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St Leonard's Hospice

Health Care Assistant

The closing date is 31 August 2025

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Job summary

Are you a caring and compassionate person looking to make a real difference to patients at the end of life when they need it most? Do you want to work for a highly-respected local charity that supports the York community?

St Leonard's Hospice is recruiting skilled and empathetic individuals to join the Hospice as Health Care Assistants 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 you don't need to have any previous care experience. There is time at the Hospice to provide the best standards of care and to build relationships with patients and their families which makes us different to other care settings.

We have opportunities based in both the Inpatient Unit and Hospice@Home teams.

We are ideally recruitingfull time positions which work37.5 hours per week however we are happy to accept applications from candidates who are looking to work 30+ hours per week.The clinical teams operate on a rotational shift pattern which includes earlys, lates and long days over weekends and bank holidays. Shifts are allocated well in advance so our team can have a great work/ life balance.

Main duties of the job

Under the guidance of Registered Nurses, our Health Care Assistants play a pivotal role by:

  • Delivering high standards of holistic care which is tailored to individual patients
  • Provide emotional support to patients loved ones
  • Providing excellent communication to patients and their families and members
  • 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
  • Create a positive and safe environment for patients

Our ideal candidates will:

  • Be committed to delivering exceptional care
  • Have excellent interpersonal skills
  • Have the ability to respond appropriately to emotionally challenging situations
  • Be willing and flexible to working unsocial hours including nights, weekends and bank holidays

What we can offer you:

  • competitive salaries and pending a pay award
  • shift enhancements for working unsociable hours
  • Golden Hello of £250 (after tax) as a special thank you and welcome to our team
  • up to 41 days of annual leave
  • continuation of NHS pension and annual leave entitlement (T&Cs apply)
  • attractive pension scheme for non-NHS staff
  • extensive employee discounts on shops, holidays and lifestyle choices and Blue Light Card discounts
  • a supportive induction and tailored development plan to provide you with confidence and the specialist skills required
  • ongoing development opportunities during your employment including Workforce Wednesdays
  • transport provided for those working in Hospice@Home

About us

Our mission is to provide excellent care and support to those living with life-limiting illness and to the people they care about, to enrich their lives and to contribute to the ongoing development of end-of-life care. We do this by placing our patients at the centre of everything we do, and through involving patients and their families in all decisions regarding their care.

We can only achieve this with the help of our amazing colleagues, by developing and recognising their contribution, and by sharing our knowledge and skills through education, audit and research.

Details

Date posted

14 August 2025

Pay scheme

Other

Salary

£24,210 to £25,823 a year

Contract

Permanent

Working pattern

Full-time

Reference number

HG1375256MaiHCA

Job locations

St Leonard's Hospice

185 Tadcaster Road

York

North Yorkshire

YO24 1GL


Job description

Job responsibilities

To work as a member of the multi-disciplinary team in providing a high standard of care for patients and their families under the care of the Hospice.

Main duties and responsibilities

Professional

1. Develop excellent communications with the patient and their family, passing on all relevant information to a qualified nurse.

2. Inform a qualified nurse of any change in the patients condition.

3. Respect the privacy and dignity of the patient at all times and keep strict confidentiality.

4. Carry out personal cares for the patient under the direction of a qualified nurse.

5. Maintain accurate records of care under the supervision of qualified staff.

6. When required to act as a patients escort on external visits.

7. Undertake light domestic and catering duties.

8. Participate in full rotation across all shifts including nights, weekends and bank holidays.

Managerial

1. Follow Hospice procedures when giving or receiving telephone messages.

2. Follow Hospice procedures in the care and custody of patients valuables and property.

3. Follow the Hospice procedures on the reporting of all accidents, incidents, hazards or complaints.

4. Exercise care and economy in the use of property and equipment.

5. Maintain a caring and mutually supportive working environment for all members of staff and volunteers, being sensitive to the emotional needs of colleagues and giving appropriate support to them.

Education

1. Assist with the orientation of new staff members and others on placement within the Hospice.

2. Be prepared to work towards achieving the Care Certificate.

Job description

Job responsibilities

To work as a member of the multi-disciplinary team in providing a high standard of care for patients and their families under the care of the Hospice.

Main duties and responsibilities

Professional

1. Develop excellent communications with the patient and their family, passing on all relevant information to a qualified nurse.

2. Inform a qualified nurse of any change in the patients condition.

3. Respect the privacy and dignity of the patient at all times and keep strict confidentiality.

4. Carry out personal cares for the patient under the direction of a qualified nurse.

5. Maintain accurate records of care under the supervision of qualified staff.

6. When required to act as a patients escort on external visits.

7. Undertake light domestic and catering duties.

8. Participate in full rotation across all shifts including nights, weekends and bank holidays.

Managerial

1. Follow Hospice procedures when giving or receiving telephone messages.

2. Follow Hospice procedures in the care and custody of patients valuables and property.

3. Follow the Hospice procedures on the reporting of all accidents, incidents, hazards or complaints.

4. Exercise care and economy in the use of property and equipment.

5. Maintain a caring and mutually supportive working environment for all members of staff and volunteers, being sensitive to the emotional needs of colleagues and giving appropriate support to them.

Education

1. Assist with the orientation of new staff members and others on placement within the Hospice.

2. Be prepared to work towards achieving the Care Certificate.

Person Specification

Qualifications

Essential

  • Care Certificate or willingness to undertake training

Desirable

  • NVQ Qualification in Care

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

Experience

Desirable

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

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

IT

Essential

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

Other requirements

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
Person Specification

Qualifications

Essential

  • Care Certificate or willingness to undertake training

Desirable

  • NVQ Qualification in Care

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

Experience

Desirable

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

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

IT

Essential

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

Other requirements

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

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 Leonard's Hospice

185 Tadcaster Road

York

North Yorkshire

YO24 1GL


Employer's website

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

Employer details

Employer name

St Leonard's Hospice

Address

St Leonard's Hospice

185 Tadcaster Road

York

North Yorkshire

YO24 1GL


Employer's website

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

Employer contact details

For questions about the job, contact:

HR Adviser

Hannah Gibson

hr@stleonardshospice.org.uk

01904777742

Details

Date posted

14 August 2025

Pay scheme

Other

Salary

£24,210 to £25,823 a year

Contract

Permanent

Working pattern

Full-time

Reference number

HG1375256MaiHCA

Job locations

St Leonard's Hospice

185 Tadcaster Road

York

North Yorkshire

YO24 1GL


Supporting documents

Privacy notice

St Leonard's Hospice's privacy notice (opens in a new tab)