Senior HCA (SMH B3) - Hospice at Home - Days and Nights

Job responsibilities

The role is based within the Hospice at Home team where the postholder is required to support the H@H Team to deliver 24/7 specialist palliative care to enable patients to be supported in the last 2 weeks of life, to stay at home where possible and desirable and provide support to their carer(s). The team will provide a rapid response to facilitate discharge from hospital to home and reduce hospital admissions.

The post holder will carry out assigned tasks involving direct patient care in support of and supervised by a Registered Nurse (RN) and will maintain a high standard of care within a patients home.

The H@H team support the patients actively under the care of St. Michaels services by providing a community visiting service. This includes care for patients known to the Living Well Services, SMH Motor Neurone Disease (MND) Service and the SMH Long-Term Neurological Conditions Service.

The H@H team consists of a multi-professional team working together to deliver the 24/7 Hospice at Home service for St. Michaels Hospice.

Responsibilities

To assist the RN with general and specific care of patients within the hospice and community, this includes practical nursing care and emotional support to patients and their carer(s).

To efficiently undertake duties requested by the qualified nurses

To report any observed deterioration or change in patient symptoms to the RN

To continually assess/re-assess the manual handling needs of patients to ensure patient and staff safety.

To ensure that Infection Prevention and Control standards are maintained at all times.

To contribute to care plans under the guidance of the RN

To accurately document care delivered, supporting the RNs with the completion of nursing documentation as directed

Support the RN with the completion of the CHC Fast Track documentation within the limitation of the SHCA role

Respond with sensitivity and empathy, providing basic emotional support

To provide care for the deceased patients body after death, meeting any specific patients wishes and instruction, ensuring the safe and timely removal of the body from the home working within the procedures in place within the community.

To contribute to the ordering and storage of clinical stores required for hospice at home

To ensure that equipment is kept clean and in good working order, is checked routinely and that any defect or malfunction is reported

Work as directed by the Hospice at Home Lead

Clinical Skills

Undertake clinical tasks under direction of registered nurses, and within assessed competencies, which may include:

• Assist with personal care of the patient
• Assist with patient transfers and mobility
• Vital signs observations, e.g., temperature, blood pressure, pulse rate, respiration rate, pulse oximetry
• Blood Glucose

• Urethral Catheter insertion and care
• Urinalysis
• Bowel care
• Simple wound dressings
• Venepuncture
• Care for the persons body after death

Communication and MDT working

To hold the hub phone and deal with all enquiries with a consistent level of courtesy and consideration

Work collaboratively alongside other members of St. Michaels Hospice and other organisations caring for those at the end of their life

Attend and participate in handovers, IPM's, caseload reviews and team meetings

Supports patients and family members to foundation level 1 psychological support during the end of life (NICE approved four tier model of psychological support)

To offer emotional support to patients and/or carers particularly during breaking of bad news and at time of death, recognising own limitations and referring to the RN as appropriate

To report any feedback, concerns and complaints, issues around safeguarding from patients, their relatives, or others acting on their behalf.

Ensure all safeguarding concerns are raised in line with SMH policy and escalated to the SMH Nominated Healthcare Professional for Safeguarding or their deputy or a member of the Safeguarding Committee.

Understand and maintain confidentiality, adhere to GDPR and data protection rules.

General

To respect the property of the patients and their carer(s) at all times.

To complete competency documents related to this role.

To attend clinical supervision

This role involves working shifts across long days, including both day and night shifts. The pattern of work will be working flexible across Monday Sunday as part of the Hospice at Home team, working patterns are changeable and will be routinely reviewed to meet ongoing demand and service development. Contracted hours are worked over a 4-week roster period.

A full UK driving license and access to a vehicle are essential, as you will be travelling across the community within the hospices catchment area. A pool car is available although sometimes you will be required to use your own car for which mileage can be reclaimed

To be aware of the security of the Hospice building out of office hours

To adhere to the SMH lone working policy. Continually risk assess the working environment, reporting new concerns or risks to the RN and/or H@H Lead.

Skills, Knowledge, Abilities

Essential

• IT literate.
• Awareness of palliative care principles and philosophy.
• An understanding around basic patient personal care.
• Ability to perform the following activities:
• Vital signs observations
• Urinalysis
• Blood Glucose
• The ability to work well with others.

Desirable

• Be confident in the use of electronic patient record IT systems, e.g., EPR, CHIE,
• Ability to perform the following activities:
• Urethral Catheter insertion cand care
• Bowel care
• Simple wound dressings
• Venepuncture
• Care for the persons body after death
• Recognise death and dying in patients.

Qualifications

Essential

• An RQF or NCFE Level 2 qualification in health and/or social care (NVQ, T-Level, BTEC) or at least 2 years experience working as an HCA in a healthcare environment.
• Educated to GCSE Grade 4 & above or Grade C & above or equivalent in key skills level 2 or functional skills level 2 numeracy and literacy.

Desirable

• An RQF or NCFE Level 3 qualification in health and/or social care (NVQ, T-Level, BTEC).
• Awareness of End-of-Life Care - Level 2 NCFE CACHE Award (RQF) Course.
• Communication skills course.
• Sage and Thyme communication Skills.

Experience

Essential

• Previous work as an HCA.
• Demonstrated skill in providing personal care.

Desirable

• HCA experience within the community setting.
• Experience of working within patients homes.

Attitude, aptitudes, personal characteristics

Essential

• Professional appearance
• Ability to communicate with all levels of staff
• Ability to exchange factual information accurately
• Ability to deal with sensitive situations
• The ability to work well under pressure
• Patience and the ability to remain calm in stressful situation
• Kind and compassionate
• Ability to work in death and dying
• Positive and flexible approach
• Willingness to learn new skills

Other requirements

Essential

• A full UK driving license and access to a vehicle with Business Insurance
• Ability to work, days, nights, weekends and public holidays
• Ability to work 12.5hr shifts

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.

UK Registration

Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see NHS Careers website (opens in a new window).