Healthcare Assistant - Sunderland… at Marie Curie · Sunderland

Company Description

Join Marie Curie and help shape a new service that will make a real difference to people approaching the end of life.

Marie Curie is the UK’s leading end-of-life charity. We are the largest non-NHS provider of end-of-life care in the UK, the only provider across all 4 nations, delivering community nursing and hospice care across the country, while providing information and support on all aspects of dying, death, and bereavement. Our leading research pushes the boundaries of what we know about good end-of-life, and our campaigns fight for a world where everyone gets to have the best possible quality of life while living with an illness they’re likely to die from. 

The care and support we provide is highly valued by the people we care for and their loved ones, but at present we are only reaching around 10% of dying people at the end of life. Right now, one in four people in the UK with a terminal illness, do not get the care or support they deserve at the end of their lives. 

Job Description

Healthcare Assistant - Sunderland Identification and Support Service

Salary: Marie Curie Clinical Pay Scale, aligned with AFC Band 2 – £25,272 annum (£12.92 per hour) pro rata

Hours: Full Time (37.5 hours) and Part Time (22.5 hours) available

Contract: Permanent

Location: Broadway Medical Centre, Springwell Health Centre, Springwell Road, Sunderland, SR3 4HG

Working Pattern: Monday to Friday

Closing Date: 9 August 2026

Interview Date: To be confirmed

About the Role

This is an exciting opportunity to join our newly established Sunderland Identification and Support Service and make a meaningful difference to people who may be approaching the last year of life.

Working within Primary Care and partnered GP practices across Sunderland, you will support the identification and engagement of patients who are likely to be in their final year of life but who may not yet have been recognised as requiring palliative care support.

As one of the first points of contact for patients and their families, you will provide compassionate support, help facilitate advance care planning conversations, and signpost individuals to the services and resources available within their local community.

Working closely with and under the supervision of the Clinical Nurse Specialist, you will support patients who have recently been identified as having palliative care needs, ensuring they receive timely information, guidance and access to appropriate services.

The role will include:

• Making first contact with patients and families following identification
• Arranging follow-up support and maintaining regular communication
• Supporting advance care planning discussions
• Signposting patients to hospice, voluntary sector and community-based services
• Visiting patients in their own homes where appropriate
• Promoting awareness of advance care planning within local community hubs and organisations
• Providing information and education to members of the public and partner organisations

This is a unique opportunity to be part of a new service that aims to improve early identification and support for people living with life-limiting illness, helping them access the care they need sooner.

To view the job description, please click here

About You

We are looking for a caring, compassionate and motivated Healthcare Assistant who is passionate about supporting people with palliative and end of life care needs.

To be successful in this role, you will have:

• S/NVQ Level 2 or Level 3 qualification, or an equivalent health and social care certificate or diploma
• Relevant experience supporting people with life-limiting illness, palliative care needs, or complex health conditions within community or healthcare settings
• Excellent communication skills and the confidence to engage in sensitive and sometimes challenging conversations
• The ability to build trusting relationships with patients, families and healthcare professionals
• Emotional resilience and the confidence to work independently while knowing when to seek support
• Strong organisational skills and the ability to manage a varied workload
• A compassionate, person-centred approach to care
• A full UK driving licence, access to a vehicle and business-use insurance

What You'll Gain

At Marie Curie, we are committed to supporting our people to thrive professionally and personally through a range of excellent benefits, including:

• 27 days annual leave plus 8 public holidays (pro rata)
• Competitive family-friendly and sick pay policies
• Ongoing professional development opportunities
• Industry-leading learning and training programmes
• Defined contribution pension schemes
• Marie Curie Group Personal Pension Scheme
• Season Ticket Loan scheme
• Cycle, computer and satellite navigation loan schemes
• Introduce a Friend scheme
• Support with eye care costs
• Blue Light Card entitlement
• BenefitHub employee discount scheme
• 15% staff discount in all Marie Curie shops
• Life assurance cover

How to Apply

To apply, please upload your most recent CV and demonstrate how you meet the person specification, along with why you would like to work for Marie Curie.

For more information or an informal discussion please contact Lisa Gair, Talent Acquisition Advisor – lisa.gair@mariecurie.org.uk

Additional Information

This role will be subject to receiving an enhanced DBS criminal record check. 

We reserve the right to close this vacancy early.  Agencies need not apply.

At Marie Curie, our values are central to everything we do. They guide how we care for people, how we work together, and how we make decisions every day. We are committed to creating a workplace that is safe for everyone — staff and volunteers alike — supportive, inclusive and rewarding. We take stringent steps to ensure that anyone who joins our organisation are suitable for their roles and are committed to safeguarding all our people from harm. We actively consider our impact on the planet, embedding sustainability into everyday decisions to create a lasting, positive difference for the individuals we care for and the world we share.

We believe everyone should have the opportunity to thrive and fulfil their potential. Marie Curie is deeply committed to diversity, equity and inclusion, recognising both the social justice imperative and the strength a diverse workforce brings. We actively encourage applications from people of all cultures, perspectives and lived experiences.

We are happy to make reasonable adjustments throughout the recruitment process. If you require any support, please contact us at recruitment@mariecurie.org.uk.

Every application we receive is personally reviewed by a member of our Talent Acquisition team, and in return, we ask that your application authentically reflects you — your experience, perspective and voice.