Healthcare assistant

• Are you interested in working in a challenging and rewarding environment?
• Have you got what it takes to support our clinical team in providing holistic care for palliative and end of life patients?

If you answered yes, we’ve got the perfect role for you!

We are looking for a caring, dynamic and hardworking individual to join our team. You will be responsible for providing personal care and assisting in supporting the physical and psychosocial needs of patients and their families.

We are looking for a caring, dynamic and hardworking individual to join our team. You will be responsible for providing personal care and assisting in supporting the physical and psychosocial needs of patients and their families.

To assist the registered nurse to deliver holistic palliative nursing care to patients on the ward and support to their carers. The post-holder will work with registered nurses in essential patient care, and perform all duties as identified and supervised by the registered nurses.

So what else?

• This is your chance to join a progressive and innovative service in a social enterprise that is patient and staff focused - you’ll even have the opportunity to become an MCH shareholder.
• We encourage staff to get involved in exploring new ways of working and service development.
• We’ll provide well established, in-service training, one to one supervision, and appraisals with regular support.
• You’ll be able to develop your skills in a friendly and supportive team.
• Previous applicants need not apply.

Would you like to work flexibly? In the NHS, we are reminded every day of how important life is. As a flexible working friendly organisation, we want to be sure that you can work in a way that is best for us, for our patients and for you. Speak to us about how we might be able to accommodate a flexible working arrangement which will not mean sacrificing time for personal interests or family commitments. We aim to support you to work flexibly in a way that will suit you and us.

The small print

• Informal visits can be arranged on request.
• We will offer you the choice of two pension schemes; the NHS Pension scheme and the scottish widows group pension scheme.
• MCH encourages all staff to be double COVID vaccinated to protect themselves, their colleagues, their family and their patients.

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 ordersunder 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)