Senior Healthcare Assistant - Community Palliative Care

Job description

Job responsibilities

JOB PURPOSE

The post holder will assist the Registered Clinician in providing skilled nursing care to patients in need of specialist palliative end of life care. They will provide safe, effective and responsive nursing care to patients and their loved ones in a supportive, caring and compassionate environment.

Contribute to the day to day operational management and ongoing development of nursing services by undertaking a range of additional responsibilities, appropriate for level of competence as delegated by the Lead Nurse.

The postholder will be expected to be able to communicate effectively and empathetically with patients and their loved ones.

KEY ACCOUNTABILITIES & RESPONSIBILITIES

Clinical Practice

Support patients and their loved ones to cope with their emotional and psychological and spiritual wellbeingTo offer emotional support to patients and their loved ones, particularly during breaking of bad news and time of death, recognising own limitations and referring to the Registered Clinician as appropriate.

Work in collaboration with the patients loved ones/ carers to enable them to support individualsTo communicate effectively with patients, their loved ones and the bereaved to establish and maintain trusting relationships

Plan, monitor and review, with the Registered Clinician, activities, interventions or treatments to achieve specified goals and implement care plans/programmes.

Monitor an individuals progress in managing their illness and support the individual's management of their condition and treatment plan. Discuss and report any changes to the appropriate clinician.

Undertake personal hygiene for individuals unable to care for themselves

Work within the extended role programme, acts as a second checker for controlled drugs administered by a trained nurse, blood transfusion observations, changing simple dressings, assist in pressure care management, inserting and securing and managing urethral catheters, setting up P.E.G feeds and any other interventions considered applicable to area of work.

Support individuals during and after clinical therapeutic interventions and undertake baseline observations

Assist, using appropriate aids, in the implementation of mobility and movement programmes for individuals to help restore optimum movement and functional independence.

Help individuals to maintain mobility and support the use of technological aids to promote independence.

Support individuals to retain, regain, and develop the skills to manage their lives and environment including enabling individuals to use assistive devices and assistive technology.

Assist individuals in undertaking activities and enable them to choose and participate in activities that are meaningful to them.

Contribute to the discharge of an individual into the care of another service through carrying out actions from a discharge plan.

Perform last offices and where necessary supervise the safe removal of the deceased patient.To contribute to bereavement care offered to families by contributing to bereavement interviews and reporting any concerns related to risk assessment to the Registered Clinician.To establish and maintain effective communication and working relationships with multi-disciplinary teams within the Hospice and with the wider health care environment.

Take responsibility for safe practice and awareness of health and safety and infection control thus ensuring patient safety and that the Hospices exposure to risk is minimised.

Maintain a safe and clean and tidy work environment.

Prepare and manage environments and resources for use in health care.

Leadership/ Service Development

Be alert to the needs adults at risk including risk assessment and taking appropriate action when required. Escalating any safeguarding concerns.

Work in collaboration with the Multidisciplinary Team and actively participate in multi-professional meetings as well as team, locality and other relevant meetings, acting as patient advocate when necessary.

Ensure the application of equal opportunities in practice considering the individual needs of patients, their loved ones and colleagues.

Communicate effectively through IT systems.

Assist in the supervision of less experienced staff and students

Use professional and personal skills appropriately to respond to concerns or complaints, notify the team lead and act in accordance with the Hospice Complaints procedure.

Training and Education

Participate and attend all mandatory training sessions in accordance with Hospice policy.

To participate in an annual performance and development review with their line manager so that an agreed training programme can be developed in line with the hospice strategy and clinical objectives.

Promote an informative educational environment of newly qualified staff /new Hospice staff / and student nurses.

Audit and Research

To participate in service development activities, such as audits and surveys to identify areas for improvement.

Supports and contributes to the development of policy and clinical guidelines within their area.

To access and implement as necessary all St Wilfrids Hospice policies/protocols and guidelines.

Undertake a link role within own area of interest such as stores management, infection control, manual handling, falls management or pressure ulcer management.

KEY WORKING RELATIONSHIPS

The main internal and external contacts the post holder will work with includes:

Patients and their loved ones To be able to communicate effectively and sensitively with patients and their loved ones during highly stressful and emotional situations. Ensuring effective and honest communication considering the level of understanding, culture and background

Line Manager and Colleagues - Communicates clearly and regularly discussing, reporting patient care. Working collaboratively to share information.

Hospice Multidisciplinary Team and Volunteers Work collaboratively across all disciplines and departments to provide timely quality care and information to patients and their loved ones ensuring care is effective and coordinated.

Senior Management Team and the Registered manager Work in collaboration to ensure patient quality and safety is a high priority.

External agencies such as Echo Hub, SCFT and Primary Care, Hampshire Community Trust, Continuing Health Care, St Richards Hospital and Nursing Homes- Establish and maintain good working relationship with colleagues, so as to provide a comprehensive service to patients and loved ones to enable good liaison and share best practice.

Students across all disciplines providing a welcoming environment

Trustees and donors ensuring a positive message is communicated about clinical services

Person Specification

Qualifications

Essential

• NVQ Level 3/ BTEC National Diploma or at least 1 year equivalent experience working in the Hospice sector
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills
• IT skills

Desirable

• Knowledge of Palliative care

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 Wilfrid's Hospice

Address

St. Wilfrids Hospice

Walton Lane

Bosham

Chichester

West Sussex

PO18 8QB

Employer's website

https://stwh.co.uk/ (Opens in a new tab)