Health Care Assistant - Band 2 in Birmingham

At Birmingham Hospice, we are dedicated to improving the quality of life for people living with life-limiting conditions and supporting their families during one of the most challenging times they will face. We are seeking caring, compassionate, and committed Health Care Assistants (HCAs) to join our In-Patient Unit team at Erdington Hospice. As an HCA, you will be part of a multidisciplinary team delivering hands-on, high-quality palliative and end-of-life care. You'll ensure a safe environment for patients and families while being sensitive to their spiritual, psychological, and social needs.

Main duties of the job:

• Level 2 NVQ in Health or Social Care (or willingness to work towards)
• Previous experience in a care role within healthcare or similar
• Competent in English and Maths (GCSE level or equivalent)
• Ability to work flexibly across a 7-day rota and occasional multi-site locations
• Strong communication skills (written and verbal)
• Basic IT skills (databases, email, Word)

What we offer:

• Competitive salary and generous holiday entitlement
• Wellbeing programmes and comprehensive training
• Opportunities for career development and ongoing professional support
• The chance to make a real difference as part of an amazing charity

Interested? For an informal discussion, contact Katie Roberts, IPU Lead Nurse at katie.roberts@birminghamhospice.org.uk. Informal conversations are strongly encouraged. Please note: We are unable to provide visa sponsorship for this role. All applicants must already have the right to work in the UK, including a minimum of 24 hours per week.

To view the full job description and to apply for this role, please use the above QR Code, or alternatively visit our website using the address below: Join us and together, we can make every moment matter.

Please note: This vacancy may close earlier than the stated deadline if we receive a high volume of applications.

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.

Job responsibilities:

To work as a member of the multidisciplinary team to ensure the delivery of high standards of Palliative and end of life care to patients and their families in accordance with the hospice values.

Main duties and responsibilities:

• Deliver hands-on personal care to patients including care of the deceased patient
• Report verbally (patient information) to appropriate team members
• Document care given on system one
• Contribute to multidisciplinary discussions
• Attend statutory training sessions
• Work flexibly across all areas in the Hospice if required
• Escort patients to appointments
• Be sensitive to the spiritual, psychological and social needs of the patients and their families
• Convey messages and information to all team members, patients and their families as appropriate
• Initiate and participate in social activities for patients, together with colleagues
• Undertake clinical skills as competent whilst adhering to hospice policies and procedures
• Be aware of and undertake infection control measures to ensure a safe working environment
• Undertake mandatory training and yearly appraisals in line with Hospice policy

Financial:

To ensure that resources are used in an efficient and cost-effective manner for the good of the patients.

Communication:

Ensure effective communication with patients and their relatives and the wider multidisciplinary team. Demonstrate excellent interpersonal skills and high standards of both written and verbal communication.

Health and Safety:

To participate in and contribute to the maintenance of a safe working environment in accordance with the requirements of health and safety legislation to ensure the delivery of high quality, safe, patient-centred care.

General duties:

All employees are required to uphold the confidentiality of all information records in whatever format, encountered in the course of employment and after it. All employees are bound by the requirements of the General Data Protection Regulations when, in the course of their employment, they deal with information records relating to individuals.

Equality and Diversity:

The hospice is committed to promoting an environment that values diversity. All staff are responsible for ensuring that they treat individuals equally and fairly and do not discriminate on the grounds of age, disability, gender reassignment, marriage or civil partnership, pregnancy or maternity, race, religion or belief, sex and sexual orientation.

Health and safety:

All employees have a responsibility under the terms of the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974 to protect and promote their own health and that of others in the workplace. All employees are responsible for maintaining their statutory and mandatory training. All employees must comply with all hospice health and safety procedures and infection control.

Information governance:

All employees are responsible for ensuring they undertake any training relating to information governance, read the hospice's policies, procedures and guidance documents relating to information governance, and understanding how this affects them in their role.

Professional development:

All employees must participate in an annual appraisal and develop a personal development plan with their line manager.

Safeguarding children, young people and vulnerable adults:

The hospice is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults. All employees and volunteers are expected to behave in such a way that supports this commitment.

The job description is not exhaustive and may be amended following appropriate consultation in the light of business needs.

Person Specification:

Personal Skills and Attributes:

• Good communication skills, both written and verbal
• Excellent interpersonal skills
• Ability to be flexible and responsible
• Able to work as part of a team
• Competent in IT skills including use of databases, email, internet and Word
• Positive and enthusiastic
• Professional

Qualifications:

• Good standard of education
• NVQ 2 in health and social care or equivalent/Willingness to work towards or equivalent

Experience:

• Experience of working in a care role in the health care sector and/or other care related experience
• Experience of oncology or palliative care

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.