Description
We have an exciting opportunity for a Healthcare Assistant to work within our inpatient team at St Joseph's Hospice. The successful candidate will work as part of the multidisciplinary team, primarily delivering care to patients and their families on one of our two wards. The post offers the opportunity to work alongside and learn from colleagues with palliative care expertise.
The successful candidate will need to have some experience of caring in either a paid or voluntary capacity, and will demonstrate a commitment to providing a high standard of care to patients.
Main duties of the job
- Excellent and effective communication and interpersonal skills
- Ability to work well within a team
- Ability to care for people who are approaching the end of their lives
Job Responsibilities
- Ensure that the palliative care unit is run in an effective and caring manner
- Keep the ward tidy and promote high standards at all times
- Assist patients with their personal care and advise on health needs
- Assist in admitting patients to the ward
- Help patients at mealtimes
- Take patients to the garden, tea bar, etc.
- Ensure at all times the safe custody of patients' property
- Maintain a good level of nursing stock and equipment
- Sit with dying patients
- Escort patients to outpatient appointments
- Understand the safe handling and storage of oxygen
Communication
- Have good communication skills and be able to use the telephone
- Read and familiarise with the prescribed plan of care
- Welcome, assist and advise patients' relatives
- Provide emotional support to patients, their relatives and friends
- Assist patients in their choice of food
- Order patients' menu daily from the kitchen
- Regularly participate in nursing handover
- Help new staff to settle into the ward routine
Benefits
- 27 days holiday plus public holidays, increasing up to 33 days with service
- Subsidised cafe and early access to retail sale events
- Season ticket loans
- Continuation of NHS Pension Scheme or an excellent salary-exchange pension scheme
- Santander cycles discount and cycle to work scheme
- Health Cash Plan and access to the EAP services