Bank Hospice Support Worker
Location: Alnwick – Berwick-upon-Tweed (and surrounding North Northumberland community)
About Us
HospiceCare North Northumberland is a local, independent palliative care charity serving a population of approximately 63,000 people. We provide high-quality end-of-life care in patients’ homes, supporting individuals and their families across North Northumberland.
Our services include:
- Hospice at Home care
- Bereavement support
- Dementia support services
All of our care is delivered free at the point of need, with compassion, dignity, and a strong focus on person-centred care.
The Role
We are expanding our dedicated Hospice at Home Team (BANK) and are looking for compassionate, flexible individuals to join us.
As a Hospice Support Worker, you will:
- Deliver high-quality clinical and personal care to patients in their own homes
- Support individuals with complex palliative and end-of-life care needs
- Provide emotional and practical support to patients and their families
- Work as part of a multidisciplinary palliative care team
While you will receive support and supervision from registered nurses, you will be expected to work independently in patients’ homes, adhering to all Hospice and clinical guidelines.
Hospice Support Workers are integral to both HospiceCare and the community nursing team, helping to ensure patients receive compassionate, dignified care at the most important time of their lives.
About You
We are looking for individuals who:
- Are passionate about delivering person-centred end-of-life care
- Can work flexibly and commit to a minimum of 20 hours availability per month
- Are confident working independently in the community
- Have experience in care (palliative care experience desirable but not essential)
- Demonstrate compassion, empathy, and excellent communication skills
What We Offer
In return, we provide:
- Competitive salary: £13.52 per hour
- Enhanced rates for weekends, Bank Holidays, and night shifts
- Generous sick pay scheme
- Paid DBS check
- Pension scheme
- Opportunities for funded training and development
How to Apply
Closing Date: Friday 3rd July 2026
JOB DESCRIPTION
Communication Skills
- Communication with patients, relatives, colleagues and Senior nursing staff at the Hospice to ensure the continuity of patient care.
- Listen to patients, their families and friends about their concerns related to end of life, and provide information and support as appropriate or escalate any concerns to senior staff.
- To identify and respond to any communication difficulties or barriers such as language/sensory problems/cognitive impairment.
- Work with patients, their families and friends in a sensitive and flexible manner, demonstrating awareness of the impact of death, dying and bereavement and recognising that their priorities and ability to communicate may vary over time.
- Communicate with tact and diplomacy with people who may be angry and upset and the ability to manage unpredictable and/or volatile situations effectively.
- Communicate with clients for whom English is not the first language, those who have communication/language difficulties and/or those who have cognitive impairment.
- Maintain records of care delivery and documentation within care plans, including the use of our electronic care planning system.
- Ensure confidentiality at all times.
Symptom Management, Maintaining Comfort and Wellbeing
- The performance of personal care tasks and clinical interventions delegated by registered nurses including simple dressings, catheter care, prompting of medication.
- Under the direction of a Registered Nurse follow all care plans implemented for that patient.
- Recognise and adhere to professional boundaries seeking support where appropriate.
- The delivery of personal care and support to patients with a life limiting/terminal illness and their families including the provision of emotional support and using own initiative in crisis situation.
- The safe moving and handling of patients and inanimate loads including safe use of appropriate equipment/aids. Attend all mandatory safe handling training and adhere to the health and Safety policy of HospiceCare North Northumberland Hospice at Home.
- To safely and correctly prompt, assist and/or administer medication.
- Assist patients to maintain quality of life.
Administrative/General
- Report all incidents, accidents or concerns to the Head of Care via the incident reporting system.
- Adhere to Hospice policies at all times.
- Complete and attend statutory and mandatory training as and when required.
- Awareness of vulnerable adults’ procedures and the detection of potentially abusive situations.
- To participate in continuing personal development.
- Attend 1-1 and appraisal when requested.
- Attend Hospice at Home team meetings where required.
PERSON SPECIFICATION
ESSENTIAL
· NVQ in Care Level 3 or Care Certificate at Level 3
· Relevant experience of working in a health or social care setting for a minimum one year.
· Communication skills, written and verbal.
· Good Interpersonal skills
· Organisational skills
· Proficient in the use of IT
· Experience of operating work-related equipment, aids and devices
· Commitment to HCNN as an organisation
· Commitment to quality care provision
· Full UK driving license
· Independently mobile
· Enhanced DBS Disclosure with barred list search
DESIRABLE
· Knowledge and understanding the principles of delivering care to patients in their home.
· Level 3 - Safe Handling of Medication
· Recent experience of working in a setting delivering care at end of life
· Knowledge of legislation relating to care and health work and relevant NICE guidance.
· Awareness and understanding of common problems at the end of life, which may impede physical, mental or social functioning.
· Awareness of vulnerable adults’ procedures and the detection of potentially abusive situations.
· Navigational skills in order to locate patient homes during the day and at night, occasionally in remote locations and in adverse weather conditions.
This role description is intended as a description of minimum standards of responsibilities of the post holder and is not exhaustive and may be subject to review in consultation with the post holder.
For more information on the services provided by HospiceCare, please visit our website: www.hospicecare-nn.org.uk
For an informal discussion about this post please contact Ann Corak, Head of Care, on T. 01665 606515 or Email: [email protected]
Please send CV’s to [email protected]
Privacy Statement: By applying for this role, you consent to the processing of your personal data by HospiceCare for recruitment purposes. Your data will be handled in accordance with our privacy policy and applicable data protection laws, including the UK GDPR. We will store your information securely and only for as long as necessary.
Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion Statement: HospiceCare North Northumberland is an equal opportunities organisation committed to equality, diversity, and inclusion. We welcome applications from all sections of the community. We are proud to support the Armed Forces community and welcome applications from veterans, reservists, and the partners or family members of serving personnel. We recognise the valuable skills, knowledge, and experience they bring to our work. Wherever possible, we provide flexible arrangements to accommodate training, deployment, or other commitments, ensuring fair and inclusive recruitment and selection processes.
Safeguarding Statement: We are committed to safeguarding the welfare of vulnerable adults and children. All posts are subject to appropriate checks, including references and DBS.
Job Type: Permanent
Pay: £13.52 per hour
Work Location: In person
