Bank Health Care Assistant

Our Health Care Assistants work on our Inpatient Unit (IPU), and work closely with our professional nursing team, providing exceptional standards of individualised physical, psychological and spiritual care to patients in IPU and at times supporting our community patients at home, as directed by the Registered Nurse. This role requires you to carry out duties according to the philosophy of the Hospice, complying at all times with policies relating to safeguarding of vulnerable adults and children whilst maintaining confidentiality of patients and their families.

Working at The Hospice of St Francis means working in a passionate, supportive team environment with care at the heart of all we do.

• To work predominantly within the inpatient unit (IPU) with flexibility to work across community as service requires.
• To work as a part of the Hospice multidisciplinary team to provide exceptional standards of individualised, holistic care to patients on IPU under the guidance and direction of the registered nurse.
• When required to support guests in the Respite for Good beds, assisting with care and social needs as necessary.
• Maintain accurate record keeping and clear handover to colleagues, recognising when to escalate concerns to nursing team.
• Flexibility to work a variety of shifts, including long days, short shifts and night shifts.
• Work closely with Hospice volunteers, supporting their valuable role within the IPU.

The Hospice of St Francis is a charity which helps 2,000 local people and their families, in Hertfordshire and Buckinghamshire, to live their precious lives well. Improving symptoms, achieving personal goals and helping them to feel safe. Defined by each person's need, our free care for people managing, or recovering from, serious illness has many forms: care at the Hospice, at Home, or in our Health and Wellbeing Centre which offers courses, workshops, clinics and therapies.

• To work mainly within IPU with a degree of flexibility to support community as and when required.
• Work alongside professionals to provide exceptional standards of individualised physical, psychological and spiritual care to patients in IPU and at home, as directed by Registered Nurse.
• Carry out duties according to the philosophy of the Hospice complying at all times with policies relating to safeguarding of vulnerable adults and children whilst maintaining confidentiality of patients and their families.
• Represent the organisation and uphold the organisations reputation and values.
• To support the organisations income generation activity.

• Empathetic with good communication skills; able to listen and respond in a sensitive and appropriate manner.
• You will be sensitive in your approach and care for patients with a life limiting illness and their families.
• Resilience to deal with difficult and emotional patients and families in complex situations.

• The role includes the frequent moving and handling of patients within the guidelines of the Hospices moving and handling policy.
• The post holder will come into contact with recently bereaved families.
• Ability to focus and concentrate for long periods, over the course of long day shifts and long nights.
• The role requires you to be on your feet for long periods of time.

• Understand and comply with all Health and Safety, Fire and Infection Control regulations.
• Complete all mandatory training and ensure compliance of direct reports and contractors.
• Report any accidents or incidents as per policy, escalating to nurse in charge.
• Adhere to standards required with regard to infection prevention and control.

• Act in a manner at all times to safeguard the interests of individual patients/clients and their families and justify public trust and confidence in the Hospice of St Francis.
• Adhere to the Hospices safeguarding of adults and children policy, escalating all concerns as identified on safeguarding flow chart.
• Keep up to date with the Hospices mandatory safeguarding training.

• Ability to recognise concern and escalate as appropriate.
• A proactive approach to work and problem solving.
• Competent to understand your role boundaries and limits of knowledge and experience and work within these.
• Able to work under own initiative.

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.

£12.21 an hour Band 3 £23,875 p.a. FTE / £12.21 per hour plus enhancements.