Job summary
Great Oaks Hospice provides quality end of life care and support services, free of charge, for adults, and their families, in the community.
As we grow our services to meet the needs of our community, we are seeking to appoint a suitably qualified and experienced Health Care Assistant into a key role in our Hospice@Home team.
Successful candidates will need to work flexibly in the community, providing social, emotional, physiological and wider-wellbeing care to our patients.
If you are looking for a new, fulfilling role and hold an NVQ Level 2/3 or Care Certificate in Health Care or equivalent; have 2 or more years experience in a palliative/End of Life Care setting; and are looking for a fulfilling role, we would like to hear from you.
Main duties of the job
Hospice at Home provides skilled nursing
care to patients and their families within their own home or usual care
environment for specific periods of time.
The Health Care Assistant works under the direction of the Hospice@Home Lead, who establishes the care needs of the patient and family from the
District Nurse in their capacity as the keyworker.
The Health Care Assistant provides quality care that encompasses physical,
emotional, and wider well-being of the patient plus appropriate and timely
support to their family and those affected by the situation.
About us
Great Oaks Hospice is located in Coleford, Gloucestershire. We are a charity and our team provide end of life care services, free
of charge, for adults, and their families, across the Forest of Dean
Community.
Our mission is to provide the best care and support for everyone when they need it most and working with our staff, volunteers, community, supporters and partners we aspire to be the most trusted provider of hospice care and support for our community.
Job description
Job responsibilities
Overview of
Responsibilities
Within the home environment and as a Lone
Worker, to:
- Follow policies and guidelines as per Hospice
at Home Handbook
- Work in accordance with Lone Worker
Policy
- Recognise and report
limitations of own professional competence/experience and personal living standards that may differ from
those in receipt of care
- Recognise the need and undertake
any training identified via Line Management and/or annual appraisal
- Be aware of risk to self and others under
Health and Safety
Regulations
- Verbally report any accident or untoward incident
as soon as possible followed
by written report
- Be aware of Out of Hours Procedures when seeking advice
and/or support
- Respect peoples personal
choices for lifestyle and living arrangements
- Work collaboratively and constructively in line with our vision,
mission and strategy
Communications
- Establish and maintain
effective communication with patients, relatives
and carers as part of their
receipt of End-of-Life Care
- To be aware of the role of all personnel within the wider multi-disciplinary team including community staff, social services,
hospital professionals, the specialist palliative care team and other agencies
- Maintain regular professional contact with Community Services Manager and Hospice at Home
Coordinator
- To maintain good working relationship with other hospice
staff
- Establish and maintain
communication with individuals and groups about
difficult or complex
matters
Quality Standards
- Ensure own actions
promote quality
- To cooperate with Great Oaks in establishing professional competence within
the role and monitor
standards of care achieved through audit and/or User feedback
- To understand own role in the organisation and the Hospice
at Home team
- Work within the current clinical
governance framework and follow appropriate policies and
procedures/guidelines and protocols as designated by Great Oaks Hospice and CQC
Customer Service
- Effectively communicate in order to advise and provide
information to patients, carers and their families
- To be actively involved in promoting the Hospice at Home service
to the community, primary health care teams, community hospitals
and other potential patients and referrers
- To maintain an awareness of the charitable status of the organisation and its reliance
on donations and fund raising
Service Development
- Contribute to the implementation of services by making constructive suggestions as to how services and own/teamwork can be improved
- Contribute effectively to evaluations of care e.g. Audits
- Attend identified meetings
which support the role of all team members
- Actively engage in discussions about development of future services
to patients, carers,
bereaved carers and professional colleagues
Equality and Diversity
- Be aware that the Hospice at Home service is provided within the
resources available to adults with malignant
or non-malignant conditions wishing
to be cared for at home within the context
of End-of- Life Care regardless of gender, culture, age, ability
- Challenge behaviour which
infringes the rights
of others
- Recognise and actively
seek/give advice about
ethical dilemmas triggered by the nature
of the patientscircumstances
Healthcare
- Contribute to the development of Hospice at Home
- Ensure patient comfort
is maintained at all times
- To fulfil existing
plan of care and document
progress of patients
- To liaise with Hospice at Home Coordinator and/or patients keyworker
and any other relevant
- practitioner such as Out of Hours GP/DN,
funeral director etc. on behalf
of patients and their carers
Information
- Responsible for accurate
record keeping within
the community notes and reporting
to Hospice at Home Coordinator
- Being able to use IT / Digital
Platforms for delivery
of service.
- Ensure confidentiality and dignity is implemented at all times
- Contribute to the distribution of pertinent information for patients, carers and professional colleagues
- Actively engage in discussions about development of future services
to patients, carers,
bereaved carers and professional colleagues
Job description
Job responsibilities
Overview of
Responsibilities
Within the home environment and as a Lone
Worker, to:
- Follow policies and guidelines as per Hospice
at Home Handbook
- Work in accordance with Lone Worker
Policy
- Recognise and report
limitations of own professional competence/experience and personal living standards that may differ from
those in receipt of care
- Recognise the need and undertake
any training identified via Line Management and/or annual appraisal
- Be aware of risk to self and others under
Health and Safety
Regulations
- Verbally report any accident or untoward incident
as soon as possible followed
by written report
- Be aware of Out of Hours Procedures when seeking advice
and/or support
- Respect peoples personal
choices for lifestyle and living arrangements
- Work collaboratively and constructively in line with our vision,
mission and strategy
Communications
- Establish and maintain
effective communication with patients, relatives
and carers as part of their
receipt of End-of-Life Care
- To be aware of the role of all personnel within the wider multi-disciplinary team including community staff, social services,
hospital professionals, the specialist palliative care team and other agencies
- Maintain regular professional contact with Community Services Manager and Hospice at Home
Coordinator
- To maintain good working relationship with other hospice
staff
- Establish and maintain
communication with individuals and groups about
difficult or complex
matters
Quality Standards
- Ensure own actions
promote quality
- To cooperate with Great Oaks in establishing professional competence within
the role and monitor
standards of care achieved through audit and/or User feedback
- To understand own role in the organisation and the Hospice
at Home team
- Work within the current clinical
governance framework and follow appropriate policies and
procedures/guidelines and protocols as designated by Great Oaks Hospice and CQC
Customer Service
- Effectively communicate in order to advise and provide
information to patients, carers and their families
- To be actively involved in promoting the Hospice at Home service
to the community, primary health care teams, community hospitals
and other potential patients and referrers
- To maintain an awareness of the charitable status of the organisation and its reliance
on donations and fund raising
Service Development
- Contribute to the implementation of services by making constructive suggestions as to how services and own/teamwork can be improved
- Contribute effectively to evaluations of care e.g. Audits
- Attend identified meetings
which support the role of all team members
- Actively engage in discussions about development of future services
to patients, carers,
bereaved carers and professional colleagues
Equality and Diversity
- Be aware that the Hospice at Home service is provided within the
resources available to adults with malignant
or non-malignant conditions wishing
to be cared for at home within the context
of End-of- Life Care regardless of gender, culture, age, ability
- Challenge behaviour which
infringes the rights
of others
- Recognise and actively
seek/give advice about
ethical dilemmas triggered by the nature
of the patientscircumstances
Healthcare
- Contribute to the development of Hospice at Home
- Ensure patient comfort
is maintained at all times
- To fulfil existing
plan of care and document
progress of patients
- To liaise with Hospice at Home Coordinator and/or patients keyworker
and any other relevant
- practitioner such as Out of Hours GP/DN,
funeral director etc. on behalf
of patients and their carers
Information
- Responsible for accurate
record keeping within
the community notes and reporting
to Hospice at Home Coordinator
- Being able to use IT / Digital
Platforms for delivery
of service.
- Ensure confidentiality and dignity is implemented at all times
- Contribute to the distribution of pertinent information for patients, carers and professional colleagues
- Actively engage in discussions about development of future services
to patients, carers,
bereaved carers and professional colleagues
Person Specification
Other Requirements
Essential
- Occupational Health screening is required for this role. There will be an expectation to be fit for role and carrying out light to moderate nursing duties such as manual handling.
Professional Knowledge
Essential
- Awareness of Ambitions for Palliative and End of Life Care and the Gloucestershire End of Life Care Strategy
- Competent in personal care to very sick patients
- Awareness of changes in condition and possible need for symptom control
- Awareness of infection control issues
- Knowledge of evidence-based care
- Clear and concise documentation skills
Qualifications
Essential
- NVQ Level 2/3 or equivalent
- Care Certificate in Health Care
Experience
Essential
- Experience in palliative/End of Life Care within a community setting such as:
- Hospice environment
- Community nurse service
- Community hospital
- Be able to work independently without direct supervision
Personal Skills & Attributes
Essential
- Good interpersonal skills
- Effective team worker
- Flexible, innovative, and motivated
Person Specification
Other Requirements
Essential
- Occupational Health screening is required for this role. There will be an expectation to be fit for role and carrying out light to moderate nursing duties such as manual handling.
Professional Knowledge
Essential
- Awareness of Ambitions for Palliative and End of Life Care and the Gloucestershire End of Life Care Strategy
- Competent in personal care to very sick patients
- Awareness of changes in condition and possible need for symptom control
- Awareness of infection control issues
- Knowledge of evidence-based care
- Clear and concise documentation skills
Qualifications
Essential
- NVQ Level 2/3 or equivalent
- Care Certificate in Health Care
Experience
Essential
- Experience in palliative/End of Life Care within a community setting such as:
- Hospice environment
- Community nurse service
- Community hospital
- Be able to work independently without direct supervision
Personal Skills & Attributes
Essential
- Good interpersonal skills
- Effective team worker
- Flexible, innovative, and motivated
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.
