Job summary
We have an opportunity for a Health Care Assistant to join our Hospice
at Home day team. You will be able to demonstrate clinical excellence and
maintain consistently high standards of individualised care, compassion and
bereavement support. Our aim is to make living with dying better for patients
and their families and as a Health Care Assistant you will be there for people
in their time of need.
If you are enthusiastic and have a passion for palliative care you may
be the person we are looking for. The role available is for 22.5 hours worked
over 3 days Monday to Sunday. Flexibility will be essential to apply your
skills, along with positivity and enthusiasm, you will have the communication
and interpersonal skills that enable you to thrive in a friendly working
environment. Level 3 in Health and Social Care is not essential but a
willingness to work towards it would be required.
You must be a car driver, with
access to your own car and business insurance. At Pendleside Hospice, you will
find a fantastic team spirit and a commitment to developing you and your skills
so that you can choose a long-term career with us.
This appointment is a crucial one for the Hospice and we want to be sure
of finding the right person. However, we recognise it is probably also a big
step for you. So if you wish to know more, we warmly welcome you to arrange an
informal visit to the Hospice. You can do that by emailing alison,sutcliffe@pendleside.org.uk or phoning 01282 440107.
Main duties of the job
To work as part
of a team assisting to provide high quality care to people with palliative care
needs, their families and carers in their own home.
To support and contribute to an
environment of continuous quality improvement and learning
About us
Pendleside
Hospice was founded as a charity in 1988 and is one of the principal providers
of palliative and end of life care services to adults in Burnley and Pendle.
Pendleside is widely known throughout the area of Burnley and Pendle and is
held in deep affection by the local community. It is truly a privilege to work
here.
All
our care is free of charge to the patients and their families/carers but, of
course, it isnt free to provide and most of it is funded through the
generosity of the local community in which we serve. It costs over £6 million
to run Pendleside Hospice of which over £5 million needs to be raised through
voluntary donations.
Job description
Job responsibilities
Job Title: Healthcare Assistant
Reports To: Hospice at Home Team Sister
Main Responsibilities:
To work as part of a team assisting to provide high quality care to people with palliative care needs, their families and carers in their own home.
- To support and contribute to an environment of continuous quality improvement and learning
Clinical:
- Ensure that hospice policies, procedures and standards are adhered to at all times particularly those concerning confidentiality, information governance, health and safety and infection control
- Work independently and with nursing colleagues to deliver individualised, quality and skilled care to patients and their carers, reporting and documenting changes in condition to an appropriate health care colleague, to enable re assessment and adaptation of care according to changes identified.
- Effectively prioritise and plan workload according to individual need and in partnership with others in the team and multi-disciplinary teams.
- Work autonomously with a defined work load with indirect supervision from the hospice at home shift coordinator or registered nurse.
- To implement and review patient care plans according to Hospice policies and procedures.
- To provide family and bereavement support to relatives and carers demonstrating a realistic attitude towards people facing a life limiting diagnosis.
- To communicate effectively and work collaboratively with members of the multi-disciplinary team (MDT) ensuring the delivery of coordinated service and the maintenance of positive inter-personal working relationships with all members of the MDT.
- Deal with questions, concerns and complaints, from patients, their families and carers as appropriate according to Hospice policies and procedures.
- To maintain up to date accurate patient records in accordance with Hospice policies, procedures and guidelines.
- Maintain the effective health and safety procedures that have been implemented, and that any risks to patients/staff safety are highlighted for action.
- Maintain infection control measures that are implemented ensuring that any risk associated with the prevention and control of infections are reported immediately to a senior colleague.
- Record and report all accidents, complaints and untoward incidents according to Hospice policies and procedures.
- Ensure that standards relating to patient assessment, admission and discharge are applied consistently
- To ensure that patient documentation is completed accurately and fully in line with the Hospice record keeping policy
- Monitor the patients clinical condition, identify any significant changes and adapt according to service user need; incorporating high standards of individualised care
- Report any significant changes to the relevant health care professionals e.g. Hospice Physician, patients GP. Utilise IT skills, including the use of Microsoft office, email, internet and the hospice patient record (EMIS)
Communication Skills
- To communicate effectively and work collaboratively with members of the multi-disciplinary team (MDT) ensuring the delivery of a coordinated service and the maintenance of good working relationships with all members of the MDT
- Foster good working relationships with all Hospice departments and members of the multidisciplinary team
- Communicate effectively with patients and families ensuring they contribute and consent to treatment and care plans
- Give clear, concise reports on patients progress and concerns to the multi-disciplinary team and facilitate others to do so.
- Ensure accurate, contemporaneous documentation of patient care, both personally and by others using electronic systems.
- Communicate information to distressed and/or bereaved people in a sensitive manner
- Manage situations where people are distressed or angry in an effective, safe manner
- Be able to communicate effectively with people exhibiting challenging behaviours, ensuring they are respected but expectations are made as clear as possible
- Have excellent telephone communication skills, taking calls from patients, carers and professionals managing their concerns effectively and sensitively
- Manage complaints in a sensitive manner ensuring that the Hospice policy and procedure is adhered to.
- Identify problems in communication with both the hospice and in dealings with external agencies, reporting these to the appropriate healthcare professional promptly.
- Advocate for service users ensuring their views are known to the team including supporting advance care planning discussions and documentation
- Work in accordance with the Hospice policies to ensure that confidentiality is maintained at all times.
Personal and People Development:
- Develop and maintain relevant knowledge and skills and be responsible for own continuing professional development
- Attend and complete mandatory training and any other essential training relevant to the job role
- Provide mentor support to new staff, apprentices, students and volunteers
- To identify and participate in the development of teaching and educational programmes (appropriate to your role)
To participate in one to one supervision with own line manager
Quality and Service Improvement
- Be aware of organisational strategic direction and future issues pertaining to the provision of specialist palliative and supportive care, and contribute to and participate in organisational service development
- Contribute to the identification of practices that could improve service delivery outcomes and participate in the development of appropriate action plans through:
o audit
o research
o evaluation
o education/training
o user involvement
- Participate in the implementation and review of subsequent action plans
- Take an active role in unit meetings, highlighting areas requiring quality improvement
- Use and maintain resources efficiently and effectively and encourage others to do so
Health, Safety and Security
- Identify risks as they arise and carry out risk assessments, taking immediate remedial action as required and updating risk assessments regularly
- Adhere to the adverse event and serious incident reporting policy and take appropriate action
- Be familiar with and support implementation of safeguarding policies, the Mental Capacity Act and Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards
- Promote an environment that supports infection prevention and control policies and procedures, ensuring staff practice accordingly
- Use equipment safely and in accordance with instructions and departmental procedures, reporting faults as necessary
Governance
Ensure that Hospice policies, procedures and standards are adhered to at all times with particular regard to those concerning complementary therapy, confidentiality, information governance, health and safety, prevention and control infection and medicines management
Ensure the effective utilisation of the Hospices computer based patient record system, promoting the use of information technology for recording patient information, communication and information sharing; implementing procedural change as necessary
Ensure that the department is compliant with the requirements of the Health and Social Care Act 2008 (Regulated Activities) Regulations 2014 and contribute to the Care Quality Commission inspection process
Contribute to effective outcome monitoring of service delivery in line with the above regulation
Job description
Job responsibilities
Job Title: Healthcare Assistant
Reports To: Hospice at Home Team Sister
Main Responsibilities:
To work as part of a team assisting to provide high quality care to people with palliative care needs, their families and carers in their own home.
- To support and contribute to an environment of continuous quality improvement and learning
Clinical:
- Ensure that hospice policies, procedures and standards are adhered to at all times particularly those concerning confidentiality, information governance, health and safety and infection control
- Work independently and with nursing colleagues to deliver individualised, quality and skilled care to patients and their carers, reporting and documenting changes in condition to an appropriate health care colleague, to enable re assessment and adaptation of care according to changes identified.
- Effectively prioritise and plan workload according to individual need and in partnership with others in the team and multi-disciplinary teams.
- Work autonomously with a defined work load with indirect supervision from the hospice at home shift coordinator or registered nurse.
- To implement and review patient care plans according to Hospice policies and procedures.
- To provide family and bereavement support to relatives and carers demonstrating a realistic attitude towards people facing a life limiting diagnosis.
- To communicate effectively and work collaboratively with members of the multi-disciplinary team (MDT) ensuring the delivery of coordinated service and the maintenance of positive inter-personal working relationships with all members of the MDT.
- Deal with questions, concerns and complaints, from patients, their families and carers as appropriate according to Hospice policies and procedures.
- To maintain up to date accurate patient records in accordance with Hospice policies, procedures and guidelines.
- Maintain the effective health and safety procedures that have been implemented, and that any risks to patients/staff safety are highlighted for action.
- Maintain infection control measures that are implemented ensuring that any risk associated with the prevention and control of infections are reported immediately to a senior colleague.
- Record and report all accidents, complaints and untoward incidents according to Hospice policies and procedures.
- Ensure that standards relating to patient assessment, admission and discharge are applied consistently
- To ensure that patient documentation is completed accurately and fully in line with the Hospice record keeping policy
- Monitor the patients clinical condition, identify any significant changes and adapt according to service user need; incorporating high standards of individualised care
- Report any significant changes to the relevant health care professionals e.g. Hospice Physician, patients GP. Utilise IT skills, including the use of Microsoft office, email, internet and the hospice patient record (EMIS)
Communication Skills
- To communicate effectively and work collaboratively with members of the multi-disciplinary team (MDT) ensuring the delivery of a coordinated service and the maintenance of good working relationships with all members of the MDT
- Foster good working relationships with all Hospice departments and members of the multidisciplinary team
- Communicate effectively with patients and families ensuring they contribute and consent to treatment and care plans
- Give clear, concise reports on patients progress and concerns to the multi-disciplinary team and facilitate others to do so.
- Ensure accurate, contemporaneous documentation of patient care, both personally and by others using electronic systems.
- Communicate information to distressed and/or bereaved people in a sensitive manner
- Manage situations where people are distressed or angry in an effective, safe manner
- Be able to communicate effectively with people exhibiting challenging behaviours, ensuring they are respected but expectations are made as clear as possible
- Have excellent telephone communication skills, taking calls from patients, carers and professionals managing their concerns effectively and sensitively
- Manage complaints in a sensitive manner ensuring that the Hospice policy and procedure is adhered to.
- Identify problems in communication with both the hospice and in dealings with external agencies, reporting these to the appropriate healthcare professional promptly.
- Advocate for service users ensuring their views are known to the team including supporting advance care planning discussions and documentation
- Work in accordance with the Hospice policies to ensure that confidentiality is maintained at all times.
Personal and People Development:
- Develop and maintain relevant knowledge and skills and be responsible for own continuing professional development
- Attend and complete mandatory training and any other essential training relevant to the job role
- Provide mentor support to new staff, apprentices, students and volunteers
- To identify and participate in the development of teaching and educational programmes (appropriate to your role)
To participate in one to one supervision with own line manager
Quality and Service Improvement
- Be aware of organisational strategic direction and future issues pertaining to the provision of specialist palliative and supportive care, and contribute to and participate in organisational service development
- Contribute to the identification of practices that could improve service delivery outcomes and participate in the development of appropriate action plans through:
o audit
o research
o evaluation
o education/training
o user involvement
- Participate in the implementation and review of subsequent action plans
- Take an active role in unit meetings, highlighting areas requiring quality improvement
- Use and maintain resources efficiently and effectively and encourage others to do so
Health, Safety and Security
- Identify risks as they arise and carry out risk assessments, taking immediate remedial action as required and updating risk assessments regularly
- Adhere to the adverse event and serious incident reporting policy and take appropriate action
- Be familiar with and support implementation of safeguarding policies, the Mental Capacity Act and Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards
- Promote an environment that supports infection prevention and control policies and procedures, ensuring staff practice accordingly
- Use equipment safely and in accordance with instructions and departmental procedures, reporting faults as necessary
Governance
Ensure that Hospice policies, procedures and standards are adhered to at all times with particular regard to those concerning complementary therapy, confidentiality, information governance, health and safety, prevention and control infection and medicines management
Ensure the effective utilisation of the Hospices computer based patient record system, promoting the use of information technology for recording patient information, communication and information sharing; implementing procedural change as necessary
Ensure that the department is compliant with the requirements of the Health and Social Care Act 2008 (Regulated Activities) Regulations 2014 and contribute to the Care Quality Commission inspection process
Contribute to effective outcome monitoring of service delivery in line with the above regulation
Person Specification
Experience
Essential
- Experience of working with adults
- Experience of working with adults with end of life and/or palliative care needs
- Ability to relate experience to a hospice and community setting
- Understanding of the role of Health Care Assistant
Desirable
- Experience of working within a health care setting
- Experience of working in a palliative care setting
Qualifications
Essential
- Evidence of recent appropriate study/development and application in the work environment.
- Commitment to on gong training and personal development.
Desirable
- Level 3 in health and social care
- Palliative and/or end of life care training
Practical Skills
Essential
- Understanding and sensitivity to the needs of palliative care patients
- Liaison with other agencies and professionals
- Good communication skills
- Ability to record clearly and effectively
- Ability to undertake a range of patient observations and procedures
- Full UK driving licence and the use of own vehicle IT/computer literacy
Desirable
- Communication skills training
Health and Physical
Essential
- Good health and attendance record
- Ability to move an handle people and equipment
Disposition and attitude
Essential
- Evidence of an ability to work independently and as part of a team
- Demonstrate an understanding of confidentiality
- Commitment to the development of the role of Health Care Assistant
Circumstances
Essential
- Work shifts over 7 days including evenings and weekends and bank holidays
- Work in patients own homes in the Burnley and Pendle area
- Car driver, with access to own car and business insurance
Person Specification
Experience
Essential
- Experience of working with adults
- Experience of working with adults with end of life and/or palliative care needs
- Ability to relate experience to a hospice and community setting
- Understanding of the role of Health Care Assistant
Desirable
- Experience of working within a health care setting
- Experience of working in a palliative care setting
Qualifications
Essential
- Evidence of recent appropriate study/development and application in the work environment.
- Commitment to on gong training and personal development.
Desirable
- Level 3 in health and social care
- Palliative and/or end of life care training
Practical Skills
Essential
- Understanding and sensitivity to the needs of palliative care patients
- Liaison with other agencies and professionals
- Good communication skills
- Ability to record clearly and effectively
- Ability to undertake a range of patient observations and procedures
- Full UK driving licence and the use of own vehicle IT/computer literacy
Desirable
- Communication skills training
Health and Physical
Essential
- Good health and attendance record
- Ability to move an handle people and equipment
Disposition and attitude
Essential
- Evidence of an ability to work independently and as part of a team
- Demonstrate an understanding of confidentiality
- Commitment to the development of the role of Health Care Assistant
Circumstances
Essential
- Work shifts over 7 days including evenings and weekends and bank holidays
- Work in patients own homes in the Burnley and Pendle area
- Car driver, with access to own car and business insurance
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.
