Healthcare Support Worker - Palliative Care
At a glance
- Band
- Band 3
- Contract
- Fixed-term
- Pattern
- Part-time
- Posted
- 17/09/2026
- Closes
- 24/09/2026
Sponsorship verdict
This contract type is not eligible for Skilled Worker sponsorship.
NHS Trusts cannot issue a Certificate of Sponsorship for part-time, bank, locum, zero-hours, job-share or short fixed-term (under 12 months) contracts under current Home Office rules. This applies even when the wider Trust holds a Skilled Worker licence.
Role summary
An experienced Health Care Assistant is sought to join the specialist palliative care team, working in both community hospice-at-home and inpatient settings at the Macmillan Unit and Forest Holme. The role involves providing high-standard palliative and End of Life Care to patients with life-limiting diseases. The successful candidate must be compassionate, have excellent interpersonal skills, and be able to work flexible hours, including shift work 7 days a week, 24 hours a day. Previous NHS care environment experience and access to a car for work are essential.
Essential criteria
- Good standard of general education
Desirable criteria
- NVQ2/NVQ3
- Life Experience
- Previous experience of caring for people.
- Previous experience of looking after cancer or terminally ill patients.
- Previous experience in nursing in the NHS
- Technical Skills Competencies
- Basic Nursing skills & Good communication skills
- Ability to complete paperwork accurately with required information.
- Ability to establish & maintain effective communication with people
- Good interpersonal skills
- Able to work within a stressful environment
- Participate within the learning environment
- Understanding of the importance of confidentiality
- Drive and have access to a car for work
- Computer literate
- Good level of nursing care
- Knowledge of dying or bereavement.
- Basic understanding of the emotional needs of patients and their families
- Interpersonal skills
- Good interpersonal skills including empathy and open minded approach to patients
- Sensitivity to the needs of others
- Emotionally able to work within the field of palliative care
- Able to understand the importance of boundaries in relationships with patients and their families
- Other requirements specific to
- Willingness to and interest in acquiring new skills
- Ability to work in a demanding environment
- Personal Attributes
- Ability to show initiative + prioritize work efficiently Motivated
- Ability to work as a part of the team.
- Ability to travel within the geographical areas as required by the service/requirements of the post.
- Ability to work flexible hours.
- Good standard of general education
- NVQ2/NVQ3
- Life Experience
- Previous experience of caring for people.
- Previous experience of looking after cancer or terminally ill patients.
- Previous experience in nursing in the NHS
- Technical Skills Competencies
- Basic Nursing skills & Good communication skills
- Ability to complete paperwork accurately with required information.
- Ability to establish & maintain effective communication with people
- Good interpersonal skills
- Able to work within a stressful environment
- Participate within the learning environment
- Understanding of the importance of confidentiality
- Drive and have access to a car for work
- Computer literate
- Good level of nursing care
- Knowledge of dying or bereavement.
- Basic understanding of the emotional needs of patients and their families
- Interpersonal skills
- Good interpersonal skills including empathy and open minded approach to patients
- Sensitivity to the needs of others
- Emotionally able to work within the field of palliative care
- Able to understand the importance of boundaries in relationships with patients and their families
- Other requirements specific to
- Willingness to and interest in acquiring new skills
- Ability to work in a demanding environment
- Personal Attributes
- Ability to show initiative + prioritize work efficiently Motivated
- Ability to work as a part of the team.
- Ability to travel within the geographical areas as required by the service/requirements of the post.
- Ability to work flexible hours.
Useful to know
Agenda for Change 2024/25 pays Band 3 at £24,625 – £25,674 a year, across England.
This advert: £25,760 – £27,476 — outside the standard scale; check for HCAS/London weighting.
Posted 1d ago · Closes in 7d
Plenty of time to prepare a strong application.
Full advert · preview
University Hospitals Dorset NHS Foundation Trust
Healthcare Support Worker - Palliative Care
The closing date is 24 September 2026
Job summary
An exciting opportunity has arisen for an experienced Health Care Assistant to join the specialist palliative care team working both within the community under hospice at home and the inpatient ward at the Macmillan Unit and Forest Holme. We provide palliative and End of Life Care to patients with life limiting disease. The successful candidate would need to be compassionate and demonstrate a keen interest in Palliative care. They would also demonstrate the ability to provide a high standard of quality care to our patients. The candidate needs to have excellent interpersonal skills and be able to work flexible hours. Previous NHS experience of working in a care environment is essential.
You will need to drive and have access to a car for this role.
The role covers shift work 7 days a week 24 hours a day.
Please note we are unable to offer sponsorship for this position.
New starters to the trust will have to undertake a numeracy and literacy test.
This post is being advertised as a Band 3, however applicants that do not meet the required care certificate competencies will initially be employed as a Band 2. Applicants who hold a care certificate accreditation will start in post at Band 3
**Base Location: Christchur
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