Department Nursing, Beacon View

Accountable to Wellbeing Centre Associate Specialist

Salary grade Minimum A Grade

Hours of work 30 hours per week, Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday

Criminal Record Disclosure required (DBS)

None ☐ Basic ☐ Enhanced ☒

Our Vision

We will support you and those important to you to live well towards the end of life by giving compassion, hope and quality of care.

Our Mission

We want to make a positive difference to the experience of everybody in our community who faces death or bereavement by offering choice and support through our expert care, knowledge and understanding.

Our Values

Our values define who we are and how we act. We are:

Nurturing: We care for whole families and each other.

Professional: We strive for excellence, learn from our mistakes and celebrate success.

Unified: We work as one team with one vision.

Transparent: We act with integrity and honesty at all times.

Empowering: We encourage innovation, support personal and organisational development.

Job Description

Wellbeing CentreHealthcare Assistant

JOB PURPOSE

To assist the Wellbeing Community Development Officer (WCDO) and Wellbeing Centre Associate Specialist (WCAS) in the smooth running of the Wellbeing Centre for the benefit of patients, staff, volunteers, and visitors.

To assist with the care and support of patients, responding to their individual physical and psychosocial needs in a way that respects the dignity of the individual, promoting independence wherever possible and appropriate.

MAIN DUTIES AND KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

To support the Wellbeing Community Development Officer (WCDO) with the planning, preparation and delivery of a programme of activities.

To support the WCDO in the co-ordination and supervision of volunteers.

To support individual patients and groups to participate as fully as possible in activities of their choice, in line with their care plans.

To support patients with personal care and mobility requirements and assist in the use of care aids, as outlined in individual care plans.

To assist the WCDO and WSAS in the assessment and delivery of individual patient care needs; ensuring any concerns regarding patients’ health or wellbeing are reported to the WCDO or WSAS in line with procedures.

To assist patients with meals and refreshments, including feeding patients who require assistance.

Escort patients on outings and visits either in the grounds or outside, as appropriate.

Work as an enthusiastic member of the team and create a stimulating and welcoming environment for all patients, carers and visitors.

To ensure policies and procedures are adhered to at all times and communicated to volunteers where appropriate.

Clinical

To provide daily supervised support to the WCAS with clinical ‘hands on’ care.

To undertake daily patient observations such as blood pressure, oxygen saturations and heart rate as and when required.

To act upon any deterioration observed in patients, mobilising medical and support services, as appropriate, and assisting medical and nursing staff with

treatments where required.

To provide assistance to the WCAS with the clinical assessment of care needs and the delivery, implementation, and evaluation of individual patient care plans.

To treat patients with dignity, respect and understanding and ensure wherever possible, patients are involved in the planning and review of all aspects of their care.

To maintain nursing records in accordance with mandatory legal requirements, ensuring confidentiality is maintained at all times. Ensuring that these are countersigned by an WCAS.

To provide ongoing psychosocial support for patients and their carers, referring when appropriate to other Wellbeing support services.

To ensure procedures are carried out safely in accordance with agreed policies.

Volunteer Supervision

To assist the WCDO with organisation and implementation of volunteer training and development.

To support with organisation of volunteer rotas, ensuring adequate cover for the centre at all times.

To communicate with volunteer drivers and organise driver transport.

General

To use basic Microsoft Office (Word, Excel and Outlook) as required.

To promote, encourage, and maintain good public relations with the local community.

To attend regular staff meetings as required.

To be responsible for maintaining own professional development and attending training as deemed necessary to effectively fulfil the role.

To demonstrate effective communication with patients and their relatives, giving advice and support as appropriate.

To report any deficiency in equipment, furnishing, and matters of hygiene and safety within the hospice.

To undertake any other duties that may be reasonably requested and are appropriate to the role and job grade.

To communicate effectively and liaise with members of the multi-disciplinary team.

This post is exempt from the Provisions of Section 4 (2) of the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974.

The post-holder and the line manager should both sign below in acceptance and agreement of the responsibilities outlined in the above Job Description.

Employee’s Signature Date

Line Manager’s Signature Date

(Please return both copies of the signed Job Description to Human Resources)

This is an outline job description designed to give an overview of the responsibilities of the role. We expect the job holder will work flexibly, responding to organisational need and changes as they occur. You will also contribute to the wider

corporate and organisation needs of St Peter & St James Hospice such as supporting our fundraising efforts.

JOB DESCRIPTION ADDENDUM

Policies and Procedures

In addition to your professional code of conduct, you must familiarise yourself with, and adhere to St Peter & St James policies and procedures, which can be found on the Shared Directory.

You have a duty to undertake relevant compulsory training, (including e-learning modules) as required in order to fulfil the requirements of your post and comply with statutory regulations.

If you manage staff and/or volunteers it is your responsibility to ensure that your team are made aware of and understand the policies and procedures relevant to their work, and are compliant with compulsory training requirements.

Information Governance and Confidentiality

Employment by St Peter & St James often involves access to personal information relating to patients, carers, staff, volunteers and supporters. This information is confidential and must not be disclosed to anybody, other than when acting in an official capacity. Non authorised use, access of records or disclosure of personal or confidential information is a dismissible offence, and in the case of computerised information could result in prosecution for an offence or action for civil damages under the Data Protection Act 1998.

Safeguarding and Mental Capacity Act

All employees have a responsibility to safeguard and promote the welfare of adults. It is essential that all safeguarding concerns are recognised and acted on appropriately in line with the policies and training. You must ensure you always act in the best interests of any person lacking mental capacity.

Health and Safety at Work Act

You have personal responsibility to take care of your own health and safety and that of others who may be affected by your actions at work. Please ensure that you observe all Health and Safety procedures, and carry out your work as instructed. Infection control

All employees have personal responsibility for Infection Prevention and Control practice. You should ensure you are familiar with, and comply with, all relevant Infection Control policies and training for minimising the risk of avoidable ‘Health Care Associated Infection’.

Conduct Employees are ambassadors for St Peter & St James, each responsible for promoting, maintaining and upholding the reputation of St Peter & St James at all times in line with our values.

Wellbeing Care Partner

Person Specification

Education, Qualifications and TrainingEssential Desirable

Good standard of general education. NVQ Level 1 and/or 2 in Health & Social Care. Training in Infection Control Training in Patient Handling.

Knowledge, Skills, Ability and ExperienceEssential Desirable

Competent numeracy and literacy skills. Ability to communicate with people at all levels. Basic IT skills. An appreciation of the role of a Healthcare

Assistant in relation to vulnerable patients. The ability to follow instructions and use own

initiative. The ability to articulate factual information

accurately. Strong observation skills to recognise vital

changes to a patient’s mental and physical wellbeing.

Ability to establish and maintain good working relationships with a diverse range of people.

Experience of delivering personal care to patients. Experience of working within a healthcare setting. An awareness of confidentiality code of conduct. Experience of working with patients at end of life. An understanding of palliative care in practice. Having the intuition and initiative to know when to

ask for help and support. An understanding of personal accountability. Knowledge and awareness of safeguarding

vulnerable people.

Attitudes and Personal AttributesEssential Desirable

Compassionate and mindful at all times of treating patients with dignity and respect.

A supportive team player. Professional and caring approach. Enthusiastic , motivated and proactive attitude. Reliable and flexible. Calm under pressure. Physically fit to meet the demands of the role. To take all practical measures to protect own

personal physical and mental wellbeing. Keen organisation skills. Good attention to detail.

An interest in delivering exceptional end of life care within a palliative setting.

A positive outlook; receptive to change and new ideas.