrens Hospices. Just 30% of our funding comes from the government, so we rely on our supporters generosity to keep the service running. We employ 175 members of staff, including 98 nursing and medical staff, and support around 700 families.

Date posted

20 March 2025

Pay scheme

Other

Salary

Depending on experience £22,836 - £24,968 Plus Geographical allowance and enhancements

Contract

Permanent

Working pattern

Flexible working

Reference number

B0299-HCA0325

Job locations

Christopher’s Shooting Star Hospices

Old Portsmouth Road

Artington

Guildford

GU3 1LP

Job description

Job responsibilities

Part 1: Job Profile

Main purpose of job

To take a role in creating a welcoming, safe and caring environment in which families can be relieved of all or some of the care needs of their child, working alongside them and supporting them.

Duties and key responsibilities

To support and assist in providing nursing / palliative care for the children, ensuring that the needs of the children and their families are at the centre of all decisions.

To participate in the appropriate clinical care of the children.

Assist with nutrition where applicable (i.e. assisting with menu completion, feeding assistance), working closely with the Nurses.

Participate equally with all Care Team members in general household duties.

To behave at all times in a manner that is sensitive to the differing cultural and religious needs of the children / families.

To ensure that the provision of care is consistent with the policies and philosophy of Shooting Star Childrens Hospices.

To be aware of child protection issues and be able to take the required action. To identify personal training and development needs with the Care Team Leader / Head of Care.

To attend appropriate in-house training as identified in the personal development plan and to take proactive advantage of the professional support offered by Shooting Star Childrens Hospices to meet the demands of working within this challenging field.

To provide in-house training where appropriate with colleagues.

To work with the Lead Nurses and the Head of Hospice Services to promote and develop the work of Shooting Star Childrens Hospices.

To ensure the maintenance of effective communication skills with the children and families, within the care team, and with the Shooting Star Childrens Hospices Management team. To report complaints relating to patient care and inform the Lead Nurses or Head of Hospice Services as soon as possible, to ensure that the complaint is recorded and a report prepared in accordance with the complaints procedure.

To act in accordance with, and adhere to, all Shooting Star Childrens Hospices policies, guidelines, procedures and standards.

To take reasonable care not to endanger yourself or anyone else by act or omission.

To take reasonable care or your health and safety and that of other people who may be affected by your acts or omissions at work, and to ensure that statutory regulations, organisational policies, codes of practice and safety rules are adhered to.

Part 2: Main duties and key responsibilities

Professional

fessional

To take responsibility for your personal development in liaison with your line manager.

To take responsibility for undertaking the four elements of annual mandatory training, i.e. Fire Safety, Safeguarding Children, and Infection Control. Moving and Handling.

Mandatory Criteria

1. Other duties

The post holder will be working in a developing environment, and they will therefore be expected to undertake other appropriate duties as required for the effective operation of Shooting Star Childrens Hospices.

2. Professional Codes of Conduct

The post holder will be required to respect professional codes of conduct and practice relevant to their role, as appropriate

3. Health and Safety

Be responsible for health and safety in the area under their control and ensure that they are familiar with Shooting Star Childrens Hospices policy on health and safety at work.

4. Mandatory Training

The post holder will attend all mandatory training relevant to their role

5. Our values and behaviours

Shooting Star Childrens Hospices is a leading childrens hospice charity for babies, children, and young people with lifelimiting conditions, and their families. We require that all our staff share our common values and display behaviours that will enable us to achieve our goals.

Professionalism we will safeguard our families, each other and our organisation by working to ethical and professional standards at all times.

Respect We will treat each other with the utmost respect.

Integrity We will be open, honest and transparent in all that we do.

Diversity We will respect individuality and ensure inclusion and fairness to all. Excellence We will strive for excellence in all that we do.

Shooting Star Childrens Hospices is committed to ensuring the welfare and safety of children and young people. All staff members are expected to adhere to our safeguarding policies and procedures. This includes undergoing appropriate training, following reporting protocols for any concerns related to child welfare, and promoting a safe and supportive environment for children and young people. Before commencing employment, successful candidates will be required to provide satisfactory references and undergo an enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check.

What we offer:

Pension scheme

NHS Pension Scheme (eligible employees)
Stakeholder pension scheme
Employee contribution 3.5%
Shooting Star Childrens Hospices contribution 4.5%
Additional contributions we will pay 1% above the contribution up to a limit of 7%

Annual leave

35 days including Bank Holidays rising with length of service
2 weeks paid sabbatical leave after 5, 10 and 15 years service

Contractual benefits

Generous sick pay scheme
Enhanced maternity, adoption, and paternity leave pay
Flexible working arrangements
Death in service benefits
Reimbursed professional membership fees
Eye care
Employee referral scheme
Blue Light discount card

Health and wellbeing

Employee Assistance Programme
Occupational Health
Mindfulness sessions
Cycle to work scheme
Mental Health First Aiders
Nutritionally balanced meals at Christophers (free employees)

Equality, diversity and inclusion

Shooting Star Childrens Hospice is committed to inclusion and diversity in everything we do. We know that getting things right is critical for us to live our organisations values: Professionalism, Respect, Integrity, Diversity and Excellence.

We are always trying to improve our way of working to be more inclusive and equal. Our vision is for Shooting Star Childrens Hospice to be a place where people of all backgrounds, groups and communities feel welcomed to work and volunteer.