Senior Healthcare Assistant (Bank)

This is a Permanent, Bank vacancy.

The Vacancy

Are you passionate about delivering compassionate, personalised care—and looking for a role where every shift truly makes a difference?

Our vision is a community where people live and die well, supported with dignity, respect and compassion. As a Bank Senior Healthcare Assistant, you’ll play a vital part in making that possible.

Whether working on our In-Patient Unit or out in the community alongside our specialist teams, you’ll provide exceptional, holistic care that supports patients and the people important to them when they need it most.

Location: St Peter & St James Hospice, BN8 4ED

Contract Type: Bank

Closing Date: We will be shortlisting and interviewing as applications are received, so early applications are strongly encouraged.

What you’ll be doing

As a Senior HCA, you’ll go beyond standard care duties, using enhanced clinical skills and confidence to support our nurses and clinical teams. Your work will be varied, meaningful and deeply appreciated.

Deliver compassionate, person-centred care:

• Support patients with personal care, nutrition, hydration and mobility needs
• Take and record observations, promptly reporting any concerns
• Provide gentle emotional support to patients and families, including through end-of-life care and bereavement
• Ensure patient dignity, comfort and individual needs are always prioritised

Use and develop extended clinical skills: (Competency-based training provided)

• Catheter and bowel care
• Phlebotomy and blood glucose sampling
• Drug checking
• Supporting care plans and risk assessments

Support the smooth running of care across Community & IPU teams:

• Accurately maintain patient records using SystmOne
• Assist with admissions and discharges, including gathering observations, preparing packs and liaising with external services
• Support referral processes and coordination of transport
• Participate in MDT meetings to ensure truly holistic care
• Help maintain safe, well‑organised clinical environments

Lead, guide and support others:

• Provide supervision and guidance to Healthcare Assistants (Band 2)
• Assist with induction, teaching and day‑to‑day support for colleagues and students
• Contribute to audits and continuous improvement activity

What we’re looking for

• Experience in a similar healthcare setting, ideally within a multidisciplinary team
• A caring, empathetic approach and commitment to high-quality palliative care
• Good literacy, numeracy and IT confidence (including SystmOne)
• Strong communication skills and the ability to work sensitively with patients and families
• A calm, adaptable nature—comfortable working across both community and IPU settings
• Motivation to grow your skills, attend training and develop within the role
• The ability to work flexibly, including day and night shifts, according to patient needs
• Shifts that suit your lifestyle
• A welcoming, compassionate working environment
• Training and development opportunities, including extended clinical competencies
• The chance to make a genuine difference to patients and families during the most important moments of their lives

We will be shortlisting and interviewing as applications are received, so early applications are encouraged.

You can find the full job description and person specification at the bottom of the vacancy page on our website.

For an informal chat about the role, please contact Kaylee Teager, Community Nurse Leader by emailing

The Organisation

St Peter & St James Hospice is a leading provider of specialist palliative and end of life care for our Mid-Sussex community.

People affected by life‑limiting illness are central to everything we do and it is our mission to ensure they receive the best possible care, in the right place, at the right time.

Our services are free of charge can be accessed at home, in a care setting, or at the Hospice in North Chailey.

We achieve our goals through the organisation’s talented people, by attracting, retaining and developing a highly skilled, diverse and engaged workforce.

Over 150 employees and 400 volunteers work in a variety of roles across our Clinical Services, Retail and Support Functions. If you're looking to put your skills to use in an organisation that makes a difference for its local community and values Compassion, Integrity, Accountability, Excellence and Inclusivity then click 'Apply Now'!

The Benefits

• 27 days holiday
• Enhanced maternity/adoption pay
• Monthly occupational health clinics
• 20% discount in our charity shops

Our people

"I worked in Housekeeping, then on the In-Patient Unit and am now in the Community Team undertaking a degree supported by the Hospice."

• Trainee Nursing Associate

"It's the people we work with and the community we serve that make it such a special place."

• Vrishali Pawar
• People Services Assistant

"If you have the appetite to develop your skills, you are encouraged and empowered to learn and grow within the organisation."

• Jon Anderson
• Community Clinical Nurse Specialist

"Being a part of someone’s end of life care and supporting their loved ones through their grieving process is a real privilege."

• Jess Stobbart

Our people are our strength. We value diversity and inclusion so encourage applications from everyone, regardless of race, national origin, sex, gender identity and/or expression, sexual orientation, religion, disability or age.

Please ensure you have your own means of transport as the hospice is not accessible by bus and is located on a main road without public footpath. Our precise location can be found here:

If you have any questions about this vacancy or require any reasonable adjustments throughout the recruitment process, please contact us on

Please note we may shortlist and interview candidates as applications are received. Offers of employment are subject to satisfactory results from pre‑employment checks (right to work, references, Occupational Health, and DBS if applicable).

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