Healthcare Assistant, Ward in Romford

We have an opportunity to join our ward team as a Healthcare Assistant. We are seeking HCAS with a passion for palliative care, highly motivated and forward thinking to work within the existing caring and dynamic team of nurses. The role will be working as a member of the MDT team, providing high standards of specialist palliative care to individuals and their relatives.

Main duties of the job

• To work within the team nursing structure, ensuring that holistic, high quality specialist individual care is maintained.

About us

We are a dynamic, forward thinking organisation delivering a full range of specialist palliative care services for individuals and their loved ones with palliative or end of life care needs. We achieved Outstanding in our CQC inspection & have reconfigured our services to meet the changing needs of our local community. We support 5 Clinical Commissioning Groups & have a robust governance structure in place. We provide ward clinical services within a modern, personal & friendly 18-bedded unit, as well as Specialist Community Crisis Support Service, Hospice at Home Service & Specialist Day Therapy Service. We also have the hospice Pepperell Education Centre that has an excellent reputation for delivering high quality education programmes and study days. Saint Francis Hospice is a charity based in the UK.

We will require all successful candidates to be able to provide documentary ID proof of their Right to Work in the UK. We are not a Licensed Sponsor, so are unable to provide sponsorship to support applicants applying from outside of the UK. Please note that we are a charity & not part of an NHS Trust & we are situated in a quiet location in the village of Havering-atte-Bower, outskirts of Romford, therefore please consider our location when applying.

Job responsibilities

• TEAM WORKING: To work as part of the nursing team both under supervision and alone. To work as part of the multi-professional team. To participate as a member of the Ward team, attending weekly team meetings and any other meetings as required. To have an understanding of the importance of multi-professional team-working and the ability to promote it within the organisation. To have an understanding and awareness of behaviours and interpersonal skills that are vital to effective team working and practice them at all times. To participate in change and development of practice.
• CLINICAL PRACTICE: To assist individuals with their holistic care needs. To consult and liaise with both the nursing and multi-disciplinary teams to ensure continuity of holistic individual care. To communicate effectively and appropriately with individuals receiving our care and liaise with other professionals involved in their care on behalf of the Ward team. Recognise and report changes in the individual's condition to a registered Nurse. To implement nursing procedures correctly to include the recording of observations, assisting with PEG feeds and performing bladder scanning, ensuring that individual documentation reflects a holistic account of individual interventions. To maintain all clinical records and associated documentation written and electronic in accordance with Saint Francis Hospice policies. To be a reflective practitioner who demonstrates flexibility to the advantage of the team environment.
• COMMUNICATION: Ensure effective communication with individuals and service users. Participate in discussion and ensure effective communication with the wider clinical team when planning and evaluating individual care needs. Attend and actively participate in multidisciplinary team meetings to ensure high quality holistic care for individuals receiving our care and service users.
• EDUCATION OF SELF AND OTHERS: To maintain an awareness of developments in nursing and palliative care. Actively participate in the Saint Francis Hospice reflective practice programme and meet mandatory attendance requirements. Take responsibility for own educational and personal development which will be monitored as part of the annual appraisal review.

Person Specification

• Skills, Abilities, Knowledge: Has the ability to work on own and as part of a team. Flexible approach to team working and an awareness of team dynamics. Has an understanding of the aims and objectives of palliative care. Has an awareness and understanding of confidentiality issues. Demonstrates effective communication skills with individuals in our care, their loved ones and colleagues. Has awareness of current issues within health care settings. Awareness of team working behaviour at all times.
• Other Requirements: Demonstrates insight into own stressors and coping mechanisms. Ability to work flexibly and have a flexible approach to working patterns. Motivated and enthusiastic. Compassionate, sensitive, non-judgemental.

Demonstrating Hospice Values

• Compassionate - we are a caring team, kind to each other and put the needs of individuals and their loved ones at the heart of what we do.
• Collaborative - we value working in partnership across our communities and are proactive about nurturing relationships with our stakeholders.
• Creative - we are forward-thinking, adaptable in our changing world and embrace change and innovative ways of working.

Qualifications

• Basic literacy skills
• NVQ level 3 in Care or equivalent level of previous experience as a Health Care Assistant

Experience

• Has experience of team working.
• Previous palliative care experience.

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.