Health Care Assistant - 12 months contract

Job summary
To deliver a range of patient care duties under the direct supervision of registered nurses and to assist registered staff in the provision of high-quality palliative care for patients, their relatives and carers.

Main duties of the job

• Maintain appropriate, sensitive, caring and tactful relationships with patients, families and carers.
• Assist in the implementation of all care for which they are competent to practice under the direct supervision of registered staff, in accordance with St Giles Hospice policies and procedures.
• Demonstrate a knowledge of care procedures and clinical observations etc. that are consistent with NVQ Level 2 or equivalent.
• Assist patients to maintain all aspects of daily living activities in accordance with individual programmes of care with close supervision of registered nurses.
• To maintain patients personal hygiene and appearance.
• To assist with eating and drinking.
• To assist with toileting and with (access to) toilet facilities.
• To help to make patients as comfortable as possible.
• To help patients to make the best of whatever time they have left, in whatever way they can.

About us
St Giles Hospice is a registered charity founded in 1983 by the Reverend Paul Brothwell, originally to improve the care of local people dying with cancer.

We now support patients, and their loved ones, living with a terminal illness. Our dedicated team provides individually-tailored care, free of charge, either at the hospice or in patients own homes across our communities.

We spend close to £10 million a year providing our specialist services. With less than a quarter of this funded by the Government, we rely heavily on donations and income generation from the local community.

Details
Date posted: 23 October 2026
Pay scheme: Other
Salary: £25,225.80 to £26,151.70 a year plus enhancements where applicable
Contract: Fixed term
Duration: 12 months
Working pattern: Part-time
Reference number: B0379-26-0004
Job locations: Fisherwick Road, Whittington, Lichfield, Staffordshire, WS14 9LH, United Kingdom

Job responsibilities

• To support patients, and their relatives, as they approach end of life.
• To inform registered nurses of any significant changes in patients conditions.
• To signpost patients and relatives to other appropriate hospice services.
• Assist registered nursing staff in aspects of technical care and record keeping, e.g. taking and recording vital signs i.e. temperature, pulse, and respiration, urine testing and obtaining specimens.
• Exchange factual information with, and offer support as appropriate to patients, their families and carers and professional colleagues.
• Maintain accurate and timely paper and electronic records of patient care delivered in accordance with guidance and training provided.
• Ensure that confidentiality of information is maintained at all times.
• Assist with care after death.
• Assist with clinical procedures following appropriate training.
• Be aware of the health, safety and wellbeing of self, staff, patients and all others on hospice property and comply with the St Giles Hospice Health and Safety Policy.

Just so you know:
We may review applications before the application review date, however, if you apply after the application review date, your application may not be considered. We will accept applications until we have successfully filled the role, this may be earlier than the closing date.

If you have not heard within 14 days of the application close date, then please consider that your application has been unsuccessful at this time.

As part of your application your data will be managed in line with St Giles Hospice Privacy Policy and kept for 6 months. If you would like to see this in full, please visit https://www.stgileshospice.com/privacy-policy/

Person Specification
Experience
Essential

• Good standard of education
• Experience in a healthcare setting

Desirable

• Experience in palliative care or oncology
• Some understanding of caring for patients in a palliative care environment

Personal Attributes
Essential

• Empathetic
• Team player
• Able to work under pressure
• Collaborative
• Ambassador for St Giles Hospice

Qualifications
Essential

• Willingness to undertake study if required

Desirable

• Level 2 qualification in Health and Social Care

Skills
Essential

• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills
• IT Literate
• Compassionate
• Ability to be confidential

Values
Essential

• Exhibits our hospice values and behaviours

Other requirements
Essential

• Valid driving licence
• Eligibility to work in the UK
• Please note that St Giles Hospice does not hold a sponsorship licence and is therefore unable to accept sponsorship requests

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: St Giles Hospice
Address: Fisherwick Road, Whittington, Lichfield, Staffordshire, WS14 9LH, United Kingdom
Employer's website: https://www.stgileshospice.com/

Employer contact details
For questions about the job, contact: Kirsty Curtin, 01543432031

Privacy notice: St Giles Hospice's privacy notice