Job summary Assistant Practitioner (South Dorset) Weldmar Specialist Hospice at Home Service 37.5 hours per week (part time considered) - Permanent contract Clinical Salary Scale - Band 4: £26,546 - £29,131 per year FTE (pay award pending) We're looking for a caring and enthusiastic Assistant Practitioner to join our new Specialist Hospice at Home Service in South Dorset As Assistant Practitioner you'll be joining Weldmar at an exciting time, joining our newly formed Specialist Hospice at Home team in South Dorset, delivering outstanding patient care within the community in Dorchester, Weymouth, Portland and surrounding areas. Main duties of the job This new service will provide reassurance to patients and family members, who will have access to a range of support from those working within the hub, other clinical specialists from our multi-disciplinary team, and to our patient and family support services, as well as to hands on care if required. This will enable them to live as well as possible at home, and reducing the likelihood of hospital admissions. Demonstrating our values, youll work collaboratively with your clinical colleagues and external agencies to provide an agile and responsive service based on patient needs identified by the Specialist Hospice at Home team. Youll possess an NVQ Level 5 qualification or a foundation degree in health and social care, or equivalent qualification such as Nursing Associate or a willingness to work towards. Working under the direction of our Weldmar Community Nurses, you will participate in the assessment of care needs and the implementation of delegated interventions, as well as undertake a broad range of support, advice and informal teaching to ensure delivery of the highest standard of palliative and end of life care to patients and their families. Your core hours will be Monday to Friday between 9am and 5pm, with a requirement to provide morning advice line cover on a rota basis. A Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) Check is required for this role, please refer to the job description About us About Weldmar Hospicecare: Rated Outstanding by the CQC, Weldmar Hospicecare provides specialist care to adults in Dorset with a life limiting illness, and support to their loved ones. This care is given in the comfort of patients own homes, in the community, and at our Inpatient Unit in Dorchester. All care is provided free of charge and mainly funded by the continued support of our local community, via fundraising initiatives and events, our retail chain, and gifts left in wills, enabling us to raise the £27,500 we need every day to keep our services going. Date posted 21 March 2025 Pay scheme Other Salary £26,456 to £29,131 a year Contract Permanent Working pattern Full-time, Part-time Reference number B0149-25-0005 Job locations Herringston Road Dorchester Dorset DT1 2SL Job description Job responsibilities Job Purpose The role of the Weldmar Specialist Hospice at Home Assistant Practitioner (SHH AP) is to support the Specialist Hospice at Home team hubs working across Dorset in the West, South or North Dorset, whilst also working closely with other healthcare professionals in the delivery of high quality and palliative care to patients and their families predominantly in their own homes. The post holder will work collaboratively within the Specialist Hospice at Home team, participating in the assessment of care needs and the implementation of delegated interventions to ensure delivery of the highest standard of palliative and end of life care to patients and their families The post holder will be expected to undertake a broad range of support, advice, informal teaching, and hands on care under the direction of the Weldmar Community Nurse and the Specialist Hospice at Home team. To undertake advance care planning (ACP) discussions and liaise with other professionals as needed. The Specialist Hospice at Home Assistant Practitioner will be expected, reporting to the Weldmar Community Nurse (SHH WCN), to hold a stable caseload of allocated patients Scope and Limits of Authority Reporting to the Weldmar Community Nurse, the post holder will be an experienced Assistant Practitioner who has the ability to: Deliver care with minimum direct supervision within the patients own home/ clinic setting or care home. To carry out and document full patient care assessments & if necessary, care planning. Contribute to patient and family care through effective delivery of the delegated plan of care. Provide education/ teaching to patients and families, undertake ACP discussions and provide accurate information to empower patients/ families on who and when to contact and what to expect from the service. Informal teaching and role modelling with domiciliary care agencies if appropriate. Work collaboratively as part of the Specialist Hospice at Home service. Be able to be agile and responsive to the changing needs of patients and be confident in approach. Be able to hold an allocated stable caseload of patients under the direction/ supervision of SHH CNS/ WCN for targeted follow up. Promote a holistic and individualized approach to care. Attain full competence in the knowledge and skills outlined in the Band 4 Skills Profile associated with this role. Recognise own limitations and know when to refer on to a senior health care professional. The post holder has no direct budget responsibility but must be aware of cost implications and make effective use of resources. The role of assistant practitioner works under the direction of the senior Specialist Hospice at Home team members. See full job description for details of specific tasks Job description Job responsibilities Job Purpose The role of the Weldmar Specialist Hospice at Home Assistant Practitioner (SHH AP) is to support the Specialist Hospice at Home team hubs working across Dorset in the West, South or North Dorset, whilst also working closely with other healthcare professionals in the delivery of high quality and palliative care to patients and their families predominantly in their own homes. The post holder will work collaboratively within the Specialist Hospice at Home team, participating in the assessment of care needs and the implementation of delegated interventions to ensure delivery of the highest standard of palliative and end of life care to patients and their families The post holder will be expected to undertake a broad range of support, advice, informal teaching, and hands on care under the direction of the Weldmar Community Nurse and the Specialist Hospice at Home team. To undertake advance care planning (ACP) discussions and liaise with other professionals as needed. The Specialist Hospice at Home Assistant Practitioner will be expected, reporting to the Weldmar Community Nurse (SHH WCN), to hold a stable caseload of allocated patients Scope and Limits of Authority Reporting to the Weldmar Community Nurse, the post holder will be an experienced Assistant Practitioner who has the ability to: Deliver care with minimum direct supervision within the patients own home/ clinic setting or care home. To carry out and document full patient care assessments & if necessary, care planning. Contribute to patient and family care through effective delivery of the delegated plan of care. Provide education/ teaching to patients and families, undertake ACP discussions and provide accurate information to empower patients/ families on who and when to contact and what to expect from the service. Informal teaching and role modelling with domiciliary care agencies if appropriate. Work collaboratively as part of the Specialist Hospice at Home service. Be able to be agile and responsive to the changing needs of patients and be confident in approach. Be able to hold an allocated stable caseload of patients under the direction/ supervision of SHH CNS/ WCN for targeted follow up. Promote a holistic and individualized approach to care. Attain full competence in the knowledge and skills outlined in the Band 4 Skills Profile associated with this role. Recognise own limitations and know when to refer on to a senior health care professional. The post holder has no direct budget responsibility but must be aware of cost implications and make effective use of resources. The role of assistant practitioner works under the direction of the senior Specialist Hospice at Home team members. See full job description for details of specific tasks Person Specification Experience Essential Experience of working in palliative care or a related specialist area Experience of working collaboratively with professionals from other health and social care providers Experience of working in a patients own home and / or community setting Skills and Abilities Essential Ability to work without direct supervision in a patients home. Demonstrable interpersonal skills, including listening and negotiating. Ability to contribute to service improvement and development projects with confidence in own contribution. Good verbal, non- verbal and written communication skills. Good self/ time management skills. Ability to use own initiative. Good organisational skills. Ability to work effectively within an internal and remote team. Ability to induct and mentor newer employees. Possess good IT skills i.e., ability to utilise a range of software including word, outlook and SystmOne. Confident in the use of IT/ Video technology for patients/ employee use. Flexible, positive and proactive approach to work. Qualifications Essential Developed knowledge of a range of patient care requirements within a specialist healthcare environment and ability to apply this within own work, including care plans Foundation degree in health and social care or level 5 NVQ/QCF diploma in care or equivalent qualification or Nursing Associate qualification or willing to undertake Level 3 QCF award in End of life care or willing to undertake See Job Description for more information Person Specification Experience Essential Experience of working in palliative care or a related specialist area Experience of working collaboratively with professionals from other health and social care providers Experience of working in a patients own home and / or community setting Skills and Abilities Essential Ability to work without direct supervision in a patients home. Demonstrable interpersonal skills, including listening and negotiating. Ability to contribute to service improvement and development projects with confidence in own contribution. Good verbal, non- verbal and written communication skills. Good self/ time management skills. Ability to use own initiative. Good organisational skills. Ability to work effectively within an internal and remote team. Ability to induct and mentor newer employees. Possess good IT skills i.e., ability to utilise a range of software including word, outlook and SystmOne. Confident in the use of IT/ Video technology for patients/ employee use. Flexible, positive and proactive approach to work. Qualifications Essential Developed knowledge of a range of patient care requirements within a specialist healthcare environment and ability to apply this within own work, including care plans Foundation degree in health and social care or level 5 NVQ/QCF diploma in care or equivalent qualification or Nursing Associate qualification or willing to undertake Level 3 QCF award in End of life care or willing to undertake See Job Description for more 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). 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 Weldmar Hospicecare Address Herringston Road Dorchester Dorset DT1 2SL Employer's website https://www.weld-hospice.org.uk/ (Opens in a new tab)