An exciting opportunity has arisen to join the Zoe’s Place Baby Hospice in Coventry as a Health Care Assistant, or Senior Health Care Assistant, dependent on experience. Zoe’s Place Baby Hospice is a home from home and provides 24 hour short breaks, palliative and end of life care for babies and children up to the age of five years with life-limiting and life-threatening complex needs. We are a small team consisting of nurses, health care assistants, play specialists, play leaders, fundraisers, holistic therapists and counsellors. We are looking for a health care assistant with experience looking after children with complex health needs. If you would like to make a difference every day, then this is the job for you.
Main duties of the job
As a health care assistant, we expect a high level of care for our children. You will need experience with looking after children with complex health needs, for example, tracheostomy care. You must have excellent communication skills and a passion for working in a team. Full and part-time hours available.
- Guaranteed to be off for Christmas and New Year.
About us
There are 3 Zoe’s Place Baby Hospices in the UK, in Coventry, Middlesbrough, and Liverpool. All 3 hospices work together to provide the best possible quality of care for the children. We are a small team and provide a home from home environment, with a strong emphasis on play and emotional support for families and siblings. We are a flexible organisation and promote a good work-life balance.
Responsibilities
1. To undertake, assist or supervise individual children in relation to feeding, dressing, and toileting, with due regard to the child’s individual medical and developmental needs.
2. Under the guidance of and with the support of a Registered Nurse, to complete clinical competencies to enable clinical care to be carried out independently.
3. Ensure the hospice equipment is used and stored appropriately in accordance with the equipment inventory.
4. Know how to clean and maintain equipment used by children, e.g., wheelchairs, feeding pumps, etc., as directed by the standard operating procedures for cleaning.
5. Ensure that all junior care assistants are aware of the cleaning schedule/workbook and guide junior colleagues so that the hospice is kept clean and tidy.
6. If applicable, care for the child’s clothing and ensure that all clothing is recorded, unpacked, and clearly marked.
7. To ensure the maintenance of accurate and timely record keeping. All documented tasks to be countersigned by a Registered Nurse.
8. Led by a Registered Nurse, to be involved in the assessment, planning, implementation, and evaluation of the care of the children in partnership with families and the community team.
9. To ensure that all children are given the time and assistance they need in undertaking any activity or intervention while encouraging and praising independent skills whenever possible.
10. To ensure that individual children’s care plans are followed to the highest standards.
11. To adhere to Zoe’s Place Trust policies and procedures, guidelines, and standards at all times and to promote these to others.
12. Recognise and feedback any changes in a child’s condition and where required, take appropriate action to support care and treatment under the direction of a Registered Nurse.
13. Adopt the role of link worker as required by Zoe’s Place Baby Hospice and at all times lead by example in the link role.
14. Take advantage of training opportunities to further develop your skills to enhance your role within Zoe’s Place, including all mandatory training sessions.
15. Support training and supervision of junior and new Staff Members in all aspects of their work in the Hospice, under the supervision of senior Staff Members.
16. Attend and participate in an annual appraisal and regular reviews of performance and objectives, identifying gaps in knowledge/skills and developing a plan to enhance service and self-development.
17. To encourage and promote the philosophy of Zoe’s Place and present a good public image, to co-operate with all staff in maintaining good relationships with outside agencies in order to uphold the charity’s image and to win increased support for its work.
18. Assist in the social activities organised within the hospice including the parent support group and the sibling support group, helping to organise and deliver the activities to a high standard.
19. Answer Nurse Call system, giving assistance as required. Answer the door and telephone appropriately. Respond accordingly, and pass on messages promptly.
20. To ensure effective communication with Zoe’s Place staff, members of the MDT, children and their families and to refer questions to appropriate personnel and communicate answers.
21. To attend staff meetings and participate in other meetings as appropriate.
22. To report any incidents and accidents to the nurse in charge in a timely manner and ensure that they are recorded in the appropriate documentation.
23. To manage clinical duties and resources effectively to ensure the smooth running of the service.
24. Promote and maintain dignity, privacy, and confidentiality at all times.
25. Under direction and supervision of a Registered Nurse, to participate in the preparation of a child and family for loss and bereavement and to care for a child and family after death.
26. To conduct yourself at all times in a professional manner in both appearance and conduct.
27. To work flexibly to meet the needs of the service and the team.
28. To be aware of, and responsive to, the changing nature of the Trust and adopt a flexible and proactive approach to work.
29. To promote the specialty of palliative care and evidence-based practices and develop the service within the sphere of responsibility.
30. To participate in regular supervision with line manager and any staff for whom you have responsibility.
31. To carry out clinical tasks whilst looking after the child with registered nurse supervision such as tracheostomy care, gastrostomy care, etc.
32. This job description is not an exclusive description of the role and will develop and change to meet the evolving needs of the service.
Person Specification
Experience
* Experience working with children.
* Insight into caring for sick children with learning, physical, and/or sensory needs.
* Able to maintain professional boundaries.
* Willingness to continue with professional development and to transfer own skills and experience into palliative care.
* Excellent use of the English language demonstrated through effective written and verbal communication.
* Able to demonstrate self-awareness and well-developed coping strategies.
* Awareness of the impact of loss and disability on children and their families.
* Experience of paediatric palliative care and/or complex care.
* Experience working for a voluntary organisation.
* Experience of supporting families who have experienced loss or bereavement.
* Evidence of understanding the work of a baby or children’s hospice.
* Experience of working with children with complex care needs.
* Awareness of ethical dilemmas faced in children’s palliative care.
Qualifications
* NVQ Level 2/3 in Health and Social Care and/or clinical experience working in a paediatric healthcare setting.
Skills and Attributes
* Good interpersonal skills.
* Ability to provide holistic care.
* Flexible and able to use your own initiative.
* Basic computer skills.
* Ability to follow protocols and procedures.
* Ability to take instructions.
* Ability to work as part of an expanding team.
* Ability to work shifts including nights and weekends.
* Commitment to equal opportunities.
* Ability and willingness to work towards full competence in clinical skills.
* Able to reflect on difficult situations and to gain support and learn from these.
* Awareness of the skills, interactions, and models that underpin effective communication with children who have life-limiting and/or life-threatening conditions and their families.
* Ability to facilitate the development of others.
* Counselling skills.
* Clinical competence.
* Experience of caring for children who are ventilator dependent.
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.
Hours: Full Time
Salary: £22,977 to £23,339 a year - £1000 Welcome Bonus (£500 paid after 6 & 12 months service)
Based at: Zoe's Place Baby Hospice Coventry
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