Multiskilled Health Care Assistant in Exeter

Our Hospice to Home Service is designed to be responsive and flexible to meet the needs of people who wish to remain at home.

We have a great opportunity for an experienced healthcare assistant to join our team and provide expert care to people across North Devon who need our support at end of life.

The Hospice to Home service is a 7‑day service.

You will be expected to work 12‑hour shifts, 8am‑8pm with an hour break.

While we do not currently deliver care in the community at night, our ambition is to reintroduce a night service as part of our new 5‑year strategy.

You should therefore be able to be flexible to meet future service demands.

The role will involve working as part of the wider hospice services and collaboratively with district nursing teams to deliver individualised care to patients in their own homes.

As this post is based out in the community applicants must be able to travel across the North Devon area without reliance upon public transport.

Responsibilities

• Providing high quality, holistic care to end of life patients in their own home in line with the care plan and risk assessment as defined by the Community Palliative Care Registered Nurse.
• Working closely with the hospice team, patients, District Nurse and GP to support coordinated care.
• Participating in the provision of care to facilitate patient/carer choice regarding palliative and/or end of life care.
• Providing emotional support to patients, carers and family members.
• Assisting patients with daily living activities in accordance with their individual plan of care (eating and drinking, washing and dressing, nail and hair care, toileting) during day visits and night sits.
• Supporting patients to take their medication as prescribed and in line with competency.
• Assisting patients to maintain comfort and independence in line with planned care.
• Contacting and assisting other professionals as required.
• Undertaking delegated tasks from a Complementary Therapist (hand massage, relaxation techniques) as per competency.
• Assisting with any after‑death care in agreement with the family/carer.
• Establishing and maintaining effective professional communication with patients, carers and professional colleagues.
• Being aware of the changing needs of patients and their carers throughout the illness trajectory and the need for frequent reassessment, alerting other professionals accordingly.
• Maintaining effective verbal and written communications with members of health and social services external to the hospice team.
• Maintaining accurate, legible patient records.
• Acting in a manner that respects and empowers the patient, remaining non‑judgemental in your approach.
• Being aware of the importance of adhering to specific spiritual, cultural needs.
• Maintaining patient confidentiality.
• Handing over patient information appropriately to the hospice team and other health/social care professionals on a daily basis.
• Reporting any concerns to the service manager.
• Attending monthly meetings, supervision and educational updates to ensure own capability to practice.
• Being committed to own continuous professional development and maintaining your clinical competencies.
• Being aware of the lone worker policy and adhering to the recommendations to maintain personal safety.
• Being alert to the health, safety and wellbeing of self, colleagues, patients and carers and complying with the hospice’s Health & Safety Policy.
• Using resources economically and effectively.
• Maintaining and ensuring equipment is in good working order, enabling you to work efficiently.
• Respecting the rights, privacy, dignity and property of the patient and their carers at all times.
• Ensuring that you follow good infection control practice at all times and that you are familiar with infection control policies, procedures and guidance relevant to your area of work.
• Understanding your role in the safeguarding of adults and children by identifying risks, recognising signs of harm, abuse or neglect and taking immediate action to protect a person at risk.

Qualifications

• Experience of working in a health or social care setting.
• Experience and knowledge of working in the community and with patients at end of life.
• Experience of delivering personal care and assisting with activities of daily living.
• Care or Lead Adult Care Worker qualification at Level 3.
• Disclosure and Barring Service Check (subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975); submission for Disclosure to the Disclosure and Barring Service to check for any previous criminal convictions.

Benefits

• Flexible & family friendly policies including Maternity, Adoption, Paternity, Shared Parental leave and Pawternity!
• Tech Scheme
• Cycle to work Scheme
• Free on‑site parking
• Personal pension scheme (continuation of your NHS pension)
• Generous holiday allowance increasing with service
• Employee Assistance Programme (EAP) offering free confidential advice on a range of matters including financial, legal, health and wellbeing
• Health Cash Plan which can include up to 5 children and the option to include partners
• Regular Wellbeing events
• The opportunity to give us your feedback on how we can improve as an organisation
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