Job summaryPalliative Care Nursing Assistant Part time and full-time positions available
£25,818 per annum
Make a difference every day.
As a valued member of the St Catherines Hospice team, you will play an important role in delivering our vision: supporting patients to enjoy the best possible quality of life until the end of life. You will provide high-quality, values-led care to patients and their families within the Inpatient Unit and the local community, promoting comfort, dignity, independence and choice.
Main duties of the jobDoes being part of a dedicated and highly respected team excite you?
If your answer is yes, then the skills you will need are:
- Be enthusiastic and resourceful and keen to enhance your skills
- Demonstrate a keen desire to work in hospice/palliative care
- Enjoy team working
- Have a flexible attitude
- Possess good communication skills
- Have a positive, caring and approachable manner
- Be able to demonstrate respect for patients dignity
About usWhat we offer
A warm, values-driven culture with supportive clinical leadership and access to specialist palliative care education and regular clinical supervision.
NHS-pension transfer eligibility (if applicable) or hospice pension.
Free parking on site
Well-being support that includes access to free confidential counselling.
36 days annual leave (inclusive of bank holidays) pro rata for part time. All staff receive an additional wellbeing day on their birthday or nearest working day. Access to a buy additional leave scheme.
Life assurance scheme
Opportunity to join the blue light scheme and cycle to work scheme.
Contract & pattern: The role requires flexibility across day and night shifts and across clinical services. We are currently consulting with colleagues on future shift lengths and ways of working, so some aspects of the working arrangements may be refined as this develops.
Job responsibilitiesPalliative Care Nursing Assistant
Job description
Department: Care Directorate
Location: St Catherines Hospice
Responsible to: Sister / Charge Nurse
Salary: £25,818 per annum
Please note: As we are currently consulting on future ways of working, some role details may be subject to change following the consultation process. Job Summary
As the Care Directorate provides 24/7 services across the Inpatient Unit and community services, a flexible approach is essential. The post holder will support Registered Nurses and the wider multidisciplinary team to deliver safe, compassionate and individualised holistic care to adults with life-limiting conditions and those close to them. Working within agreed competence, hospice policies and delegated care plans, the Nursing Assistant will help patients with activities of daily living, contribute to care planning and documentation, and support comfort, dignity and choice throughout illness, dying and care after death. The post holder will model the Hospices values and contribute to learning, supervision and service improvement appropriate to the role within one of the few University Hospices in the country.
Role boundary and accountability
Work under the direction and supervision of a registered nurse and within agreed competence, hospice policies, procedures and delegated care plans.
Do not undertake assessment, clinical decision-making or tasks requiring registered professional accountability unless specifically trained, assessed as competent and delegated appropriately.
Promptly report changes in a patients condition, concerns, incidents, errors or matters beyond the roles competence to the registered nurse.
Maintain responsibility for the quality, accuracy and timeliness of the care and records personally completed.
Seek advice whenever instructions, priorities or a patients needs are unclear.
Main Duties and responsibilities
1. Clinical Care
Provide compassionate, holistic care to patients and support those close to them, including assistance with physical, emotional and psychological needs.
Support patients with activities of daily living, personal care, nutrition, hydration, mobility, continence, comfort and rest in accordance with the care plan.
Contribute observations and relevant information to the registered nurse to support assessment, care planning and review.
Recognise and promptly report changes in a patients condition, behaviour, comfort or wellbeing.
Provide care to dying patients and support care after death with dignity, sensitivity and respect.
Move and handle patients safely using current techniques, equipment and individual handling plans.
Undertake delegated clinical care and observations only where trained, assessed as competent and appropriately supervised.
Undertake the technical check of medication under the supervision of a registered nurse where trained, competent and authorised under hospice procedure.
Support infection prevention and control through effective hand hygiene, use of personal protective equipment and cleaning practices.
Maintain patients privacy, dignity, choice, comfort and independence at all times.
2. Working as Part of the Care Team
Work collaboratively with registered nurses, Nurse Associates, doctors, allied health professionals, volunteers and other colleagues.
Follow delegated priorities and communicate clearly about progress, unfinished care and emerging concerns.
Contribute relevant information during handovers, multidisciplinary discussions and care reviews.
Support a calm, safe and welcoming care environment and help maintain appropriate equipment and general stock.
Assist with admissions, transfers, discharge preparations and care after death as directed.
Use resources responsibly and report shortages, faults or hazards promptly.
Work flexibly across clinical services and shifts in response to patient need and service requirements.
3. Communication and Record Keeping
Communicate respectfully, sensitively and clearly with patients, families, carers and colleagues.
Adapt communication to individual needs and seek support where there are sensory, cognitive, speech, cultural or language barriers.
Listen to and acknowledge concerns, passing clinical questions, complaints or sensitive matters promptly to the registered nurse.
Accurately complete electronic and written records of the care, observations and information personally provided.
Maintain confidentiality and share information only with authorised people for legitimate care purposes.
Support effective handovers by reporting relevant, factual and timely information.
4. Safety, Quality and Governance
Work in accordance with hospice policies, procedures, protocols, the behavioural framework and agreed standards of care.
Promptly report incidents, adverse events, accidents, near misses, errors, safeguarding concerns and hazards.
Take immediate action within competence to maintain safety and seek support from the registered nurse.
Follow infection prevention, medicines safety, moving and handling, health and safety and information governance requirements.
Participate openly in reviews, reflection, learning and improvement following incidents or feedback.
Contribute to audits, quality improvement and safer care activities appropriate to the role.
Keep mandatory training and role-specific competencies up to date.
5. Learning and Development
Complete the Care Certificate where not already achieved and maintain the knowledge and competence required for the role.
Attend induction, mandatory training, supervision and other learning identified for the role.
Actively participate in appraisal and the annual personal development plan.
Reflect on experience, feedback and incidents and apply learning to practice.
Ask for guidance and additional training before undertaking unfamiliar tasks.
Contribute appropriately to the learning of colleagues, volunteers and students by demonstrating good practice within own competence.
Support the Hospices teaching, service improvement and research activity where appropriate to the role.
6. Values and Professional Behaviours
Demonstrate care, compassion, commitment and integrity in actions and behaviours.
Treat patients, families, carers, colleagues and volunteers with dignity, courtesy and respect.
Promote equality, diversity, inclusion and individual choice in care delivery and team working.
Maintain professional boundaries, confidentiality and a reliable standard of conduct.
Be caring, empathic, approachable and willing to work as part of a team.
Work flexibly and proactively in response to patient and service needs.
Maintain resilience and seek appropriate support when affected by the emotional demands of palliative care.
Person SpecificationPersonal Qualities and ValuesEssential- Kind, respectful and patient-focused.
- Calm, dependable and able to seek support appropriately.
- Flexible and proactive working approach.
- Resilience to work effectively in a palliative care setting.
- Commitment to personal development and the Hospices values.
- Commitment to Equality, Diversity and Inclusion.
Desirable- Interest in contributing to learning, quality improvement or service development.
QualificationsEssential- Care Certificate, or willingness and ability to complete it within the required timeframe.
Desirable- GCSE English and Mathematics or equivalent.
- Level 2 or Level 3 health and social care qualification, NVQ in Care or equivalent.
Key Skills and AbilitiesEssential- Caring, compassionate and empathic approach.
- Ability to communicate effectively and sensitively in spoken and written English.
- Ability to follow delegated instructions and work within clear role boundaries.
- Ability to recognise and report changes, concerns, incidents and risks promptly.
- Ability to complete clear and accurate electronic and written care records.
- Ability to work flexibly and reliably as part of a team.
- Ability to move and handle patients safely, with training and appropriate equipment.
- Ability to reflect, learn from experience and maintain role competencies.
- Commitment to equality, diversity, inclusion, dignity and confidentiality.
Desirable- Understanding of the Mental Capacity Act 2005.
- Basic understanding of safeguarding, infection prevention and palliative care.
- Experience of electronic patient record systems.
ExperienceEssential- Demonstrable interest in caring for and supporting other people.
- Experience of working effectively as part of a team.
Desirable- Previous experience of caring for patients or service users in a health or social care setting.
- Experience of palliative or end of life care.
- Full UK driving licence and access to a vehicle where required by the service.
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.Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see NHS Careers website (opens in a new window). 
