Job description

Job responsibilities

The post holder will assist the trained nurses in ensuring that patients receive the highest standard of care in a safe and pleasant environment. Working as a member of a designated nursing team the HCA will deliver elements of care safely under the supervision of a trained nurse, treating patients with respect, dignity and kindness, valuing individuality and maintaining confidentiality at all times.

In order to be considered you must have NVQ Level II Care Certificate or equivalent.

Clinical and Professional Responsibilities

• Working under the direct supervision of the registered nurse administers as directed in the patients care plan, basic nursing care to patients in order to meet their fundamental health care needs. This will include nursing duties such as assisting patients to the toilet, washing and bathing, assisting patients to eat and or drink as independently as possible.
• Assist patients with personal care whilst maintaining privacy and dignity at all times
• To be responsible for undertaking some tasks independently without direction and supervision. This will include activities such as making beds and cleaning of equipment.
• Makes accurate records at the point of care using the hospices electronic record and reports relevant information directly to the registered nurse.
• To use and store all equipment safely and correctly in accordance with Hospice and manufacturers instructions, including cleaning of equipment and ensuring batteries in equipment are fully charged, ensuring safety for both patients and staff.
• To attend mandatory training and updates. Ensuring patient safety at all times and that any care given is in line with training received and follows either verbal direction from a registered nurse or is directed via written nursing care plans or multidisciplinary goal setting sheets. This will also include the care and management of those patients who are unable to maintain their own safety because of confusion, cognitive impairment or any sensory deficit.
• Assisting in transferring deceased patients to the relevant areas in the hospice setting. Assisting in giving the deceased last offices respecting their spiritual, cultural and religious needs. Releasing the patient in to the care of the relevant undertakers.
• Ensuring safe custody of patients property.
• Actively participate in the prevention of cross infection, understanding and adopting into practice the principles of infection control in accordance with hospice policy. In addition will assist in the monitoring, storing, and disposal of equipment and hazardous materials in accordance with health and safety guidelines. This will include safe disposal of sharps and soiled linen
• To be responsible for reporting any incident or near miss immediately to the nurse in charge of the ward.
• To communicate appropriately with all members of the multidisciplinary team, other colleagues, patients, relatives and visitors to the ward. Displaying a friendly and approachable manner at all times
• To act in a non-judgemental way and treat each and every patient as an individual, respecting his or her choices, wishes, customs, values and beliefs irrespective of your own ideals and culture

Management responsibilities

• To be aware of the employees responsibility for maintaining a safe working environment, reporting accidents or untoward incidents and potential for risk.
• Acting as an ambassador of Pilgrims Hospices to patients, their families, other health care professionals and members of the public at all times.
• Maintain regular communication and liaison with the line manager as part of delivering an appropriate and high quality service including regular attendance at team meetings.
• Complies with Pilgrims Hospice policies on patient documentation; updates patients records ensuring entries are accurate, relevant, legible and contemporaneous.
• Participation in audits, research and surveys of Pilgrims Hospices services as requested.
• Attend induction programs for new team members, supporting new staff during their induction through mentorship within the community setting.
• Ensures own knowledge is up to date, undertaking mandatory training and attending workshops and training courses for the benefit own continued development and to learn new skills and increase knowledge.
• Work as an effective team member offering support, direction and guidance to team members
• Maintain effective communication within and beyond the immediate team

Measures of Success

• Achievement of a safe, effective environment in which End of Life nursing care is successfully accomplished.
• High level of satisfaction from patients and relatives, low level of adverse comments or complaints.
• Effective understanding and successful implementation of the Hospices policies and procedures
• Uses communication skills to maintain and provide effective and holistic patient care

Communications and Relationships

• To communicate appropriately with all members of the multidisciplinary team, other colleagues, patients, relatives and visitors to the ward. Displaying a friendly and approachable manner at all times
• To communicate effectively and appropriately with patients from diverse backgrounds including different cultures, and those who exhibit challenging behaviour, sensory loss and other difficulties with communication, utilising appropriate aides and tools as required
• To understand the physical and mental health needs of older people who have complex and multiple health issues within the role boundaries
• To involve patients in all care and provide choices whenever possible to help patients maintain optimum independence and a sense of self control
• To ensure any queries raised by patients, families and visitors are responded to in a friendly and sensitive way and directed to the appropriate health care professional if the issue cannot be resolved locally
• Communicates effectively ensuring the relay to the appropriate professional any concerns or wishes expressed by the patient.
• Completes incident reports and also actively encourages and supports team members with this activity. Assists senior nurse manager with incident investigations and provide reports as required by Quality and Governance framework
• Actively participate in the prevention of cross infection, understanding and adopting into practices the principles of infection control in accordance with policy and training.
• To act in a non judgemental way and treat each patient and carer as an individual, respecting his or her choices, wishes, customs, values and beliefs

This Job Description is not exhaustive. This job description is a reflection of the current position and the post holder is expected to view it as a guide rather than an exact description of all duties and responsibilities. It may be subject to variation from time to time. The post holder will be required to undertake any other duties that may be required by the Line Manager, commensurate with the level of the post.

Person Specification

Skills and Abilities

Essential

• - Good communication and organisational skills
• - Working on own initiative with common sense approach
• - Understanding and ability to demonstrate how to care for a patient in a palliative care ward environment
• - Willingness to work unsocial hours including nights regularly or on a permanent basis
• - Car owner or access to suitable transport arrangements to enable to undertake job
• - Flexible approach to working pattern and duties
• - Sensitive, caring and empathetic
• - Confidence to work alone and as part of a team
• - Good communication skills with patients, families, carers and the multi-disciplinary team
• - Excellent documentation skills

Qualifications

Essential

• NVQ in Care Level II Or Care Certficate

Right to work in the UK

Essential

• All candidates must have the right to work in the UK and documentary evidence of proof will be requested as part of the pre-screening process. Pilgrims Hospices does not offer sponsorship to overseas applicants.

Experience

Essential

• Experience of caring for others Previous experience in providing personal care to patients

Desirable

• Palliative / hospice care experience Previous experience in community care

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.

Employer details

Employer name

Pilgrims Hospices in East Kent

Address

Pilgrims Hospice

Hythe Road

Ashford

Kent

TN24 0NE

United Kingdom

Employer's website

https://www.pilgrimshospices.org/jobs (Opens in a new tab)

Job description

Job responsibilities

Undertake person centred holistic assessment in consultation with patients, carers and families identifying symptoms and needs and prescribe appropriate services to enable and empower individuals and enhance psychological, social and spiritual wellbeing.

Engage with and contribute positively to Wellbeing Programmes, facilitating and delivering evidence based group interventions, one to one interventions and activities to improve health and wellbeing.

Evaluating feedback to inform ongoing development and design of the services.

To be fully conversant with Pilgrims Therapy Wellbeing Programmes, and committedto the ongoing evaluation, development and delivery of wellbeing services across theorganisation.

Promote the benefits of Wellbeing Programmes to all hospice patients and theirfamilies, and encourage referrals from the Multidisciplinary Team and external healthand social care colleagues. To engage with patients on the inpatient unit and supportwith patient centred wellbeing interventions.

To be engaged with the discharge process of patients on the inpatient unit,discussing Therapy Centre wellbeing interventions and offering referrals toappropriate groups and programmes.

Apply a range of interpersonal skills in response to the different needs of individuals,using active listening skills and adapting communication to build a rapport withpatients and family members, as well as volunteers and professional colleagues.

Engage with patients and carers via virtual technology and supportive telephone calls

To facilitate support groups and educational sessions in person and via virtualtechnology, including contributing to pre-recorded virtual programmes and sessions.

To support the team in building and maintaining appropriate external partnerships.

To liaise with local community support services and groups.

Engage with and contribute positively to Multidisciplinary Team meetings anddecision making, sharing appropriate information to benefit patient outcomesensuring individual goals are achieved and alerting the Multidisciplinary Team of anyconcerns of crisis or problems arising with a patient or family member.

Recognise and report any changes in psychological, social and spiritual needs of patients and provide appropriate level of psychological support within level of competency, referring to Multidisciplinary team where required.

To work within internal pathways to identify individual needs and refer to professional team members or services, making appropriate recommendations for patient care and liaising with community teams as required.

Contribute positively to providing an effective learning environment for all students on placement at Pilgrims, for new multidisciplinary team staff during their induction period and to support the ongoing development of all members of the wellbeing team

To provide assistance with aspects of personal care and the physical comfort ofpatients e.g. toileting and personal hygiene whilst respecting patients dignity,values and privacy and adhering to infection prevention and control policies.

Demonstrate an understanding of clinical skills when undertaking the assessments of patients and be able to carry out basic observations such as blood pressure, pulse, saturation and temperature if required.

Promote support and contribute to a high standard of care, including awareness and understanding of safeguarding.

To employ a range of skills, techniques and resources to enable and empower patients with communication difficulties.

Create a safe environment for patients and staff, undertaking risk assessment and completing incident reports where necessary.

Take decisive and remedial action when faced with a complex or demanding situation to ensure the safety of patients,, families or volunteers and communicate these actions with appropriate team members and external professionals.

Keep clear and accurate patient records in accordance with Pilgrims clinical recordkeeping guidance.

To support the service by undertaking administrative duties where required.

Maintain continued personal development, participating in education and mandatorytraining and working effectively to meet personal development plan objectives andknowledge and skills as set out within the competence framework.

Be prepared to work across all three hospice sites as required to maintain continueddelivery of service.

Support and work with the Education team with events and local communityknowledge, developing resources to benefit all patients, carers and family members

Pilgrims is fully committed to equality in employment and service delivery and all thoseworking for Pilgrims Hospices are expected to actively promote equality and diversityin all aspects of their work

Person Specification

Experience

Essential

• Experience of working in a multidisciplinary care setting

Desirable

• Experience of working with volunteers
• Experience of leading a small group in activities

Qualifications

Essential

• A good standard of secondary education, including a minimum
• of grade C in Maths and English GCSEs

Desirable

• NVQ Level 2 & 3 in Health and Social Care
• Further relevant qualifications in therapeutic support

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.

Employer details

Employer name

Pilgrims Hospices in East Kent

Address

Pilgrims Hospice Thanet

Ramsgate Road

Margate

Kent

CT9 4AD

United Kingdom

Employer's website

https://www.pilgrimshospices.org/jobs (Opens in a new tab)

Job description

Job responsibilities

The post holder will assist the trained nurses in ensuring that patients receive the highest standard of care in a safe and pleasant environment. Working as a member of a designated nursing team the HCA will deliver elements of care safely under the supervision of a trained nurse, treating patients with respect, dignity and kindness, valuing individuality and maintaining confidentiality at all times.

In order to be considered you must have NVQ Level II Care Certificate or equivalent.

Clinical and Professional Responsibilities

• Working under the direct supervision of the registered nurse administers as directed in the patients care plan, basic nursing care to patients in order to meet their fundamental health care needs. This will include nursing duties such as assisting patients to the toilet, washing and bathing, assisting patients to eat and or drink as independently as possible.
• Assist patients with personal care whilst maintaining privacy and dignity at all times
• To be responsible for undertaking some tasks independently without direction and supervision. This will include activities such as making beds and cleaning of equipment.
• Makes accurate records at the point of care using the hospices electronic record and reports relevant information directly to the registered nurse.
• To use and store all equipment safely and correctly in accordance with Hospice and manufacturers instructions, including cleaning of equipment and ensuring batteries in equipment are fully charged, ensuring safety for both patients and staff.
• To attend mandatory training and updates. Ensuring patient safety at all times and that any care given is in line with training received and follows either verbal direction from a registered nurse or is directed via written nursing care plans or multidisciplinary goal setting sheets. This will also include the care and management of those patients who are unable to maintain their own safety because of confusion, cognitive impairment or any sensory deficit.
• Assisting in transferring deceased patients to the relevant areas in the hospice setting. Assisting in giving the deceased last offices respecting their spiritual, cultural and religious needs. Releasing the patient in to the care of the relevant undertakers.
• Ensuring safe custody of patients property.
• Actively participate in the prevention of cross infection, understanding and adopting into practice the principles of infection control in accordance with hospice policy. In addition will assist in the monitoring, storing, and disposal of equipment and hazardous materials in accordance with health and safety guidelines. This will include safe disposal of sharps and soiled linen
• To be responsible for reporting any incident or near miss immediately to the nurse in charge of the ward.
• To communicate appropriately with all members of the multidisciplinary team, other colleagues, patients, relatives and visitors to the ward. Displaying a friendly and approachable manner at all times
• To act in a non-judgemental way and treat each and every patient as an individual, respecting his or her choices, wishes, customs, values and beliefs irrespective of your own ideals and culture

Management responsibilities

• To be aware of the employees responsibility for maintaining a safe working environment, reporting accidents or untoward incidents and potential for risk.
• Acting as an ambassador of Pilgrims Hospices to patients, their families, other health care professionals and members of the public at all times.
• Maintain regular communication and liaison with the line manager as part of delivering an appropriate and high quality service including regular attendance at team meetings.
• Complies with Pilgrims Hospice policies on patient documentation; updates patients records ensuring entries are accurate, relevant, legible and contemporaneous.
• Participation in audits, research and surveys of Pilgrims Hospices services as requested.
• Attend induction programs for new team members, supporting new staff during their induction through mentorship within the community setting.
• Ensures own knowledge is up to date, undertaking mandatory training and attending workshops and training courses for the benefit own continued development and to learn new skills and increase knowledge.
• Work as an effective team member offering support, direction and guidance to team members
• Maintain effective communication within and beyond the immediate team

Measures of Success

• Achievement of a safe, effective environment in which End of Life nursing care is successfully accomplished.
• High level of satisfaction from patients and relatives, low level of adverse comments or complaints.
• Effective understanding and successful implementation of the Hospices policies and procedures
• Uses communication skills to maintain and provide effective and holistic patient care

Communications and Relationships

• To communicate appropriately with all members of the multidisciplinary team, other colleagues, patients, relatives and visitors to the ward. Displaying a friendly and approachable manner at all times
• To communicate effectively and appropriately with patients from diverse backgrounds including different cultures, and those who exhibit challenging behaviour, sensory loss and other difficulties with communication, utilising appropriate aides and tools as required
• To understand the physical and mental health needs of older people who have complex and multiple health issues within the role boundaries
• To involve patients in all care and provide choices whenever possible to help patients maintain optimum independence and a sense of self control
• To ensure any queries raised by patients, families and visitors are responded to in a friendly and sensitive way and directed to the appropriate health care professional if the issue cannot be resolved locally
• Communicates effectively ensuring the relay to the appropriate professional any concerns or wishes expressed by the patient.
• Completes incident reports and also actively encourages and supports team members with this activity. Assists senior nurse manager with incident investigations and provide reports as required by Quality and Governance framework
• Actively participate in the prevention of cross infection, understanding and adopting into practices the principles of infection control in accordance with policy and training.
• To act in a non judgemental way and treat each patient and carer as an individual, respecting his or her choices, wishes, customs, values and beliefs

This Job Description is not exhaustive. This job description is a reflection of the current position and the post holder is expected to view it as a guide rather than an exact description of all duties and responsibilities. It may be subject to variation from time to time. The post holder will be required to undertake any other duties that may be required by the Line Manager, commensurate with the level of the post.

Person Specification

Skills and Abilities

Essential

• - Good communication and organisational skills
• - Working on own initiative with common sense approach
• - Understanding and ability to demonstrate how to care for a patient in a palliative care ward environment
• - Willingness to work unsocial hours including nights regularly or on a permanent basis
• - Car owner or access to suitable transport arrangements to enable to undertake job
• - Flexible approach to working pattern and duties
• - Sensitive, caring and empathetic
• - Confidence to work alone and as part of a team
• - Good communication skills with patients, families, carers and the multi-disciplinary team
• - Excellent documentation skills

Qualifications

Essential

• NVQ in Care Level II Or Care Certficate

Right to work in the UK

Essential

• All candidates must have the right to work in the UK and documentary evidence of proof will be requested as part of the pre-screening process. Pilgrims Hospices does not offer sponsorship to overseas applicants.

Experience

Essential

• Experience of caring for others Previous experience in providing personal care to patients

Desirable

• Palliative / hospice care experience Previous experience in community care

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.

Employer details

Employer name

Pilgrims Hospices in East Kent

Address

Pilgrims Hospice Ashford

Hythe Road

Ashford

Kent

TN24 0NE

United Kingdom

Employer's website

https://www.pilgrimshospices.org/jobs (Opens in a new tab)