FEMALE COMPLEX HEALTHCARE ASSISTANT – PAEDIATRIC COMPLEX CARE
Location: Eastbourne, East Sussex (BN21)
Pay: £15.20 per hour PAYE, including holiday pay
Hours: Full-time
Day shifts: 7:30am–6:30pm
Night shifts: 7:45pm–7:45am
Working pattern: Monday to Sunday, including weekends
ABOUT THE ROLE
We are looking for compassionate, dedicated and experienced Female Complex Healthcare Assistants to support a young male service user with complex clinical needs across his family homes and in the community.
The service user has cerebral palsy, dystonia and epilepsy and requires full assistance with all aspects of daily living. He is nil by mouth and receives all nutrition and hydration through his jejunostomy (JEJ) feeding tube.
This is a rewarding opportunity for someone with strong clinical skills who enjoys building meaningful relationships, engaging in activities and supporting an individual to live a fulfilling life.
The package requires a 2:1 care team during the day and 1:1 support overnight. Consistency is particularly important, as the service user takes time to become comfortable with new care staff.
KEY RESPONSIBILITIES
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Providing 2:1 support during the day and 1:1 support overnight.
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Delivering full assistance with personal care, bathing, dressing and daily routines.
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Managing dystonia in line with the agreed escalation plan and emergency medication protocol.
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Administering medication safely, including enteral medication where prescribed.
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Supporting JEJ feeding and enteral nutrition in accordance with the care plan.
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Following strict feeding instructions: all feeds must be administered via the JEJ port only. Nothing must be administered through the gastrostomy (PEG) port.
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Providing epilepsy and seizure management, including Buccal Midazolam administration when prescribed and trained.
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Carrying out clinical observations, including blood pressure, pulse, temperature, respiratory rate and oxygen saturation.
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Providing oral suction, nebuliser treatments and chest physiotherapy as prescribed.
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Supporting the use of a PEP mask and other respiratory equipment.
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Providing bowel care, including suppositories, enemas and digital stimulation, in line with the care plan and training.
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Managing indwelling urinary catheter care.
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Supporting safe moving and handling, including hoist transfers and regular repositioning.
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Monitoring for changes in clinical presentation and following escalation plans promptly.
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Supporting communication through sounds, eye movements and head movements.
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Encouraging social interaction, activities and access to the community.
ESSENTIAL REQUIREMENTS
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Previous experience in complex healthcare or complex care support.
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Experience supporting individuals with cerebral palsy, learning disabilities or autism.
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Strong clinical experience with dystonia management and escalation procedures.
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Experience with epilepsy, seizure management and rescue medication.
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Confidence with JEJ and PEG equipment, including understanding the specific feeding instructions for this package.
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Experience with enteral feeding and medication administration.
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Knowledge of dysphagia and choking risks.
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Experience with oral suction, nebulisers and chest physiotherapy.
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Experience with bowel care and catheter management.
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Competence in clinical observations and oxygen saturation monitoring.
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Experience with hoists, moving and handling and repositioning.
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Understanding of non-verbal communication.
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A calm, patient and compassionate approach, with the ability to build trust and provide consistent support.
DRIVING REQUIREMENT
A full UK driving licence and confidence driving a manual vehicle are essential for this package. At least one member of the care team must be able to drive the manual wheelchair-accessible vehicle on every shift to support community access.
ABOUT THE SERVICE USER
The service user is sociable, enjoys spending time with others and has a great sense of humour. He enjoys music, going out, attending the hub, watching Mr Bean and SpongeBob, and spending time with his siblings.
He communicates through sounds, eye movements and head movements to indicate yes or no. Staff must be attentive and willing to learn his individual communication style.
He lives between two family homes, spending one night a week at his mother's home and the remaining nights at his father's and stepmother's home. He has a close relationship with his family and siblings, who are an important part of his life.
There is no known history of challenging behaviour. However, he may take time to settle with unfamiliar staff, so patience, consistency and a positive approach are essential.
TRAINING AND INDUCTION
You will be required to complete three days of package-specific training, including virtual and face-to-face sessions. Additional training, potentially up to five days, may be required depending on your experience and the Clinical Care Manager's assessment of your competencies.
SHADOW SHIFTS
You will be offered between three and five shadow shifts to help you become familiar with the service user's routines, communication, clinical needs and family arrangements. Shadow shifts are paid at a lower rate.
THE IDEAL CANDIDATE
We are looking for someone who is clinically confident, caring and dependable, with a genuine interest in supporting the service user to enjoy his daily life. You should be proactive, patient and happy to engage in activities, support community outings and build a positive relationship with him and his family.
If you have the relevant complex care experience and are looking for a rewarding full-time opportunity, we would love to hear from you
