Health Care Assistant

Job description

Job responsibilities

Could you make a real difference to patients and their families at the end of life?

Do you want to join the St Leonard’s Hospice Team providing excellent care to patients from York and the surrounding area at the end of life?

We have an exciting opportunity for a skilled and compassionate individual to join the Hospice as a Health Care Assistant to make a difference both personally and professionally to patients who require palliative and end of life care. This is a great opportunity to consider a career move into palliative care, as a supported induction and tailored development plan will enable you to gain the specialist skills required. No previous care experience is required.   

This position is based on our Inpatient Unit and as a Health Care Assistant, you will work as part of the multi-disciplinary team under the guidance of a registered nurse and be involved in the following:

• Delivering high standards of holistic care to patients and their families
• Providing excellent communication skills to the patients and their families and members of the multi-disciplinary team
• Maintaining accurate records of care
• Working with a dedicated team of professionals, ensuring the needs of the patients and families are met with compassion and excellence

What we can offer you:

• salary above NHS pay scales
• shift enhancements
• up to 41 days annual leave
• opportunity to continue NHS pension and length of service based annual leave entitlement
• attractive pension scheme (non-NHS)
• a modern IPU with great facilities for patients and their families
• high staff to patient ratios
• opportunity to be a supernumerary as part of the induction
• work at a Hospice that has research and campaigning at the forefront of its mission
• free car parking
• great CPD opportunities

What we need from you:

• excellent interpersonal skills
• ability to respond appropriately to emotionally challenging situations
• willingness and flexibility to work unsocial hours including nights, weekends and bank holidays

For an informal discussion, please contact the Hospice’s HR Team at hr@stleonardshospice.org.uk or on 01904 777742.

We do not have sponsorship status and therefore all our offers are made conditional upon our candidates submitting evidence of their right to work in the UK in conjunction with our other pre-employment checks.

Person Specification

Qualifications

Essential

• Care Certificate or willingness to undertake training

Desirable

• NVQ Qualification in Care

Other

Essential

• Be prepared to assist with Hospice fundraising activities
• Enhanced DBS check
• Ability to work unsocial hours including nights and weekends

Desirable

• Vehicle owner with full UK driving licence
• Knowledge of York and surrounding area

Communication

Essential

• Good written and verbal communication
• Good interpersonal skills
• Ability to be sensitive and empathetic
• Able to work effectively in a multi-disciplinary team

Personal

Essential

• Work confidentially and with discretion
• Enthusiasm
• Awareness and ability to cope with pressure
• Ability to work in a challenging environment
• Flexible to the changing needs of the post
• Be accurate and methodical
• Honest, trustworthy, reliable and punctual
• Approachable, team player
• Committed to providing a quality and measurable service
• Ability to accept support from other team members
• Respect for others ethnic or/and religious/spiritual beliefs
• Committed to own continuing professional development
• A commitment to Hospice care and to have a philosophy and concept of Hospice care

IT

Essential

• Good basic IT skills
• Knowledge of Microsoft applications (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook)

Experience

Desirable

• Experience of palliative care
• Experience of working as a carer

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 Leonard's Hospice

Address

St. Leonards Hospice

St Leonard's Hospice

184 Tadcaster Road

York

North Yorkshire

YO24 1GL

Employer's website

https://www.stleonardshospice.org.uk/ (Opens in a new tab)