Clinical Support Assistant - Day Hospice

Primrose Hospice is looking to recruit a professional and motivated Clinical Support Assistant. This is an integral post within our Clinical Services Team and we are looking for someone who wants to make a real difference to our community. Based in Bromsgrove and serving North-East Worcestershire, Primrose Hospice provides compassionate care to patients with life-limiting illnesses and support for their family.

This is a really exciting time to join Primrose. We are currently growing our care to help us reach and support more people. This post will be instrumental in helping us deliver our vision for the future of Primrose Hospice. Current services include: Day Hospice, nurse led clinics and physiotherapy led by the Clinical Team; family support, living well and complementary therapies are led by our Family Support Team.

We offer: competitive salary, continuing contributions to NHS pension scheme (for existing members) & NEST pension scheme for others, a package of employee support & development, EAP, flexible working opportunities, free onsite parking and refreshments. No weekend work is required.

The ideal candidate will have experience, empathy and understanding of issues encountered by patients with palliative care needs; training and support will be given. You must hold a relevant NVQ level 3 qualification, be a keen team player with good interpersonal and communication skills & believe that working with people in the last years of life is a privilege.

Main duties of the job

• Undertake a range of duties relating to the care of patients with palliative care needs in Day Hospice as directed and supervised by a registered practitioner.
• Assist the registered nurses and Physiotherapist in developing and maintaining a safe, caring and supportive environment for patients, relatives and staff.
• Provide care for patients with palliative care needs in accordance with the patients care plans as defined by the senior nurse, with minimum direct supervision.
• Assist in the coordination and support of volunteers working in Day Hospice.
• Lead or co-lead therapeutic exercise groups and one to one exercise activities within a Day Hospice setting.
• Be responsible for ensuring all equipment utilised is cleaned and safe for use before each patient session, plus stored correctly and safely when not in use.
• Support the nutritional offer at Primrose Hospice by undertaking basic food hygiene training, allergy awareness training, provision of snacks, drinks etc as appropriate to the patients needs.
• Support the hospices showering service, providing support and care to enable patients to shower safely and with dignity.
• Undertake stock control for Clinical Team and liaising with suppliers for clinical items.

About us

Based in Bromsgrove and serving North-East Worcestershire, Primrose Hospice provides compassionate care to patients with life-limiting illnesses and support for families.

We offer:

• An opportunity to join a highly regarded local charity and participate in all its activities.
• A chance to be part of a committed and supportive team who are providing caring and compassionate clinical services in an organisation rated Good by the CQC.
• Access to training, development and clinical supervision.
• Free onsite parking and refreshments.
• Enrolment into either the NHS or NEST Pension Scheme (we will honour NHS pension scheme for existing members).
• Employee Assistance Programme.
• Encouraged to support our wonderful fundraising and volunteering events where possible.

Job responsibilities

To undertake a range of duties relating to the care of patients with palliative care needs in Day Hospice as directed and supervised by a registered practitioner.

• Have an understanding of the philosophy and ethos behind the care provided at Primrose Hospice.
• Assist the registered nurses and Physiotherapist in developing and maintaining a safe, caring and supportive environment for patients, relatives and staff.
• Provide care for patients with palliative care needs in accordance with the patients care plans as defined by the senior nurse, with minimum direct supervision.
• Communicate with patients, carers and health professionals in a professional manner.
• Provide support to patients, carers or family members.
• Participate in audits, surveys or other clinical governance activities as requested.
• Assist in the coordination and support of volunteers working in Day Hospice.
• Use resources economically and efficiently.
• Participate in own personal development.
• Promote and uphold the privacy, dignity, rights, health and wellbeing of people who use health and care services and their carers at all times.
• Be a member of the multidisciplinary team, taking part in planning of patient services.
• Lead or co-lead therapeutic exercise groups and one to one exercise activities within a Day Hospice setting.
• Fit and assess for safe use, routine equipment in patients own homes.
• Manage the buffer stock from The Integrated Community Equipment Store.
• Work effectively within the multi-disciplinary team and acknowledge the importance of all disciplines.
• Uphold and promote equality, diversity and inclusion.

Clinical:

• Recognise changes in symptoms and deterioration in patients conditions, notify other health care professionals as necessary.
• In line with Hospice policies on patient documentation, update patient records ensuring entries are accurate, relevant and contemporaneous.
• Be responsible for ensuring all equipment utilised is cleaned and safe for use before each patient session, plus stored correctly and safely when not in use.
• Demonstrate safe and appropriate use of hoists and manual handling equipment.
• Promote participation in agreed therapeutic group activities.
• Enable patients to develop the knowledge and skills to manage their illness/social situation.
• Assist in the implementation of mobility and movement programmes for individuals to help maintain mobility, restore optimum movement and promote functional independence.
• Assist individuals in undertaking activities and enable them to choose and participate in activities that are meaningful to them.
• Highlight progress or areas of concern within these programmes to the Physiotherapist.
• Be able to assess safe use of equipment in patients own homes.
• Support Physiotherapist with ordering equipment from NHS and social care services and evaluating equipment provision.
• Provide advice and support to patients, their family and carers, in teaching and demonstrating the use of routine pieces of equipment.
• Promote a culture of patient enablement and rehabilitative palliative care in the multidisciplinary team.
• Demonstrate an ability to work with limited supervision from senior staff.
• Support the nutritional offer at Primrose Hospice by undertaking basic food hygiene training, allergy awareness training, provision of snacks, drinks etc as appropriate to the patients needs.
• Support the hospices showering service, providing support and care to enable patients to shower safely and with dignity.
• Undertake stock control for Clinical Team and liaising with suppliers for clinical items.
• Oversee the ordering, receipt and serving of patient lunches.
• Completion and supervision of food hygiene documentation including food standards, audit, temperature control when serving lunches, calibration of probe, and maintaining the appropriate records for the kitchen facilities, ensuring cleanliness of the kitchen at all times.
• Assist in audit and service evaluations within the department and Hospice, supported by colleagues.
• Completion of cleaning schedules as required.

Communication:

• Communicate clearly, effectively and compassionately in challenging situations and when answering difficult questions.
• Communicate information when there may be barriers to communications and/or understanding i.e. patients with cognitive impairment, non-English speaking patients; use of interpreters; excess noise or lack of privacy, seeking guidance/assistance from colleagues as required.
• Be confident communicating within a group of patients and able to manage group dynamics with support from senior colleagues.
• Be aware of own limitations when communicating and liaise with senior colleagues when needed.
• Liaise with external colleagues as appropriate.
• Maintain effective and professional relationships with patients and carers.

Education:

• Participate in the development, teaching and educational programmes undertaken in the Hospice.
• To be aware of ongoing personal development.
• Attend mandatory training when required, including completing e-learning.
• In conjunction with senior colleagues within the multi-disciplinary professional team, respond positively to change initiatives, demonstrating awareness of the implications.
• Take responsibility for accessing regular clinical supervision.

Other duties & responsibilities:

To undertake any other duty within your ability and within reason, as may be required from time to time, at the direction of your line manager.

Person Specification

Experience:

• Knowledge and experience of care giving.
• Empathy and understanding of issues encountered by patients with palliative care needs.
• Recent experience in a health/social care setting.
• Experience in caring for people with palliative care needs.

Qualifications:

• NVQ Level 3 in relevant field e.g. Health & Social Care.
• GCSE Grade C or equivalent in Maths & English.
• Relevant training in care skills.

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.