Healthcare Support Worker - Palliative Care

Healthcare Support Worker - Palliative Care

Band 3

Main area Macmillan Unit Grade Band 3 Contract 12 months (This is a fixed term role) Hours Part time - 30 hours per week (Full Flexibility Required) Job ref 153-SP06743-B

Department name 01. UHD - General Recruitment Site Christchurch Hospital Town Christchurch Salary £25,760 - £27,476 pa/pr Salary period Yearly Closing 12/10/ :59 Interview date 19/10/2026

As University Hospitals Dorset we are a three site acute trust with ‘university hospital’ status through our partnership with Bournemouth University, working with an annual budget of £730m.

We offer highly regarded health services, employing some 10,000 staff. Our ambitious £500m transformation programme is well on the way to delivering state-of-the-art facilities over the next two years to meet the current and future healthcare needs of the populations we serve.

In an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty with over seven miles of sandy beaches you’ll find inspirational opportunities to achieve your perfect work/life balance. With the New Forest and the Purbecks on our doorstep, we’re also less than three hours from London by road or train. The thriving towns of Poole, Bournemouth and Christchurch give way to idyllic villages and unspoilt landscapes just minutes from our hospitals.

We believe that having a diverse workforce, and allowing people to be themselves, is essential in ensuring we offer an inclusive, welcoming and productive place to work.

We especially welcome applications from minority groups in the community who may be underrepresented in our workforce.

At UHD our active staff network groups are the Women's Network, Black Asian Minority Ethnic Group (BAME), Pride Network, European (EU), Pro Ability Staff Network, and the Armed Forces Support Group.

As a Trust we are proudly signed up to the Disability Confident and Armed Forces Covenant guaranteed interview schemes.

We are aware that some candidates may choose to use AI tools to support the preparation of their application. While this is not discouraged, we kindly remind applicants that submissions should remain an honest and accurate representation of your own experience and suitability. Personal integrity is an important part of the recruitment process.

Job overview

An exciting opportunity has arisen for an experienced Health Care Assistant to join the specialist palliative care team working both within the community under hospice at home as well as the inpatient ward at the Macmillan Unit and Forest Holme. We provide palliative and End of Life Care to patients with life limiting disease. The successful candidate would need to be compassionate and demonstrate a keen interest in Palliative care. They would also demonstrate the ability to provide a high standard of quality care to our patients. The candidate needs to have excellent interpersonal skills and be able to work flexible hours. Previous NHS experience of working in palliative care environment is essential .

You will need to drive and have access to a car for this role.

The role covers shift work 7 days a week 24 hours a day.

New starters to the trust will have to undertake a numeracy and literacy test.

This post is being advertised as a Band 3, however applicants that do not meet the required care certificate competencies will initially be employed as a Band 2. Applicants who hold a care certificate accreditation will start in post at Band 3

Base Location: Christchurch Hospital / Forest Holme

Interview Date: 19th or 20th October 2026

Please note we are unable to offer sponsorship for this position.

This post may close early due to high numbers of applications, so you are advised to apply promptly.

Main duties of the job

To understand the role in more detail please read the full job description and person specification documents which are attached to this advert.

Working for our organisation

Our values define who we are as #TeamUHD. They underpin everything we do now and in the future. They define how we treat our patients, visitors, and each other, our valued team mates and colleagues.

If a role or service relocates as part of a planned move, excess mileage will not be reimbursed. Travel from home to the new work base will be classed as a normal commute. Any other changes will be managed under Trust or national terms and conditions.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

To understand the role in more detail please read the full job description and person specification documents which are attached to this advert.

Person specification

Qualifications

• Good standard of general education
• NVQ2/NVQ3

Experience

• Life Experience
• Previous experience of caring for people.
• Previous experience of looking after cancer or terminally ill patients.
• Previous experience working in palliative care environment in NHS
• Ability to complete paperwork accurately with required information.
• Ability to establish & maintain effective communication with people
• Good interpersonal skills
• Able to work within a stressful environment
• Participate within the learning environment
• Understanding of the importance of confidentiality
• Drive and have access to a car for work

Knowledge

• Good level of nursing care
• Knowledge of dying or bereavement.
• Basic understanding of the emotional needs of patients and their families

Interpersonal skills

• Good interpersonal skills including empathy and open minded approach to patients
• Sensitivity to the needs of others
• Emotionally able to work within the field of palliative care
• Able to understand the importance of boundaries in relationships with patients and their families

Other requirements specific to

• Willingness to and interest in acquiring new skills
• Ability to work in a demanding environment

Personal Attributes

• Ability to show initiative + prioritize work efficiently Motivated
• Ability to work as a part of the team.
• Ability to travel within the geographical areas as required by the service/requirements of the post.
• Ability to work flexible hours.

Please note:

Staff recruited are expected to be available to work flexibly across all our Trust locations to meet service demands.

This advert may be closed early if sufficient applications are received.

COVID-19 vaccination remains the best way to protect yourself and our patients from the virus when working in our healthcare settings. Whilst this vaccination is not a condition of employment we do encourage our staff to get vaccinated.

Internal Candidates: staff employed prior to merger who voluntarily change jobs will be appointed to UHD terms and conditions.

Employer certification / accreditation badges

This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975 (Amendment) (England and Wales) Order 2020 and it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service.

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