Job Description

Are you looking for a truly rewarding role where you can make a difference in the lives of people with life-limiting illnesses?
As a Healthcare Assistant at St Peter & St James Hospice, youll play a vital role in supporting our dedicated nursing team, delivering compassionate, personalised palliative care to patients and their loved ones in our hospice ward. If youre a caring, empathetic person who thrives in a team and wants to make a real impact, wed love to hear from you!

• Location: North Common Rd, North Chailey, Haywards Heath BN8 4ED
• Contract: Permanent, part-time
• Working hours: 34.5 hours per week
• Salary:22,160 per annum (24,087 FTE per annum)
• Closing Date: 26th October 2025 (Early applications encouraged as we will be shortlisting as applications are received).
• Shifts: Flexible scheduling, Monday to Sunday, including nights and weekends

We encourage you to apply directly via our website, to give us the opportunity to contact you for an informal discussion ahead of the closing date - a chance to learn more about the role, our team, and how you could contribute. Please use the link provided in the 'Supporting Links' section of this advert to submit your application.
Main duties of the job
What Youll Do:

• Assist Registered Nurses in delivering individualised palliative care
• Provide high-quality, compassionate support to patients and their families
• Ensure dignity, respect, and sensitivity in all aspects of care
• Work as part of a supportive, multi-professional team

What Were Looking For:

• Kindness, empathy, and a passion for care
• Excellent communication and teamwork skills
• Ability to work independently and with confidence
• Flexibility to work varied shifts, including nights and weekends
• Own transport is essential for commuting

Experience in a care setting (hospital, community, or care home) is an advantage, but not essential well provide full training!
This is a fantastic opportunity for someone who is compassionate, eager to learn, and ready to start a meaningful career in palliative care.
About us
At St Peter & St James Hospice, we believe that our people are at the heart of what we do. Join us and be part of a team that truly makes a difference every single day.
For more information or an informal chat about the role, please contact Alice, Ward Manager on athomas@stpjhospice.org.
We encourage you to apply directly via our website, to give us the opportunity to contact you for an informal discussion ahead of the closing date - a chance to learn more about the role, our team, and how you could contribute. Please use the link provided in the 'Supporting Links' section of this advert to submit your application.
Details
Date posted
26 September 2025
Pay scheme
Agenda for change
Band
Band 2
Salary
22,160 a year (24,087 FTE per annum)
Contract
Permanent
Working pattern
Part-time
Reference number
B0360-25-0012
Job locations
North Common Road
North Chailey
Lewes
East Sussex
BN8 4ED
Job description
Job responsibilities
Work collaboratively with Registered Nurses in planning the delivery of quality holisticnursing care for patients.
Provide individualised patient-centred personal care to patients in the Hospice and thecommunity, under the guidance of Registered Nurses. To be responsive and available to thepatients needs as appropriate.
Report changes in condition noticed in patients and work with the multi-professional teamto adapt care appropriately.
When working in the community and working without direct supervision, know how toresponsibly report any concerns or changes about the patient's condition in a timelymanner.
Undertake extended healthcare assistant roles when assessed as competent, under thesupervision of a qualified practitioner. This may include taking observations, drug checking,catheter care.
Ensure the patients dietary needs are evaluated and met by helping patients with their mealchoices, issuing meals and feeding patients as appropriate.
Support the use of mobility equipment if necessary and practice its safe use with the patient(e.g. walking frames, leg lifters).
Contribute to the keeping of accurate and relevant records by recording and evaluating thecare provided.
Care for the deceased patient by administering last offices in line with Hospice policy andensuring the safe and timely removal of the body from the hospice.
Work to ensure that clinical areas are well maintained and comply with health and safetyregulations, ensuring the safe use of equipment and storage of materials.
Develop and maintain effective communications with patients and those important to them,in a way that respects their views, autonomy and culture.
Contribute to emotional support for patients and/or carers, particularly during admission,breaking of bad news and time of death and bereavement, recognising own limitations andreferring to the Registered Nurses as appropriate. Job description
Job responsibilities
Work collaboratively with Registered Nurses in planning the delivery of quality holisticnursing care for patients.
Provide individualised patient-centred personal care to patients in the Hospice and thecommunity, under the guidance of Registered Nurses. To be responsive and available to thepatients needs as appropriate.
Report changes in condition noticed in patients and work with the multi-professional teamto adapt care appropriately.
When working in the community and working without direct supervision, know how toresponsibly report any concerns or changes about the patient's condition in a timelymanner.
Undertake extended healthcare assistant roles when assessed as competent, under thesupervision of a qualified practitioner. This may include taking observations, drug checking,catheter care.
Ensure the patients dietary needs are evaluated and met by helping patients with their mealchoices, issuing meals and feeding patients as appropriate.
Support the use of mobility equipment if necessary and practice its safe use with the patient(e.g. walking frames, leg lifters).
Contribute to the keeping of accurate and relevant records by recording and evaluating thecare provided.
Care for the deceased patient by administering last offices in line with Hospice policy andensuring the safe and timely removal of the body from the hospice.
Work to ensure that clinical areas are well maintained and comply with health and safetyregulations, ensuring the safe use of equipment and storage of materials.
Develop and maintain effective communications with patients and those important to them,in a way that respects their views, autonomy and culture.
Contribute to emotional support for patients and/or carers, particularly during admission,breaking of bad news and time of death and bereavement, recognising own limitations andreferring to the Registered Nurses as appropriate.
Person Specification
Qualifications
Desirable

• Evidence of level 2 Apprenticeship or Diploma in a Health-related
• subject.
• Willingness to study for NVQ Level 2 or 3 and/or undertake
• further education in palliative care / attend study days.

Experience
Essential

• Experience working as part of a large team in a healthcare setting
• Confidence in use of IT and able to demonstrate good literacy and numeracy skills
• Excellent verbal and written communication and interpersonal skills and good command of spoken English (assessed at
• interview).
• Understanding of the confidentiality of information about
• patients, staff and other health service business and requirements of the Data Protection Act (2018) and General Data Protection Regulation (2018)

Desirable

• Understanding of the Code of Conduct for Health Care Support Workers and Adult Social Care Workers in England.

Person Specification
Qualifications
Desirable

• Evidence of level 2 Apprenticeship or Diploma in a Health-related
• subject.
• Willingness to study for NVQ Level 2 or 3 and/or undertake
• further education in palliative care / attend study days.

Experience
Essential

• Experience working as part of a large team in a healthcare setting
• Confidence in use of IT and able to demonstrate good literacy and numeracy skills
• Excellent verbal and written communication and interpersonal skills and good command of spoken English (assessed at
• interview).
• Understanding of the confidentiality of information about
• patients, staff and other health service business and requirements of the Data Protection Act (2018) and General Data Protection Regulation (2018)

Desirable

• Understanding of the Code of Conduct for Health Care Support Workers and Adult Social Care Workers in England.

Skills Required