Health Care Support Worker

The right candidate will possess excellent communication and organisational skills, a motivation for continual learning and sharing of knowledge, with the drive to ensure our patients receive the highest possible standard of care. You will work as part of a supportive multidisciplinary team in a community setting, where opportunities exist to develop palliative care expertise. This role will be full time or part time, working days and nights.

Principal Duties & Responsibilities

• To perform aspects of physical care of patients as required.
• To maintain a caring environment by offering support to the patient and their family.
• To supervise and occasionally help patients to self‑administer their prescribed medication, after training and competency has been demonstrated.
• To ensure medication is stored safely.
• To observe and report any change in the patient’s condition to the appropriate Health Care Professional.
• To report any accident or incident involving the patient or carer to the appropriate Health Care Professional.
• To work within the guidelines of the Douglas Macmillan Hospice policies and procedures.
• To deliver patient care in accordance with the care plan and ensure accurate and up‑to‑date documentation is maintained either in written notes or on computer records.
• Establish and maintain good relationships with the patient, carers and all health care professionals.
• To identify personal training needs and attend relevant in‑service education programmes.
• To ensure patient confidentiality is always maintained and information obtained during the course of employment is not released to anyone other than those acting in an official capacity.

Secondary Duties & Responsibilities

• To provide patient‑centred, enablement‑focused support to each individual, supporting them to achieve their goals and engage in a treatment/support programme to work towards mutually agreed goals with particular emphasis on adaptation to illness and developing self‑management strategies.
• To work as an integral part of the multidisciplinary team, ensuring that the needs of patients and carers are identified within a holistic framework, fostering an interdisciplinary approach to rehabilitation.
• Attend mandatory training on principles and core elements of palliative care.
• Provide evidence of palliative care practice in appraisal, relevant to role and responsibilities.

Qualifications & Experience

• NVQ/QCF Level 2 in Health and Social Care or equivalent (A)
• Valid full driving licence with access to a suitable vehicle for business purposes (A)
• NVQ/QCF Level 3 in Health and Social Care (or willing to work towards) (A)
• Certificate in Palliative Care (Accredited post 2008) (A)
• Experience of working indirectly supervised (A/I)
• Experience of supporting patients/families at the end of life (I)
• Palliative care or other relevant healthcare experience (A/I)
• Community healthcare experience (A)
• Ability to carry out aspects of physical care as directed (A/I)
• Must have excellent communication skills, both written and verbal (A/I)
• Ability to observe changes and report (I)
• Ability to prioritise care needs for individual patients (A/I)
• Ability to record records electronically (A)
• IT skills including Microsoft Office Suite (Word, Excel, Outlook and PowerPoint) (A)
• Ability to work unsupervised (A/I)
• Ability to establish and maintain good relationships with patients, carers and members of the multi‑disciplinary team within the hospice and with external agencies (A/I)
• Display a caring disposition (I)
• Flexible working to meet shift requirements
• Advanced IT skills including Microsoft Office Suite (Excel, PowerPoint)
• Working knowledge of electronic patient records
• To be agile and adaptable to change (A)

Benefits

Competitive salary and benefits package, including a contributory pension scheme, generous holiday allowance, funded study, free parking, Paycare and much.

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