Job summary
Our mission at Haven House is to provide the highest quality palliative and holistic care services to babies, children and young people and their families in our local communities.
We are currently looking for Senior Healthcare Support Workers to join our professional multi-disciplinary team of expert practitioners. The post holder will work as a skilled member of an integrated care team providing holistic care and support for individual children and young people with life limiting conditions and their families in the hospice, home or hospital as required.
Main duties of the job
The individual will work in partnership with the child or young person and their family as well as other services providing support and will be required to work a variety of shifts across 24 hours as the hospice provides care services 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.
As a Haven House Senior HCSW you will have the opportunity to spend quality time with each baby, child or young person enabling you to provide holistic personalised care in partnership with families. You will join a friendly focused team and will be supported to undertake a competency programme during your first three to six months in post.
In return, we will support your wellbeing and offer you a learning environment to develop your skills and competencies in paediatric palliative care, supported by our Education Team.
About us
This role is based at our beautiful woodland hospice in Woodford Green, offering free parking and easy access from the Central line.
Benefits
As a band 4 you will be entitled to the following range of benefits;
- Retention of your NHS pension (subject to criteria)
- Agenda for Change long holiday service entitlement pro rata if eligible
- Unsocial hours payments
- London Allowance
- Free on-site parking
- Employee assistance programme
- Eye care voucher scheme
- Cycle to work scheme
Details
- Date posted: 14 August 2026
- Pay scheme: Agenda for change
- Band: Band 4
- Salary: £28,392 to £31,157 a year pro rata plus LA and unsocial payment if applicable
- Contract: Permanent
- Working pattern: Part-time
- Reference number: B0186-26-0017
- Job locations: The White House, Woodford Green, Essex, IG8 9LB, United Kingdom
Job responsibilities
Job Summary
The Senior Healthcare Support Worker will work as part of the Integrated Care Team, delivering high-quality, compassionate and family-centred care to babies, children and young people with life-limiting and life-threatening conditions at the hospice or in their own home. The post is contracted at 22.5 hours per week, worked flexibly in accordance with a rota agreed with the Nursing Service Lead. Shifts run 9:00am5:00pm across all care settings. In term time, the post holder will primarily be rostered at weekends; during school holidays, shifts may fall on any day of the week, in order to meet service requirements.
Working under the direction of Registered Nurses and as part of the multidisciplinary team, the Senior Healthcare Support Worker will deliver person-centred care in accordance with individual care plans, delegated responsibilities and assessed competencies, escalating clinical concerns promptly to the Registered Nurse or Nurse in Charge.
As a senior member of the Healthcare Support Worker team, the post holder will also act as a role model for less experienced colleagues, supporting their development and contributing to a high standard of care across the team.
Key Responsibilities
Clinical Care
Deliver high-quality, compassionate care to babies, children and young people with complex, life-limiting and life-threatening conditions.
Provide care within the Hospice at Home service, primarily during weekend shifts in term time and on any day of the week during school holidays, enabling children and young people to remain at home wherever possible.
Support the delivery of care within the in-house Day Care service during school holidays, providing continuity of care across both community and hospice settings.
Deliver person-centred care in accordance with individual care plans, delegated responsibilities and assessed competencies.
Assist with personal care, moving and handling, nutrition, hydration, continence care and mobility where required.
Deliver delegated clinical interventions only once assessed as competent to do so, following training, competency assessment and organisational policy, including:
Deep suctioning.
Tracheostomy care, including routine care and emergency tracheostomy management.
Care of children requiring invasive ventilation via tracheostomy.
Care of children receiving non-invasive ventilation (BiPAP/CPAP).
Oxygen therapy.
Gastrostomy care, including enteral feeding and water flushes.
Nasogastric (NG) tube care, including enteral feeding and water flushes.
Stoma care, ensuring the stoma site is monitored and cared for in accordance with the individual care plan.
Follow the Hospice's lone working policy at all times when working within the Hospice at Home service, including agreed check-in procedures and access to on-call clinical support for advice or escalation.
Recognise and appropriately manage clinical emergencies when working alone, including initiating emergency tracheostomy management where required, and escalating promptly to on-call clinical support or emergency services.
Monitor the effectiveness of delegated clinical interventions and any changes in a child's condition, promptly escalating concerns to the Registered Nurse, Nurse in Charge, or on-call clinical support as appropriate.
Promote play, communication, emotional wellbeing and meaningful activities appropriate to each child's age, developmental stage and abilities.
Maintain accurate and timely electronic documentation following every episode of care.
Ensure equipment is used safely and maintained in accordance with organisational policies.
Family Support
Build positive, therapeutic relationships with babies, children, young people and their families.
Provide emotional support and reassurance to parents, carers and siblings.
Respect each family's culture, beliefs, wishes and preferences.
Promote family involvement in care whilst maintaining professional boundaries.
Act as an advocate for the child or young person, ensuring dignity, privacy and confidentiality are maintained at all times.
Team Working
Work collaboratively with Registered Nurses and fellow Healthcare Support Workers to deliver safe, effective and compassionate care.
Communicate effectively with colleagues to ensure continuity of care through clear verbal and written handovers.
Provide support, guidance and informal mentoring to Healthcare Support Workers, students and new starters, acting as a role model for best practice.
Contribute to the induction, orientation and ongoing development of less experienced colleagues.
Participate in team meetings, supervision and reflective practice.
Escalate clinical concerns, safeguarding concerns and environmental risks promptly to the Registered Nurse or Nurse in Charge.
Contribute to a positive, respectful and supportive team culture.
Safeguarding and Governance
Ensure safeguarding is embedded within all aspects of practice and report concerns in accordance with Haven House safeguarding policies and procedures.
Maintain accurate, contemporaneous records using the electronic patient record system.
Report incidents, accidents, near misses and equipment concerns promptly in line with organisational procedures.
Adhere to infection prevention and control, moving and handling, lone working and health and safety policies.
Use equipment safely and report maintenance issues promptly.
Maintain confidentiality and comply with information governance and data protection requirements.
Professional Development and Professional Boundaries
Maintain clear professional boundaries at all times.
Work within the scope of the Senior Healthcare Support Worker role, recognising own limitations and escalating concerns appropriately.
Participate in mandatory training, clinical supervision, appraisal and competency assessments.
Take responsibility for maintaining and developing the knowledge, skills and competencies required for the role.
Support the induction and competency sign-off of junior colleagues, where required.
Participate in reflective practice and contribute to a culture of continuous learning.
Support service evaluation and quality improvement by sharing feedback from children, young people and families and participating in audits and service developments where appropriate.
Other duties
1. To promote and live the Haven House values of Compassionate, Professional, Respectful and Safe.
2. To work with colleagues across the hospice as part of the Haven House One Team approach.
3. To conduct yourself in line with the Haven House cultures and behaviours at all times, acting as an ambassador for the hospice.
4. To contribute towards a culture of continuous improvement to help drive our service to Outstanding.
5. To offer flexible support for the work of the organisation, with a flexible approach to new duties and responsibilities as needed to support our vision, mission and values.
This job description is not a definitive or exhaustive list of responsibilities but identifies the key responsibilities and tasks of the post holder. The specific objectives of the post holder will be subject to review as part of the individual performance process.
Haven House is committed to Equal Opportunities in Employment and therefore it is our aim to ensure that no applicant or employee receives less favourable treatment on grounds of gender, disability, religion, race, colour, sexual orientation, and nationality, ethnic or national origins or is placed at a disadvantage by conditions or requirements which cannot be shown to be justifiable. Haven House is responsible under the existing equality and diversity legislation to ensure equality issues are promoted and you are expected to work with Haven House to fulfil these obligations, policies and codes of good practice.
Employees must take reasonable care and be aware of the responsibilities placed on them under the Health & Safety at Work Act (1974) and to ensure that agreed safety procedures are carried out to maintain a safe environment for employees, patients and visitors.
Haven House is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment. Employment is subject to receipt of satisfactory references and an enhanced DBS check.
Person specification
Skills
Essential
- Competent, or able to rapidly achieve and maintain competency through supervised training and assessment, in: deep suctioning, oxygen therapy, gastrostomy care, NG tube care, and stoma care
- Ability to work independently within delegated responsibilities and assessed competencies
- Excellent written and verbal communication skills, and good planning, organisational and time management skills.
- Ability to prioritise workload and respond flexibly to changing service demands, including working weekends in term time and any day of the week during school holidays as part of a flexible rota.
- Good IT skills, including electronic patient records and documentation, and a commitment to ongoing learning and professional development.
- Full UK driving licence and access to a vehicle, or the ability to travel independently and reliably across the hospice catchment area to deliver care in family homes.
Experience
Essential
- Experience of working with babies, children and young people with life-limiting and life-threatening conditions and complex health needs, within a children's hospice, community children's nursing, paediatric healthcare or similar setting.
- Experience of lone working, including risk assessment and safe lone working, with the ability to recognise deterioration and manage a clinical emergency confidently while working alone.
- Experience of multidisciplinary team working and of working in partnership with children, young people and their families.
Desirable
- Experience of tracheostomy care, including emergency tracheostomy management, invasive ventilation via tracheostomy, and non-invasive ventilation (CPAP/BiPAP).
- Experience of working with children requiring long-term ventilation.
- Experience of supporting Hospice at Home services specifically.
- Experience of supporting babies, children and young people receiving end-of-life care.
- Knowledge of paediatric palliative care and symptom management.
- Knowledge of bereavement support.
- Experience of supporting, mentoring or buddying junior colleagues, students or new starters.
Qualifications
Essential
- GCSEs (or equivalent), including English and Maths.
- NVQ Level 3 in Health and Social Care, Level 3 Diploma in Healthcare Support, Nursery Nurse qualification, or equivalent.
- Care Certificate (or willingness to complete within an agreed timescale).
- Basic Life Support (BLS), or willingness to undertake immediately upon appointment and prior to lone working.
- Evidence of continuing professional development.
Desirable
- NVQ Level 4 in Health and Social Care or equivalent.
- Additional training in paediatric complex care.
- Paediatric Immediate Life Support (PILS), or willingness to undertake.
Personal Qualities
Essential
- Compassionate, caring and child-centred approach.
- Positive, professional attitude.
- Enthusiastic and proactive.
- Resilient and able to remain calm under pressure, including in a clinical emergency while working alone.
- Excellent interpersonal skills.
- Ability to build trusting relationships with children, young people and families.
- Effective team worker who contributes positively to the team.
- Able to work using own initiative while recognising limitations and seeking support when required.
- Able to support, guide and act as a role model for less experienced colleagues.
- Reliable, flexible and adaptable.
- Demonstrates diplomacy, empathy and advocacy skills.
- Committed to equality, diversity and inclusion.
- Demonstrates the values of Haven House Children's Hospice.
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Applying for this NHS job
This advert is for Senior Health Care Support Worker with Haven House Children’s Hospice in The White House, Woodford Green, Essex, IG8 9LB, United Kingdom, United Kingdom. It is listed as a Band 4 Healthcare support worker role. The advertised salary is £28392.00 to £31157.00. The contract type is Permanent. The application deadline is 27 Aug 2026.
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