Healthcare Assistant

Job summary

Hospice at Home Team at Trinity Hospice requires a Healthcare Assistant to provide flexible provision of the service 7 days per week 9pm 8am

At Trinity Hospice, we support people to live as well as possible during the last year of life, surrounded by the people, comforts and familiarity of home. We are looking for a caring, compassionate and dedicated Healthcare Assistant to join our Hospice at Home team, helping deliver exceptional end of life care to patients and their families across the community.

The role is working 35 hours per week.

As a Healthcare Assistant within our Hospice at Home Service, you will work alongside Registered Nurses and other healthcare professionals to provide practical, emotional and psychological support to patients whose preferred place of care is home. You will play an important role in helping patients remain comfortable, safe and supported while ensuring families and carers receive guidance, reassurance and compassionate care throughout their journey.

No two days are the same. You will provide hands-on personal care, support symptom management under the direction of registered professionals, contribute to care planning and work closely with GPs, District Nurses and wider community teams to ensure patients receive coordinated, person-centred care.

Main duties of the job

What You'll Be Doing

• Providing high-quality personal care and emotional support to patients in their own homes.
• Supporting patients and families during the last year of life.
• Working alongside Registered Nurses to help manage symptoms and maintain comfort.
• Communicating effectively with healthcare professionals to ensure seamless care.
• Participating in multidisciplinary team working and patient handovers.
• Supporting relatives and carers as patients approach the end of life.
• Providing care after death and supporting families sensitively and compassionately.
• Maintaining accurate documentation and contributing to the delivery of safe, high-quality care.

About us

What We're Looking For

We are seeking someone who is:

• Compassionate, kind and patient-focused.
• Calm and professional in sensitive situations.
• An excellent communicator with strong interpersonal skills.
• Able to work effectively as part of a multidisciplinary team.
• Organised, reliable and committed to high standards of care.
• Passionate about making a meaningful difference to patients and families.

Why Join Trinity Hospice?

This is a truly rewarding opportunity to support people at one of the most significant times in their lives. You'll become part of a dedicated and supportive team that shares a commitment to excellence, compassion and dignity in end of life care.

We are committed to supporting your development through ongoing training, learning opportunities and annual personal development reviews, helping you build specialist skills within palliative and end of life care.

The service operates flexibly across a 24-hour rota to meet the needs of patients and families, offering a varied and fulfilling role within a highly respected hospice service.

If you are passionate about delivering outstanding care and want to make a genuine difference every day, we'd love to hear from you.

Join Trinity Hospice and help bring specialist hospice care into the homes of those who need it most.

Job responsibilities

1. To work alongside RGN in a patient’s home environment, to facilitate care and support for patients and their families who are entering the last year of life

2. To provide practical personnel care and psychological and emotional support

3. To support the management of symptoms associated with the end of life phase in partnership with the RGN, this involves the checking of medication

4. Be fully aware and comply with all Trinity Hospice and Palliative Care Services policies and procedures.

5. To maintain a high standard of patient care ensuring policies and procedures are adhered to.

6. To develop and maintain specialist skills in all aspects of palliative care relevant to the role.

7. Accommodate a flexible work shift pattern, covering a 24 hour rota as a need arises, and during quite periods of community work on the inpatient unit.

8. To work effectively and efficiently alongside community based healthcare professionals (GPs, DNs / CMs.)

9. To share responsibility with the community based healthcare professionals for planning, implementing and evaluating the total care of patients and their families.

10. To monitor the community care plan and give individualised patient care

11. To effectively and accurately communicate information related to care management and the patient condition to the Trinity hospice at home Team and Community Healthcare Professional team.

12. Participate in Multidisciplinary Team working and participate in handover of care from nights to days

13. To professionally and compassionately support family/ carers as patients condition deteriorates and death may be imminent.

14. To provide last offices after death of patient.

15. To provide support and information to families and carers after patient death.

16. To communicate and liaise effectively with Funeral Home staff to facilitate dignified transition of patient to Funeral Home.

17. To ensure correct use and due economy is made of equipment and resources.

18. To ensure all documentation is completed in an accurate and timely manner.

19. To ensure Trinity Community Nursing service is represented in a professional and compassionate manner.

GENERAL RESPONSIBILITIES:

20. To undertake all mandatory training as required by Trinity Hospice and Palliative Care services and participate in appropriate in-service training as and when required.

20. Maintain the strict confidentiality of all information acquired especially with regard to patients and staff.

21. To undertake appraisal and personal development review annually and through self development, continuously update and improve knowledge and competencies.

22. Attend 62% of staff meetings

23. To be a co-operative and supportive member of the Hospice at Home Team ensuring that all members are aware of any issues in the post holders workload, which may affect other team members.

24. To take responsibility for being up to date with current policies and procedures and adhere to these.

24. Cooperate fully in the introduction of any new technology and new methods as appropriate.

25. To promote at all times the Hospice philosophy and uphold Trinity’s core values.

26. Promote best practice in relation to Health and Safety.

27. Any other duties that may be reasonably requested.

Person specification

Knowledge, Skills & Abilities

Essential

• Able to communicate well verbally and in writing
• Ability to follow instructions
• Basic IT skills including Word (e.g. able to log-in, use email, check calendars etc., and log out)
• Able to physically carry out duties of this role (see Job Description)
• Able to follow instructions and also use own initiative
• Willingness to learn new tasks, procedures or methods

Personal Attributes

Essential

• Pleasant, warm personality with a kind and sympathetic attitude
• Self motivated
• Demonstrate a commitment to caring for people
• Ability to adjust to change
• Flexibility regarding working rota
• UK Driving license and access to car
• Commitment to the vision, values and objectives of Trinity Hospice
• Ability to work unsociable hours

Qualifications

Essential

• English language GCSE Grade C or above or Equivalent
• NVQ 2 or equivalent experience

Desirable

• ECDL or other basic IT competency qualification

Experience

Essential

• Three years experience in health care setting
• Have ability to establish good working relationships and works well in a team

Desirable

• Community experience