Health Care Assistant Development Post

Make a difference every day. Join our team and provide exceptional care where it matters. For 35 years, Mary Ann Evans Hospice has delivered compassionate, high-quality end of life care to individuals and their families across Warwickshire North. We are proud of the difference we have made and continue to make in the lives of those navigating life-limiting illness.

About the Role

We are seeking a compassionate and dedicated individual to join our hospice team as a Health Care Assistant (Development Post), supporting patients with life-limiting illnesses and those receiving end of life care. Hours of work flexible up to 34.5 hours per week. This development opportunity is ideal for someone who wishes to build a career in palliative and hospice care. You will work closely with registered nurses and the wider multidisciplinary team to provide high-quality, person-centred care that promotes dignity, comfort, and emotional wellbeing for patients and their families.

Main duties of the job

This is a developmental post designed to provide structured training, supervision, and practical experience to support progression from a Band 2 Health Care Assistant (HCA) to a competent Band 3 Senior HCA over an 18-month period. The postholder will work within our community services, which include the Hospice at Home (HAH) team, the Wellbeing Programme, and when required the Rapid Response (RR) team. The development programme combines on-the-job learning, formal education, and competency-based assessments to build the clinical knowledge, confidence, and skills required to deliver high-quality palliative and end-of-life care in both community and hospice settings. There is an expectation that the successful candidate will complete and pass the Care Certificate and the Level 3 Palliative Care module. Upon successful completion of the programme, the postholder will automatically progress to a Band 3 Senior HCA role.

The service operates seven days a week, typically between 8am and 8pm, and flexibility is required to meet patient needs and support personal development opportunities. This is a community-based post covering Bedworth, Nuneaton, and North Warwickshire. A valid driving licence and access to a car are essential.

Right to Work in the UK: Applicants must have the legal right to work in the UK at the time of application. Please note that we are unable to offer visa sponsorship for this role, and applications requiring overseas sponsorship will not be considered.

About us

As an NHS partner, we work closely with local health services to deliver safe, effective and responsive care. We are committed to creating a positive working environment where staff feel supported, developed and recognised for the vital work they do.

MAEH Values: Mary Ann Evans Hospice is committed to ensuring a healthy work-life balance for staff given the nature of the environment and care services provided. The Hospice, its staff and volunteers are all committed to ensuring our values stay at the centre of its ethos.

• Trustworthy
• Respectful
• Inspirational
• Sustainable

What we offer

We provide a comprehensive benefits package designed to support your wellbeing, career development and work-life balance, including:

• Agenda for Change pay scales, with NHS length of service recognised for annual leave entitlement
• Continued access to the NHS Pension Scheme for existing members, subject to eligibility
• Sickness pay in line with Mary Ann Evans Hospice policy
• Excellent training and professional development opportunities
• Enhanced DBS clearance provided
• Lease car scheme via salary sacrifice and access to electric pool cars for work-related travel
• Free on-site parking at the Hospice (George Eliot site)
• Employee Assistance Programme (EAP) offering confidential support

At Mary Ann Evans Hospice, you will be part of a dedicated and compassionate team making a real difference to people's lives every day.

Job responsibilities

All the following will be under the supervision of an RN as per recommendations from the Cavendish (2015) and Willis (2015) reports:

• To support the Clinical Services Team Leader (CSTL) and RNs by providing a confident presence to which individuals can turn for assistance and support and be an advocate for the patients with palliative care needs within the Hospice clinical services settings.
• To support with coordinating volunteers contributing to undertaking patient care in the Wellbeing Program and Hospice at Home, so that professional and consistent standards of care are always maintained.
• To develop and ensure good communication with all staff liaising with patients, relatives, carers and all other professionals in the Hospice and community, ensuring quality and continuity of patient care.
• To maintain regular communication with hospice teams so that the needs of individual patients and their families are met, ensuring continuity of care.
• To represent the Hospice at fundraising, public and professional events to help promote the Hospice services as necessary.

Clinical and Professional Activities

• Be a competent practitioner demonstrating an evidence-based approach, contribute to the completion of holistic patient and carer assessments, acting as a support to other colleagues, students, patients and carers.
• Recognise changing patient and carer needs, condition or circumstances and report these to CSTL, RN or Senior HCA.
• To assist in providing holistic care in partnership with the patient/family (and other care providers) for those with palliative and end of life needs.
• Ensure high standard of electronic patient records (EMIS) are consistently maintained, with attention to timely completion, adherence to information governance standards, and compliance to Caldicott principles.
• To work within local and national guidance in respect of palliative and end of life care and standards set by the Care Quality Commission.

Education, Personal Development & Training

• Take every reasonable opportunity for maintaining, developing and acquiring competencies and skills for self-development and personal responsibility for life-long learning, self-development, and reflection.
• Participate in informal and formal education as required.

Standard Requirements of all Mary Ann Staff:

• To be flexible and adapt to the needs of your team.
• To maintain strict confidentiality and always adhere to data protection policies.
• To observe and maintain security procedures and to be aware of responsibilities towards Health & Safety, Hospice Policies & Procedures, and COSHH.
• Mary Ann operates a strictly no-smoking and vaping policy whilst on duty and on the premises.
• Attendance at meetings, events and activities may require the post holder to work beyond the normal hours/days of work on occasions, flexibility is essential.

Person Specification

Experience:

• Able to work autonomously and as part of a team
• Evidence of excellent communication skills
• Experience of supporting team members
• A minimum of 6 months care experience ideally with palliative/end of life patients (any setting)

Skills and Knowledge:

• Fundamental care skills
• Excellent planning and organising skills
• Excellent interpersonal skills communication with patients, health and social care professionals and the wider multi-professional team
• Must be able to demonstrate an understanding of the need for confidentiality in all aspects of the work environment

Qualifications:

• Level 2 Diploma/NVQ Level 2 in Health and Social Care for adults or Palliative or end of life care
• Maths and English/GCSE level 4 or equivalent
• Care Certificate or working towards

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.

£24,465 a year increase to Band 3 after completing development course.