The hospice is there for people who are living with conditions like cancer, heart failure and lung disease. It offers a range of support to communities in Bedfordshire and Cambridgeshire, including end of life care and symptom control in its 15-bed inpatient unit as well as day services that help people stay in their own homes for longer.

St John’s is recruiting for a variety of roles at the open day, including Registered Nurses and extra Nursing Assistants for its Palliative Care Hub, which is expanding its services.

The Beds Palliative Care Hub is recruiting

The Palliative Care Hub offers short-term nursing care, personal care and emotional support for people at the end of their life and their families. The service is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week, across Bedfordshire.

Palliative Care Hub Nursing Assistant Wilma Jassal has worked at St John’s for six years, and fellow Nursing Assistant Shelley Holt has worked there for a year.

Working under the direction of a Registered Nurse, their main role as Nursing Assistants is to go out into the community to provide care and emotional support to patients and their families. They also provide telephone support and advice 24 hours a day, as well as night sits – supporting people in their homes at night – to enable family members to take a break.

"If you want to make a real difference, there's no better place to work"

"If you want a job that is fulfilling, and you want to make a difference to somebody’s life, there’s no better place to work," says Wilma. "We all work together as a team and, for me, it’s the best job in the world.

"People often think that hospices are about doom and gloom, but it isn’t like that – it’s about living each day. Every day is important and that’s what we do; we try and make sure patients live every day to the fullest."

"You make a real difference to patients and their families when they need it the most," agrees Shelley. "Everyone in our team is very proud of what they do and the difference they make."

St John’s is also recruiting for Registered Nurses and Nursing Assistants in its inpatient unit, and positions in its catering, domestic and maintenance department.

Open day: Tuesday 18th September

People can drop into the hospice between 10am and 8pm on Tuesday 18th September to meet the team, hand in their CV, and have a tour of the Grade II listed building and its grounds. Refreshments will be available.

The hospice’s address is: Sue Ryder St John’s Hospice, St John’s Road, Moggerhanger, Bedford, MK44 3RJ.