Job description

Job responsibilities

Healthcare Assistant Job Description

Job title: Healthcare Assistant (HCA)

Purpose of job: The Community Healthcare Assistant supports the delivery of high-quality, person-centred care to palliative and end of life patients in their own homes and community settings under the supervision of a registered nurse.

Location: Lawrence Nurses office and patients own homes.

Key Responsibilities

To provide appropriate clinical support to palliative care patients and their families or carers within their own homes as directed by the Nurse Coordinator on duty. This could include:

Monitoring patients condition and reporting changes to the Nurse Coordinator and Community Nursing Teams where appropriate.

• Supporting with Nutritional needs including helping with feeding when required.
• Washing, dressing and general personal hygiene care
• Supporting the emotional needs of the patient and their family or carer.
• Assist with mobility, transfers and the use of mobility aids, ensuring equipment is used safely and reported if faulty.
• Recognise any changes in the patients condition and report to the Nurse Coordinator.
• Assist with any clinical tasks in accordance with training.
• Provide support to patients with palliative or end of life care needs.
• Maintain accurate, timely and confidential patient records.
• Communicate effectively with patients, relatives, carers and the wider healthcare team.
• Support a safe, clear and concise handover after visits.
• Follow infection prevention and control measures.
• Adhere to safeguarding policies for vulnerable adults.
• To work within professional boundaries, seeking advice as needed.
• To work within the laid down protocols and guidelines to deliver care as specified in the Charitys policies and procedures.
• Demonstrate a commitment to ongoing learning and development and to participate in any training relevant to the role.
• At all times and to all people act as an ambassador of Lawrence Nurses.
• Lawrence Nurses operates a no-smoking policy. The post holder should either be a non-smoker or be prepared not to smoke anywhere when on LN business.
• Adhere to all health and safety and fire regulations and to co-operate with the Charity in maintaining good standards of health and safety.
• Uphold ethical and professional standards and not behave in a manner that is likely to bring the Charity into disrepute.
• Promote and sustain a responsible attitude towards equal opportunities and diversity within the Charity.

This job description is not exhaustive. It merely acts as a guide and may be amended to meet the changing requirements of the Charity at any time after discussion with the post holder.

Please note this role does include both day and night shifts.

Person Specification

Qualifications

Essential

• GCSE grade A to C in English and Math
• Care Certificate

Desirable

• Healthcare qualification such as BTEC or NVQ Level 2 in Health and Social Care

Experience

Essential

• A minimum of two years recent experience in health care.

Desirable

• Recent experience of caring for patients who are palliative or end of life

Other requirements

Essential

• Demonstrate an interest in healthcare development.
• Hold a current and valid driving licence and have access to a vehicle.
• Must be able and willing to support a flexible approach to working patterns and locations.
• Must live within one hour of the office base.

Knowledge and Skills

Essential

• Communicate with people in a diplomatic and tactful manner.
• Ability to work alone in a complex and stressful environment and demonstrate appropriate coping mechanisms.
• Ability to quickly identify and solve problems and take action to address issues.
• Ability to use own initiative and preparedness to seek advice when necessary.
• Ability to use MS Office and Email.

Desirable

• Ability to use Google drive.
• Knowledge of patient electronic records such as EMIS.
• Demonstrates initiative in changing care situations.
• Up to date awareness of the skills and knowledge and competencies required for patients with palliative care needs.

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

Lawrence Nurses

Address

Highlands Day Centre

73 Burford Road

Chipping Norton

Oxfordshire

OX7 5EE

United Kingdom

Employer's website

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

Job description

Job responsibilities

• Provide appropriate clinical support to palliative care patients and their carers within their own homes overnight.
• Work within laid down protocols and guidelines to deliver careas specified in the Charity's policies and procedures.
• To adhere and be professionally accountable to the NMC Code of Professional Conduct and be conversant with the Scope of Professional Practice and other NMC advisory papers.
• To report to the Registered Nurse Manager or in her absence, one of the identified Nursing Coordinators who are available for advice and guidance.
• To communicate and liaise where appropriate with the DN & Community Nursing Teams to receive and provide accurate and timely reports of any changes in the condition of the patient.
• Demonstrate a commitment to ongoing registration requirements or any national professional or occupational standards associated with the role.
• Demonstrate a commitment to ongoing learning and development and to participate in any training relevant to the role.
• At all times and to all people act as an ambassador of Lawrence Nurses.
• Adhere to all health and safety and fire regulations and to co-operate with the Charity in maintaining good standards of health and safety.
• Uphold ethical and professional standards and not behave in a manner that is likely to bring the Charity into disrepute.
• Promote and sustain a responsible attitude towards equal opportunities and diversity within the Charity.
• To actively participate in the support of new nurses.

This job description is not exhaustive. It merely acts as a guide and may be amended to meet the changing requirements of the Charity at any time after discussion with the post holder.

Person Specification

Experience

Essential

• A minimum of two years recent experience in palliative care either in the NHS or other relevant care setting.

Desirable

• Recent experience of working in the community

Qualifications

Essential

• RN Registration Level 1 or Level 2, with relevant post registration qualification, experience e.g. ENB 931or Diploma in Palliative care or be prepared to undertake further study relevant to the post

Desirable

• Degree in Palliative /cancer care or equivalent

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.

UK Registration

Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see NHS Careers website (opens in a new window).

Employer details

Employer name

Lawrence Nurses

Address

Highlands, 73 Burford Road

Chipping Norton

Oxon

OX7 5EE

United Kingdom

Employer's website

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