North Devon Hospice

Multi-Skilled Healthcare Assistant

Information:

This job is now closed

Job summary

We want to provide outstanding care and support to everyone in North Devon who is impacted by a life limiting illness and together we can make this happen. Everyone is a story and the ending matters. We are proud to support and care for patients and their families at their most vulnerable time. We want to make it possible for more people, who wish to stay at home, to be cared for in familiar surrounds and with friends and family around them.

Main duties of the job

We are developing our Hospice to Home Service to be more responsive and flexible to meet the needs of people who wish to remain at home. We have a great opportunity for experienced healthcare assistants to join our team and provide expert care to people across North Devon who need our support at end of life. Our care is delivered during the day and at night so that people who need us can feel safe and supported in their own home. You should already be an experienced healthcare worker with a qualification at level 3 in a health care topic and experience of working in a health or social care setting. Previous experience of working in palliative or end of life care is not essential for this role, but passion and commitment to working with patients and families at this time of life is. We will support you in developing specialist skills in palliative and end-of-life care. The Hospice to Home service is a 24/7 service and it is essential that you can flexibly work day and night shifts as the needs of the service require. The role will involve working as part of the wider hospice services and collaboratively with district nursing teams to deliver individualised care to patients in their own homes. As this post is based out in the community applicants must be able to travel across the North Devon area without reliance upon public transport.

About us

Working for us is awesome! Benefits include:

  • An excellent working environment (& beautiful outside areas)
  • Flexible & family friendly policies including Maternity, Adoption, Paternity, Shared Parental leave and Pawternity!
  • Tech Scheme Cycle to work Scheme
  • Free on-site parking
  • Personal pension scheme (continuation of your NHS pension)
  • Generous holiday allowance increasing with service Employee Assistance Programme (EAP) offering free confidential advice on a range of matters including financial, legal, health and wellbeing
  • Health Cash Plan which can include up to 5 children and the option to include partners
  • Regular Wellbeing events
  • The opportunity to give us your feedback on how we can improve as an organisation

Details

Date posted

26 February 2025

Pay scheme

Other

Salary

£24,300 a year

Contract

Fixed term

Duration

1 years

Working pattern

Full-time

Reference number

MSHCA0225

Job locations

Deer Park

Newport Road

Barnstaple

Devon

EX32 0HU


Job description

Job responsibilities

In this role you will be responsible for:

  • Providing high quality, holistic care to end of life patients in their own home in line with the care plan and risk assessment as defined by the Community Palliative Care Registered Nurse
  • Working closely with the hospice team and the patients District Nurse and GP to support coordinated care
  • Participating in the provision of care both day and night to facilitate patient / carer choice regarding palliative and / or end of life care
  • Providing emotional support to patients, carers and family members
  • Assisting patients with daily living activities in accordance with their individual plan of care i.e. eating and drinking, washing and dressing, nail and hair care, toileting, during day visits and night sits
  • Supporting patients to take their medication as prescribed and in line with competency
  • Assisting patients to maintain comfort and independence in line with planned care
  • Contacting and assisting other professionals as required
  • Undertaking delegated tasks from a Complementary Therapist i.e. hand massage, relaxation techniques as per competency
  • Assisting with any after death care in agreement with the family/carer
  • Establishing and maintaining effective professional communication with patients, carers and professional colleagues
  • Being aware of the changing needs of patients and their carers throughout the illness trajectory and the need for frequent reassessment, alerting other professionals accordingly
  • Maintaining effective verbal and written communications with members of health and social services external to the hospice team
  • Maintaining accurate, legible patient records
  • Acting in a manner that respects and empowers the patient, remaining non-judgemental in your approach
  • Being aware of the importance of adhering to specific spiritual, cultural needs
  • Maintaining patient confidentiality
  • Handing over patient information appropriately to the hospice team and other health / social care professionals on a daily basis
  • Reporting any concerns to the service manager
  • Attending monthly meetings, supervision and educational updates to ensure own capability to practice
  • Being committed to own Continuous Professional Development and maintaining your clinical competencies
  • Being aware of the lone worker policy and adhering to the recommendations to maintain personal safety
  • Being alert to the health, safety and wellbeing of self, colleagues, patients and carers and complying with the hospices Health & Safety Policy
  • Using resources economically and effectively
  • Maintaining and ensuring equipment is in good working order, enabling you to work efficiently
  • Respecting the rights, privacy, dignity and property of the patient and their carers at all times
  • Ensuring that you follow good infection control practice at all times and that you are familiar with infection control policies, procedures, and guidance relevant to your area of work
  • Understanding your role in the safeguarding of adults and children by being able to identify risks, and recognise signs of harm, abuse or neglect including how to report concerns and take immediate action to protect a person at risk of harm or abuse

Job description

Job responsibilities

In this role you will be responsible for:

  • Providing high quality, holistic care to end of life patients in their own home in line with the care plan and risk assessment as defined by the Community Palliative Care Registered Nurse
  • Working closely with the hospice team and the patients District Nurse and GP to support coordinated care
  • Participating in the provision of care both day and night to facilitate patient / carer choice regarding palliative and / or end of life care
  • Providing emotional support to patients, carers and family members
  • Assisting patients with daily living activities in accordance with their individual plan of care i.e. eating and drinking, washing and dressing, nail and hair care, toileting, during day visits and night sits
  • Supporting patients to take their medication as prescribed and in line with competency
  • Assisting patients to maintain comfort and independence in line with planned care
  • Contacting and assisting other professionals as required
  • Undertaking delegated tasks from a Complementary Therapist i.e. hand massage, relaxation techniques as per competency
  • Assisting with any after death care in agreement with the family/carer
  • Establishing and maintaining effective professional communication with patients, carers and professional colleagues
  • Being aware of the changing needs of patients and their carers throughout the illness trajectory and the need for frequent reassessment, alerting other professionals accordingly
  • Maintaining effective verbal and written communications with members of health and social services external to the hospice team
  • Maintaining accurate, legible patient records
  • Acting in a manner that respects and empowers the patient, remaining non-judgemental in your approach
  • Being aware of the importance of adhering to specific spiritual, cultural needs
  • Maintaining patient confidentiality
  • Handing over patient information appropriately to the hospice team and other health / social care professionals on a daily basis
  • Reporting any concerns to the service manager
  • Attending monthly meetings, supervision and educational updates to ensure own capability to practice
  • Being committed to own Continuous Professional Development and maintaining your clinical competencies
  • Being aware of the lone worker policy and adhering to the recommendations to maintain personal safety
  • Being alert to the health, safety and wellbeing of self, colleagues, patients and carers and complying with the hospices Health & Safety Policy
  • Using resources economically and effectively
  • Maintaining and ensuring equipment is in good working order, enabling you to work efficiently
  • Respecting the rights, privacy, dignity and property of the patient and their carers at all times
  • Ensuring that you follow good infection control practice at all times and that you are familiar with infection control policies, procedures, and guidance relevant to your area of work
  • Understanding your role in the safeguarding of adults and children by being able to identify risks, and recognise signs of harm, abuse or neglect including how to report concerns and take immediate action to protect a person at risk of harm or abuse

Person Specification

Qualifications

Essential

  • A Level 3 qualification in adult health care

Experience

Essential

  • Experience of working in a health or social care setting
  • Experience and knowledge of working in the community and with patients at end of life
  • Experience of working directly with patients, families and carers
  • Experience of delivering personal care and assisting with activities of daily living
Person Specification

Qualifications

Essential

  • A Level 3 qualification in adult health care

Experience

Essential

  • Experience of working in a health or social care setting
  • Experience and knowledge of working in the community and with patients at end of life
  • Experience of working directly with patients, families and carers
  • Experience of delivering personal care and assisting with activities of daily living

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

North Devon Hospice

Address

Deer Park

Newport Road

Barnstaple

Devon

EX32 0HU


Employer's website

https://www.northdevonhospice.org.uk/ (Opens in a new tab)

Employer details

Employer name

North Devon Hospice

Address

Deer Park

Newport Road

Barnstaple

Devon

EX32 0HU


Employer's website

https://www.northdevonhospice.org.uk/ (Opens in a new tab)

Employer contact details

For questions about the job, contact:

Community Palliative Care Team Deputy Team Lead

Emma Fishlock

emmafishlock@northdevonhospice.org.uk

01271344248

Details

Date posted

26 February 2025

Pay scheme

Other

Salary

£24,300 a year

Contract

Fixed term

Duration

1 years

Working pattern

Full-time

Reference number

MSHCA0225

Job locations

Deer Park

Newport Road

Barnstaple

Devon

EX32 0HU


Supporting documents

Privacy notice

North Devon Hospice 's privacy notice (opens in a new tab)