St Margaret's Somerset Hospice

Healthcare Assistant Sunflower Centre

The closing date is 05 June 2025

Job summary

If you are qualified to Level 3 in Health and Social Care (or equivalent), this opportunity may be of interest to you.

St Margaret's Hospice Care has a fantastic opportunity for a Healthcare Assistant to join our Sunflower Centre (SFC) Day Services Team. This role is based in Yeovil.

You will join us on a part time, permanent term basis.In return, you will receive a competitive salary of £26,419.59 per annum pro rata (which equates to £10,710.60 per annum for 15 hours per week).

This role has a working pattern of Tuesday and Wednesday, 08:30 - 16:30 (15 hours). There may be occasions where it may be required to split the 15 hours over 3 days (Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday) to cover absence.

Main duties of the job

Our Healthcare Assistants provide outstanding patient care to those with life limiting illness, making each day count for those who rely on St Margaret's services. You will be joining a well-established experienced multi-disciplinary team of clinicians and a valuable volunteer team.

Our service provides a holistic multi-faceted approach to specialist palliative care assessment, treatment and support to ensure that patients with life limiting illnesses have appropriate access to a wide range of services and activities to meet their needs.

Your day-to-day work will include:

  • Planning and delivering individual patient programmes and group activities.
  • Supporting and assisting patients with their individual hygiene and personal needs.
  • Supporting patients with their individual dietary requirements and assisting with eating and drinking as required.
  • Assisting in minimising patients anxiety, pain and discomfort under the guidance of qualified staff.
  • Promoting as much independence as possible within the limits of disease progression.
  • Administration and co-ordination tasks to facilitate smooth day to day SFC operation.

About us

Be part of a welcoming, community minded charity. Our mission is to provide excellent specialist palliative care for patients and support to their families. Everyone here contributes and has a part to play towards our goal. If you speak to any of our staff or volunteers, they will tell you how the patient is at the heart of everything they do. So, if youre looking for a role where you can really make a difference, working as part of a supportive team, we could be a perfect match.

Holiday entitlement

  • 33 days holiday including bank holidays rising to 35 days after 1 year, and increasing with length of service (pro-rata if part-time)
  • Ability to buy and sell annual leave

Pension scheme

  • NHS employees eligible to continue with their NHS pension scheme*
  • Non-NHS employees will receive 5.5% employer and 5% employee contribution.

Award-winning Employee Assistance Programme for you and your family offering:

  • Vitality & wellbeing health portal for non-emergency care
  • Unlimited access to 24/7 online GP Consultations for employees, their partners, and dependent children as well as Expert Case Management
  • Confidential and free 24-hour Employee Assistance
  • Counselling and support
  • Legal, financial, and medical information and advice

And more

  • Life assurance cover 2x salary
  • Health Cash Plans
  • Blue Light Discount Card
  • Enhanced parental leave*
  • Excellent learning and development opportunities
  • Free on-site parking in Yeovil and Taunton
  • Volunteering and fundraising opportunities

*Eligibility criteria applies

Details

Date posted

16 May 2025

Pay scheme

Agenda for change

Band

Band 3

Salary

£10,710 a year

Contract

Permanent

Working pattern

Part-time

Reference number

37-25 - HCA Sunflower Centre

Job locations

Little Tarat Lane

Yeovil

Somerset

BA20 2HU


Job description

Job responsibilities

Job Purpose

  • Provide specialist palliative care and support that is patient centred, holistic and quality driven.
  • Enable, empower and care for patients as part of the Sunflower Day Centre East service.
  • Work as part of the multidisciplinary team, under the direction and leadership of the registered staff supporting them, with operational and clinical activities to meet the needs of patients.

Clinical Responsibilities

  • Contribute to the planning and delivery of individual patient programmes and group activities with the relevant health care professional.
  • Support and assist patients with their individual hygiene and personal needs.
  • Support patients with their individual dietary requirements and assist with eating and drinking as required.
  • Provide patients with support and assistance to maintain their level of mobility using specified mobility appliances as required.
  • Assist in minimising patients anxiety, pain and discomfort under the guidance of qualified staff.
  • Report any changes in the patients condition to the qualified member of staff
  • Promote as much independence as possible within the limits of disease progression.
  • Consider and respond to the needs of families/carers as appropriate.
  • Maintain accurate and timely documentation.
  • Use all equipment safely, competently and appropriately taking responsibility to clean and maintain to keep in good working order. Report any defects to registered staff and record on the electronic defects log.
  • Liaise with the volunteers and guide them in their role as agreed with the SFC clinician.
  • Undertake appropriate administration and co-ordination tasks to facilitate smooth day to day SFC operation.
  • To be aware of, and adhere to relevant hospice policies and procedures
  • Actively contribute to housekeeping duties to maintain the cleanliness and tidiness of the day centre.

Educational responsibilities

  • Participate in Clinical and Health and Safety mandatory training programmes.
  • Participate in appropriate and agreed internal and external training sessions in order to provide high standards of specialist palliative care.
  • To be aware of own limitations and work within levels of competency.
  • Assist in the promotion of health education with patients.
  • Apply a positive attitude towards training and professional development.
  • Participate in the performance review process and take responsibility for achieving the objectives identified in the Personal Development Plan.
  • All staff are responsible for ensuring they follow good infection control practices at all times and that they are familiar with infection control policies, procedures and guidance.

Professional responsibilities:

  • Work in accordance with organisational policies and procedures
  • Participate in induction programmes
  • Provide support and encouragement for volunteers and students.
  • Ensure Health and Safety Policies are adhered to and report any accidents, incidents and complaints to the SFC clinician or on call manger as appropriate and complete the online reporting form.
  • Be proactive in identifying areas of improvement and service developments in conjunction with the SFC clinician.

Communication and people skills

  • Liaise with all members of the multidisciplinary team in the provision of specialist palliative care for patients, families and carers. Promote and maintain a culture of multidisciplinary team working.
  • Liaise with team members in a constructive and positive manner, adhering to best practice when giving and receiving feedback.
  • Establish and maintain effective communication with patients, families and carers to include those with communication difficulties and report relevant information to the multi-disciplinary team.
  • Maintain a respectful, non-judgemental and caring attitude towards all patients, their families and friends.

Job description

Job responsibilities

Job Purpose

  • Provide specialist palliative care and support that is patient centred, holistic and quality driven.
  • Enable, empower and care for patients as part of the Sunflower Day Centre East service.
  • Work as part of the multidisciplinary team, under the direction and leadership of the registered staff supporting them, with operational and clinical activities to meet the needs of patients.

Clinical Responsibilities

  • Contribute to the planning and delivery of individual patient programmes and group activities with the relevant health care professional.
  • Support and assist patients with their individual hygiene and personal needs.
  • Support patients with their individual dietary requirements and assist with eating and drinking as required.
  • Provide patients with support and assistance to maintain their level of mobility using specified mobility appliances as required.
  • Assist in minimising patients anxiety, pain and discomfort under the guidance of qualified staff.
  • Report any changes in the patients condition to the qualified member of staff
  • Promote as much independence as possible within the limits of disease progression.
  • Consider and respond to the needs of families/carers as appropriate.
  • Maintain accurate and timely documentation.
  • Use all equipment safely, competently and appropriately taking responsibility to clean and maintain to keep in good working order. Report any defects to registered staff and record on the electronic defects log.
  • Liaise with the volunteers and guide them in their role as agreed with the SFC clinician.
  • Undertake appropriate administration and co-ordination tasks to facilitate smooth day to day SFC operation.
  • To be aware of, and adhere to relevant hospice policies and procedures
  • Actively contribute to housekeeping duties to maintain the cleanliness and tidiness of the day centre.

Educational responsibilities

  • Participate in Clinical and Health and Safety mandatory training programmes.
  • Participate in appropriate and agreed internal and external training sessions in order to provide high standards of specialist palliative care.
  • To be aware of own limitations and work within levels of competency.
  • Assist in the promotion of health education with patients.
  • Apply a positive attitude towards training and professional development.
  • Participate in the performance review process and take responsibility for achieving the objectives identified in the Personal Development Plan.
  • All staff are responsible for ensuring they follow good infection control practices at all times and that they are familiar with infection control policies, procedures and guidance.

Professional responsibilities:

  • Work in accordance with organisational policies and procedures
  • Participate in induction programmes
  • Provide support and encouragement for volunteers and students.
  • Ensure Health and Safety Policies are adhered to and report any accidents, incidents and complaints to the SFC clinician or on call manger as appropriate and complete the online reporting form.
  • Be proactive in identifying areas of improvement and service developments in conjunction with the SFC clinician.

Communication and people skills

  • Liaise with all members of the multidisciplinary team in the provision of specialist palliative care for patients, families and carers. Promote and maintain a culture of multidisciplinary team working.
  • Liaise with team members in a constructive and positive manner, adhering to best practice when giving and receiving feedback.
  • Establish and maintain effective communication with patients, families and carers to include those with communication difficulties and report relevant information to the multi-disciplinary team.
  • Maintain a respectful, non-judgemental and caring attitude towards all patients, their families and friends.

Person Specification

Education and Qualifications

Essential

  • Evidence of English/Mathematics GCSE grade C or above (or equivalent)
  • NVQ 3 qualification in Health and Social Care or equivalent
  • Relevant experience working as a health care assistant or similar
  • Evidence of relevant continuing professional development

Desirable

  • Previous experience of working in a palliative care environment

Self Awareness

Essential

  • Enthusiastic and motivated
  • Can-Do approach
  • Reflective practitioner
  • Conscientious, reliable and punctual.

Working with others

Essential

  • Experience of working as part of a multi-disciplinary team
  • Effective communication skills, both written and verbal.
  • Understanding of good teamwork

Desirable

  • Experience of compassionately dealing with distressed patients, families and carers.
  • Experience of conflict resolution and negotiating skills

Outcome and Results

Essential

  • IT skills, including entering onto databases
  • Ability to manage own time
  • Ability to prioritise competing work demands

Leading in your area

Essential

  • Knowledge and understanding of pressures that exist for patients, who are living with life limiting conditions, and their families.
  • Flexible approach to working arrangements.
  • Positive attitude towards equal opportunities and towards working in a multi-cultural/multi-disciplinary environment.
Person Specification

Education and Qualifications

Essential

  • Evidence of English/Mathematics GCSE grade C or above (or equivalent)
  • NVQ 3 qualification in Health and Social Care or equivalent
  • Relevant experience working as a health care assistant or similar
  • Evidence of relevant continuing professional development

Desirable

  • Previous experience of working in a palliative care environment

Self Awareness

Essential

  • Enthusiastic and motivated
  • Can-Do approach
  • Reflective practitioner
  • Conscientious, reliable and punctual.

Working with others

Essential

  • Experience of working as part of a multi-disciplinary team
  • Effective communication skills, both written and verbal.
  • Understanding of good teamwork

Desirable

  • Experience of compassionately dealing with distressed patients, families and carers.
  • Experience of conflict resolution and negotiating skills

Outcome and Results

Essential

  • IT skills, including entering onto databases
  • Ability to manage own time
  • Ability to prioritise competing work demands

Leading in your area

Essential

  • Knowledge and understanding of pressures that exist for patients, who are living with life limiting conditions, and their families.
  • Flexible approach to working arrangements.
  • Positive attitude towards equal opportunities and towards working in a multi-cultural/multi-disciplinary environment.

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 Margaret's Somerset Hospice

Address

Little Tarat Lane

Yeovil

Somerset

BA20 2HU


Employer's website

https://www.st-margarets-hospice.org.uk/home-page (Opens in a new tab)


Employer details

Employer name

St Margaret's Somerset Hospice

Address

Little Tarat Lane

Yeovil

Somerset

BA20 2HU


Employer's website

https://www.st-margarets-hospice.org.uk/home-page (Opens in a new tab)


Employer contact details

For questions about the job, contact:

Sunflower Centre Clinician

Emily Curran

Emily.curran@st-margarets-hospice.org.uk

01935709480

Details

Date posted

16 May 2025

Pay scheme

Agenda for change

Band

Band 3

Salary

£10,710 a year

Contract

Permanent

Working pattern

Part-time

Reference number

37-25 - HCA Sunflower Centre

Job locations

Little Tarat Lane

Yeovil

Somerset

BA20 2HU


Supporting documents

Privacy notice

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