Band 3 Palliative Care Support Worker - Inpatient Unit
As we move forward with our strategy and develop our services, we arerecruiting forBand 3 Palliative Care Support Workersto join theInpatient Unit (IPU) Team.If you are a dedicated and proactive Health Care Assistant/ Support Worker with an interest in working in End-of-Life Care we would like to hear from you.Joining the Hospice in this role will involve providing specialist palliative care for our patients and support for their families. You will also work closely with the registered nurses and the wider multi-disciplinary team to ensure a holistic approach to care.
Main duties of the job
To provide direct nursing care to patients on the inpatient unitTo participate in and deliver care for patients requiring symptom control, terminal care, psychological, social, and spiritual care.To work a variety of shift patterns and lengths of shift dependant on patient requirementTo clearly document all care givenTo work collaboratively with MDT
About us
Weve spent over 40 years helping people die in peace, and with dignity. Combining compassion with clinical expertise, we provide patients with the best possible care at the end of their lives.Were here for the people around our patients too those closest to them. Before, during and after a bereavement, we provide support thats remembered forever.We think its that unforgettable support that inspires people to give back to St Peters. To fundraise for us. Donate. Volunteer. Were not exaggerating when we say that we couldnt do what we do without our wonderful supporters. We really cant thank them enough.We want to help many more people to die well. And were doing this by teaching others. As a centre of educational excellence, we share our skills with other health professionals, helping the NHS and care homes to provide better end-of-life care.Were here for all, for free, forever.
Job responsibilities
Within this enhanced role the post holder will support and work closely with the registered nurses to deliver a high standard of care to patients, families, and their careers in a safe and supportive environment without the need for direct supervision.To be an active member of the multi- professional teamThe post holder will always maintain a compassionate and professional attitudeContributes to the high-quality safe care given on the inpatient unit and St Peters HospiceContributes to the positive, inclusive, and supportive culture of the inpatient unit.Participates in the training of other healthcare assistants and other members of the team.Understands own level of responsibility and accountability in relation to registered staff.Communicate clearly effectively and appropriately with the multidisciplinary team, patients and their family, visitors, and carers.Assist and provide personal care to patients.Following appropriate training undertake a range of specific clinical skills for patients that demonstrate an enhanced level of competency.Complete documentation of care in line with SPH Documentation standards using both paper and electronic systems.The post holder will function at a competency level in line with the requirements of the post and achieve and maintain both mandatory and statutory training requirements associated with the role.Demonstrate working in line with the IPU behaviour frameworkCommunicationMaintain a high standard of personal behaviour and ensure effective communication with all members of the multidisciplinary team, patients, carers, and relatives.Able to recognise that there may be a need to utilise alternative methods of communication.Use paper and electronic systems to retrieve and record patient informationCommunicate with patients, carers, and families in a sensitive, supportive, and caring manner, considering their individual personal beliefs and preferences.Apply the principles of information governance and patient confidentiality to all aspect of their role.Actively participate and contribute to discussions about patient care and department issues at handover and unit meetings.Ensure all documentation is completed accurately and legibly and in accordance with hospice policy and Information Governance requirements.Obtain verbal consent from the patient before any clinical intervention is undertaken.Answer the phone/ greet visitors promptly in a polite and professional manner and deal with enquires as appropriate, pass on written and verbal information as required to colleges and patients.Be able to answer the advice line out of hours, document information and pass on information to appropriate registered nurse to action.In instances when a patient / visitor feels the need to raise concern or complain inform a registered nurse.Seek and acknowledge constructive feedback and encourage others to do soEscalate concerns and incidents through the appropriate route.Personal and People DevelopmentActively participate in, and contribute to, the individual performance review and development process.Support and mentor new PCSWs as required. Role model best practice.Welcome and support all staff working on a placement in the IPU.Keep up to date with all mandatory and statutory training.Actively engage in education and learning that will benefit patient care.Participate in the IPU teaching programme.Maintain clinical competencies relevant to role.Be able to acknowledge limitations to competence and do not act outside of these.Alongside a Registered Nurse take responsibility of an allocated link role. Develop knowledge and share expertise with colleges.Work to maintain your own physical and mental health to enable you to be fit and resilient for the role.Demonstrate flexibility and effective time management skills to prioritise and organise own workload and that of others acting on own initiative.Work confidently in the challenging clinical environment undertaking agreed clerical work as required.Responsibility: Provision of Care to Meet Health and Wellbeing NeedsAct first and foremost to care for and safeguard the patients and public, practice in a safe, compassionate, and patient centred manner.Following completion of training, demonstrate an understanding of your role and responsibilities relating to Safeguarding.Respond swiftly to individuals, who require assistance, are in pain or distressed or using their call bell, where required report this to a registered nurse.Recognise where a patient is becoming agitated, confused or is non-compliant with their care or treatment, support colleagues when dealing with such patients, report this to a registered nurse.Recognise when a patients condition changes and seek advice and expertise from registered practitioner.Obtain specimens ensuring accurate documentation and transportation to appropriate department.Undertake infection control screening as requested.Undertake patient transfer/escort duties between clinical areas, completing all relevant documentation.Achieve and maintain competence in using a range of equipment relevant to your role.Undertake a range of delegated and specific clinical skills for patients such as Blood pressure, Pulse rate and rhythm (manually and using electronic equipment), Temperature, Height and weight, Fluid balance, Stool charts, food diary, Blood glucose monitoring, Urine testing / Urinalysis, Respiratory rate, Oxygen saturations, bladders scanning.Following training and competency assessment assess and monitor the patients skin integrity, report, and document immediately any concerns in their condition.Demonstrate clinical competencies to undertake minor dressings as specified in a patients care plan completed by a registered nurse.Obtain prompt assistance during an emergency as requested or using the agreed practice i.e.: emergency call bell.Assist patients of all genders with all aspects of personal care.Daily assist and support patients of all genders when mobilising, repositioning in bed or chair whilst promoting patient independence using aids as appropriate.Recognise and understand the importance of adequate nutrition and hydration of the patients by serving food and drinks and assisting patients with feeding and drinking when necessary.Recognise and maintain any specific dietary instructions associated with individual patients.Recognise where a patient may display problems with swallowing and require further assessment and report this to a registered nurse.Health Safety and SecurityBe aware and Comply with all SPH policies and procedures which govern Health and Safety and clinical practice.Actively promote the prevention of cross infection to and from all patients, visitors staff, and the environment, by encouraging and educating others in the use of standard precautions.Maintain a clean and tidy environment including cleaning of equipment and medical devices.Ensure that prior to using any medical device you are trained and competent.Report any accidents, incidents and near misses to a registered nurse and report via the SPH reporting system.Report and raise concerns in relation to poor practice, attitude and behaviour of any health care professional through line management structures.Manage own time effectively, ensure good time keeping in relation to shift commencement and breaks.Prepare patient rooms for new patients and orientate patients and their relatives and carers to the department and demonstrate bedroom facilities.Contributes to the high-quality safe care given on the inpatient unit and St Peters HospiceContributes to the positive, inclusive, and supportive culture of the inpatient unit.Service ImprovementContribute to continually monitor standards of nursing care and contribute to improvement of care through audit and research as required.Be alert to any possible improvement to service and make suggestions as appropriateQualityFollowing direction from a registered nurse undertake aspects of care for a patient/ group of patients.Practise in accordance with agreed standards of care within your level of competence.Assists in audits and research as required.Seek support for self and others following an untoward incident.Report and raise concerns in relation to poor practice, attitude, and behaviour of any health care professional through appropriate channels.Report all incidents and accidents according to SPH Policy and report to registered nurses.Ensure all faulty equipment is taken out of service, cleaned, labelled correctly, and sent for repair.Ensure all equipment is cleaned correctly.Actively promote the prevention of cross infection to and from all patients, visitors, staff and the environment.Adhere to universal precautions and safe disposal of waste products
Person Specification
Qualifications
* Minimum of NVQ Level 2 in Health and Social Care or relevant Health care experience
* Care certificate
Experience
* Previous relevant Health care Experience
* Recent experience in the community or hospital setting
* Basic IT Experience
* Willingness to develop palliative care knowledge and clinical skills that would benefit patient care.
* Good numeracy and literacy skills
* Knowledge of the role in relation to palliative care
Additional Criteria
* Excellent communication skills verbal and non-verbal
* Ability to maintain competence in a range of clinical skills following training
* Ability to participate in MDT discussions
* Ability to mentor members of the team
* Ability to contribute to relevant teaching and link roles within IPU
Additional Criteria
* An understanding and empathy for the work of the Hospice
* Able to work as part of a team and independently
* Driving license and own transport
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.
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