Zest Care Assistant in Ipswich

This is a fantastic opportunity to join St Elizabeth Hospice, your local hospice at the heart of the community, and to be part of the Zest Young Adult service during an exciting period of expansion. We are looking to increase the support we offer to young people living with progressive illness and complex health care needs through extending our respite services and are looking for enthusiastic Care Assistants to provide holistic, person-centred care and support.

St Elizabeth Hospice is an independent charity and hospice, which improves life for people in the East Suffolk, Great Yarmouth and Waveney areas living with a progressive or life-limiting illness. Rated ‘Outstanding’ from the Care Quality Commission, our work is centred on an individual’s needs, which means specialist support, whenever and wherever it is needed, whether at home, in the community or at the hospice. We are well respected and praised for our responsiveness and expertise by people we serve.

Established in 1989, the hospice has built a reputation for delivering high-level care to patients and the community it serves. Through medicine and therapy, they ease pain; give life purpose and make life liveable. Last year the charity supported over 4,000 patients and their families.

If you have a passion for caring and are interested in making a real difference to patients and their families, come and join the outstanding St Elizabeth Hospice team.

Our ideal candidate will have NVQ level II or III in direct care, a Care Certificate or willingness to complete. Training will be provided to ensure you are competent and confident to support young adults with complex care needs.

The role offers the unique opportunity to work alongside our outstanding multi-disciplinary team, supporting young adults using person-centred care to achieve their goals and maximising opportunities to increase independence, try new experiences, have fun and socialise with others. This may include inclusive activities at the hospice and outings into the community.

St Elizabeth Hospice is an innovative and compassionate organisation. Hear from Care Assistants themselves on why working at St Elizabeth Hospice is so special:

• “Joining the hospice is the best thing that has ever happened to me, and I can’t imagine working anywhere else, it’s a very special place to be and to work.”
• “Many people have said it must be very sad to work at the hospice, which it can be, but it is also the most uplifting and positive place that I have ever worked.”
• “I wouldn’t change my job for the world. Being able to continue supporting people during difficult times in their lives, has been one of the most rewarding and proudest moments in my career.”

St Elizabeth Hospice is committed to safeguarding and protecting the adults and young people that we work with and has a zero-tolerance approach to abuse, neglect and discrimination of any person. As such, all posts are subject to a rigorous safer recruitment process, including the disclosure of criminal records and vetting checks. We have a range of robust safeguarding policies in place which promote safeguarding across the hospice and staff are expected to undertake regular, mandatory safeguarding training to equip them with the knowledge and skills to identify and respond to potential risks.

Salary WTE: £25,760.00 to £27,476.00 (based on experience and 37.5 hour per week) – Band 3

Hours: Variety of hours available, with large proportion at weekends.

The hospice offers a generous benefit package, including:

• 27 days annual leave entitlement
• Life Cover
• Cycle to Work Scheme
• Car Leasing Scheme
• Health Service Discounts
• Occupational Sick Pay
• Blue Light Card
• Employee Assistance Programme

For more details about this role please read the job description and person specification. Applicants selected for interview will be contacted, and an invitation to interview will be sent by email. If applying, please keep a check on your emails including your spam/junk folders.