Palliative care assistant

Entry Requirements:

You can get into this job through:

• a college course
• an apprenticeship
• applying directly

Entry requirements:

College

You could do a college course to learn some of the skills you'll need as a palliative care assistant.

You could do a Level 3 Diploma in Healthcare Support or a T Level in Health.

Entry requirements:

• 4 or 5 GCSEs at grades 9 to 4 (A* to C), or equivalent, for a level 3 course
• 4 or 5 GCSEs at grades 9 to 4 (A* to C), or equivalent, including English and maths for a T Level

Apprenticeship

You could do a Healthcare Support Worker Level 2 Intermediate Apprenticeship which usually takes one year to complete.

You could also do the Lead Adult Care Worker Level 3 Advanced Apprenticeship which usually takes a year and 6 months to complete.

As an apprentice, you'll do training on the job and spend time at a college or training provider.

Entry requirements:

• some GCSEs, usually including English and maths, or equivalent, for an intermediate apprenticeship
• 5 GCSEs at grades 9 to 4 (A* to C), or equivalent, including English and maths, for an advanced apprenticeship

Volunteering

You'll find it useful to get some work experience in healthcare .

You can also find volunteering opportunities through The National Council for Voluntary Organisations (NCVO) and Do IT .

DirectApplication

You could apply directly to become a palliative care assistant.

You might not need any formal qualifications, but it could help your application if you have:

• GCSEs grade 9 to 4 (A* to C) in English and maths
• a level 2 qualification in health and social care, like a certificate, diploma, GCSE or NVQ
• a good understanding of end of life care, or palliative care

Required Skills:

Digital skills : to be able to carry out basic tasks on a computer or hand-held device

Skills:

• sensitivity and understanding
• the ability to work well with others
• the ability to accept criticism and work well under pressure
• patience and the ability to remain calm in stressful situations
• to be thorough and pay attention to detail
• customer service skills
• knowledge of psychology
• excellent verbal communication skills
• a desire to help people
• knowledge of English language
• thinking and reasoning skills
• the ability to understand people’s reactions
• active listening skills
• knowledge of medicine and dentistry
• the ability to monitor your own performance and that of your colleagues
• the ability to read English
• knowledge of teaching and the ability to design courses
• the ability to work well with your hands
• physical fitness and endurance
• concentration skills

What you'll do:

Palliative care assistants provide specialist end of life care and support to patients and their families.

As a palliative care assistant you could:

• apply simple wound dressings and give medication
• change medical equipment like catheters and make sure equipment is cleaned and stored correctly
• support the emotional wellbeing of a patient and their family
• care for the person's body after death
• update patient records

Location : You could work in an NHS or private hospital, at a hospice, at an adult care home or at a client's home.
Environment : Your working environment may be emotionally demanding.
Uniform : You may need to wear a uniform.

Salary:

Starter : £22,000
Experienced : £28,000

These figures are a guide

Working hours:

41 - 43 hours a week

Working Pattern is evenings / weekends / bank holidays on shifts

Career Path:

With experience and training, you could become a senior healthcare assistant.

You could also take additional training and move into other healthcare roles like:

• occupational therapy support worker
• physiotherapy assistant
• podiatry assistant
• radiography assistant

You could also train as a health professional like a midwife , nurse or physiotherapist .