Job Introduction
Caring, compassionate, and ready to make a difference?
Join our team as a Community Palliative Healthcare Assistant and provide comfort, dignity and exceptional care to patients and families in their own homes at what might be the most challenging time in a patient’s life.
Location: Northampton/shire
Working Pattern: Full-Time, Part-Time, or Bank
Flexible Working: We offer a range of working patterns to support work–life balance
Shifts:
- 8am – 6pm
- 6pm – 12am
- 12am – 8am
Shifts may include days, evenings, nights, weekends and bank holidays.
Competitive Salary: DHU Band 3.0 (£24,745 per annum, pro rata), with a 30% evening and a 45% weekend enhancement
What your typical day looks like:
- Driving the DHU Medic vehicle and transporting the clinician to home visits
- Delivering holistic, person-centred care to individuals at end of life within their home environment. Providing support to the clinician and undertaking allocated tasks throughout the home visit, these may include, supporting with personal care, nutrition & hydration, mobility, skin integrity, catheter care, elimination needs, and simple dressings.
- Providing emotional, social, and psychological support to patients, families, and carers.
- Observing, monitoring, and reporting any changes in a patient’s condition to the nursing team.
- Maintaining privacy, dignity, and respect at all times.
- Accurately recording all care in line with DHU Healthcare policies.
- Working collaboratively with the wider multidisciplinary team.
- Supporting family members before and after a patient’s passing, including care after death.
- Upholding infection prevention and control standards and maintaining a safe care environment.
- Carrying out general administrative tasks and maintaining both manual and digital records.
- Completing daily vehicle checks and maintaining communication with the base when required.
To be a successful Community Palliative HCA you’ll need:
Essential:
- Full UK Driving Licence, held for a minimum of 2 years
- Confident in the use of satellite navigation systems (SATNAV)
- 4 GCSEs (A–C or 4-9) including English & Mathematics, or equivalent experience
- NVQ Level 2 in healthcare (or equivalent)
- Previous healthcare experience
- Excellent communication skills
- Good literacy, numeracy, and IT ability
- Ability to work independently with compassion and sensitivity
- Commitment to confidentiality, professionalism, and high-quality care
- Ability to work unsocial hours (including nights, weekends, bank holidays)
Note: Successful candidates will need to undergo a driver medical and driver assessment, as part of the onboarding process.
Desirable:
- Care Certificate
- Experience delivering end-of-life or palliative care
What we offer:
Flexible Working Options
Choose from full-time, part-time, or bank contracts to suit your lifestyle.
Generous Annual Leave
25 days + 8 bank holidays, increasing with service up to 33 days + 8 bank holidays (pro rata).
Health Cash Plan
Free Level 1 Health Cash Plan after 6 months plus 24/7 GP access for you and your family.
DHU Hub Access
Discounts, wellbeing resources, employee assistance programme and more.
NHS Pension Scheme
We recognise continuous NHS service, allowing you to bring your existing pension and leave entitlements with you.
Cycle to Work Scheme
Spread the cost of a new bike interest-free.
Enhanced Maternity & Paternity Leave
Supporting you and your family during important life moments.
Referral Programme
Earn rewards by recommending others to join DHU.
Birthday Leave Guarantee
Take your birthday off at your choice.
We understand that digital applications aren’t suitable for everyone. If you need an alternative way to apply, please contact us and we’ll be happy to help.
Our Commitment to You
At DHU Healthcare, diversity is our strength. We welcome applications from all backgrounds and communities, ensuring an environment where every colleague feels valued, respected, and able to be their true self. We are also proud to be a Forces-Friendly organisation, supporting Veterans, Reservists, Service Leavers and military families.
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