Assistant Practitioner

Job description

Job responsibilities

JOB TITLE: Assistant Practitioner

REPORTS TO: Day Hospice Sisters

KEY WORKING RELATIONSHIPS: Day Hospice Team

PURPOSE:

The post holder will be part of a team committed to delivering and leading high-quality care which reflects the philosophy and objectives of St Lukes (Cheshire) Hospice. The post holder will provide support for patients/families and other members of the wider multi-disciplinary health care team involved in patient care.

To provide a professional nursing service to patients and families in the Day Hospice and across the hospice settings

Supervise and guide students, junior members of staff, unqualified carers and volunteers in the Hospice

Contribute to the ongoing development of the Hospice service in the quest to provide specialist palliative care that keeps the patient and family as the central focus

Key Tasks and Responsibilities

To work within the policies and procedures of the Hospice to maintain a safe working

environment

To assess, plan, implement and evaluate patient care under the leadership of a registered

nurse.

To practise research-based techniques in care delivery.

To participate in the introduction and evaluation of new procedures for patient care.

To always treat patients safely, with dignity, holistically and respect confidentiality.

To participate in multi-disciplinary and clinical meetings

Liaison with other professional groups involved in patient care

Contribute towards prevention and management of infections

The post holder will be responsible for the Health and Safety of patients, staff and visitors

whilst on duty

Working without direct supervision, delivering care independently, within the parameters

of practice of the band 4 role, accessing clinical advice as and when needed.

Maintenance of accurate patient care records

Report deficiencies or dysfunction of equipment

Participate in audit activity and review of standards within the Hospice

To refer to internal and external agencies.

To participate in end of life planning talks with patients and their families and advance care planning.

Education / Personal Development

Actively participate in clinical supervision

Demonstrate commitment to ongoing personal development through study, official

courses and participation in in-house meetings and courses

Acquire skills, under the Assistant Practitioner remit which will enhance patient care

Act as a role model to junior staff / visiting students and share knowledge and skills

relevant to palliative care

Personnel

Able to evidence skills are maintained through our HR systems.

To follow agreed policies and procedures of St Lukes (Cheshire) Hospice in order to

maintain a safe environment

Health & Safety & Security

Under health and safety legislation, each individual has a legal responsibility for their own welfare and for the health and safety of others and to co-operate in maintaining their place of work in a tidy and safe condition, thereby minimising risk. The Hospice has a Health & Safety Policy which applies to all staff.

Similarly, it is each persons responsibility to ensure a secure environment and bring any breaches of security to the attention of their manager.

Equal Opportunities

St Lukes Cheshire Hospice has given its full commitment to the adoption and promotion of the key principles of equal opportunities contained within current legislation and St Lukes Cheshire Hospice Equality & Diversity Policy.

Confidentiality

In the course of your duties, you will have access to confidential material about members of staff, volunteers, other hospice business and patients. The Hospice has Data Protection Policy which applies to all staff.

St Lukes Cheshire Hospice is committed to safeguarding adults and children and expects all staff to share in this commitment. Staff have a responsibility to ensure that they are aware of specific duties relating to their role and should familiarise themselves with the Hospices Safeguarding Policies. Safeguarding training is mandatory for all staff.

This job description may vary from time to time according to the needs of St Lukes (Cheshire) Hospice.

This job description is not exhaustive and is subject to review in conjunction with the post holder and according to future changes/developments in the service.

Person Specification

Other Requirements

Essential

• Ability to deal with non - routine and unpredictable nature of workload and individual patient contact
• o

Experience

Essential

• Experience of working in a palliative care setting including community.
• Experience of working with patients with complex needs.
• Experience of working effectively in a multi-disciplinary team
• Experience of co-ordinating workload for self and others

Desirable

• Experience of working in a hospice setting/ experience of caring for patients with a palliative diagnosis.

Skills and Aptitudes

Essential

• Ability to provide and promote holistic person-centred care and support, duty of care and safeguarding of individuals
• Ability to communicate with colleagues from clinical and non-clinical teams, with patients and those close to them
• Ability to develop effective working relationships as part of a team
• Ability to work under pressure, set priorities and meet deadlines
• IT literate, with keyboard and computer skills and able to use clinical care systems
• Ability to assess, implement and evaluate individualised care for patients
• Ability to demonstrate appropriate evidence based clinical skills
• Ability to participate in audit & training

Desirable

• Supervisory Skills

Qualifications

Essential

• Level 4 or higher English and Maths - (equivalent to GCSE grade C or above).
• NVQ3 or equivalent
• Demonstrates meeting the standards of the Care Certificate
• An accredited level 4/5 vocational qualification such as a Foundation Diploma or other Healthcare related studies or already working towards this.
• Evidence of continuing professional development

Desirable

• Advanced communication skills training

Personal Attributes

Essential

• Passion for ethos of the hospice and demonstrable interest and enthusiasm for the vision of the organisation
• Ability to prioritise and manage own and others time and work load effectively
• Flexible approach to work
• Shows compassion & treats people with dignity, respect and kindness
• Ability to instil confidence in others
• A commitment to personal development & lifelong learning

Desirable

• Emotional intelligence and resilience

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

St Luke’s (Cheshire) Hospice

Address

Grosvenor House

Queensway

Winsford

Cheshire

CW7 1BH

Employer's website

https://www.slhospice.co.uk/ (Opens in a new tab)