Job summary
Join us
in bringing compassionate care to people where they need it most

At Birmingham Hospice our teams are committed to improving the quality of life for people living with life-limiting conditions, as well as supporting their families and loved ones during one of the most challenging periods they will ever face.

Our 24/7 Specialist Palliative Urgent Response (SPUR) service support patients with a palliative diagnosis and those that are reaching end of life in the patients own setting providing rapid, compassionate palliative care support across Birmingham and Solihull. This service ensures that patients and families receive expert help when they need it most - day or night.

We are looking for an experienced, innovative, patient-centred, compassionate and motivated HCA to join this fantastic professional team working overnight. You will be working alongside dedicated urgent response nurses and clinical nurse specialists caring for palliative patients within their own homes. You will be required to deliver personal care and adapt to the changing needs of a patient and their families whilst being sensitive to their spiritual, psychological and social needs.

Main duties of the job
Our requirements:

• Level 3 NVQ in health or social care or show a willingness to work towards.
• Experience of working in a care role in the health care sector and/or other care related experience
• Competent in English and Maths (up to GCSE level or equivalent)
• The ability to work nights and flexibly
• The ability to use your initiative and prioritise your workload
• Good communication skills both written and verbal
• Competent IT skills including use of databases, email, and Word
• You will need to be a car owner/driver with access to your own vehicle and hold a current full UK driving licence or have access to a driver.

In return, we offer the opportunity to be part of an amazing charity, competitive salary, generous holiday entitlement, wellbeing programmes, comprehensive training and the opportunity to develop your career through ongoing professional development and support.

For further information and an informal discussion about the role please contact Zoe Nock, Clinical Nurse Specialist by email: zoe.nock@birminghamhospice.org.uk. Informal discussions are strongly encouraged.

Please note applications may be reviewed for the use of AI-generated content. We welcome candidates using tools to support clarity and presentation, but no more than 30% of an application should be AI-generated; your application should clearly reflect your own experience, skills and motivation for the role.

About us
Birmingham Hospice provides expert palliative and end of life care for people and their families living with life-limiting illnesses.

We believe that all people in Birmingham should have access to the best specialist care and support - when, where and how they need it. Our vision is a future where everyone with a life-limiting illness will live and die with dignity and in comfort. Our mission is to enable more people from all communities to access the care of their choice at the end of life.

During a recent CQC inspection our sites have been rated outstanding, with independent health care regulators highlighting that colleagues and services are caring, responsive and well-led.

Our outstanding teams are passionate about providing the very best care, and patients and their loved ones are at the heart of everything we do.

Our values of kindness, respect, innovation, togetherness, positivity and openness are at the centre of who we are, what we do and how we behave. We pride ourselves on being an inclusive, welcoming, caring and supportive team. We are offering a competitive salary, with generous holiday allowance, a contribution pension scheme, and a commitment to investing in our people through employee benefits and ongoing professional development.

Details
Date posted
28 September 2026

Pay scheme
Other

Salary
£15,242 to £16,605 a year

(£24,852 - £25,443 full time equivalent)

Contract
Permanent

Working pattern
Part-time,

Flexible working

Reference number
B0060-26-0045

Job locations
76 Grange Road

Erdington

Birmingham

B24 0DF

United Kingdom

Birmingham Hospice

176 Raddlebarn Road

Selly Park

BIRMINGHAM

B29 7DA

United Kingdom

Job description
Job responsibilities
Job Title:
Health Care Assistant (HCA)

Department:
Specialist community palliative rapid response

Organisation Band:

Reports to:
Clinical nurse/ Triage nurse

Responsible for:

DBS Required
Enhanced

Job Purpose
The specialist community palliative response service (SCPRS) will be delivered between the hours of 20:00 08:00.

During these hours the HCA with support the clinical nurse (visiting in twos) in responding to urgent specialist palliative response visits, these visits will aim to take place within a 2-hour timeframe.

The post holder will demonstrate a level of skill and understanding which enables them to undertake specific tasks delegated by the nurse in charge and in accordance with relevant procedures, guidelines and policies. They will undertake both routine and specially identified tasks for which they have been trained and assessed as competent.

Main Duties and Responsibilities
Key areas of work
Within the patients place of residence the HCA will assist the Registered Nurse in the assessment, planning, implementation and evaluation of nursing care.

Carry out high standard of direct patient care alongside team colleagues

Report verbally (including hand-over) to appropriate team members

Document any care given in patient held notes and/or relevant systems e.g. SystmOne

Contribute to multidisciplinary discussions.

Be sensitive to the spiritual, psychological and social needs of the patients and their families.

To supervise and support all nursing assistants and to assist in the induction of all new staff.

Contribute to the learning environment e.g. teaching on the in-house training days and training new members of staff

Undertaken training for clinical skills relevant to post and maintain up-to-date practice.

To take emergency action alongside the registered Nurse as necessary to safeguard the patients and carers and report any concerns to the nurse in charge as soon as possible.

To maintain accurate documentation alongside the registered Nurse of care given and to report any changes in condition or circumstances of the patient to the relevant key worker and the nurse in charge on duty in a timely manner.

To participate in audit activities.

Be aware of and undertake infection control measures to minimise the risks of infection.

To perform administrator duties is required.

Attend mandatory and in service training as identified and required.

At all times to represent the organisation in a professional and caring manner maintaining professional boundaries in relationships with patients and their families or carers.

To be part of a rota to provide a 7-day service, 365 days per year including weekend working.

To work flexibly and willing to travel across the city and organisation.

Key Skills
Understand own level of responsibility and accountability in relation to registered / trained staff.

Work co-operatively as part of the multi-disciplinary team supporting colleagues in work associated with patient care. Challenging and escalating poor practice/performance

Communicate clearly, effectively and appropriately with the multidisciplinary team, patients and their family, visitors and carers.

Through practice demonstrate an understanding of Duty of Care and how this contributes to safe practices.

Assist in delivery of patient care as per patients individualised care plans/programme of care. Taking a holistic approach.

Following appropriate training and supervised practice, undertake identified competency-based practices which are required for the service, after such tasks have been delegated to them by a registered nurse.

Identify learning and development needs and produce a personal development plan in conjunction with your line manager / supervisor.

Achieve and maintain competence in mandatory and statutory training associated with the role.

Complete documentation of care in line with the Trust Standards for Documentation.

Following the completion of training undertake a range of physical / clinical observations appropriate to the area of practice. Achieve and maintain competence in using a range of equipment to undertake these, record the outcome and report and escalate exceptions to the registered nurse who delegated the tasks to you.

Measuring and recording may include:

• Blood pressure (using electronic equipment)
• Pulse rate and rhythm (manually and using electronic equipment)
• Temperature (all routes)
• Height and weight
• Blood glucose monitoring
• Urine testing / Urinalysis
• Respiratory rate
• Oxygen saturation

Accurately recording and documentation of vital signs monitoring if appropriate for the patient.

Simple wound dressings in line with a plan of care and infection prevention and control policy and procedures.

Last offices, alongside the registered Nurse in line with the relevant policies and procedures.

Administration of eye drops/ear drops/nose drops in line with policies and procedures.

Assessment and monitoring of Skin care/pressure area care, alongside the registered Nurse in line with policies and procedures.

Assessment and Promotion of continence and the management of incontinence, alongside the registered Nurse, in line with policies and procedures

Key responsibilities
Build partnerships and therapeutic relationships through safe, effective and non-discriminatory communication taking account of differences, capability and needs of individuals.

Maintain a high standard of personal behaviour and ensure effective communication with all members of the multidisciplinary team, patients, carers and relatives.

Communicate effectively with patients and carers, recognising there may be a need to utilise alternative methods of communication. Where there are barriers to understanding, as required arrange/ access to information, support and other services to aid effective communication. Greet all patients and visitors with courtesy and respect, being mindful of body language and tone of voice

Use paper and electronic systems to retrieve and record patient information in line with Trust documentation standards and operational systems.

Apply the principles of information governance and patient confidentiality to all aspects of your role.

Obtain verbal consent from the patient before any clinical intervention is undertaken, where this is not given report this to a registered nurse.

Participate in discussions about patient care and departmental issues at hand over and departmental meetings.

Observe and report to the registered nurse all changes in a patients physical and psychological condition.

Support families and carers following a patient bereavement or when bad news has been shared

Accept constructive feedback

Maintain professional boundaries and working relationships with patients and colleagues.

Ensure patients and their relatives or carers are kept informed of delays with their treatment, investigations and visiting times.

Person Specification
Experience
Essential

• Recent experience in a health care sector in community, care home or acute setting.
• Demonstrable experience in palliative and end of life care or related speciality.
• Competent in a range of clinical skills and practices relevant to the scope of practice required
• Willingness to take on new skills and develop scope of practice

Qualifications
Essential

• Good standard of education
• Evidence of completion of a Health-Related Education and Development programme/ Care Certificate or equivalent experience or working towards.

Desirable

• GCSE or equivalent to Level 2 Functional Skills Maths & English

Personal Skills and Attributes
Essential

• Good communication skills both verbal and written including the ability to maintain accurate and legible care records. Interpret and follow basic written instructions and communicate in a concise, accurate and legible way.
• Ability to recognise, report and communicate concerns and changes in a timely manner
• Ability to use ones own initiative and prioritise workload
• Willingness to learn new skills and undertake training
• Ability to work autonomously and as part of a team
• Ability to work under pressure
• Flexible, Reliable and Punctual
• Car owner/driver with full current UK driving licence

Desirable

• Good IT skills ability to record information electronically

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
Birmingham Hospice

Address
76 Grange Road

Erdington

Birmingham

B24 0DF

United Kingdom

Employer's website
https://www.birminghamhospice.org.uk (Opens in a new tab)

Employer contact details
For questions about the job, contact:
Clinical Nurse Specialist

Zoe Nock

zoe.nock@birminghamhospice.org.uk

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.