JOB DESCRIPTION

Title: Day Hospice Health Care Assistant

Grade/Salary: Agenda for Change Band 2

Responsible to: Day Hospice Manager

Accountable to: Senior Manager for Patient Support Services

Location: To work within Day Hospices at Ystrad Mynach, Panteg, Blackett Avenue and Usk House

Hours of Working: 22.5 hpw (3 days). Flexibility of working days is required.

Key Working

Relationships: Multi-professional members of day hospice team

Community based palliative care teams

Day hospice administrative support

Day hospice volunteers

Patients

Family Support Team

Job Summary:

The post holder will carry out and deliver a high standard of patient care alongside the qualified staff in line with the Charity’s policies and procedures. The post holder will provide social and recreational activities (e.g. arts and crafts) for the patients.

Key Areas of Responsibility:

Clinical

·  Work under the supervision of the Registered Nurse in the assessment, planning, implementation and evaluation of nursing care

·  To work in accordance with the policies and procedures of St David’s Hospice Care

·  To maintain confidentiality at all times

·  To ensure patients’ comfort and dignity at all times

·  To work alongside patients and carers, whilst also recognising their need for privacy

·  To deliver a high standard of nursing procedures and care in accordance with the nursing Care Plan and document any activity

·  Be aware of and be sensitive to the spiritual, psychological, cultural and social needs of the patients and their families

·  Through observation, to report any changes in the patients’ conditions to the nurse in charge

·  To help with patients’ personal hygiene and toilet needs if appropriate

·  To maintain a safe environment for self, patients and carers at all times

·  To assist in providing a welcoming environment to patients, carers and healthcare professionals

·  To participate in the assessment of the patients’ conditions

·  To record patient information clearly on appropriate documentation

·  To communicate effectively with patients, carers, providing access to information when needed

·  To maintain the clinical area as an appropriate place for patients, relatives and carers

·  To facilitate a range of activities, e.g. arts and crafts, quizzes and diversional therapies offered in the day hospice

·  To assist in the transport co-ordination for day hospice patients

·  Escort patients to and from the day hospice with the day hospice driver and volunteers

·  Contribute to multi-disciplinary discussions and team meetings

·  Comply with all St David’s Hospice Care clinical and administrative policies

General Responsibilities

·  To recognise and accept the limits of personal knowledge and responsibility

·  To be aware of one’s own responsibilities towards Health & Safety Regulations

·  To verbally report any incident or untoward incident as soon as possible to line manager

·  To recognise the need and be willing to undertake any training identified as necessary

·  To observe a No Smoking policy whilst on duty

·  To abide by the SDHC Infection Control Policy

Additional Duties

All job descriptions are subject to review. Job holders are expected to be flexible and be prepared to carry out any similar or related duties which do not fall within the work outlined. Any review will be undertaken by the line manager, in consultation with the post holder.

Other Information

Unsociable Hours: There may be an occasional need for unsociable hours, e.g. attendance at fund-raising events meetings and conferences. Time in lieu will be given in respect of this.

Health and Safety: To ensure that the agreed procedures are carried out, be aware of the responsibilities placed on employees under the Health and Safety at Work Act, to maintain a safe environment for employees and visitors.

Data Protection: If you are required to do so, any processing or use of information pertaining to staff, patients and/or clients must be held in a fair and lawful way. Data should only be held for specific registered purposes and for the minimum period of time. It must not be disclosed in any way incompatible with such purposes.

Equal Opportunities: It is the aim of St. David's Hospice Care to ensure that no job applicant or employee receives less favourable treatment on the grounds of sex, race, colour, nationality or ethnic origins, or is placed at a disadvantage by conditions or requirements which cannot be shown to be justifiable. To this end, St David's Hospice Care has an Equal Opportunities Policy and it is for each employee to contribute to its success.

No Smoking Policy: St David's Hospice Care Hospice Care operates a No Smoking policy.

Conditions of Service: In accordance with St. David’s Hospice Care Employment Manual

Pension Scheme: A Company Pension Scheme is offered on appointment. Staff may also prefer to make their own arrangements.

Confidentiality: All information concerning patients/clients and staff must be treated as strictly confidential at all times.

This job description is not exhaustive and is subject to change as indicated by the

needs of the Hospice

This post is exempt from the provisions of Section 4(2) of the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974, (Exemptions) Order 1975. Applicants are not entitled to withhold information about convictions which are for other purposes 'spent' under the provisions of the Act. In the event of employment, any failure to disclose such convictions could result in dismissal. Successful candidates will be required to complete a Disclosure Application at Enhanced level for submission to the Criminal Records Bureau.

PERSON SPECIFICATION

Essential / Desirable
Education / ·  Level 3 Diploma in Health and Social Care
Experience / ·  Recent experience in the health care sector or care related experience
·  One year’s experience in palliative care or oncology
Skills / Knowledge / ·  Excellent communication including: - verbal, written and presentation
·  Willingness to work as a member of a multi-professional team and with members of the primary healthcare team
·  Ability to develop professional relationships with healthcare professionals
·  Excellent interpersonal and communication skills
Qualities/
Attributes / ·  Flexible
·  Highly motivated
·  Enthusiastic
·  Team player
·  Positive role model
Transport / ·  Full clean driving licence
·  Must have own car to enable travel between the day hospice sites