Assistant Practitioner / Nursing Associate
The closing date is 09 February 2026
Job summary
Assistant Practitioner / Nursing Associate
Weldmar Specialist Hospice at Home Service (North Dorset)
37.5 hours per week (part time considered) - Permanent contract
Clinical Salary Scale - Band 4: £27,485 - £30,162 per year FTE
We're looking for a caring and enthusiastic Assistant Practitioner / Nursing Associate to join our Specialist Hospice at Home Service in North Dorset.
Youll be working collaboratively with the multi-skilled team in our North Hub which is based in Sturminster Newton. Also other clinical colleagues and external agencies to provide an agile and responsive service based on patient needs in Sturminster Newton, Sherborne, Blandford, Shaftesbury and surrounding areas.
Main duties of the job
Youll provide reassurance to patients and family members, who will have access to a range of support from those working within the hub, other clinical specialists from our multi-disciplinary team, and to our patient and family support services, as well as to hands on care if required. This will enable them to live as well as possible at home, and reducing the likelihood of hospital admissions. Demonstrating our values, youll work collaboratively with your clinical colleagues and external agencies to provide an agile and responsive service based on patient needs identified by the Specialist Hospice at Home team.
You'll possess and NVQ Level 4/5 or a foundation degree in health and social care, or equivalent qualification, such as Nursing Associate - or willingness to work towards.
Working under the direction of our Weldmar Community Nurses, you will participate in the assessment of care needs and implementation of delegated interventions, as well as undertake a broad range of support, advice and informal teaching to ensure the delivery of the highest standard of palliative care to patients and their families.
The role requires you to possess a full valid driving licence, your own transport and business insurance.
Your core hours will be Monday to Friday between 9am and 5pm, with a requirement to provide morning advice line cover on a rota basis.
A Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) Check is required for this role, please refer to the job description
About us
About Weldmar Hospicecare: Rated Outstanding by the CQC, Weldmar Hospicecare provides specialist care to adults in Dorset with a life limiting illness, and support to their loved ones. This care is given in the comfort of patients own homes, in the community, and at our Inpatient Unit in Dorchester. All care is provided free of charge and mainly funded by the continued support of our local community, via fundraising initiatives and events, our retail chain, and gifts left in wills, enabling us to raise the £27,500 we need every day to keep our services going.
Details
Date posted
23 December 2025
Pay scheme
Other
Salary
£27,485 to £30,162 a year Weldmar Clinical Salary Scale
Contract
Permanent
Working pattern
Full-time, Part-time
Reference number
B0149-25-46
Job locations
Sturminster Newton Medical Centre
Old Market Hill
Sturminster Newton
DT10 1QU
Job description
Job responsibilities
Weldmar Hospicecare
Job Description and Person Specification
Job Title: Assistant Practitioner / Nursing Associate
Department: Weldmar Specialist Hospice at Home
Location: Specialist Hospice at Home hubs
North Dorset
Hours of work: 37.5 (Part time hours considered)
Grade: Clinical Salary Scale Band 4
Reports to: Weldmar Community Nurse
Responsible for: N/A
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 Weldmars Specialist Hospice at Home service, and via Wellbeing Services held across the county or as inpatients at our hospice in Dorchester. Our team of dedicated employees 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.
Job Purpose
The role of the Weldmar Specialist Hospice at Home Registered Nursing Associate (SHaH NAR) or Assistant Practitioner (SHaH AP) is to support the Specialist Hospice at Home team hubs working across Dorset in the West, South or North Dorset, whilst also working closely with other healthcare professionals in the delivery of high quality and palliative care to patients and their families predominantly in their own homes.
The post holder will work collaboratively within the Specialist Hospice at Home team, participating in the assessment of care needs and the implementation of delegated interventions to ensure delivery of the highest standard of palliative and end of life care to patients and their families
The post holder will be expected to undertake a broad range of support, advice, informal teaching, and hands on care under the direction of the Specialist Hospice at Home team. To undertake advance care planning (ACP) discussions and liaise with other professionals as needed. The Specialist Hospice at Home Nursing Associate or Assistant Practitioner will be expected, under the direction of the Weldmar Community Nurse Specialist (SHAH CNS) or Weldmar Community Nurse (SHAH WCN), to hold a stable caseload of allocated patients
Scope and Limits of Authority
Reporting to the Care Manager, the post holder will be an experienced Nursing Associate / Assistant Practitioner who has the ability to:
- Deliver care with minimum direct supervision within the patients own home/ clinic setting or care home.
- To carry out and document full patient care assessments & if necessary, care planning.
- Contribute to patient and family care through effective delivery of the delegated plan of care.
- Provide education/ teaching to patients and families, undertake ACP discussions and provide accurate information to empower patients/ families on who and when to contact and what to expect from the service.
- Informal teaching and role modelling with domiciliary care agencies if appropriate.
- Work collaboratively as part of the Specialist Hospice at Home service. Be able to be agile and responsive to the changing needs of patients and be confident in approach.
- Be able to hold an allocated stable caseload of patients under the direction/ supervision of SHaH CNS/ WCN for targeted follow up.
- Promote a holistic and individualized approach to care.
- Attain full competence in the knowledge and skills outlined in the Band 4 Skills Profile associated with this role.
- Recognise own limitations and know when to refer on to a senior health care professional.
- The post holder has no direct budget responsibility but must be aware of cost implications and make effective use of resources.
The role of Nursing Associate / Assistant Practitioner works under the direction of the senior Specialist Hospice at Home team members.
Job tasks
- To deliver quality care to a diverse caseload of patients, as delegated by Specialist Hospice at Home WCNS/ WCN. district nurse or allied health professional; working with minimum direct supervision.
- To undertake care assessments for patients requiring hands on care under the Specialist Hospice at Home service and working collaboratively with all services.
- To undertake ACP discussions sensitively and appropriately as allocated
- Work with the patient and family to agree a plan of personal care to be delivered by the Specialist Hospice at Home team.
- To be involved in education and advice to patients and their families on what to expect and offer support as required
- Under direction, to hold patients/ families that may require additional support to remain at home if this is their wish.
- Advice line cover 08.00 09.00 am on a rota basis.
- To be able to recognise and appropriately report changes to Specialist Hospice at Home colleagues.
- To provide emotional support allowing patients and families to express their feelings/ concerns utilising listening and empathetic skills.
- To communicate relevant information to patients and families whilst maintaining confidentiality.
- To promote independence and well-being by ensuring:
- Involvement of patients in their plan of care
- Ongoing assessment of the home environment to identify any additional needs including equipment, care packages or carers support.
- To undertake and record on SystmOne and in the home record, specific observation and monitoring tasks including temperature, pulse, respiration and blood pressure, reporting the outcome to the appropriate profession
- To contribute to the management of personal care through the assessment, delivery, monitoring and recognition of changes including nutritional intake, fluid balance, tissue viability/ wound management, bowel and urinary management and use of continence aids.
- To perform clinical activities and nursing care applicable to the patients home setting as delegated by the WCN/WCNS, including routine follow up home visits or contact.
- To conduct non-clinical tasks e.g. assisting patients with the completion of attendance allowance forms, requesting AA packs, Blue badges and equipment requests.
- To contribute to symptom management through the utilisation of appropriate assessment tools, observation, monitoring or patient feedback, reporting the outcome to the appropriate registered professional.
- To provide appropriate holistic care to patients and their families in the last year of life.
- To deliver care immediately after death with respect and compassion if applicable, as per policy.
- To initiate appropriate action in the event of an emergency situation.
- Work under level 1 guidance when prompting patients with their medication
- To be able to demonstrate and promote the use of video technology to patients and families, in particular the use of Airmid.
- To attend Specialist Hospice at Home hub as requested for daily handover and allocations and work from base as service need requires.
Organisational and Administration Responsibilities
- To maintain accurate, legible and contemporaneous records on all patients, to ensure documentation meets agreed standards and adheres to Caldicott guidelines.
- To ensure all other information, documentation and reporting requirements are completed including incidents and safeguarding concerns on the Risk Assessment Platform
- To ensure any DNACPR documentation is available within the home.
- To participate in agreed audit, research, surveys or other clinical governance activities as appropriate.
- To work flexibly to provide cover for absent colleagues when required, to include the Inpatient Unit and hubs across Dorset.
Communications and Relationships
- To establish and maintain effective positive communication with each member of the area hub team. Respecting the contribution each member brings, ensure the team works collaboratively and compassionately.
- To work collaboratively with colleagues across all areas and departments in order to support and enable cross department working and provision of best practice.
- To work in positive manner with colleagues and patients
- To foster open honest culture within team and raise any concerns promptly.
- To empower patients and family members through education and support.
Personal and Professional Development
- To act in a manner to safeguard and promote the interests of individual patients.
- To practice safely according to all Weldmar Hospicecare policies, procedures and competencies ensuring no action or omission within the sphere of post holder responsibility is detrimental to the interests, condition or safety of the patient or their family.
- To continue own personal and professional development within palliative and end of life care and the provision of integrated services to patients and families.
- To proactively participate in opportunities for shared learning and personal and professional development
- Have a champion role in area of interest and act as a resource liaising with IPU champion colleagues for shared learning
Job description
Job responsibilities
Weldmar Hospicecare
Job Description and Person Specification
Job Title: Assistant Practitioner / Nursing Associate
Department: Weldmar Specialist Hospice at Home
Location: Specialist Hospice at Home hubs
North Dorset
Hours of work: 37.5 (Part time hours considered)
Grade: Clinical Salary Scale Band 4
Reports to: Weldmar Community Nurse
Responsible for: N/A
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 Weldmars Specialist Hospice at Home service, and via Wellbeing Services held across the county or as inpatients at our hospice in Dorchester. Our team of dedicated employees 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.
Job Purpose
The role of the Weldmar Specialist Hospice at Home Registered Nursing Associate (SHaH NAR) or Assistant Practitioner (SHaH AP) is to support the Specialist Hospice at Home team hubs working across Dorset in the West, South or North Dorset, whilst also working closely with other healthcare professionals in the delivery of high quality and palliative care to patients and their families predominantly in their own homes.
The post holder will work collaboratively within the Specialist Hospice at Home team, participating in the assessment of care needs and the implementation of delegated interventions to ensure delivery of the highest standard of palliative and end of life care to patients and their families
The post holder will be expected to undertake a broad range of support, advice, informal teaching, and hands on care under the direction of the Specialist Hospice at Home team. To undertake advance care planning (ACP) discussions and liaise with other professionals as needed. The Specialist Hospice at Home Nursing Associate or Assistant Practitioner will be expected, under the direction of the Weldmar Community Nurse Specialist (SHAH CNS) or Weldmar Community Nurse (SHAH WCN), to hold a stable caseload of allocated patients
Scope and Limits of Authority
Reporting to the Care Manager, the post holder will be an experienced Nursing Associate / Assistant Practitioner who has the ability to:
- Deliver care with minimum direct supervision within the patients own home/ clinic setting or care home.
- To carry out and document full patient care assessments & if necessary, care planning.
- Contribute to patient and family care through effective delivery of the delegated plan of care.
- Provide education/ teaching to patients and families, undertake ACP discussions and provide accurate information to empower patients/ families on who and when to contact and what to expect from the service.
- Informal teaching and role modelling with domiciliary care agencies if appropriate.
- Work collaboratively as part of the Specialist Hospice at Home service. Be able to be agile and responsive to the changing needs of patients and be confident in approach.
- Be able to hold an allocated stable caseload of patients under the direction/ supervision of SHaH CNS/ WCN for targeted follow up.
- Promote a holistic and individualized approach to care.
- Attain full competence in the knowledge and skills outlined in the Band 4 Skills Profile associated with this role.
- Recognise own limitations and know when to refer on to a senior health care professional.
- The post holder has no direct budget responsibility but must be aware of cost implications and make effective use of resources.
The role of Nursing Associate / Assistant Practitioner works under the direction of the senior Specialist Hospice at Home team members.
Job tasks
- To deliver quality care to a diverse caseload of patients, as delegated by Specialist Hospice at Home WCNS/ WCN. district nurse or allied health professional; working with minimum direct supervision.
- To undertake care assessments for patients requiring hands on care under the Specialist Hospice at Home service and working collaboratively with all services.
- To undertake ACP discussions sensitively and appropriately as allocated
- Work with the patient and family to agree a plan of personal care to be delivered by the Specialist Hospice at Home team.
- To be involved in education and advice to patients and their families on what to expect and offer support as required
- Under direction, to hold patients/ families that may require additional support to remain at home if this is their wish.
- Advice line cover 08.00 09.00 am on a rota basis.
- To be able to recognise and appropriately report changes to Specialist Hospice at Home colleagues.
- To provide emotional support allowing patients and families to express their feelings/ concerns utilising listening and empathetic skills.
- To communicate relevant information to patients and families whilst maintaining confidentiality.
- To promote independence and well-being by ensuring:
- Involvement of patients in their plan of care
- Ongoing assessment of the home environment to identify any additional needs including equipment, care packages or carers support.
- To undertake and record on SystmOne and in the home record, specific observation and monitoring tasks including temperature, pulse, respiration and blood pressure, reporting the outcome to the appropriate profession
- To contribute to the management of personal care through the assessment, delivery, monitoring and recognition of changes including nutritional intake, fluid balance, tissue viability/ wound management, bowel and urinary management and use of continence aids.
- To perform clinical activities and nursing care applicable to the patients home setting as delegated by the WCN/WCNS, including routine follow up home visits or contact.
- To conduct non-clinical tasks e.g. assisting patients with the completion of attendance allowance forms, requesting AA packs, Blue badges and equipment requests.
- To contribute to symptom management through the utilisation of appropriate assessment tools, observation, monitoring or patient feedback, reporting the outcome to the appropriate registered professional.
- To provide appropriate holistic care to patients and their families in the last year of life.
- To deliver care immediately after death with respect and compassion if applicable, as per policy.
- To initiate appropriate action in the event of an emergency situation.
- Work under level 1 guidance when prompting patients with their medication
- To be able to demonstrate and promote the use of video technology to patients and families, in particular the use of Airmid.
- To attend Specialist Hospice at Home hub as requested for daily handover and allocations and work from base as service need requires.
Organisational and Administration Responsibilities
- To maintain accurate, legible and contemporaneous records on all patients, to ensure documentation meets agreed standards and adheres to Caldicott guidelines.
- To ensure all other information, documentation and reporting requirements are completed including incidents and safeguarding concerns on the Risk Assessment Platform
- To ensure any DNACPR documentation is available within the home.
- To participate in agreed audit, research, surveys or other clinical governance activities as appropriate.
- To work flexibly to provide cover for absent colleagues when required, to include the Inpatient Unit and hubs across Dorset.
Communications and Relationships
- To establish and maintain effective positive communication with each member of the area hub team. Respecting the contribution each member brings, ensure the team works collaboratively and compassionately.
- To work collaboratively with colleagues across all areas and departments in order to support and enable cross department working and provision of best practice.
- To work in positive manner with colleagues and patients
- To foster open honest culture within team and raise any concerns promptly.
- To empower patients and family members through education and support.
Personal and Professional Development
- To act in a manner to safeguard and promote the interests of individual patients.
- To practice safely according to all Weldmar Hospicecare policies, procedures and competencies ensuring no action or omission within the sphere of post holder responsibility is detrimental to the interests, condition or safety of the patient or their family.
- To continue own personal and professional development within palliative and end of life care and the provision of integrated services to patients and families.
- To proactively participate in opportunities for shared learning and personal and professional development
- Have a champion role in area of interest and act as a resource liaising with IPU champion colleagues for shared learning
Person Specification
Skills and Abilities
Essential
- -Ability to work without direct supervision in a patients home.
- -Demonstrable interpersonal skills, including listening and negotiating.
- -Ability to contribute to service improvement and development projects with confidence in own contribution.
- -Good verbal, non- verbal and written communication skills.
- -Good self/ time management skills.
- -Ability to use own initiative.
- -Good organisational skills.
- -Ability to work effectively within an internal and remote team.
- -Ability to induct and mentor newer employees.
- -Possess good IT skills i.e., ability to utilise a range of software including word, outlook and SystmOne. Confident in the use of IT/ Video technology for patients/ employee use.
- -Flexible, positive and proactive approach to work.
Qualifications
Essential
- -Developed knowledge of a range of patient care requirements within a specialist healthcare environment and ability to apply this within own work, including care plans
- -Understanding of the physical, emotional, psychological and spiritual needs of patients and their families/carers
- -Foundation degree in health and social care or level 5 NVQ/QCF diploma in care or equivalent qualification or Registered Nursing Associate qualification or willing to undertake
- -Level 3 QCF award in End of life care or willing to undertake
- -Willingness to undertake and attain competence in the required elements of the
- -Weldmar Skills Profile and specified education and training programme for this role.
- -Awareness of the protection of vulnerable adults legislation and local procedures
Skills and Abilities
Essential
- -Ability to work without direct supervision in a patients home.
- -Demonstrable interpersonal skills, including listening and negotiating.
- -Ability to contribute to service improvement and development projects with confidence in own contribution.
- -Good verbal, non- verbal and written communication skills.
- -Good self/ time management skills.
- -Ability to use own initiative.
- -Good organisational skills.
- -Ability to work effectively within an internal and remote team.
- -Ability to induct and mentor newer employees.
- -Possess good IT skills i.e., ability to utilise a range of software including word, outlook and SystmOne. Confident in the use of IT/ Video technology for patients/ employee use.
- -Flexible, positive and proactive approach to work.
Experience
Essential
- -Experience of working in palliative care or a related specialist area
- -Experience of working collaboratively with professionals from other health and social care providers
- -Experience of working in a patients own home and / or community setting
Experience
Essential
- -Experience of working in palliative care or a related specialist area
- -Experience of working collaboratively with professionals from other health and social care providers
- -Experience of working in a patients own home and / or community setting
Person Specification
Skills and Abilities
Essential
- -Ability to work without direct supervision in a patients home.
- -Demonstrable interpersonal skills, including listening and negotiating.
- -Ability to contribute to service improvement and development projects with confidence in own contribution.
- -Good verbal, non- verbal and written communication skills.
- -Good self/ time management skills.
- -Ability to use own initiative.
- -Good organisational skills.
- -Ability to work effectively within an internal and remote team.
- -Ability to induct and mentor newer employees.
- -Possess good IT skills i.e., ability to utilise a range of software including word, outlook and SystmOne. Confident in the use of IT/ Video technology for patients/ employee use.
- -Flexible, positive and proactive approach to work.
Qualifications
Essential
- -Developed knowledge of a range of patient care requirements within a specialist healthcare environment and ability to apply this within own work, including care plans
- -Understanding of the physical, emotional, psychological and spiritual needs of patients and their families/carers
- -Foundation degree in health and social care or level 5 NVQ/QCF diploma in care or equivalent qualification or Registered Nursing Associate qualification or willing to undertake
- -Level 3 QCF award in End of life care or willing to undertake
- -Willingness to undertake and attain competence in the required elements of the
- -Weldmar Skills Profile and specified education and training programme for this role.
- -Awareness of the protection of vulnerable adults legislation and local procedures
Skills and Abilities
Essential
- -Ability to work without direct supervision in a patients home.
- -Demonstrable interpersonal skills, including listening and negotiating.
- -Ability to contribute to service improvement and development projects with confidence in own contribution.
- -Good verbal, non- verbal and written communication skills.
- -Good self/ time management skills.
- -Ability to use own initiative.
- -Good organisational skills.
- -Ability to work effectively within an internal and remote team.
- -Ability to induct and mentor newer employees.
- -Possess good IT skills i.e., ability to utilise a range of software including word, outlook and SystmOne. Confident in the use of IT/ Video technology for patients/ employee use.
- -Flexible, positive and proactive approach to work.
Experience
Essential
- -Experience of working in palliative care or a related specialist area
- -Experience of working collaboratively with professionals from other health and social care providers
- -Experience of working in a patients own home and / or community setting
Experience
Essential
- -Experience of working in palliative care or a related specialist area
- -Experience of working collaboratively with professionals from other health and social care providers
- -Experience of working in a patients own home and / or community setting
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
Weldmar Hospicecare
Address
Sturminster Newton Medical Centre
Old Market Hill
Sturminster Newton
DT10 1QU
Employer's website
Employer details
Employer name
Weldmar Hospicecare
Address
Sturminster Newton Medical Centre
Old Market Hill
Sturminster Newton
DT10 1QU
Employer's website
Employer contact details
For questions about the job, contact:
Details
Date posted
23 December 2025
Pay scheme
Other
Salary
£27,485 to £30,162 a year Weldmar Clinical Salary Scale
Contract
Permanent
Working pattern
Full-time, Part-time
Reference number
B0149-25-46
Job locations
Sturminster Newton Medical Centre
Old Market Hill
Sturminster Newton
DT10 1QU
Supporting documents
Supporting links (all open in new tabs)
Apply on Weldmar Hospicecare Website