Job responsibilities
GRADE
3
HOURS OF DUTY
Full Time / Part Time
REPORTS
TO
Hospice at Home Team Leader
KEY RELATIONSHIPS
Director
of services
Head
of Community Services
Hospice
at Home Team Leader
Hospice
at Home Team Co-ordinator
Hospice
at Home Team
Saint
Francis Hospice Multi- Disciplinary Team
Primary
Care Team - District Nurses Redbridge Mac Team Marie Curie Care Agency.
Specialist
Community & Crisis Support Team (Clinical Specialists)
Single
Point of Access
RESPONSIBLE FOR
N/A
JOB SUMMARY
To work as a member of the Hospice at
Home team and to provide appropriate palliative nursing care and support to
people in their own homes as well as supporting their carers across our
catchment area of Barking and Dagenham, Havering, Brentwood and Redbridge.
To liaise with other members of the
multidisciplinary team Hospice at Home Lead, Hospice at Home Team
Co-ordinator, Primary Health Care Team, Clinical Nurse Specialists, Social
Care providers.
Flexible
shift pattern consisting of early, late, flexi and a willingness to undertake
occasional night shift if service requires.
Service
runs 7 days a week. 365 days a year.
Early
0900-1700
Flexi 1000-1800
Late 1300-2100
Nights
2200-0700
MAIN DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES
To provide appropriate physical, emotional and
spiritual care in agreement with the patient and family enabling them to
continue to provide nursing care for the patient if that is their wish
To introduce the hospice services and the ethos of
hospice care in the home environment
To provide care for named patients with palliative
care needs in their own homes in accordance with the patients care plan as
defined by the District Nurse.
To work under the direction of the Hospice at Home
Team Lead and in close coordination with senior staff nurses within team as
well as external professionals involved in patients care
Communicates
with patients, carers and health professionals in a professional manner
To
provide physical care complying with moving & handling policy and
continually perform risk assessment in the patients home
To
teach, empower and enable families to care for the patient
Communicate
effectively and appropriately with patients and carers and liaise with other
professionals involved in their care, all working cohesively regarding any
clinical decision making to ensure consistent high standard of care for
individual at home.
Recognises
changes in palliative care symptoms and conditions and notifies other health
care professionals as necessary
Supports
patients with the self-administration of prescribed oral medication where the
patient is self-medicating and no carer available.
Undertakes
regular monitoring of syringe driver function whilst caring for a patient and
undertakes first line troubleshooting when problems occur.
To monitor the patients condition and to record all
observations accurately using remote technology and Icare.
To
make accurate notes in last days of care plan if commenced.
Ensures patient records and verbal feedback
to the team are maintained appropriately, accurately and that all
documentation is kept up to date using the remote Icare.
To have an understanding of the role of other
professionals involved in the patients care and ensure full communications
maintained at all times between all relevant parties.
To be aware of the function and use of equipment
commonly used in the care of palliative care patients.
Cares for the body after death and supports family
members/carers after death.
Undertakes delegated clinical tasks and procedures
linked to Saint Francis Hospice competencies for HCAs which are specific to
the immediate care environment.
Participates in audits, surveys or other clinical
governance activities as requested by service lead
To be aware of team dynamic and to be willing to
work as part of a team
To be able to have a flexible approach to working as
part of a rota and ensure follow Lone working policy guidance
To
have an understanding and awareness of behaviours and interpersonal skills
that are vital to effective team working and practice them at all times.
Use
opportunities to increase skill set and encourage development of HCA role
e.g. use of iCare, Deputising Coordinator role for service allocation as
required, and referral to Marie Curie/internal hospice Services.
Participate
and contribute to hospice Widening Access groups and Service Improvement
Groups as appropriate
Responsible
to use opportunities to increase use and skills with IT with use of iCare,
and email as appropriate.
PROFESSIONAL RESPONSIBILITIES
To take responsibility for own
professional and personal development which will be monitored in supervision
sessions and in a yearly appraisal.
To adhere to the policies and
conditions of service of Saint Francis Hospice relating to sickness and
absence, conduct, Health and Safety, Data Protection and any others that are
relevant.
ADDITIONAL
RESPONSIBILITIES
Ensure
that computerised data is managed with the requirements of the Data
Protection Act.
To
report any accidents/incidents or potential hazards and to work in accordance
with the hospices Health and Safety at Work Policy.
The hospice is a designated no smoking
area, a policy which must be observed by the post holder.
Some information received or supplied
during the course of duty will be of a confidential nature confidentiality
is not to be breached and is a disciplinary matter.
ADDITIONAL
REQUIREMENTS OF POSTHOLDER
SENSITIVITY AND
PROFESSIONALISM: As
an employee of Saint Francis Hospice you should expect that it is likely that
you will come into contact with patients, their families and members of the
public who are at the end of life or recently bereaved. All employees are
expected to respond to people recounting and expressing their emotions about
such events with sensitivity and understanding, and to know enough about the
services that the Hospice provides to be able to signpost people who may
benefit from our services to the relevant contacts.
CONFIDENTIALITY: The post holder must maintain
confidentiality, security and integrity of information relating to patients,
staff and other hospice matter during the course of duty. Any breach of Confidentiality may become a
disciplinary issue.
DATA PROTECTION: It is the
responsibility of all staff to be aware of their obligations in respect of
the Data Protection Act 2018.
EQUAL OPPORTUNITES: The hospice is
committed to the development of positive policies to promote equal
opportunity in employment and has a clear commitment to equal
opportunities. All employees have a
responsibility to ensure that they understand the standards expected and that
they promote and adhere to the equal opportunity measures adopted by the
hospice.
HEALTH AND SAFETY: All staff must be
familiar with section 2 of the Health & Safety Policy, Organisation of
Health and Safety. This documents sets
out the responsibilities of all staff for health and safety, whether in a
supervisory capacity or not. Policy
section 3 (arrangements for Health and Safety) provides an overview of
training for competence in Health and Safety matters.
HOSPICE IDENTITY
BADGES: Hospice ID badges must be worn at all times
whilst on duty.
SMOKING: The hospice
acknowledges its responsibility to provide a safe, smoke free environment,
for its employees, service users and visitors. Smoking is therefore not permitted at any
point whilst on duty, in accordance with the guidelines set down within the
Hospice No Smoking Policy.
REGISTRATION COMPLIANCE/CODE
OF CONDUCT:
All employees who are
required to register with a professional body to enable them to practice
within their profession are required to comply with their code of conduct and
requirements of their professional registration.
WORKING TIME
REGULATIONS: The
Working Time Regulations 1998 require that you should not work more than an
average of 48 hours in each week. For
example, in a 26 week period you should work no more than 1248 hours.
Please note that this
job description is not definitive or restrictive in any way. It is a guide to
the responsibilities of the role. It may be reviewed, in consultation with the
post holder, in light of changing circumstances and the changing needs of the
Hospice.
The post holder will be
expected to perform any other such duties as might reasonably be required by
the Director and will work in accordance with all Hospice Policies and
Procedures.
In an emergency, all staff may be required to
work different hours or carry out different tasks to those set out in their
contracts of employment. This will be done in consultation with individuals and
taking into account any special circumstances that may exist.
