St Elizabeth Hospice

In-Patient Unit Healthcare Assistant

The closing date is 09 October 2025

Job summary

If you have a passion for caring and are interested in making a real difference to patients and their families, come and join the outstanding St Elizabeth Hospice team.

Rated Outstanding from the Care Quality Commission, St Elizabeth Hospice improves life for people living with a progressive or life-limiting illness. Our work is centred on an individual's needs, which means care whenever and wherever it is needed, whether at home, in the community or at the hospice. We are well respected and praised for our responsiveness and expertise by people we serve.

Whilst possessing a care certificate or having experience of healthcare or care work is desirable, it is not essential as there are no set entry requirements to become a healthcare assistant at St Elizabeth Hospice. In addition our commitment to you is that we will open up excellent training and development opportunities in order for you to progress your career within St Elizabeth Hospice.

Main duties of the job

We are seeking a Healthcare Assistant with an interest in palliative care to work within our multi-disciplinary team who provide physical, psycho-social and spiritual care to patients. You do not necessarily need experience in health and social care or palliative care. You may be looking for a career change. If this is you, look no further, we will support you with all the necessary training in order for you to gain a recognised health and social care qualification, whilst providing excellent career development opportunities.

If you would like an opportunity to find out some more about working at the hospice, and how it can fit your own career aspirations, we recommend a discussion prior to you completing your application.

Hours: Full or part time. Full rotation, 24/7 days a week

Interview Date: 21 October 2025

St Elizabeth Hospice offers the unique opportunity to work alongside our outstanding multi-disciplinary team, providing planned and reactive or urgent care to patients and support to their loved ones.

Every patient and family member is valued and we pride ourselves in giving dedicated time to care for patients, whether it is in a patients home, on the telephone through OneCall or at the In-Patient Unit in Ipswich.

As well as joining our rewarding and well-respected organisation, St Elizabeth Hospice is here to support your career, with progression and training opportunities available to enhance your skills and development.

About us

St Elizabeth Hospice is an innovative and compassionate organisation. Hear from Healthcare Assistants themselves on why working at St Elizabeth Hospice is so special:

Joining the hospice is the best thing that has ever happened to me and I cant imagine working anywhere else, its a very special place to be and to work.

Many people have said it must be very sad to work at the hospice, which it can be, but it is also the most uplifting and positive place that I have ever worked.

St Elizabeth Hospice is committed to safeguarding and protecting the adults and young people that we work with and has a zero-tolerance approach to abuse, neglect and discrimination of any person. As such, all posts are subject to a rigorous safer recruitment process, including the disclosure of criminal records and vetting checks. We have a range of robust safeguarding policies in place which promote safeguarding across the hospice and staff are expected to undertake regular, mandatory safeguarding training to equip them with the knowledge and skills to identify and respond to potential risks.

The hospice offers a generous benefit package, including:

27 days annual leave entitlement

Pension scheme

Life Cover

Cycle to Work Scheme

Car Leasing Scheme

Health Service Discounts

Occupational Sick Pay

Blue Light Card

Employee Assistance Programme

Details

Date posted

26 September 2025

Pay scheme

Agenda for change

Band

Band 2

Salary

Depending on experience

Contract

Permanent

Working pattern

Full-time, Part-time

Reference number

B0291-25-0039

Job locations

565 Foxhall Road

Ipswich

Suffolk

IP3 8LX


Job description

Job responsibilities

JOB SUMMARY

To work at all times under the supervision of a Registered Nurse in order to provide individualised care to patients and families whilst respecting patient choice.

SAFEGUARDING RESPONSIBILITIES

Demonstrate a commitment to keeping adults and young people safe

Report any disclosure made to you to the appropriate person

Report any safeguarding concerns in the workplace to the appropriate person

Maintain an awareness of the Hospices policies in relation to safeguarding

KEY ACCOUNTABILITIES

To carry out agreed tasks involving direct patient care and activities within the clinical area, in accordance with the patient care plan.

  • To provide personal care involving all hygiene, elimination, eating and drinking, mobilisation, rest, sleep and comfort needs.
  • Reports on patients condition to registered staff.

To assist in meeting the patients and their familys spiritual and psychological needs, recognising and respecting religious and cultural beliefs.

To assist in providing support and comfort for the dying patient and his/her family.

To assist in effective verbal and written communication between patients, families and members of the multi-disciplinary team.

To provide assistance to the Occupational Therapists and Physiotherapists as planned and as required.

To promote quality of life and offer activities as appropriate

  • To have an understanding of safeguarding principles and to be able to apply these within everyday practice and intervention within your role
  • Report any clinical incidents in accordance with the incident management policy.
  • Work effectively with other members of the multiprofessional team so that care is coordinated.
  • To deliver care in accordance with agreed policies and procedures.
  • Records patient information.
  • Contribute to fostering a learning and patient safety culture on the Inpatient Unit for all staff as well as students and visitors.
  • Ensure adherence with relevant Infection Prevention and Control policies and procedures, raising any risks to the IPC group / Ward Manager.

GENERAL

Where you are a member of a professional body you are required to conform to the professional standards set by that body. You are required to ensure your registration is current and practice continuous professional development.

Because of the special nature of the Hospice and its work, the post holder may on occasion be asked to undertake other duties to help maintain our high standard of care.

Job description

Job responsibilities

JOB SUMMARY

To work at all times under the supervision of a Registered Nurse in order to provide individualised care to patients and families whilst respecting patient choice.

SAFEGUARDING RESPONSIBILITIES

Demonstrate a commitment to keeping adults and young people safe

Report any disclosure made to you to the appropriate person

Report any safeguarding concerns in the workplace to the appropriate person

Maintain an awareness of the Hospices policies in relation to safeguarding

KEY ACCOUNTABILITIES

To carry out agreed tasks involving direct patient care and activities within the clinical area, in accordance with the patient care plan.

  • To provide personal care involving all hygiene, elimination, eating and drinking, mobilisation, rest, sleep and comfort needs.
  • Reports on patients condition to registered staff.

To assist in meeting the patients and their familys spiritual and psychological needs, recognising and respecting religious and cultural beliefs.

To assist in providing support and comfort for the dying patient and his/her family.

To assist in effective verbal and written communication between patients, families and members of the multi-disciplinary team.

To provide assistance to the Occupational Therapists and Physiotherapists as planned and as required.

To promote quality of life and offer activities as appropriate

  • To have an understanding of safeguarding principles and to be able to apply these within everyday practice and intervention within your role
  • Report any clinical incidents in accordance with the incident management policy.
  • Work effectively with other members of the multiprofessional team so that care is coordinated.
  • To deliver care in accordance with agreed policies and procedures.
  • Records patient information.
  • Contribute to fostering a learning and patient safety culture on the Inpatient Unit for all staff as well as students and visitors.
  • Ensure adherence with relevant Infection Prevention and Control policies and procedures, raising any risks to the IPC group / Ward Manager.

GENERAL

Where you are a member of a professional body you are required to conform to the professional standards set by that body. You are required to ensure your registration is current and practice continuous professional development.

Because of the special nature of the Hospice and its work, the post holder may on occasion be asked to undertake other duties to help maintain our high standard of care.

Person Specification

Qualifications

Essential

  • Good standard of education in numeracy and literacy.

Desirable

  • Care Certificate or level 2 certificate in health and social care (or willing to undertake).
  • NVQ level III in direct care.

Experience

Essential

  • Experience of working within a multi-disciplinary team.
  • Demonstrate experience of team working.

Desirable

  • Community/palliative care experience.
  • To have an understanding of safeguarding principles and to be able to apply these within everyday practice and intervention within your role.

Personal Qualities

Essential

  • Demonstrable experience of team working.
  • Be willing and able to develop own knowledge and deliver care across all Hospice settings.
  • Ability to withstand sensitive and potentially stressful situations.
  • Be adaptable, flexible, responsive & positive to change and service development.

Specific Skills

Essential

  • Effective communicator ability to establish and maintain communication with patients, their families and colleagues.
  • IT literate.
Person Specification

Qualifications

Essential

  • Good standard of education in numeracy and literacy.

Desirable

  • Care Certificate or level 2 certificate in health and social care (or willing to undertake).
  • NVQ level III in direct care.

Experience

Essential

  • Experience of working within a multi-disciplinary team.
  • Demonstrate experience of team working.

Desirable

  • Community/palliative care experience.
  • To have an understanding of safeguarding principles and to be able to apply these within everyday practice and intervention within your role.

Personal Qualities

Essential

  • Demonstrable experience of team working.
  • Be willing and able to develop own knowledge and deliver care across all Hospice settings.
  • Ability to withstand sensitive and potentially stressful situations.
  • Be adaptable, flexible, responsive & positive to change and service development.

Specific Skills

Essential

  • Effective communicator ability to establish and maintain communication with patients, their families and colleagues.
  • IT literate.

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 Elizabeth Hospice

Address

565 Foxhall Road

Ipswich

Suffolk

IP3 8LX


Employer's website

https://www.stelizabethhospice.org.uk/ (Opens in a new tab)


Employer details

Employer name

St Elizabeth Hospice

Address

565 Foxhall Road

Ipswich

Suffolk

IP3 8LX


Employer's website

https://www.stelizabethhospice.org.uk/ (Opens in a new tab)


Employer contact details

For questions about the job, contact:

IPU Ward Manager

Rachel Wheeler

rachel.wheeler@stelizabethhospice.org.uk

Details

Date posted

26 September 2025

Pay scheme

Agenda for change

Band

Band 2

Salary

Depending on experience

Contract

Permanent

Working pattern

Full-time, Part-time

Reference number

B0291-25-0039

Job locations

565 Foxhall Road

Ipswich

Suffolk

IP3 8LX


Supporting documents

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