Healthcare Assistant (SMH Band 2) Maternity Cover- IPU in Basingstoke

We have an exciting opportunity for a Healthcare Assistant to join our wonderful team on the Inpatient Unit to cover maternity leave. To apply, you must be enthusiastic, flexible, and have a passion for palliative and end of life care, have excellent communication skills and be a good team player.

Main duties of the job

The successful applicant will be part of a multi-disciplinary team, working under the direction of a registered nurse, delivering high quality, holistic patient care to patients and families accessing our Inpatient Unit. You will have access to a range of training and development opportunities and be welcomed as a valued member of an experienced and supportive team.

St. Michaels Hospice is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of vulnerable adults, children and young people. All staff are expected to share this commitment. Successful candidates will be required to undergo relevant background checks, including a DBS check and provide satisfactory references before starting the role.

About us

St. Michaels Hospice is a registered charity providing specialist palliative and end of life care services since 1992, for the people of North Hampshire. We are dedicated to providing care to people throughout North Hampshire who are affected by life limiting illness to attain the highest possible quality of life by providing a choice of specialist care and support.

We offer a competitive salary with attractive benefits, including free parking, life assurance, 27 days annual leave plus bank holidays, and an extensive health and wellbeing plan and company pension.

Job responsibilities

• To work under the direction of a registered nurse both independently and as part of a Multi-Disciplinary Team.
• You will support the nursing team in the delivery of direct patient care with the aim of providing high quality, holistic, palliative and end of life care to patients and their families.
• You will actively engage with colleagues, patients, patients' families and carers, volunteers and visitors.
• The post will involve internal rotation on day and night duty.

Clinical

• Contribute to multi-professional working and support the nursing team in the delivery of patient care within the In-Patient Unit.
• Anticipate and respond to changing patient needs whilst maintaining their independence, privacy and dignity.
• Understand and promote infection control practices and policies.
• Assist in the implementation and delivery of patient care under the supervision and direction of a qualified nurse.
• Ensure the rights of patients are adhered to and that care choices are consented to.
• Assist, as necessary, to ensure the nutritional intake of a patient is maintained.
• Following the patient's care plan, observe patients' condition and report observations/changes to a registered nurse.
• Update relevant documentation as required (both paper and electronic records).
• Provide support and information to patients, patients' families or carers and to colleagues, as appropriate and within the boundaries of your role, skills and knowledge allows.
• Be responsible and accountable for the standard of care given.
• Follow guidelines for safe systems at work and nursing procedures and maintain a safe working environment.
• Participate in and contribute to service development, evaluation and changes.

Learning and Development

• Positively commit to annual staff appraisals and regular performance/competencies reviews to ensure personal professional development.
• Participate in educational programmes and specifically attend teaching identified to meet your development aims and objectives.
• Engage in reflective practice and assessment of professional competencies.
• Completion of the Care Certificate programme provided by the Hospice within required timescales.
• Undertake all statutory and mandatory training, as required.

Professional

• Work to maintain the values, vision and aims of St. Michaels Hospice.
• Practice and always promote patient confidentiality.
• Maintain accurate and timely documentation.
• Practice safely, within hospice policies, procedures and guidelines.
• Demonstrate efficient time management and flexible attitude to working patterns.
• Participate in agreed methods of off duty rota, working flexibly to provide a 24-hour, 7 day a week service for patients.
• Work within the limits of your own competency and responsibility and refer areas that are outside of your competency to a registered nurse.
• Participate in any necessary training and updates required for the role.
• Treat everyone with respect and dignity.

Communication

• Communicate effectively within your team, and the wider Multi-Disciplinary Team, the care needs of the patients and families within your workload.
• Communicate respectfully in an open, accurate, straightforward and confidential way with colleagues across the organisation.
• Verbally alert the nurse in charge to any urgent, sensitive matters, or matters outside your role and competency or escalate to the appropriate level, if appropriate.

General Responsibilities

• Work to maintain the values, vision and aims of St. Michaels Hospice.

Additional Duties

• In discussion with the line manager to undertake work, as and when required, in support of St. Michaels Hospice as an organisation.

Public Relations

• To represent St. Michaels Hospice in the community and public domain, including social media, appropriately.
• Undertake all statutory and mandatory training, as required.
• Be responsible for upholding and promoting St. Michaels Hospice safeguarding policies, ensuring the safety and well-being of all individuals, and promptly reporting any concerns or incidents in accordance with established procedures.

This is an outline job description and may be subject to change, according to the needs of the service, in consultation with the post holder. Take responsibility for your own personal safety and of others whilst at work. You will take appropriate action or report any concerns to address any health and safety issues that you or members of your team may be aware of.

Person Specification

• Qualifications: Care Certificate or willingness to work towards it. NVQ level 2 or willingness to work towards it.
• Experience: Experience of working in a healthcare environment. Experience of working effectively in a multi-disciplinary team. Understanding of the nature of palliative care. Experience of working with end of life patients in a generalist or an acute environment. Demonstrate a flexible and adaptable approach. Able to work as part of a team. Efficient time management. Respectful and supportive of all colleagues. Professional, friendly and positive nature.
• Other requirements: Be physically able to undertake all nursing duties and responsibilities. Able to undertake full internal rotation of shifts.
• Skills, Knowledge, Abilities: Good verbal and written communication skills. Basic IT skills. Able to take initiative. Be able to reflect upon knowledge and skills. Able to encourage and enhance performance in others. Ability to measure and record blood pressure, oxygen saturation, temperature, pulse and monitor fluid balance and show understanding of these measurements. Escalate when necessary. Blood sugar monitoring under the guidance of a trained nurse.

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.