Community Health Care Assistant - Acute

Job Introduction

North London Hospice is a registered charity that has been caring for local people since 1984. We are committed to empowering patients with life limiting illnesses, supporting them to achieve the best quality of life possible. As well as our inpatient unit at Woodside Avenue, we work within the wider community including our Outpatient and Wellbeing services; our support to patients in their own homes; our Community Specialist Palliative Care services; and our Patient and Family Support teams, providing emotional and practical support to patients, their families, and carers.

The First Contact Palliative Care Team provides initial clinical needs assessment to identify urgency of care requirements for patients on their first contact with the hospice.

The Palliative Care Teams provide holistic, skilled, high-quality, patient centred palliative care to patients in the community. Care is delivered in their usual place of residence, at home or in a care home.

Main Responsibilities

Responsible for implementing and maintaining high standards of physical and emotional care for individual patients in their own home, providing skilled care, advice and support to patients and their carers. This role involves lone working.

• To provide appropriate physical, emotional and spiritual care, for named patients with palliative care needs, in their own homes, under the direction of the PCSS Team Lead, in agreement with the patient and family, enabling them to be supported in their preferred place of care / preferred place of death and preventing unwanted / unnecessary admissions to hospital.
• To provide physical care complying with moving & handling policy and continually perform risk assessment in the patient’s home whilst empowering and enabling families to care for the patient
• Communicate effectively and appropriately with patients and carers and liaise with other professionals involved in their care, all working cohesively to ensure consistent high standard of care for individual at home.
• Monitors the patient’s condition and reports changes in symptoms and condition to other health care professionals as necessary
• Supports patients with the self-administration of prescribed oral medication where the patient is self-medicating and no carer available. Also, carries out regular monitoring of syringe driver function whilst caring for a patient and undertakes first line troubleshooting when problems occur.
• Works with patients, their families, and friends in a sensitive and flexible manner, demonstrating an awareness of the impact of death, dying and bereavement and recognising that patient priorities and ability to communicate may vary over time
• Demonstrate awareness of emotional needs of patients and families and the sensitivity and communication skills required to meet these needs and demonstrate effective communication with patients and/or carers to manage unpredictable and/or volatile situations effectively.
• To be aware of the function and use of equipment commonly used in the care of palliative care patients.
• Work sensitively with families and carers to support them immediately after the death of the patient and, if required, provide care for the deceased patient by administering last offices as appropriate.
• Key working relationships daily – patients, Clinical specialists and PCSS team, managers & leaders, volunteers, nursing students. Occasional - external medical professionals, post life professionals (such as undertakers), work experience placements and other people as appropriate
• Any other reasonable duties required within the scope of the role.

Infection Control

• Maintain the highest standards of infection control
• Familiarise with, and adhere to, North London Hospice Infection Control Processes, Policies and Procedures

Health and Safety

• Understand individual safety and security responsibilities
• Familiarise with, and adhere to, the relevant health, safety and security policies across North London Hospice
• Be aware and work to support own personal health and safety and the health and safety of others across the Hospice
• Maintain patient, personal and organisational confidentiality at all times. This includes patient medical and financial information; employee record; student records; financial

Confidentiality

• Maintain patient, personal, and organisational confidentiality at all times. This includes patient
  medical and financial information; employee records; student records; financial and operating data of North London Hospice and any other information that is of a private or sensitive nature
• Familiarise with, and adhere to, the relevant confidentiality policies within North London Hospice

The Ideal Candidate

Education and Qualifications

• NVQ in related topic or similar - essential

Experience and Knowledge

• Demonstrable experience in a healthcare setting – essential
• Able to recognise and report changes in the condition of the patient - essential
• Basic IT skills - essential
• Experience in palliative care - desirable
• Knowledge of infection control practices – desirable

Personal Qualities and Abilities

• Able to work without direct supervision and use initiative - essential
• Excellent communication and empathy skills – essential
• Ability to work independently and as part of a team – essential
• Positive attitude to change – essential
• Flexibility (with shifts) – essential