Health Care Assistant

1x4 hour session 9-1pm or 4-8pm
for 6 months

We receive a large number of applications for the Health Care Assistant roles so offer places on a one session a week basis for 6 months. Intakes are at the beginning of September and March each year.

Applications are encouraged from all sectors of the community wanting to gain experience in a health care setting. Applicants must be 17+ at the time they start their volunteering. Applications are considered in date order. Applications received after the cut off date will be put towards the next intake.

The Health Care Assistants (HCA’s) work a 4 hour session either 9am to 1 pm or 4pm to 8pm in the In Patient Unit assisting the Nursing staff in caring for the patients.
Typical duties include: serving meals, completing menus, filling water jugs, making beds, laundry, emptying clinical waste, personal care of patients, chatting to patients, completing patient records.

It is usually the evening and weekend sessions that appeal to students as these fit in better with their timetable. Due to the large number of applications for these roles we cannot offer every student a volunteer session. Alternative volunteering opportunities working with patients may be available.

Interviews are held twice a year, usually over 2 days, in January and June. These relate to start dates in March and September respectively. Where possible all applicants are offered an interview. Where more applications are received than interview times available some pre selection may have to be done and applicants carried over to the next intake.

Next deadline for applications is 15 June 2012 for a September 2012 start

Interviews are held in the Hospice by the Voluntary Services Manager and a Sister in Charge and last approx 30 mins. Applicants will also have the opportunity to ask questions and have a tour of the Hospice.

Applicants do not need to have any medical or voluntary experience; it is more important that they show maturity, an understanding of the services we provide and their perceived ability to work within an emotionally charged and challenging environment.

All applicants must submit 2 personal referee details on their application forms and complete a CRB check at the interview stage. As a volunteer the CRB check is free of charge.

Applicants need to provide 2 passport sized photographs for an ID badge. Every volunteer has to sign a volunteer agreement that details the commitment we expect from them over the 6 month period. Volunteers unable to comply with the agreement will be removed from the rota.

A mandatory induction session is held in the week before the 6 month period starts. Students are also paired up with a nursing auxiliary for the first few weeks for additional on the job training.

How to apply