Health Care Assistant

Post: Healthcare Assistant (HCA)

Salary: £25,667 - £25,997 (based on the full time equivalent of 37.5 hours)

Contract: Permanent

Job Family: Patient Care  Range: A

Location: Ashgate Hospice, Chesterfield

Hours:   Working a mixture of day and night shifts, including weekends and bank holidays. Twilight shifts may also be required. Both part-time or full time are available, worked on a rota basis issued 8 weeks in advance. Shorter day shifts may also be available to support flexibility.

As this is a 24-hour inpatient service, all team members are expected to participate in a fair rotation of day and night shifts to support safe staffing, equitable rota arrangements, and wellbeing of the wider team.

Closing date: 31st May 2026

Proposed Interview date: 15th June 2026

Do you want the time, support and environment to deliver truly compassionate palliative and end of life care?

Join Our Outstanding IPU Team

Following a new agreement with Derby and Derbyshire Integrated Care Board, we’re able to increase our inpatient beds from eight to 10. This means we can grow our Inpatient Unit team and continue strengthening the care we provide for patients and those important to them.

About the role

Working at Ashgate means being part of a compassionate and dedicated team where you’re truly valued. As a Healthcare Assistant, you will provide high-quality palliative and end of life care to patients and those important to them. Working alongside registered nurses and the wider multidisciplinary team, you will deliver holistic, person-centred care that prioritises comfort, dignity, emotional wellbeing and quality of life.

This is a rewarding opportunity to make a genuine difference every day, supporting patients and families during some of life’s most important moments.

Why join us?

At Ashgate Hospice, our values of Care, Compassion, Respect, Teamwork and Inclusivity guide everything we do. Every day, we support patients and those important to them through some of life’s most challenging moments, ensuring care is delivered with dignity, kindness and professionalism.

You will join a supportive multidisciplinary team where there is time to care, opportunities to develop, and a strong focus on staff wellbeing. Your skills and compassion will be valued, and you will have the opportunity to build meaningful relationships with patients, families and colleagues.

What we offer:

• A supportive working environment where your wellbeing is a priority
• Opportunities for professional development and qualifications, including the Care   Certificate and Level 2 Diploma in Health and Social Care
• The opportunity to develop specialist skills in palliative and end of life care
• A role where your care, compassion and kindness will make a lasting difference
• A welcoming and inclusive team culture.

What you’ll be doing:

As a Healthcare Assistant in our IPU, you will:

• Provide personalised care, supporting patients with personal care, mobility, comfort and nutritional needs
• Work alongside registered nurses and the wider multidisciplinary team to deliver holistic, patient-centred care
• Provide emotional support and reassurance to patients and those important to them
• Assist with clinical observations and accurately document care delivered
• Contribute to the assessment and review of individual care plans
• Help maintain a safe, dignified and compassionate environment for patients receiving end of life care

For full details of the role and responsibilities, please refer to the attached Job Description or contact Karen Walker, Ward Leader, on 01246 568 801 for an informal discussion.

What you’ll bring:

To succeed in this role, we are looking for individuals who are compassionate, caring and committed to delivering outstanding care. You will need:

Qualifications:

• GCSEs (or equivalent) in Maths and English
• Care Certificate or willingness to complete within 12 months
• Level 2 qualification in Health and Social Care desirable

Skills and Experience:

• Experience providing personal care in a healthcare or care setting
• Good communication and teamwork skills
• Understanding of dignity, compassion and person-centred care
• Ability to remain calm and supportive in emotionally challenging situations
• Ability to document care clearly and accurately

Personal Attributes:

• A compassionate and empathetic approach
• Reliable, flexible and professional
• Commitment to ongoing learning and development
• Commitment to Ashgate Hospice values

About Ashgate:

Ashgate Hospice offers free, specialist, compassionate care for adults living with life-limiting or incurable illnesses, including cancer, neurological diseases, and advanced heart, kidney and lung conditions. Based in North Derbyshire, we support people and those important to them through a range of free and fee-paying services.

Each year, we support over 2,640 people, helping them to manage symptoms, stay informed about their care, and maintain the best possible quality of life from diagnosis onwards.

We also provide vital support to those important to them, including practical and emotional support, as well as bereavement care when someone has died.

We are more than a care provider. We’re a campaigner for sustainable end of life care funding in the UK, and we continually invest in our services and workforce.

Our values are at the heart of everything we do:

• We are compassionate.
• We are a team.
• We are respectful, open, and inclusive.

We value diversity and inclusion and encourage applicants from all backgrounds.

Benefits of joining us

At Ashgate, we take care of the people who take care of others. Our benefits include:

• Competitive hourly rate plus unsociable hour enhancements
• Generous holiday entitlement, with the option to buy and sell leave
• Flexible working options, including job-sharing where possible
• Pension scheme with up to 7% employer contribution
• A Health Cash Plan, helping cover costs such as dental care, physiotherapy, and eye tests.
• A life assurance scheme, giving peace of mind for you and those important to you, up to age 65.
• A free confidential Employee Assistance Programme, available 24/7
• Cycle to Work scheme and Tech Benefit scheme to help spread the cost of your next purchase
• Commitment to training, development and career progression
• Free, on-site parking
• Discounted, onsite café at our Old Brampton site, for all staff
• A wide range of wellbeing initiatives, support and time out to practice self-care

Ready to make a difference?

If you want to use your nursing skills where they truly matter, we would love to hear from you.

To learn more about the role, please contact Karen Walker, Ward Leader, at 01246 568 801 or email karen.walker@ashgatehospice.org.uk . You are also welcome to arrange a visit to the hospice to see what it would be like to work with us.

Applications must be submitted via the ‘Apply Now’ button on our website. Applications sent directly to People Services or the recruiting manager will not be accepted.

Please note: This role does not meet the criteria for Skilled Worker visa sponsorship under UK immigration rules, and we are therefore unable to support applications from candidates who require this sponsorship to work in the UK.

Additional Information:

• Successful applicants will be required to complete a DBS check as part of our pre-employment process
• As a healthcare provider, we encourage staff to be vaccinated against COVID-19 and receive the annual flu vaccination, unless there is a valid reason not to.
• If you need any support during the recruitment process, please contact our People Services team at peopleservices@ashgatehospice.org.uk  or call 01246 568 801.

Additional Support for Candidates

We are committed to ensuring our recruitment process is inclusive, fair, and accessible.