JOB DESCRIPTION
POST:Hospice at Home Health Care Assistant
HOURS:37.5 hours per week to include weekends
RESPONSIBLE TO:Team Leader – Hospice at Home
ACCOUNTABLE TO:Community Services Nursing Manager/
Care Director
JOB SUMMARY
The Hospice at Home Health Care Assistant will be one of a team, providing nursing care and support to the patient and carer within various care environments, including the patient’s own home and St Richards Hospice In-patient Unit. The post involves predominantly lone working during both day and night.
The Health Care Assistant will work as part of the Hospice Team and liaise closely with all other agencies involved in the care of patients in the community and the In-patient Unit with life threatening illnesses. Team members will be trained and supported by St Richard's Hospice.
Individuals will need to demonstrate their ability to work both alone and as a member of a team and have a flexible approach to the variety of jobs they will need to undertake.
- OVERALL AIMS OF THE POST
To work as a Health Care Assistant in the patient’s own home, nursing and residential homes and the In-patient Unit, enhancing care that is already provided.
To provide basic nursing care.
To be flexible and understanding to the needs of the patient and their family/carers giving emotional and psychological support as appropriate.
- INDIVIDUAL RESPONSIBILITIES
To demonstrate a high standard of nursing care.
To manage own time and allocated workload
To have an understanding of, and be able to work within the philosophy of palliative and end of lifecare.
To give practical help and advice to the bereaved.
To work collaboratively with the multi-disciplinary team and volunteers
At all times maintain confidentiality with regard to patients, relatives/ carers and other staff, abiding by St Richard’s Hospice Confidentiality Policy.
To keep clear and legible patient/other records as necessary and use IT systems as appropriate, updating journal entries, tasks and all referral processes.
To work within clear guidelines and not work outside own personal boundaries.
To report accidents/incidents/potential risks to Line Managerimmediately.
At all times act as an ambassador for St Richard's Hospice to patients, relatives, colleagues and members of the public.
At all times to work within St Richard’s Hospice policies, including Lone Working Policy.
To adopt the role of ‘active listener’.
To flag up concerns and relay these concerns to the Team Leader, District Nurse, and General Practitioner and Community Nurse Specialist.
To promote the development of Hospice at Home by actively seeking feedback by using relevant feedback systems.
To support the team by being flexible in shift patterns.
To identify/ assess changing needs update Hospice at Home template and other systems
To update co-ordinators, triage, Community Nurse Specialist, District Nurse, General Practitioner and Out of Hours Service of changing needs.
- EDUCATION
- To achieve competence in clinical practice, medication management and self-directed learning (e.g. e-learning)
- To maintain own competencies as appropriate for the role and to attend training seminars and study days to develop skills as appropriate, including in house mandatory training.
- To undertake continuous professional development as identified in annual IPR.
- To attend and participate in regular training sessions and staff support meetings.
- By attending conference, away days and courses to enable insight into own professional needs and those of service.
- To complete all mandatory training such as fire safety, moving/handling, infection control, personal safety and food hygiene.To be acquainted with and abide by all relevant St Richard’s Hospice policies and procedures including, Health and Safety, Equal Opportunities and Safeguarding.
This job description will be reviewed regularly by the Care Director, Community Team Manager and the post holder.
Signed…………………………………………………Date………………………..