Healthcare Assistant (Nights) – Community Hospice Services

Please note, this role will expire on: {Expiry Date}

Hours: Up to 37.5 hours per week (part-time hours will be considered)

Shift Pattern: 22:00 to 07:00, Monday to Sunday

Location: Community-based across West Essex and East Hertfordshire

At St Clare Hospice, our Community Hospice Services team provides specialist palliative and end of life care to people in their own homes across West Essex and East Hertfordshire.

We are looking for compassionate and dedicated Healthcare Assistants to join our night team, delivering care and support to patients and families when they need it most.

This is a rewarding opportunity to provide personalised care within patients’ own homes, helping people remain comfortable, supported and cared for in their preferred place of care. Every night brings the chance to make a meaningful difference to patients and those important to them during some of life’s most significant moments.

The Role

As a Community Healthcare Assistant, you will work overnight in patients’ homes, providing hands-on care, emotional support and observation throughout the night.

While you will often be the healthcare professional present with the patient, you will be part of a highly supportive overnight hospice team with access to experienced clinical support when required. This allows you to work independently while knowing that advice, guidance and escalation support are always available.

What You Will Do

You will:

• Deliver personal care with dignity, compassion and respect

• Provide comfort, reassurance and emotional support to patients and those important to them

• Support patients whose condition may be changing or deteriorating

• Observe and report changes in condition, escalating concerns appropriately

• Support families before and after death

• Complete accurate electronic documentation

• Work safely within patients’ homes, recognising and responding to risks as they arise

• Contribute to effective handovers and communication with the wider hospice team

• Promote patients’ comfort, wellbeing and independence wherever possible

No two nights are the same. This role requires adaptability, empathy and sound judgement, alongside the ability to work independently while remaining connected to a supportive team.

About You

You will have experience working as a Healthcare Assistant or in a similar care role and be committed to delivering outstanding person-centred care.

We are looking for someone who:

• Is compassionate, reliable and professional

• Communicates effectively with patients, families and colleagues

• Demonstrates kindness, empathy and emotional resilience

• Remains calm and organised when situations change

• Is confident working independently overnight while recognising when to seek support and guidance

• Understands the importance of identifying concerns and escalating appropriately

• Values teamwork and collaborative working

• Shares the values and ethos of St Clare Hospice

Experience in palliative care, end of life care or community-based care would be advantageous but is not essential.

A full UK driving licence and access to a vehicle for work purposes are essential.

Why Join Us?

This is an opportunity to be part of a team that delivers exceptional end of life care to people within their own homes and communities.

At St Clare Hospice, we are committed to supporting our staff to thrive. Although this is a community-based role, you will be part of an experienced and supportive multidisciplinary team, with access to clinical support throughout every night shift.

For an informal conversation about the role, please call Alice Jones, Head of AHP on 07903 631843 or email on

Please read the job description for further details.

In return for your commitment, we offer a competitive salary and pension options. We also provide strong development support and learning opportunities.

Right to Work

Please note St Clare Hospice do not hold a Certificate of Sponsorship, we are therefore unable to sponsor visa applications.

Please note we reserve the right to close the advert once we receive sufficient applications, so recommend an early application.

If you require any assistance regarding the application process, please telephone the HR Team, on 01279 773715 or email

We are committed to promoting equality, diversity and inclusion. We recognise that everyone is different, and we value the unique contribution that individual experiences, knowledge and skills make in delivering quality services. Which means, we encourage applications from people of all backgrounds and abilities.

Please note that a DBS check will be undertaken as part of our pre-employment checks for the successful candidate.