BANK Health Care Assistant (NVQ Level 3)

Employer:                  Hospice of the Valleys

Location:                    Ebbw Vale

Rate of pay:               £14.78 per hour

At Hospice of the Valleys, we are proud to provide compassionate, specialist palliative care to people living with life-limiting illness across Blaenau Gwent. Our work is centred on dignity, respect, and supporting patients and their families when they need us most.

We are seeking a dedicated and caring BANK Health Care Assistant to join our Hospice at Home team. In this role, you will make a real difference by providing practical and emotional support to patients in their own homes, helping them remain comfortable, safe, and supported through the final stages of life. Working closely with our multi-disciplinary team, you will deliver person-centred care that reflects our values and high standards.

We are looking for someone who is compassionate, reliable, and able to work both independently and as part of a team. You must hold NVQ Level 3 in Health & Social Care, be registered with Social Care Wales, and have experience in a healthcare setting.

This is a bank position, offering flexible working to support the needs of the service, including nights, weekends and bank holidays.

Health Care Assistant (NVQ Level 3) – 18 hours per week (1 Year Fixed Term)

Employer:                  Hospice of the Valleys

Location:                    Ebbw Vale

Salary:                        £13,833 per annum (pro rat for 18hrs)

Hospice of the Valleys provides specialist palliative care across Blaenau Gwent, supporting patients with life‑limiting illness to live with dignity, comfort and compassion.

We are looking to recruit a compassionate and committed Health Care Assistant to join our Hospice at Home team on a 1-year fixed term contract. This is a rewarding opportunity to support patients in their own homes, providing high-quality, person-centred care and emotional support during the most important time in their lives.

Working closely with our multi-disciplinary team, you will play a key role in maintaining patient dignity, comfort, and wellbeing. The role will primarily involve night shifts, supporting patients and their families through end-of-life care.

Applicants must hold NVQ Level 3 in Health & Social Care, be registered with Social Care Wales, and have experience in a healthcare setting, ideally with palliative care exposure. You will need to be compassionate, reliable, and able to work both independently and as part of a team.

VOLUNTEER VACANCIES

Hospice of the Valleys is the specialist palliative care provider of choice across Blaenau Gwent.   A registered charity governed by a board of trustees, the Hospice delivers high quality care for patients living with a life-limiting illness, and comprehensive support for their families throughout treatment, end of life care and bereavement. standard possible.

Volunteers are integral to the care offered at the hospice.  They allow trained staff to focus on and deliver care to the highest standard possible.  A volunteer may be the first person a patient will meet and this will influence their response to being in the Hospice and to the care on offer.

Policies and Procedures:  All new volunteers are given a short induction which includes confidentiality policies, evacuation procedures and health and hygiene (safety at work).

Confidentiality:  The post holder must maintain the confidentiality of information about patients, staff and other health service business in accordance with the draft Code of Confidentiality and the Data Protection Act (1998).

Health and Safety:  Volunteers must be aware of the responsibilities placed on them under the Health and Safety at Work Act (1974), to ensure that the agreed safety procedures are carried out to maintain a safe environment for employees and visitors.

Hours of Work:  All roles are variable and can be any hours between 9am and 4:30pm

Vacancy:  Sorting Room Volunteer

 MAIN DUTIES

• Sort through bags and boxes of donations and ensuring gift aid donations are kept separate relevant to that supporter.
• Identify goods that are fit for sale and those that are not.
• Help the shop Manager identify donated goods that are of high value and more suited to eBay sale.
• Steam clothing.
• Dust, clean or wash donated saleable items such as ornaments.
• Ticket and price donations.
• Help fill the sales floor rails and shelves with items priced and ready to sell.
• Help maintain a safe, clean and tidy work environment.
• Support the shop Manager and other volunteers in these operations.

Key Responsibilities:

• Provide a professional and friendly shop environment.
• Talking to Customers and making them feel welcome.
• Advising and helping Customers to make their purchases.
• Working as part of a team and on occasions under own initiative.
• Contribute to the general housekeeping of the shop.
• Keeping an eye on the security of the shop, alerting the shop Manager of any suspicious behaviour.
• Welcoming Customers and providing excellent customer service to increase sales.

Person Specification

The potential volunteer will need:

• Good communication skills
• Polite, friendly and approachable attitude
• To be reliable and non-judgmental
• To work with minimum of supervision

Vacancy:   Sales Floor Volunteer

MAIN DUTIES

• Help Customers make their purchase and provide excellent Customer service.
• Operate the till and take payments.
• Help keep the rails and shelves stocked with saleable goods.
• Promote Gift Aid to everyone making donations to the shop.
• Help present a clean, tidy and fresh shop.
• Display the goods for sale appropriately.
• Ensure that customers are welcomed and thanked for shopping and donating with us.
• Ensure the window displays are eye catching and appealing to Customers.
• Demonstrate a high standard of Customer service.
• Support the shop Manager and other volunteers in these operations.

Key Responsibilities:

• Provide a professional and friendly shop environment.
• Talking to Customers and making them feel welcome.
• Advising and helping Customers to make their purchases.
• Operating a till and handling various methods of payment.
• Working as part of a team and on occasions under own initiative.
• Contribute to the general housekeeping of the shop.
• Keeping an eye on the security of the shop, alerting the shop Manager of any suspicious behaviour.
• Welcoming Customers and providing excellent customer service to increase sales.

Person Specification

The potential volunteer will need:

• Good communication skills
• Polite, friendly and approachable attitude
• To be reliable and non-judgmental
• To work with minimum of supervision

Vacancy:  Bereavement Support Volunteer to support our Bereavement Drop-in Groups

Here at Hospice of the Valleys, we put people at the heart of everything we do. We believe that anyone experiencing a life-limiting illness deserves the best care and support whenever they need it.
Our vision is to enable people with a life limiting condition to live and die well, whilst supporting those who matter most to them.

Our Service does not end when someone dies, those that they cared about and who cared for them may need further support.

Why we need your help.

We offer support to bereaved people and know that bereavement can have physical, emotional and financial impacts on a family.

Bereavement can profoundly affect a person and can be a hard, confusing, and isolating time. However, most people do not need professional counseling to cope with bereavement and those who have social support from family, friends and their community are likely to do better.

We are asking for help from the community of Blaenau Gwent to help support our weekly bereavement drop-in service, which is currently held at our base in Ebbw Vale but may vary in location around Blaenau Gwent in the future.

• The drop-in bereavement group offers an opportunity to meet others who have been bereaved in a safe and welcoming setting.
• The group allows the expression of grief feelings amongst those who understand the distress and pain of grief whilst also having opportunities to smile, laugh and talk about everyday things.

What activities will you be involved in as part of your volunteer role?

Your Activities will include:

• Face to Face engagement with the public.
• Welcoming visitors to the session.
• Help to set up and tidy room before and after session.
• Help with providing refreshments (tea, coffee) and washing up.
• Supporting hospice staff to deliver the session.
• Collating evaluation materials such as questionnaires or simple verbal feedback.
• Providing a listening ear.
• Providing signposting information to other agencies if appropriate.

 Volunteers will be expected to demonstrate a commitment to support our drop-in bereavement group from 2.45 until 5pm on fortnightly basis (negotiable)

 What can you gain from volunteering for this role?

• Know that you are supporting your community by providing support and guidance to people who are experiencing bereavement and who need a listening ear/ information and advice rather than formal counselling.
• Use and develop active listening and communication skills.
• Use and develop your skills and confidence, enhancing your CV if that is important to you.
• Become more involved in your local community.

Training and support provided:

Hospice of the Valleys Mandatory Training

Role specific training:

• Active listening skills
• Boundaries
• Confidentiality
• Bereavement awareness
• Signposting awareness
• Debrief sessions and support meetings.

Qualities we would expect in our volunteers:

• Empathic
• Compassionate
• Non-judgmental
• Respectful of diversity and other’s opinions
• Able to respect confidentiality.
• A team player
• Adaptive to new/changing situations.
• Able to follow policies and procedures to keep yourself, staff and the public safe.
• Able to represent Hospice of the Valleys and our values positively.
• Who wants to make a change in the local community?

What else you may need to know

• You must be 18 years or over.
• There will be an informal interview to discuss the role and get to know you.
• A short settling in period to see if the role is right for you.
• After training a DBS check will be required with two references
• You will receive reimbursement of travel expenses to and from the Help Point
• Having a criminal conviction will not necessarily exclude you from volunteering with us.

Vacancy: Bereavement Help Point Volunteer

Here at Hospice of the Valleys, we put people at the heart of everything we do. We believe that anyone experiencing a life-limiting illness deserves the best care and support whenever they need it.
Our vision is to enable people with a life limiting condition to live and die well, whilst supporting those who matter most to them.

Our Service does not end when someone dies, those that they cared about and who cared for them may need further support.

Why we need your help.

We offer support to  bereaved people and know that bereavement can have physical, emotional and financial impacts on a family.

Bereavement can profoundly affect a person and can be a hard, confusing, and isolating time. However, most people do not need professional counseling to cope with bereavement and those who have social support from family, friends and their community are likely to do better.

We are asking for help from the community of Blaenau Gwent, particularly those who have had experience of bereavement themselves, to support the running of our Bereavement Help Points in Blaenau Gwent.

Our Bereavement Help-Point is a one-off session, which is held within a local community venue or at our Hospice in Ebbw Vale. Each session will involve:

• A short talk on the signs and symptoms of grief
• Signposting to specialised agencies
• Question and answer session regarding bereavement benefits.
• Opportunity to meet others who have been bereaved.

What activities will you be involved in as part of your volunteer role?

Your Activities will include:

• Face to Face engagement with the public.
• Welcoming visitors to the session.
• Help to set up and tidy room before and after session.
• Help with providing refreshments (tea, coffee) and washing up.
• Supporting hospice staff to deliver the session.
• Collating evaluation materials such as questionnaires or simple verbal feedback.
• Providing a listening ear.
• Providing signposting information to other agencies if appropriate.

Volunteers will be expected to demonstrate commitment to support our Help Point on the First Friday of every month 1.30- 3.30 (location may vary). Depending on need, the sessions may be increased to a fortnightly basis.

 What you will not be expected to do:

The role does not involve 1:1 support or counselling.

What can you gain from volunteering for this role?

• Know that you are supporting your community by providing support and guidance to people who are experiencing early bereavement and who need a listening ear/ information and advice rather than formal counselling.
• Use and develop active listening and communication skills.
• Use and develop your skills and confidence, enhancing your CV if that is important to you.
• Become more involved in your local community.

Training and support provided:

Hospice of the Valleys Mandatory Training

Role specific training:

• Active listening skills
• Boundaries
• Confidentiality
• Bereavement awareness
• Signposting awareness
• Debrief sessions and support meetings.

Qualities we would expect in our volunteers:

• Empathic
• Compassionate
• Non-judgmental
• Respectful of diversity and other’s opinions
• Able to respect confidentiality.
• A team player
• Adaptive to new/changing situations.
• Able to follow policies and procedures to keep yourself, staff and the public safe.
• Able to represent Hospice of the Valleys and our values positively.
• Who wants to make a change in the local community?

What else you may need to know

• You must be 18 years or over.
• There will be an informal interview to discuss the role and get to know you.
• A short settling in period to see if the role is right for you.
• After training a DBS check will be required with two references
• You will receive reimbursement of travel expenses to and from the Help Point
• Having a criminal conviction will not necessarily prevent you from volunteering with us.

Vacancies from our Partner Organisations:

Vacancy:  Charity Fundraiser (Lottery Canvasser)

Hospice of the Valleys are proud to be working with Local Hospice Lottery – a weekly lottery set up to provide financial support to adult and children’s hospices across Great Britain.  Local Hospice Lottery are currently recruiting for Lottery Canvassers to work in the Blaenau Gwent area.  For further information on this vacancy, please visit the Local Hospice Lottery recruitment page here.