Health Care Assistants will work as part of a team to support the clinical team and outside agencies in providing specialised short break and palliative care. Due to the wide range of health needs of the children, the health care assistant will be trained to competently and confidently carry out clinical skills to ensure the babies and children are safe and comfortable. The postholder will ensure that all care and interactions are of the highest standards. Following robust competency assessments, the postholder will carry out clinical care, and provide holistic individualised care and support to children and their families.

Click here for the full job description or to apply – Health Care Assistant Job

Main duties of the job

Maintain high standards that reflect best practice guidelines, organisational policies, and hospice values. Actively encourage a family atmosphere within the hospice. Ensure good time management and punctuality and maintain a professional appearance at all times. Conduct yourself at all times in a professional manner. Adhere to Zoes Place policies and procedures, guidelines and standards at all times and promote these to others. Ensure that all patient notes are accurate and thorough in accordance with professional and organisational standards. Attend and participate in an annual appraisal and regular reviews of performance and objectives, identifying gaps in knowledge/skills and developing a plan to enhance service and self-development. Encourage and promote the philosophy of Zoes Place and present a good public image. Co-operate with all staff in maintaining good relationships with outside agencies in order to uphold the Charitys image and win increased support for our work. Report any incidents and accidents to the Nurse in charge in a timely manner and ensure that they are recorded in the appropriate documentation. Promote and maintain dignity, privacy and confidentiality at all times.  

Qualifications

Essential

• NVQ level 2 / Care certificate

Experience

Essential

• Experience working as a HCA or in a school, nursery, healthcare environment

Desirable

• Experience of working with children and families with complex needs and life limiting illnesses.

 

About us

Zoes Place Baby Hospice is nurse-led, providing 24-hour short breaks and end of life support for babies and children up to the age of six (extended to age 8 years as needed) who have life-limiting and life-threatening complex needs.

Closing Date: 25th March 2026

JOB SUMMARY The Housekeeper will ensure that the hospice is cleaned to a high standard and that a hygienic environment is maintained at all times. They will follow infection prevention and control regulations and hospice-specific guidelines. The Housekeeper will be flexible, and sensitive to the ethos of the Zoe’s Place home-from-home environment.   About us Zoe’s Place Baby Hospice is nurse-led, providing 24-hour short breaks and end of life support for babies and children up to the age of six (extended to age 8 years as needed) who have life-limiting/life-threatening complex needs.   Service delivery Ensure that all aspects of the role specification are met and that the service provided is culturally sensitive and appropriate for all sections of the communities we serve.   Main duties of the job

• Maintain high standards that reflect best practice guidelines, organisational policies, and the Hospice values.
• Ensure that all areas of the building are cleaned in accordance with the specifications laid down for each room together with specific requests by the Nurse in charge.
• Operate all machinery in accordance with health and safety requirements and with the specification and training for each item of appropriate equipment.
• Clean all surfaces and areas as appropriate within the building and the surrounding areas.
• Keep up-to-date with current cleaning products and guidelines suitable for clinical use.
• Clean all toilet areas and bathrooms as necessary.
• Ensure that all kitchen areas are cleaned to a high standard.
• Manage stock control and arrange the ordering of necessary housekeeping equipment and cleaning supplies.
• Report any faults with equipment and where necessary to remove items from use until repaired or replaced.
• Maintain the security of the building and property whilst on site.
• Complete and attend all mandatory and discretionary training deemed essential to the role.
• Comply with and work within Zoe’s Place policies and procedures.

  Other duties and skills required General

• Communicate effectively within the team and build good working relationships.
• Have a knowledge and understanding of confidentiality and its importance within clinical care.
• Behave in a professional manner with due regard to conduct and dress.
• Understanding of COSHH regulations.
• Awareness of the policies and procedures in place within the Organisation.
• Willing to maintain all health and safety standards and report any damages or loss to property.
• Knowledge of infection prevention and control procedures and their importance in a healthcare setting.
• Manage, clean, label and dispose of all spillages including bodily spillages in compliance with infection prevention and control and COSHH regulations.
• Flexibility to accommodate the duties of the role which may alter over time to meet the changing circumstances of the service.
• Good time-keeping.

  Communication and relationships

• Maintain appropriate and respectful professional relationships with patients, families, colleagues, other staff and stakeholders to enhance service delivery.
• Ensure effective communication is maintained between staff on each shift.
• Maintain accurate record-keeping and documentation.
• Be aware of the Zoe’s Place Freedom to speak up: raising concerns/whistleblowing policy and signpost staff to this policy if they have any concerns.
• Understand and adhere to professional boundaries within a health care setting.
• Maintain effective communication with families and children with a range of complex care needs and disabilities.

  Training, education and standards

• Ensure that all mandatory and relevant training is completed.
• Assist with housekeeping audits as asked by the clinical team.

  Health and safety

• Comply with all organisational policies, procedures or systems of work and ensure that they are cascaded appropriately to the clinical team.
• Take reasonable care of your own health and safety and that of others who may be affected by what you do or do not do.
• Ensure a safe working environment by ensuring the reporting of hazards and incidents.
• Provide any information requested to assist the Head of Care and the Deputy Head of Care in any investigations of incidents relating to clinical care.
• Ensure that COSHH data sheets and inventory are up-to-date.
• Attend health and safety meetings.

  Infection prevention and control

• Follow all infection prevention and control policies ensuring these are adhered to by all staff, so that patients are cared for in a clean environment and receive the highest standards of clinical care.
• Attend any infection prevention and control meetings at the request of the Head of Care.
• Ensure that you use the personal protective equipment provided by the Zoe’s Place.
• Ensure that infection prevention and control in the hospice environment is maintained at a high standard and encourage staff to do the same.
• Ensure compliance with and implementation of recommendations from internal and external IPC audit.

  This job description is not an exhaustive description of the role and will develop and change to meet the evolving needs of the service.   To Apply fill in this Application form HERE and email it to beth.ogara@zoes-place.org.uk Head of Care Please get in touch if you have any questions or queries about the position on 01642 457985