Healthcare assistant (palliative care)

Job description

Job responsibilities

1. Communication and relationship skills

Internal

With all members of the Hospice multi-disciplinary team in assisting the planning, implementing and evaluating patient care.

With patients, families and visitors, providing active listening and supportive care in helping to guide them through the dying process

External

With other healthcare / allied healthcare professionals. To provide and receive routine information. Which will require empathy, fact or persuasive skills or where there are barriers to understanding?

1. Knowledge, training and experience

• It is a requirement of this role to complete the Care Certificate in the first 5 months of your employment if you do not have previous health and/or social care experience. If you do have experience, you will be required to complete a self-assessment skill as part of your local induction.
• Appreciation of the principles of Palliative Care.
• NVQ Level 2 or equivalent experience
• Knowledge of personal care and related procedures
• Experience of working with or caring for people with advanced illness
• Good interpersonal skills
• Ability to work with emotionally distressed people and unpredictable situations
• Ability to use own discretion and initiative in complex situations.

1. Analytical and judgement skills

• To observe and monitor the progress of the patient, in order to contribute to the process of evaluating care and to maintain patient records and care plan
• Provide and receive routine information, which will require empathy, tact or persuasive skills where there are barriers to understanding.

1. Planning and organisational skills

• To deliver basic nursing care in line with the patients care plan, organising own

day to day work tasks under supervision, reporting back to registered nurse as

required.

• To participate in internal rotation within the unit working all shift patterns

including day hospice.

1. Physical skills

• The job holder will provide personal care duties to patients, this will include developing the use of physical skills i.e. manoeuvring wheelchairs, beds, and trolleys and using hoists.
• Responsible for the safe use of equipment and maintaining stock orders on the
• To assist fully qualified nurses with on-site security of unit out of hours and to

contribute to activities that ensures the safety of the physical environment of

the ward for staff, patients and visitors.

1. Responsibility for patient / client care

• To provide supportive care to patients and their carers throughout the patients disease and dying process
• To perform last offices and transfer of deceased patients to mortuary, to ensure the philosophy of the Hospice is respected and upheld.
• To assist trained staff in the role of Link Nurse for a specific area of patient care in line with the Essence of care.

1. Responsibility for policy and service development implementation

• To be aware of and provide care in line with the code of Caldicott and Data Protection regarding patient information and be aware and follow local and

relevant organisation policies that ensure safe practice and effective delivery of care.

• To attend regular clinical supervision provided for clinical PCT staff and assist

with advice to new and agency staff.

1. Responsibilities for financial and physical resources

• Responsible for the safe use of equipment.
• Maintaining stock orders under the direction of the ward manager
• To be aware of cost implications of stock usage

1. Responsibilities for human resources (HR)

• To adhere to PCT policies
• To attend regular clinical supervision provided for clinical PCT staff.

1. Responsibilities for information resources

• To maintain patient confidentiality
• To adhere to CALDICOTT Data Protection

1. Responsibilities for research and development (R&D)

• To assist in audits and changes in service department as necessary

1. Freedom to act

• Work within environment under guidance and supervision of senior staff

1. Physical effort (refer to effort factor questionnaire)

1. Mental effort (refer to effort factor questionnaire)

1. Emotional effort (refer to effort factor questionnaire)

1. Working conditions (refer to effort factor questionnaire)

Person Specification

Relevant qualification

Essential

• NVQ level 2 or Care Certificate or relevant experience

Desirable

• Working towards qualification

Experience

Essential

• Palliative/End of life experience
• Experience of working in emotive or complex environments

Desirable

• Inpatient experience in a Hospice

Knowledge

Essential

• Some knowledge of palliative care
• Good interpersonal, organisational and communication skills
• To have understanding of, and ability to promote and implement equal opportunities in all areas of work.

Desirable

• Advanced knowledge of palliative care

Disposition

Essential

• A commitment to the vision, values and objectives of Palliative Care

MCH values

Essential

• MCH values

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

Medway Community Healthcare

Address

Wisdom Hospice

High Bank

Rochester

ME1 2NU

Employer's website

https://www.medwaycommunityhealthcare.nhs.uk/ (Opens in a new tab)