Job summary Why consider joining Hospiscare? Benefits include: Keep your NHS pension Free staff parking Career development opportunities Flexible and compassionate workplace Wellbeing and mental health support Main duties of the job As a Health Care Assistant on our Rapid Response Team, you will work under the leadership of a Senior Registered Nurse and collaborate with a multidisciplinary team to provide high-quality, evidence-based specialist palliative care and clinical advice. In this role, you will also liaise with the Clinical Nurse Specialist and wider community teams to ensure patients are appropriately prioritised. About us Hospiscare has been supporting people in Exeter, Mid and East Devon with terminal illnesses for over 40 years. Our services include support at home, a specialist palliative care ward, out-patients clinics, and supportive therapies. We support close to 2,200 local people each year, in some of the hardest times possible. As a local charity, we raise around £10 million each year to continue to provide our care. Our staff, volunteers and supporters help us to care for people when they're most in need, no matter what their individual circumstances may be. We're proud to be rated as 'five star' by patients and families and as 'outstanding' by the Care Quality Commission, to have been awarded a Mind Bronze Award for wellbeing at work and to be a Disability Confident employer. Date posted 24 March 2025 Pay scheme Agenda for change Band Band 3 Salary £24,071 to £25,674 a year Contract Permanent Working pattern Part-time Reference number DV1273923ExeHCARRT Job locations Searle House Dryden road Exeter Devon EX2 5JJ Job description Job responsibilities Job Description 1. JOB DETAILS Job Title: Health Care Assistant Band: 3 Location: Searle House, Exeter EX2 5JJ Team/Directorate: Rapid Response Team Responsible To: Exeter Community Team Leader Responsible For: N/A Accountable to: Head of Community and Supportive Care Services 2. JOB PURPOSE To work within a multi-disciplinary team and alongside registered nursing staff to deliver a high standard of evidence-based specialist palliative care. To provide holistic and person-centred care and support for patients with complex life-limiting illnesses. 3. KEY RESULT AREAS/PRINCIPAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES 3.1 Main Responsibilities Assist with the implementation of planned care for patients and those close to them under the supervision of registered colleagues to ensure a high standard of nursing care at all times. Assist in monitoring patients conditions on a continuous basis, in partnership with patients, families and carers, to ensure appropriate escalation to senior colleagues when required. Develop communication skills to be able to interact with patients in a sensitive and professional manner in order to promote and maintain Hospiscares values. Undertake completion of HCA competencies to be able to deliver simple clinical observations and provide input to patient care plans. Adhere to Hospiscares clinical recordkeeping policy when providing and sharing verbal, digital or written information and instructions, to ensure patient confidentiality is observed at all times. Attend and contribute to multi-disciplinary team meetings and case discussions to inform decisions which ensure patients receive the best possible care Assist with the identification and assessment of complex bereavement to enable a seamless handover to Hospiscares Supportive Care team. Infection Prevention and Control Maintaining a safe environment for patients, visitors and employees is everyones responsibility. All staff are required to adhere to Hospiscares Infection Prevention and Control Policy and make every effort to maintain high standards of infection prevention and control at all times. This includes ensuring personal and team compliance with all relevant policies and procedures, and acting upon or reporting any identified risks. Disclosure and Barring Service This role requires a Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) Enhanced level check with Adults and Children Barred Lists. 3.2 Key Contacts Internal: Exeter Team Leader Community Cluster teams Head of Community and Supportive Care Services Inpatient Unit team Medical team Reception and Front of House team Supportive Care team Volunteers Student Nurses and trainees External: Patients and those close to them 3.3 Health & Safety Ensure that Health and Safety guidelines and fire regulations are strictly adhered to Comply with safe working practices as defined by Hospiscare Complete online training as and when required Take reasonable care for your own health and safety and that of others who may be affected by acts or omissions at work Report any accidents, incidents or near misses as soon as reasonably practicable Manage own work life balance and general wellbeing, including any relevant pressures in respect of lone working, travel, difficult environments and challenging situations 3.4 General Be aware of and adhere to Hospiscare policies and procedures at all times Take part in progress/performance reviews throughout the year Cooperate with other Hospiscare departments Attend training courses and complete online training modules as required to meet the requirements of the post Take responsibility for own personal development, seeking out opportunities to learn new skills Undertake any other duties as requested by management which are reasonably deemed to be within the scope of the role 3.5 Other Apply the Hospiscare values and behaviours to every aspect of the role at all times Promote and maintain the brand standards of Hospiscare Job description Job responsibilities Job Description 1. JOB DETAILS Job Title: Health Care Assistant Band: 3 Location: Searle House, Exeter EX2 5JJ Team/Directorate: Rapid Response Team Responsible To: Exeter Community Team Leader Responsible For: N/A Accountable to: Head of Community and Supportive Care Services 2. JOB PURPOSE To work within a multi-disciplinary team and alongside registered nursing staff to deliver a high standard of evidence-based specialist palliative care. To provide holistic and person-centred care and support for patients with complex life-limiting illnesses. 3. KEY RESULT AREAS/PRINCIPAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES 3.1 Main Responsibilities Assist with the implementation of planned care for patients and those close to them under the supervision of registered colleagues to ensure a high standard of nursing care at all times. Assist in monitoring patients conditions on a continuous basis, in partnership with patients, families and carers, to ensure appropriate escalation to senior colleagues when required. Develop communication skills to be able to interact with patients in a sensitive and professional manner in order to promote and maintain Hospiscares values. Undertake completion of HCA competencies to be able to deliver simple clinical observations and provide input to patient care plans. Adhere to Hospiscares clinical recordkeeping policy when providing and sharing verbal, digital or written information and instructions, to ensure patient confidentiality is observed at all times. Attend and contribute to multi-disciplinary team meetings and case discussions to inform decisions which ensure patients receive the best possible care Assist with the identification and assessment of complex bereavement to enable a seamless handover to Hospiscares Supportive Care team. Infection Prevention and Control Maintaining a safe environment for patients, visitors and employees is everyones responsibility. All staff are required to adhere to Hospiscares Infection Prevention and Control Policy and make every effort to maintain high standards of infection prevention and control at all times. This includes ensuring personal and team compliance with all relevant policies and procedures, and acting upon or reporting any identified risks. Disclosure and Barring Service This role requires a Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) Enhanced level check with Adults and Children Barred Lists. 3.2 Key Contacts Internal: Exeter Team Leader Community Cluster teams Head of Community and Supportive Care Services Inpatient Unit team Medical team Reception and Front of House team Supportive Care team Volunteers Student Nurses and trainees External: Patients and those close to them 3.3 Health & Safety Ensure that Health and Safety guidelines and fire regulations are strictly adhered to Comply with safe working practices as defined by Hospiscare Complete online training as and when required Take reasonable care for your own health and safety and that of others who may be affected by acts or omissions at work Report any accidents, incidents or near misses as soon as reasonably practicable Manage own work life balance and general wellbeing, including any relevant pressures in respect of lone working, travel, difficult environments and challenging situations 3.4 General Be aware of and adhere to Hospiscare policies and procedures at all times Take part in progress/performance reviews throughout the year Cooperate with other Hospiscare departments Attend training courses and complete online training modules as required to meet the requirements of the post Take responsibility for own personal development, seeking out opportunities to learn new skills Undertake any other duties as requested by management which are reasonably deemed to be within the scope of the role 3.5 Other Apply the Hospiscare values and behaviours to every aspect of the role at all times Promote and maintain the brand standards of Hospiscare Person Specification Qualifications Essential Level 3 qualification in Health and Social Care or equivalent/related Evidence of ongoing professional development Desirable Level 4 qualification or Foundation degree in Health and Social Care or equivalent Knowledge Essential Awareness of delivering care in a clinical environment Awareness of the complexities of working with individuals at times of distress and conflict Understanding of the importance of effective team working in a healthcare context Skills Essential Developed time management skills, including the ability to prioritise own delegated workload. Developed communication and interpersonal skills Developed IT skills Personal attributes Essential Ability to work autonomously and act on own initiative, seeking advice/escalating issues when appropriate Flexible and adaptable with the ability to respond positively in a rapidly changing environment. Team player Able to maintain confidentiality Commitment to continuing professional development Awareness of Equality, Diversity and Inclusion in all areas of work Additional requirements Essential Able to participate in the 7 day/week rota Able to travel throughout the area covered by Hospiscare Capable of fulfilling the physical demands of the role, including administering of basic life support Desirable Able and willing to work at different Hospiscare locations on occasion Car owner and driver Experience Essential Demonstrable experience of care giving in the Acute Trust or Community Services Demonstrable experience of working as part of a team within Health and Social Care Desirable Experience of working in specialist palliative care Experience of working with volunteers Person Specification Qualifications Essential Level 3 qualification in Health and Social Care or equivalent/related Evidence of ongoing professional development Desirable Level 4 qualification or Foundation degree in Health and Social Care or equivalent Knowledge Essential Awareness of delivering care in a clinical environment Awareness of the complexities of working with individuals at times of distress and conflict Understanding of the importance of effective team working in a healthcare context Skills Essential Developed time management skills, including the ability to prioritise own delegated workload. Developed communication and interpersonal skills Developed IT skills Personal attributes Essential Ability to work autonomously and act on own initiative, seeking advice/escalating issues when appropriate Flexible and adaptable with the ability to respond positively in a rapidly changing environment. Team player Able to maintain confidentiality Commitment to continuing professional development Awareness of Equality, Diversity and Inclusion in all areas of work Additional requirements Essential Able to participate in the 7 day/week rota Able to travel throughout the area covered by Hospiscare Capable of fulfilling the physical demands of the role, including administering of basic life support Desirable Able and willing to work at different Hospiscare locations on occasion Car owner and driver Experience Essential Demonstrable experience of care giving in the Acute Trust or Community Services Demonstrable experience of working as part of a team within Health and Social Care Desirable Experience of working in specialist palliative care Experience of working with volunteers 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). Additional information 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 Hospiscare Address Searle House Dryden road Exeter Devon EX2 5JJ Employer's website https://www.hospiscare.co.uk (Opens in a new tab)