Healthcare assistant (palliative care)

Company: NHS
Apply for the Healthcare assistant (palliative care)
Location: Rochester
Job Description:

  • Are you interested in working in a challenging, supportive and rewarding environment?
  • Have you got what it takes to support our clinical team in providing holistic care for palliative and end of life patients?
  • Do you have compassion, resilience and a strong work ethic?

If you answered yes, we’ve got the perfect role for you!

We are looking for a caring, resilient and hardworking individual, with a strong work ethic, to join our inpatient team at the Wisdom Hospice. You will be responsible for providing personal care and assisting in supporting the physical and psychosocial needs of patients and their families. This role will also involve providing care for patients after death.

The role will involve night duties and weekend working, on a rotational basis.

We would encourage people not to apply at this time if they have been bereaved within the past 12 months.

Main duties of the job

We are looking for a caring, resilient and hardworking individual to join our team. You will be responsible for providing personal care and assisting in supporting the physical and psychosocial needs of patients and their families. You will also assist the registered nurse to deliver holistic palliative nursing care to patients on the ward and support to their carers. The post-holder will work with registered nurses in essential patient care, and perform all duties as identified and supervised by the registered nurses.

About us

So what else?

  • This is your chance to join a progressive and innovative service in a social enterprise that is patient and staff focused – you’ll even have the opportunity to become an MCH shareholder.
  • We encourage staff to get involved in exploring new ways of working and service development.
  • We’ll provide well established, in-service training, one to one supervision, and appraisals with regular support.
  • You’ll be able to develop your skills in a friendly and supportive team.
  • Previous applicants need not apply.

Would you like to work flexibly?In the NHS, we are reminded everyday of how important life is. As a flexible working friendly organisation, we want to be sure that you can work in a way that is best for us, for our patients and for you. Speak to us about how we might be able to accommodate a flexible working arrangement which will not mean sacrificing time for personal interests or family commitments. We aim to support you to work flexibly in a way that will suit you and us.

The small print

  • Informal visits can be arranged on request.
  • We will offer you the choice of two pension schemes; the NHS Pension scheme and the scottish widows group pension scheme.
  • MCH encourages all staff to be double COVID vaccinated to protect themselves, their colleagues, their family and their patients.

Job responsibilities

  • Communication and relationship skills

Internal

With all members of the Hospice multi-disciplinary team in assisting the planning, implementing and evaluating patient care.

With patients, families and visitors, providing active listening and supportive care in helping to guide them through the dying process

External

With other healthcare / allied healthcare professionals. To provide and receive routine information. Which will require empathy, fact or persuasive skills or where there are barriers to understanding?

  • Knowledge, training and experience
  • It is a requirement of this role to complete the Care Certificate in the first 5 months of your employment if you do not have previous health and/or social care experience. If you do have experience, you will be required to complete a self‑assessment skill as part of your local induction.
  • Appreciation of the principles of Palliative Care.
  • NVQ Level 2 or equivalent experience
  • Knowledge of personal care and related procedures
  • Experience of working with or caring for people with advanced illness
  • Good interpersonal skills
  • Ability to work with emotionally distressed people and unpredictable situations
  • Ability to use own discretion and initiative in complex situations.
  • Analytical and judgement skills
  • To observe and monitor the progress of the patient, in order to contribute to the process of evaluating care and to maintain patient records and care plan
  • Provide and receive routine information, which will require empathy, tact or persuasive skills where there are barriers to understanding.
  • Planning and organisational skills
  • To deliver basic nursing care in line with the patients care plan, organising own day to day work tasks under supervision, reporting back to registered nurse as required.
  • To participate in internal rotation within the unit working all shift patterns
  • Physical skills
  • The job holder will provide personal care duties to patients, this will include developing the use of physical skills i.e. manoeuvring wheelchairs, beds, and trolleys and using hoists.
  • Responsible for the safe use of equipment and maintaining stock orders on the ward
  • To assist fully qualified nurses with on‑site security of unit out of hours and to contribute to activities that ensures the safety of the physical environment of the ward for staff, patients and visitors.
  • Responsibility for patient / client care
  • To provide supportive care to patients and their carers throughout the patients disease and dying process
  • To perform last offices and transfer of deceased patients to mortuary, to ensure the philosophy of the Hospice is respected and upheld.
  • To assist trained staff in the role of Link Nurse for a specific area of patient care in line with the Essence of care.
  • Responsibility for policy and service development implementation
  • To be aware of and provide care in line with the code of Caldicott and Data Protection regarding patient information and be aware and follow local and relevant organisation policies that ensure safe practice and effective delivery of care.
  • To attend regular clinical supervision provided for clinical PCT staff and assist with advice to new and agency staff.
  • Responsibilities for financial and physical resources
  • Responsible for the safe use of equipment.
  • Maintaining stock orders under the direction of the ward manager
  • To be aware of cost implications of stock usage
  • Responsibilities for human resources (HR)
  • To adhere to PCT policies
  • To attend regular clinical supervision provided for clinical PCT staff.
  • Responsibilities for information resources
  • To adhere to CALDICOTT Data Protection
  • Responsibilities for research and development (R&D)
  • To assist in audits and changes in service department as necessary
  • Freedom to act
  • Work within environment under guidance and supervision of senior staff

Person Specification

  • NVQ level 2 or Care Certificate
  • Passes in English and Mathematics at GCSE level or equivalent
  • Working towards NVQ3 or relevant qualification

Experience

  • Significant experience in a relevant health or social care setting
  • Demonstrable experience in working in a complex or emotive environment
  • Experience in working with patients with life‑limiting illness
  • Experience in a Hospice setting

Knowledge and aptitude for role

  • Supporting statement demonstrates enthusiasm, an understanding of the nature of the role and an aptitude for same
  • Supporting statement demonstrates an empathetic approach to patient care
  • Supporting statement demonstrates originality and evidences personal attributes
  • Awareness of palliative care delivery and systems
  • Demonstrable awareness and understanding of impact of life‑limiting illness on families and carers

MCH values

  • MCH values

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.

Clinical Lead for Palliative Care Services

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Posted: July 6th, 2026