About us 

The Ayrshire Hospice provides quality specialist palliative care for adults with life-limiting illness within Ayrshire and Arran. We provide a wide range of services and care in people’s homes, care homes and hospitals, as well as in the hospice itself. This is provided at no cost to our patients or their families. Our vision is to reach and improve the lives of everyone in Ayrshire affected by life-limiting illness.

What we are looking for

The Complementary Therapist will join the Living Well Team and this role supports people living with a life limiting illness at home or a homely setting in Ayrshire. We would be looking for you to be qualified in reflexology, massage and aromatherapy and have knowledge of working with patients with life limiting illness.

You should be passionate and empathetic, have effective communication and interpersonal skills suitable for working with those with life limiting illness and be able to work well on your own and within a team. The Ayrshire Hospice is undergoing transformational change within an evolving landscape and we require people within this position to have a passion to improve services and facilitate change.

You should be aware that while we undertake the build of our exciting new Ayrshire Hospice premises Ayrshire Hospice we temporarily decanted in February 2022 to East Ayrshire Community Hospital. This post is based at the Ayrshire Hospice Hub in EACH until return to Ayr in Spring 2025.

Job Summary 

• 22 Hours (including alternate weeks of 1 evening shift then 2 evening shifts of 3           hours)
• Location across Ayrshire
• Term – Temporary Maternity Cover

As a member of the team you will be a qualified and experienced therapist able to provide a wide range of Complementary Therapies, and associated techniques and advice, to patients and/or carers based on their physical and emotional needs.

You will deliver the Complementary Therapy service to patients/carers in their own homes either face to face, via telephone and/or video call as well as the Living Well Hubs or within the IPU. As such, the post will involve lone working and a short evening shift.

The therapist will work closely with other members of the hospice team to provide a comprehensive, supportive service to meet individual need. This requires resilience, effective communication skills and adherence to confidentiality guidance.

Main Responsibilities 

Supervision for this role is provided by the Living Well SPCN and is line managed by the Lead Practitioner of the Living Well Team. You may be asked to supervise volunteer complementary therapists and support students.

• Provide complementary therapy treatments to family/carer pre and post bereavement.

• Ensure a comprehensive, individual consultation is completed with each patient, main carer, to assess their health and ascertain any possible contraindications to treatment.

• Assist in the management of the patient’s physical symptoms, initiating non-pharmacological symptom intervention as appropriate

• Comply with current safety/ hygiene guidance as appropriate to the setting you are providing therapy.

• Be responsible for management of own calendar including booking patient/carer appointments to satisfy caseload requirements, while ensuring a consistent service to patient/carers.

• Accurately record all details relating to patient/carer interaction including details of any treatment provided, advice given, and products prepared using our electronic records system.

• Be responsible for the accurate recording of mileage expenses and submission of monthly claim.

• Contribute to the development of protocols for complementary therapies and follow departmental policies.

• Be responsible for own Continued Professional Development and keep up to date with advancements, research and evidence regarding practice.

• Complete mandatory learning and participate in educational/training sessions relevant to the role.

• Contribute to audit and research

• Undertake any other tasks (as identified by the Lead Practitioner) to assist in the smooth running of the Complementary Therapy Team.

Person Specification 

Education / Qualifications 

• Educated to NVQ/SVQ level 3 (or equivalent experience) in reflexology, massage, and aromatherapy. (Essential)
• Additional therapies/skills will be advantageous but will not be accepted as substitutes for the essential criteria. (Desirable)
• Holds a Professional Practitioner Indemnity Insurance. (Essential)
• Be registered with a relevant professional body (e.g., FHT, CThA, CNHC) at the post holder's expense and adhere to its regulations and code of conduct. (Essential)

Knowledge / Experience

• Previous experience of palliative care. (Desirable)
• Previous experience of working in the community. (Desirable)
• An understanding of palliative care. (Essential)

Ability / Skills

• Strong communication skills, both written and verbal. (Essential)
• Requires an adaptable and flexible approach to meet the needs of the service. (Essential)
• Able to participate in the development of complementary therapy service in the hospice. (Essential)
• A full driving licence and access to a car with business insurance. (Essential)
• Competency in IT to deliver virtual service and record notes. (Essential)

Personal Qualities

• Empathetic. (Essential)
• Passionate about the profession and delivering the same. (Essential)
• Positive attitude to learning and continuing professional development. (Essential)
• Consistent and reliable. (Essential)

Closing Date

Thursday 6th March 2025, 4:30pm