Community-Based Healthcare Assistant (Choose Home)
Job Description
Job summary
Are you passionate about delivering high quality personal care and holistic support to patients and families facing life-limiting and terminal illnesses, in the comfort of their own homes? If so, this could be the role for you! Choose Home exists to avoid unnecessary hospice and hospital admissions at end of life, in attempt to support people to remain at home in line with their known preferences.
Main duties of the job
Are you passionate about delivering high quality personal care and holistic support to patients and families facing life-limiting and terminal illnesses, in the comfort of their own homes? If so, this could be the role for you! Choose Home exists to avoid unnecessary hospice and hospital admissions at end of life, in attempt to support people to remain at home in line with their known preferences.
About us
St Christophers, in our experience, is an extraordinary place to work.
Our aim at St Christophers is to deliver care and support that is of the highest quality to our patients, their families and carers and anyone else who looks to us for help. We know that people working across our organisation will only be able to provide this if they in turn, feel supported in their endeavours.
Job responsibilities
About Us:
St Christopher's Hospice was founded in 1967 by Dame Cicely Saunders, and formed part of the modern hospice movement. Proudly celebrating over 50 years and with a turnover of over £20 million, we provide invaluable care and support to over 6,000 people across the five London Boroughs of Bromley, Croydon, Lambeth, Lewisham and Southwark.
Your New Role:
Are you passionate about delivering high quality personal care and holistic support to patients and families facing life-limiting and terminal illnesses, in the comfort of their own homes? If so, this could be the role for you!
Choose Home exists to avoid unnecessary hospice and hospital admissions at end of life, in attempt to support people to remain at home in line with their known preferences.
The service provides temporary support to patients already under St. Christopher's across the five London Boroughs of Bromley, Croydon, Lambeth, Lewisham and Southwark. This is most typically as emergency bridging of personal care, whilst statutory arrangements are sought- But can also include: Emotional support, last offices, practical guidance, skill-sharing for family members and other professionals, and supporting the transition from hospice or hospital back to own home.
This role also includes rotational working on our inpatient unit, to support continuous practical updates and professional development within a supportive environment.
Your typical day will include attending office at Sydenham to review the day ahead, before journeying across the boroughs to support patients with all elements of personal care.
· Dressing, mobility, mouthcare, repositioning, skincare, toileting, washing etc.
Essential Criteria:
- A full UK driving license
- Recent experience of working as a HCA or in a similar role
- Willingness to complete mandatory CARE certificate, if not already holding this
To Succeed in this Role:
- Ability to work within needs of service across a 7-day rota, in 5 London Boroughs
- Adaptable care approach to accommodate a range of needs and preferences
- CARE Certificate or NVQ L2 in Health & Social Care or equivalent
- Caring, compassionate, patient and understanding towards all stakeholders
- Confident working both independently and within a team setup
What We Offer:
This is an exciting opportunity to join a small but supportive team, with access to a much broader multidisciplinary workforce in a hospice setting- Enriching your existing skills in holistic palliative and end-of-life care, with training opportunities which further nurture and value your contributions available at our CARE centre.
We also offer several staff health and wellbeing schemes, a competitive contributory pension scheme and Life Assurance scheme with generous beneficiary plan. You also will have access to free off-street parking nearby, and an onsite staff canteen.
Please Note: Candidate(s) must hold a full UK driving license - Please see our full person spec.
Please have a look at our website for further information on all aspects of St Christopher's at www.stchristophers.org.uk and to apply for this position, please click the 'Apply Online' button below
Closing Date: 28th June 2026
In the event we receive a high volume of applications, we reserve the right to close the job earlier than the initial closing date.
Person Specification
Qualifications
Essential
- ESSENTIAL: NVQ Level 3
Desirable
- Palliative Care Qualification
Experience
Essential
- ESSENTIAL: Good level of recent experience of working as a Health Care Assistant or a Senior Care Worker in a health and social care environment
Desirable
- Experience of working effectively in a multi-disciplinary team
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.
Employer details
Employer name
St Christopher's Hospice
Address
St Christopher's - Sydenham
51-59 Lawrie Park Road
Sydenham
London
SE26 6DZ
United Kingdom
