Job Summary
The successful applicant will work as part of the Palliative Care Team supporting patients who are in the last hours to days of life as well as their loved ones, helping the ward teams to deliver holistic individualised care. The post holder will offer bereavement support/signposting to families and loved ones. The end of life support assistant will aid the team to develop services and improve quality of care for those in the last days of life.
Main duties of the job
To work with ward teams to complete and implement holistic, individualised plans of care for all patients who are in the last days/hours of life.
To be able to identify signs and symptoms of distress, including pain, breathlessness, agitation, secretions, spiritual or psychological anguish and liaise with ward staff.
To assist ward teams to provide basic personal care of patient in last days of life when needed, including mouth care, positional changes, comfort and dignity care and assistance with diet and fluids.
Provide family members/significant others with spiritual, psychological, emotional and practical support.
Collaborate and communicate with the palliative care and ward teams to ensure the provision of appropriate services to maximise the quality of care of the dying patient and their families/friends.
communicate sensitive information to patients, carers and staff.
Act as patient advocate and facilitator to resolve issues that may be perceived as barriers to care.
Assist the Clinical Nurse Specialists to develop education and information resources for the public and other professionals.
Act as a resource to ward staff, advising on resources available to support end of life care. Participate in data audit activity.
Person Specification
Experience
Essential
- Understanding of Information Governance and Confidentiality
- Demonstrate a knowledge of common symptoms at the end of life.
- Excellent communication skills, verbal and written.
- Ability to manage sensitive, and distressing situations.
- Willingness to learn.
- Competent in Excel spreadsheets.
- Experience of caring for dying patients.
- Experience of supporting families/informal carers.
- Experience of working with multi-professional teams
Qualifications
Essential
- Good standard of education equivalent of Maths and English GCSE at Grade C or above.
- NVQ4 or NVQ3 plus additional training to diploma level equivalent, or equivalent through short courses.
- Computer literate essential (able to use clinical systems, Word, Powerpoint and basic Excel)
- Evidence of continuing professional development.
- Experience of teaching, delivering talks to a small number of people.
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.
Applications from job seekers who require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website (Opens in a new tab).
From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants, applying for entry clearance into the UK, have had to present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Adult dependants (over 18 years old) are also subject to this requirement. Guidance can be found here Criminal records checks for overseas applicants (Opens in a new tab).
Closing Date: 04 June 2026
