Health Care Assistant (HCA) Maternity Cover

Job summary
At Nightingale House Hospice, we believe in making every moment matter. We pride ourselves in providing compassionate care in our community, through comfort, dignity, and support to individuals and families facing life's most profound challenges. Join us in our mission to make a difference and leave a legacy of care and compassion.

The successful candidate will be joining a friendly and passionate team that enjoys working in our newly developed state of the art Inpatient Unit.

Main duties of the job
We are looking for an exceptional Health Care Support Worker to join our dedicated multi-disciplinary team providing high standards of holistic care to our patients and their families under the direction of registered nursing staff to our patients living with life limiting conditions. You will work as part of the team to provide holistic person-centred care, integrating health care with psychological, physical, rehabilitative and spiritual needs.

The Main Duties of the role are

• To provide evidence-based care directly to patients and their families, maintaining consistently high standards in collaboration with registered nursing staff.
• To work within the policy and procedural guidelines of the hospice at all times maintaining safety of both patients and staff.
• To assess patients condition and needs and report findings of assessment to registered nursing staff.

About us
We are an ambitious organisation providing specialist palliative care services, completely free-of-charge, to patients and their families across a wide area stretching from Wrexham, Flintshire, and East Denbighshire to Barmouth and the border towns including Oswestry and Whitchurch.

Details
Closing date: 30 October 2026
Salary: £25,159.61 a year plus enhancements 15% for nights and 26% for weekends
Contract: Fixed term, 12 months
Working pattern: Full-time, Part-time
Reference number: B0080-26-0021
Location: Chester Road, Wrexham, Clwyd, LL11 2SJ

Job responsibilities
Clinical

• To provide direct nursing care to patients working independently when appropriate or in partnership with registered nurses when patient needs demand this.
• To work together with the multi-disciplinary team to maintain a holistic approach to patient care reporting concerns as necessary to team members.
• To work as a team to help families as needed, reporting any difficulties to the registered nursing staff.
• To observe and report accurately on patients general condition ensuring that all information is communicated by taking part in discussion and recording relevant information in patients records to comply with legal and professional requirements.
• To maintain a high standard of nursing care.
• To help ensure a safe working environment including knowledge of necessary policies (fire and health and safety policy) and ensure equipment used is in good working order. Report accidents to Senior Nurse.
• To demonstrate communication skills at a level appropriate to your role and responsibilities with patients and families.
• To assist with maintaining the general cleanliness of the unit and any housekeeping that is required.
• To undertake clinical observations as required and be competent to identify results which fall outside normal limits.
• To assist and support volunteers with their role.
• To perform designated nursing tasks as agreed with Ward Manager or nurse in charge and dependant on competencies and training.

Management & Supervisory

• To assist and support volunteers with their role.
• To provide mentorship to new staff members
• To generate and maintain a friendly team spirit with all staff at the hospice including volunteers.
• To plan own workload in collaboration with registered nurses.
• Demonstrate positive and professional behaviours at all times

Clinical Governance

• To act as a mentor to CQF trainees to help support and enhance their progress.
• Ensure practice is in line with health and safety, infection prevention and control measures.

Education and Development

• To attend such courses/lectures/mandatory/non-mandatory in-service training as indicated by the needs of the service and own personal developments as identified.
• To have a written appraisal by your line manager at least annually, with the opportunity for review of objectives.

Research and Development

• To undertake surveys or audits as necessary to own work to support the process of audit within the clinical area.

Person Specification
Essential qualifications

• QCF level 2 or equivalent experience/qualifications OR NVQ Level 2 in health/social care related subject or equivalent experience/qualifications
• Willingness to work toward QCF Level 3
• Good knowledge of anatomy and physiology

Desirable qualifications

• ECDL

Essential skills, knowledge and behaviour

• The ability to communicate clearly and accurately
• Vital signs recording e.g. blood pressure, pulse, resps
• The ability to change to new and challenging circumstances.
• The ability to work well alone under supervision and to understand when to seek clinical advice from registered staff.
• IT skills and knowledge.
• Works well as a team member
• Good decision-making skills.
• Ability to work independently within professional boundaries.
• Ability to approach any situation in a calm, professional manner.

Desirable skills

• Welsh speaker
• Ability to affect change in a positive manner.

Essential experience

• Experience of working as a HCA without direct supervision in a clinical setting and being managed by a qualified practitioner
• Good understanding of risk assessment and management
• Understanding of the needs of people with life limiting conditions.

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.

Employer details
Employer name: Nightingale House Hospice
Website: https://www.nightingalehouse.co.uk/
Contact: hr@nightingalehouse.co.uk, 01978316811

This post is subject to the Terms and Conditions of employment of the Hospice as specified in the Staff Handbook. Nightingale House Hospice's privacy notice applies to all applicants.