Health Care Assistant

Job summary

This is an exciting opportunity to be part of a developing service from the Hospice.

We are looking for individuals who are passionate about delivering high quality service for palliative patients who wish to be cared for in their own homes.

Carry out agreed personal care to patients in the last weeks of life, enabling them to remain in their preferred place of care and death.

To undertake a broad range of nursing activities and duties to support patients with end of life care needs, usually in their own homes.

Have an understanding of the philosophy and ethos behind the care provided at Wirral Hospice St Johns. Assist the registered practitioners in developing and maintaining a safe, caring and supportive environment for patients, relatives and staff.

Have the ability to recognise changes in patients conditions and act appropriately follow guidances/ report to appropriate health practitioners.

Establish and maintain effective communications with patients, carers and health professionals in a professional manner.

Main duties of the job

Successfulcandidates must possess NVQ Level 2 in Care, care certificate or equivalent andbe able to demonstrate excellent communication, flexibility and team workingskills, basic IT skills, experience of working in an inpatient / residentialsetting or with life limiting illness will be an advantage.

We are looking forcaring and compassionate people who want to deliver high quality care topatients that are nearing end of life.

It will suit someonewho is confident in dealing with other professionals and has the ability to usecomputerised record systems.

Flexibility,responsibility and professionalism and having positive relationships withcolleagues are key, as are the abilities to uphold our values of being:

Compassionate,Accountable, Respectful, Equitable and Sustainable in regards to your patients,colleagues and across the organisation.

Access to a vehicleand a full driving licence is essential for this role.

About us

Wirral Hospice St Johns has a 41 year history of supportingthe residents of Wirral who have incurable life limiting illness. Theorganisation continues to grow and develop in response to the needs of ourcommunity. Currently support is delivered by multi professional teams workingin our 16 bed Inpatient unit, Outpatient, Wellbeing and Hospice at Homeservices.

The hospice benefits from being an independent charityallowing flexibility and creativity in the design and delivery of serviceswhilst being firmly integrated with key local NHS providers. Care and support is delivered with integrityand quality.

NHSSuperannuation is transferrable for existing members of the NHS Pension Scheme

As an organisation we are committed todeveloping the skills and interests of our staff to ensure the workforce ismotivated and equipped to deliver what is expected of them in a compassionateand competent manner through apprenticeships, formal training and workplaceexperience.

Job description

Job responsibilities

Job Summary:

The post holder will:

Provide Hospice at Home and Community Services delivered by the hospice multi professional team, and supported by Marie Curie night service.

Support and implement the delivery of the hospice at home service to patients within a community setting as part of a team and under the direction of a registered nurse

Job Summary:

1. Clinical

Carry out agreed support visits face-to-face and review these over the phone as required Establish and maintain communication with people on routine care matters Act as interface for new referrals to community services To undertake a broad range of nursing support activities and duties relating to the support of patients with end of life care needs, usually in their own homes. Have an understanding of the philosophy and ethos behind the care provided at Wirral Hospice St Johns, and to assist the registered practitioners in developing and maintaining a safe, caring and supportive environment for patients, relatives and staff. Ability to recognise changes in patients conditions and act appropriately follow guidances/ report to appropriate health practitioners. In accordance with the Hospice at Homes processes/systems /guidelines and as defined by the Hospice at Home health practitioner, with minimum direct supervision. Establish and maintain effective communications with patients, carers and health professionals in a professional manner. Work in collaboration with your colleagues to ensure the delivery of high quality, safe and compassionate healthcare so care and support are utilised appropriately within the service delivery plan. In line with Hospice policies on patient documentation, updates patient records ensuring entries are accurate, relevant and contemporaneous and hand over care given appropriately. Provides emotional and practical support to patients carers or family members Offers basic support /contact family members/ carers after patients death, when appropriate.

2. Personal / Professional Development

.

To engage in regular Team meetings To engage in team reflective practice opportunities To engage in annual appraisal process including identifying learning needs and development opportunities. Completing Hospice Mandatory Training within required time frames through required medium. Complete additional training as identified by line manager Identifying and attending training as identified in annual appraisal process. Taking part in reflective practice and in-house training opportunities

Provide support to new Healthcare Assistants and Volunteers .

IMPORTANT ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

Driving Licence/Use of Own Vehicle:

As driving forms part of your duties it is an express condition of your employment with the Hospice that:-

i) You have your own vehicle and use it to undertake your duties; and

ii) You hold and continue to hold a valid driving licence of the relevant class at all times.

It is your responsibility to ensure that your own vehicle is properly insured to cover your duties, covered by a valid MOT certificate and has a valid road tax at all times. You must provide a copy of the insurance certificate to the Facilities Department.

You must produce your licence for inspection upon request and ensure that you take all necessary steps to continue to hold the licence.

If you lose your licence for any reason you must notify your Manager immediately. If you lose your driving licence and are unable to make alternative arrangements to fulfil your duties which are satisfactory to the Hospice your continued employment may be at risk.

The Hospice will reimburse you in respect of fuel costs for business miles at the Hospices business mileage rate. This is paid in line with Wirral Hospice St Johns Employee Benefits Policy.

Organisational Philosophy of Care, Purpose and Values

Wirral Hospice St Johns aims to offer care and support for patients and their families living with a life limiting illness based around what is important to them. It endeavours to meet the holistic needs of our patients physical, psychological, social and spiritual needs and support their loved ones and carers without discrimination.

Wirral Hospice St Johns CARES

So that we can deliver on our Philosophy of Care and Purpose the Hospice has developed the following Values which we uphold in all that we do.

Compassionate: To care for and support patients, families, colleagues and the wider

community with compassion and understanding

Accountable: To be accountable for our own actions and decisions, and to hold each other to account

Respectful: To treat others with respect throughout all interactions, acknowledging and considering differing opinions.

Equitable: To act in an equitable manner for all, ensuring that individual needs are considered and supported

Sustainable : To manage our resources efficiently, optimising use and value, whilst minimising waste

Safeguarding

Wirral Hospice St Johns has a responsibility to ensure that all children/young people and adults are adequately safeguarded and protected and that Safeguarding is Everyones Business. As a consequence, all staff are required to adhere to national and local safeguarding policies/procedures and to act upon any concerns in accordance with them.

Equality and Diversity

Wirral Hospice St Johns has given its full commitment to the adoption and promotion of the key principles of equality and diversity of equal opportunities contained within current legislation and the Wirral Hospice St Johns Equality Policy.

Health and Safety

It is the duty of every employee to work in such a way that accidents to themselves and to others are avoided, and to co-operate in maintaining their place of work in a tidy and safe condition, thereby minimising risk. Employees will, therefore refer any matters of concern through their line manager. Similarly, it is each persons responsibility to ensure a secure environment and bring any breaches of security to the attention of their manager.

Confidentiality

In the course of your duties you will have access to confidential material about patients, members of staff or other hospice business. On no account must information relating to identifiable patients be divulged to anyone other than those authorised persons, for example, medical, nursing or other professional staff, as appropriate, who are concerned directly with the care, diagnosis and or/treatment of the patient. If you are in any doubt whatsoever as to the authority of a person or body asking for information of this nature, you must seek advice from your manager. Similarly no information of a personal or confidential nature concerning individual members of staff should be divulged to anyone without the proper authority having first been given.

General Data Protection Regulations (GDPR)

Wirral Hospice St Johns is required to process personal data relating to its employees, including special categories of personal data, as defined in the General Data Protection Regulations 2018 (the Act)

All such data will be processed in accordance with the provisions of the Act and the relevant hospices policies. For the purposes of the Act, the term processing includes the initial collection of personal data, the holding and use of such data, as well as access and disclosure, through to final destruction.

Other

This job description is intended to provide an outline of the duties and responsibilities of this post, it is not exhaustive and may be modified and developed periodically following discussions between the post holder and the relevant line manager.

Person Specification

Qualifications

Essential

NVQ Level 2 in Health and Social Care or equivalent Care Certificate

KNOWEDGE & UNDERSTANDING

Essential

Good Communication Skills Ability to work well as a member of a team Ability to communication with a wide range of people including professionals and service users. Demonstration of compassion and kindness Energy, drive and resilience, ability to work within a changing environment.

SKILLS & ATTRIBUTES

Essential

Customer facing experience Have a keen eye for detail and the ability to manage a wide range of activities and changing priorities Good organisation skills and ability to work responsively Have a flexible approach Ability to recognise risk and highlight concerns

Experience

Essential

6 months Support worker or health care assistant. Ability to use a range of IT systems including electronic patient records. Experience in providing personal care.

Desirable

Understanding of life limiting conditions for patients and families Understand information Governance/use of patient information Previous experience of lone working

OTHER REQUIREMENTS

Essential

Commitment to work unsocial hours Driving licence and access to a car

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