Keech Hospice Care

Palliative Care Support Worker

The closing date is 29 June 2025

Job summary

Do you have the desire and passion to make the difference when it matters the most? Are you a Health Care Assistant or Carer looking for an opportunity to utilise your caring skills and knowledge in palliative care or someone with life experience and the motivation to use that learning to support patients and their loved ones? We are recruiting for an Adult Palliative Care Support Worker (PCSW), who will be dedicated to providing professional and compassionate healthcare support to patients and families through periods of change as their illness progresses, within Luton and South Bedfordshire. You would join us on a 37.5 hour contract consisting of shifts across the weekdays (8am-4pm & 1pm-9pm) and weekends (9am-9pm).

Main duties of the job

What You'll Do Provide a patient centred care across the community Show compassion when communicating with patients and their families Support colleagues in providing high-quality palliative and end-of-life care, including pre and post bereavement support. Actively engage in the training opportunities to develop your palliative care knowledge and skills Recognise the importance of sharing experiences to manage your own wellbeing, and encourage others to do the same What You'll Need Previous work or personal experience in caring for patients at end of life Great communication skills both written and verbal Confident to working unsupervised with the ability to prioritise shifting workloads Good interpersonal and communication skills working with patients, families, carers and professionals Motivated to develop a career in palliative care Health Care qualification NVQ Level 2/3 highly desirable Full Driving Licence held for a minimum of 2 years

About us

Keech provide free, specialist care for Adults in Luton and South Bedfordshire, and children from Bedfordshire, Hertfordshire and Milton Keynes living with a life limiting illness. Keech supports adults and children to live pain and symptom free, to spend untroubled time with their loved one, to understand whats happening to them, to stay out of hospital and to make the most of the time they have.

Details

Date posted

03 June 2025

Pay scheme

Other

Salary

£23,946 a year

Contract

Permanent

Working pattern

Full-time

Reference number

KEE1111278

Job locations

Keech Hospice Care

Great Bramingham Lane

Streatley

LU3 3NT


Job description

Job responsibilities

Accountable to: Associate Director Patient Services (Adults) Responsible to;Palliative Care Clinical Nurse Specialist/Shift Leader Hours of work:Full time rota across 7 days including daytime, and evenings.

Location/primary base Keech Hospice Care/Community Job

Purpose:To participate in the provision of individual nursing care for the patient under the supervision of a Registered Nurse, or Assistant Practitioner. Together with other members of staff, maintain standards within the unit that will ensure that the care provided, physical, psychological and spiritual is of the highest possible quality, within the resources available. To work collaboratively as part of a multi-disciplinary team, demonstrating the values of Keech Hospice Care. To work flexibly across Adult Services as required to ensure continuity of patient care and service delivery (Adult Inpatient Unit, Wellbeing Centre, MCCT).

Key relationships Keech Inpatient and Outpatient teams; Medical Team; Palliative Care Clinical Nurse Specialists; Social Work Team; MCCT; Supportive Care Team; Community Macmillan & District Nursing Teams; GPs; Palliative Care Hub; Care Agencies.

Specific Duties:1.Ensure patients and families are received at the hospice into a welcoming, relaxed and friendly environment. 2.To work closely with other members of the Care Team, recognising and working within own capabilities, but always acting in the best interest of the Patient and family. 3.Take responsibility for the general care and safety of patient allocated by the Team Leader, ensuring care is carried out to a high standard, following the patients individual care plan and that clear reports are given to other staff. 4.Assist with patients personal clinical care, record patient observation, collect specimens and other tasks for which competence has been assessed, in accordance with the patients individual care plan and under the supervision of the registered nurse. 5.Provide support and assistance to registered nurses when carrying out nursing procedures. 6.Support the nurses with the admission and discharges of patients, including the completion of assessment template on the patients electronic record as requested, within scope of assessed competence. 7.Keep accurate, contemporaneous records and ensure that care is carried out in accordance with each individual patients care plan. 8.Report any concerns with regards to patient care, changing needs or safeguarding concerns to the shift leader, and record this in the patients electronic record. 9.Facilitate opportunities for patient and families to talk, should they wish to. To understand the importance of listening and develop listening skills with the appropriate training. Be prepared to give pre and post bereavement support to families, in conjunction with the Nursing Team and Family Support Service. 10.Be familiar with the range of support available for patients and carers, and assist patients and families to create memories. 11.Communicate factual information to patients within using, reassurance, tact and sensitivity, overcoming barriers to understanding using a range of methods appropriate to the needs of the patient. 12.Ensure that patient and family confidentiality is maintained at all times. 13.Undertake a link role to develop own knowledge and skills and participate in audits as requested. 14.Support colleagues to achieve their objectives within their own link roles. 15.Actively participate in maintaining a safe environment, taking care of the equipment available, and ensuring all daily and weekly checks are completed, with any concerns escalated through the appropriate channel. 16.Take the opportunity to attend debrief and supervision sessions as part of self-care management and support for other colleagues. 17.Take the opportunity to attend training sessions, consider how your learning will change how you work, and share learning with other colleagues.

Duties in common with other members of staff:To report and record accidents and incidents. To be an ambassador for the charity. To uphold the values of the charity. To maintain the best appearance of your immediate working area. To demonstrate a positive and supportive attitude to staff and volunteers. Respect confidentiality applying to all Hospice areas. To promote the safeguarding and welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults To adhere to the Infection prevention and Control Policies and Procedures set by the charity and the Care Quality Commission. To behave at all times with complete integrity, respecting professional dignity and ensuring that actions enhance the reputation of themselves and the charity. Training and EducationParticipate in own Individual Performance Review on an annual basis and be willing to receive further training as identified through this process. To be responsible for liaison with your line manager regarding your own development needs. To support the induction of new staff, students and volunteers, making them feel welcome, supported and valued.

Health and Safety To adhere to Fire and Health and Safety regulations and maintain a safe working environment at all times.

Policies and Procedures To take responsibility for being up to date with current policies and procedures and to adhere to these.

Equal Opportunities To treat everyone with whom you have contact through your work with equal dignity and respect regardless of race, colour, gender, sexual orientation, marital status, creed, religion, disability, age, or any other factor that could be used in a discriminatory manner. The above job description is not an exhaustive list of all the duties of the post holder. It will be reviewed in conjunction with the post holder.

Job description

Job responsibilities

Accountable to: Associate Director Patient Services (Adults) Responsible to;Palliative Care Clinical Nurse Specialist/Shift Leader Hours of work:Full time rota across 7 days including daytime, and evenings.

Location/primary base Keech Hospice Care/Community Job

Purpose:To participate in the provision of individual nursing care for the patient under the supervision of a Registered Nurse, or Assistant Practitioner. Together with other members of staff, maintain standards within the unit that will ensure that the care provided, physical, psychological and spiritual is of the highest possible quality, within the resources available. To work collaboratively as part of a multi-disciplinary team, demonstrating the values of Keech Hospice Care. To work flexibly across Adult Services as required to ensure continuity of patient care and service delivery (Adult Inpatient Unit, Wellbeing Centre, MCCT).

Key relationships Keech Inpatient and Outpatient teams; Medical Team; Palliative Care Clinical Nurse Specialists; Social Work Team; MCCT; Supportive Care Team; Community Macmillan & District Nursing Teams; GPs; Palliative Care Hub; Care Agencies.

Specific Duties:1.Ensure patients and families are received at the hospice into a welcoming, relaxed and friendly environment. 2.To work closely with other members of the Care Team, recognising and working within own capabilities, but always acting in the best interest of the Patient and family. 3.Take responsibility for the general care and safety of patient allocated by the Team Leader, ensuring care is carried out to a high standard, following the patients individual care plan and that clear reports are given to other staff. 4.Assist with patients personal clinical care, record patient observation, collect specimens and other tasks for which competence has been assessed, in accordance with the patients individual care plan and under the supervision of the registered nurse. 5.Provide support and assistance to registered nurses when carrying out nursing procedures. 6.Support the nurses with the admission and discharges of patients, including the completion of assessment template on the patients electronic record as requested, within scope of assessed competence. 7.Keep accurate, contemporaneous records and ensure that care is carried out in accordance with each individual patients care plan. 8.Report any concerns with regards to patient care, changing needs or safeguarding concerns to the shift leader, and record this in the patients electronic record. 9.Facilitate opportunities for patient and families to talk, should they wish to. To understand the importance of listening and develop listening skills with the appropriate training. Be prepared to give pre and post bereavement support to families, in conjunction with the Nursing Team and Family Support Service. 10.Be familiar with the range of support available for patients and carers, and assist patients and families to create memories. 11.Communicate factual information to patients within using, reassurance, tact and sensitivity, overcoming barriers to understanding using a range of methods appropriate to the needs of the patient. 12.Ensure that patient and family confidentiality is maintained at all times. 13.Undertake a link role to develop own knowledge and skills and participate in audits as requested. 14.Support colleagues to achieve their objectives within their own link roles. 15.Actively participate in maintaining a safe environment, taking care of the equipment available, and ensuring all daily and weekly checks are completed, with any concerns escalated through the appropriate channel. 16.Take the opportunity to attend debrief and supervision sessions as part of self-care management and support for other colleagues. 17.Take the opportunity to attend training sessions, consider how your learning will change how you work, and share learning with other colleagues.

Duties in common with other members of staff:To report and record accidents and incidents. To be an ambassador for the charity. To uphold the values of the charity. To maintain the best appearance of your immediate working area. To demonstrate a positive and supportive attitude to staff and volunteers. Respect confidentiality applying to all Hospice areas. To promote the safeguarding and welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults To adhere to the Infection prevention and Control Policies and Procedures set by the charity and the Care Quality Commission. To behave at all times with complete integrity, respecting professional dignity and ensuring that actions enhance the reputation of themselves and the charity. Training and EducationParticipate in own Individual Performance Review on an annual basis and be willing to receive further training as identified through this process. To be responsible for liaison with your line manager regarding your own development needs. To support the induction of new staff, students and volunteers, making them feel welcome, supported and valued.

Health and Safety To adhere to Fire and Health and Safety regulations and maintain a safe working environment at all times.

Policies and Procedures To take responsibility for being up to date with current policies and procedures and to adhere to these.

Equal Opportunities To treat everyone with whom you have contact through your work with equal dignity and respect regardless of race, colour, gender, sexual orientation, marital status, creed, religion, disability, age, or any other factor that could be used in a discriminatory manner. The above job description is not an exhaustive list of all the duties of the post holder. It will be reviewed in conjunction with the post holder.

Person Specification

Qualifications

Essential

  • Good standard of English & Maths.
  • Good standard of communication.
  • Evidence of training relevant to the role in a health care setting, or significant personal experience.

Desirable

  • NVQ in health studies level 3, or equivalent

Experience

Essential

  • Understands the role of Health Care Assistant in the hospice or community setting.
  • Ability to prioritise work.
  • Understands the work of the primary health care team.
  • Experience as a Health Care Assistant, or equivalent.
  • Previous work in a hospice or community setting, or relevant, transferable experience

Desirable

  • Good range of knowledge of clinical products.
  • Understanding of palliative care services available in the local area.
  • Care of patients in the dying phase of their illness.
  • Caring for cancer and palliative care patients.

Additional Criteria

Essential

  • Good interpersonal and communication skills working with: patients, families, carers and professionals.
  • Ability to work with others and unsupervised.
  • Ability to work under pressure.
  • Accurate and methodical approach to work.
  • Organised and able to prioritise and adapt to presenting situations.
  • Ability to problem solve.
  • IT skills to include Word.

Desirable

  • Experience of supporting families in a crisis.
Person Specification

Qualifications

Essential

  • Good standard of English & Maths.
  • Good standard of communication.
  • Evidence of training relevant to the role in a health care setting, or significant personal experience.

Desirable

  • NVQ in health studies level 3, or equivalent

Experience

Essential

  • Understands the role of Health Care Assistant in the hospice or community setting.
  • Ability to prioritise work.
  • Understands the work of the primary health care team.
  • Experience as a Health Care Assistant, or equivalent.
  • Previous work in a hospice or community setting, or relevant, transferable experience

Desirable

  • Good range of knowledge of clinical products.
  • Understanding of palliative care services available in the local area.
  • Care of patients in the dying phase of their illness.
  • Caring for cancer and palliative care patients.

Additional Criteria

Essential

  • Good interpersonal and communication skills working with: patients, families, carers and professionals.
  • Ability to work with others and unsupervised.
  • Ability to work under pressure.
  • Accurate and methodical approach to work.
  • Organised and able to prioritise and adapt to presenting situations.
  • Ability to problem solve.
  • IT skills to include Word.

Desirable

  • Experience of supporting families in a crisis.

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

Keech Hospice Care

Address

Keech Hospice Care

Great Bramingham Lane

Streatley

LU3 3NT


Employer's website

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

Employer details

Employer name

Keech Hospice Care

Address

Keech Hospice Care

Great Bramingham Lane

Streatley

LU3 3NT


Employer's website

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

Employer contact details

For questions about the job, contact:

HR Recruitment Administrator

Louise Lamerton

recruitment@keech.org.uk

01582497339

Details

Date posted

03 June 2025

Pay scheme

Other

Salary

£23,946 a year

Contract

Permanent

Working pattern

Full-time

Reference number

KEE1111278

Job locations

Keech Hospice Care

Great Bramingham Lane

Streatley

LU3 3NT


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