Health Care Assistant

The Health Care Assistant will cover the Helen McArdle Wing Inpatient Unit and Sir Tom Cowie Day Centre Service within the Clinical Services department and will be deliver a range of care duties under the supervision of RGNs providing basic patient care for Willow Burn Hospice.

To care for people with a life limiting illness with palliative or end of life care needs.

Assist in the provision of efficient, supportive nursing service to patients

Provide an empathetic and compassionate approach to patients and their relatives. To be able to apply appropriate knowledge and understanding of patients individual needs in accordance with the patients specific care.

Support trained nurses in their role and work as a member of the nursing team.

Ensure the highest level of individual patient care is achieved at all times in the most cost effective manner

Be involved in a multidisciplinary approach to patient care together with other healthcare professionals and the clergy.

Ensure correct use and due economy is made to equipment and resources.

Develop and extend knowledge of specialist palliative care through accessing available training.

Maintain a high standard of patient care ensuring policies and procedures are adhered to.

Provide practical assistance, as required, with all aspects of personal hygiene e.g. bathing and dressing.

Give individualised patient care under the direction and supervision of the trained nursing staff.

Work as a member of the nursing team under the supervision of trained staff reporting changes in patients conditions and needs as they occur.

Develop skills in caring for terminally ill patients and their families.

Display and develop good interpersonal skills, including, e.g. the ability to be a good listener.

When dealing with patients and carers protect their dignity, choices, self-esteem and wellbeing at all times.

Participate in meetings related to families and staff by communicating information on patient care and related matters as required.

Maintain a safe, clean and secure environment for patients, their families, visitors and staff.

Maintain accurate records and assist in submitting verbal and written reports on matters concerning patient care.

To carry out any reasonable duties requested by the management.

Willow Burn Hospice opened in 1989 as a result of tworemarkable women, Irene Mortimer and Valerie Davison, who identified a gap in provision in the largely rural area of Derwentside. With the support of the Secretary of State and funding from Macmillan, Irene and Valerie set up Derwentside Hospice Care Foundation, a Day Hospice Service for North Durham.

Over the years. the charity has become fondly known as Willow Burn Hospice andthe rest as they say, is history.

The Willow Burn Day Hospice service expanded in 1991 toinclude in-patient services and in 2014 we opened the Sir Tom Cowie Health and Wellbeing Centre as a new home for our day services provision. That brings usto present day, and following very generous support from Helen McArdle CBE, wenow have a modern, fit for purpose, 6 bed in patient unit which is very highlyregarded within the hospice sector.

Willow Burn has been purpose-built to reflect the comfortof being  a time when peace and tranquillity is needed the most, ourteam provides a safe and quiet environment. The focus is on the individual andtheir needs through the provision of high-quality care.

Job Title
Health Care Assistant

Hours
25hrs to be worked flexibly on a rota to include - 7.5hrs day 12.5 day& night shifts, weekends and BH to meet the needs of the service

Reports to
Head of Clinical Services

Responsibilities

The Health Care Assistant will cover the Helen McArdle Wing Inpatient Unit and Sir Tom Cowie Day Centre Service withinthe Clinical Services department and will be deliver a range of care duties under the supervision of RGNs providing basic patient care for Willow Burn Hospice.

To care for people with a life limitingillness with palliative or end of life care needs.

Assist in the provision of efficient,supportive nursing service to patients

Provide an empathetic and compassionateapproach to patients and their relatives.…