Health Care Assistant

Job Context Weldmar Hospicecare is an independent charity that provides specialist end of life care to patients and those that are important to them throughout Dorset. This care is given in the comfort of patients own homes by Weldmar Community Nurses and our Weldmar at Home Team, via Day Services held across the county or as inpatients at our hospice in Dorchester. Our team of dedicated staff and volunteers ensure that we can continue to support patients through one of lifes most difficult journeys. We work closely with other health care providers including the NHS to ensure that our patients receive the highest possible care.

We do receive some funding from the NHS but the majority of our income is generated by our fundraising and retail teams, which plays a vital part in securing income to fund our care, both now and in the future. Weldmar Hospicecare IPU is a 12-bedded unit caring for patients in the last year of life. The unit has a multidisciplinary team approach to patient care with an emphasis on providing high standards of care. Job Purpose To work as member of the nursing team with supervision from a Registered Nurse and contribute to maintaining the inpatient unit as an environment conducive to providing high standards of palliative care.

Scope and Limits of Authority Always act within the limits of your competence, reporting to a Registered Nurse if unsure Work within relevant policies, protocols and standards There will be no direct budget responsibility but must have an awareness of cost implications and make effective use of resources Job tasks Clinical Care Responsibility Acts as an assistant in the delivery of high quality care to patients, including: Observing and reporting any significant changes in a patients physical or psychological condition Assists with patient personal care including bathing and toileting, urinary catheters, ileostomy and colostomy care. Delivering patient nursing care as delegated by the RN, including dressing of minor wounds Provides emotional support allowing time for patients and family/carers to talk, using listening and empathic skills Providing death and bereavement care and family support. Participates in patient reporting and documenting of care Ensure patient area environment and equipment is clean, tidy and in working order Develops and complies individual patient care pathways with guidance of RN Supports admission procedures, including taking patient details Undertakes specific observation and monitoring tasks as delegated by RN, and reports back, including blood sugar levels, blood pressure, temperatures, CSU samples and sending samples for testing Applies relevant standard to care nursing practice, reporting all incidents, errors, falls and accidents Attends monthly nurse team meetings (when on duty) for updating of all aspects of clinical and the Charitys information, and for support of colleagues. Also attends meetings called by the Chief Executive Officer Maintains a safe environment within the hospice, and to ensure that all equipment is clean, safe and maintained in goof the Charitys policies, procedures and competencies Development of Knowledge and Skills Attends mandatory training provided by the hospice Attends appropriate in-house and external education sessions, conferences and seminars in order to develop understanding of palliative care Attending and adhere to standards as set by appropriate course (eg NVQ, Diploma in care, apprenticeship programme) if applicable Participates in individual performance review and appraisal giving and receiving feedback about clinical practice and developmental needs Participates in clinical supervision (optional) Undertakes induction and mentoring support to new care staff Participates in and reports back from delegated corporate projects (eg Clinical Governance Working Groups) Participates in agreed audit or relevant research Reports all acquired knowledge from training and education sessions back to the multidisciplinary team at in house education sessions or by way of written reports Wellbeing Maintain own physical health in order to fulfil the physical effort demanded of the care role Self - awareness to maintain own and others emotional wellbeing and seek support and guidance from colleagues and peers as required Resilience to handle the emotional impact of working within death and dying