JOB DESCRIPTION

Job Title: Health Care Assistant – LMT Band 3

Accountable to: Director of Nursing and Patient Services, Lewis-Manning Trust

Reporting to: Day Hospice and In-Patient Unit Team Leader

Job Context: Lewis-Manning Hospice, already well known locally as a centre offering excellent palliative care to local people living with cancer and other life-limiting illnesses and their carers, has recently opened nurse-led beds for end of life care for patients in the East of Dorset.

Working flexibly, as part of a multidisciplinary team, the health care assistant is a key role in offering high quality care both in the bedded unit and daycare.

Job Purpose: Work as a member of the nursing team with supervision from a registered nurse and to contribute to maintaining the Day Hospice and In-Patient Unit as an environment conducive to providing high standards of palliative care.

Responsible for: Providing support to the registered nurses in the provision of care given to patients and their families.

Scope and Limits of Authority: The post-holder has no direct budget responsibility but must be aware of cost implications and make effective use of resources.

Duties and Responsibilities

  1. To assist in the reception and admission of new patients and make them welcome to the Day Hospice and In-Patient Unit
  2. To act as an assistant in the delivery of high quality care to patients, including:
  3. Observe and reporting any significant changes in a patient’s physical or psychological condition
  4. Assist with patient personal care including bathing and toileting, urinary catheters, ileostomy and colostomy care
  5. Deliver patient nursing care as delegated by the RN, including dressing of minor wounds
  6. Provide emotional support allowing time for patients and family/carers to talk, using listening and emphatic skills
  7. Provide death and bereavement care and family support
  8. Participate in patient reporting and documenting of care
  9. Ensure patient area environment and equipment is clean, tidy and in working order
  10. Assist with bed-making
  11. Assist with the preparation and serving of meals. To encourage adequate diet as advised by the registered nurse. To report to the registered nurse observations about patients’ nutritional requirements and adequate/inadequate nutrition
  12. Undertake specific observation and monitoring tasks as delegated by RN, and report back, including blood sugar levels, blood pressure, temperatures, CSU samples and sending samples for testing
  13. Report to the RN observations made and nursing care carried out and to record in the Care Plan action taken
  14. Assist with last offices
  15. Report immediately to the RN on duty any complaints, comments or requests for information by patients or their visitors
  16. Answer the telephone, take messages and refer to the RN on duty for instructions
  17. Assist with errands, as requested by the RN on duty
  18. Assist in the routine care, cleaning and tidying of nursing equipment and sluice equipment
  19. Prepare plastic bags and soiled linen for collection, as per LMT Policy and Procedure
  20. Assist RN to list and check patients’ property on admission and discharge/death
  21. Develop knowledge and skills through education by:
  22. Attending mandatory training provided by LMT
  23. Attending appropriate in-house and external education sessions,conferences and seminars in order to develop understanding of palliative care
  24. Attending appropriate course leading to recognised qualification
  25. Participating in individual performance review and appraisal giving and receiving feedback about clinical practice and development needs
  26. Follow infection control procedures/policies as appropriate
  27. Attend 6 weekly 1:1s with line manager

This is an outline job description and may be subject to change, according to the needs of the service, in consultation with the post holder. A job description review will automatically take place as part of the Annual Appraisal.

Name (Please print): / Signature: / Date:
Ruth Burnhill, Interim Director of Nursing
January 2017
Review Jan 2018

PERSON SPECIFICATION

Post: Health Care Assistant – LMT Band 3

Department: Day Hospice and In-Patient Unit

Category / Essential / Desirable
Qualifications /
  • NVQ 2 or equivalent or willing to work towards
  • Good standard of general education
/
  • NVQ3
  • A willingness to participate in the NVQ Programme or equivalent

Experience /
  • Previous experience of caring for people
  • Previous experience in nursing in a health or social care setting
/
  • Previous experience of looking after cancer or terminally ill patients

Skills, Knowledge and Aptitudes /
  • Good level of nursing and/or care skills
  • Knowledge of dying or bereavement
  • Basic understanding of the emotional need of patient and their families
  • Good interpersonal skills including empathy and open-minded approach to patients
  • Patience and consideration and sensitivity to the needs of others
  • Emotionally able to work within the field of palliative care
  • Neat, tidy appearance
  • Ability to show initiative and priorities work efficiently
  • Ability to work well within a team
  • Commitment to training and development
/
  • Able to understand the importance of boundaries in:
  • relationships with patients and their families
  • professional

Other relevant requirements /
  • Willingness to, and interest in, acquiring new skills
  • Ability to work in a demanding environment
  • Ability to be flexible re working hours

09/09/2018