South Tyneside and Sunderland NHS Foundation Trust

Healthcare Assistant

The closing date is 04 February 2026

Job summary

Our plans for our Eye Hospital in Sunderland are taking shape and will be our new home in Spring 2026. The new hospital means Sunderland will remain home to the regions only dedicated standalone eye hospital. It will strengthen our excellent reputation across the NHS, both regionally and nationally as a centre of excellence for ophthalmology care.

As a result, an exciting opportunity has arisen for enthusiastic individuals who have an interest in ophthalmology and who have substantial customer services experience or experience of working in a caring role (paid or unpaid) to join our Health Care Team in the new eye hospital. We have several new posts which span our ophthalmology services which include our Retinal Outpatients unit, an 8 bedded inpatient ward, Day of Surgery Admission unit, Preadmission assessment unit and the Treatment and investigation unit.

Allocation to these areas will be offered following a successful interview and discussion involving areas of interest and previous experience. So, if you share our vision for 'excellence in all that we do', wed love you to join us!

This is a band 2 role increasing to band 3 after completion of the Care Certificate and consolidation of learning.

Please note the Trust are not able to offer Skilled Worker Sponsorship for this role as it does not meet the UKVI threshold requirements. Applicants are requested to consider this when making their application. Please visit Gov.UK for further information.

Main duties of the job

To assist the registered practitioner in providing high quality compassionate care and assistance to patients / relatives and their carers appropriate to their needs.
Responsible for carrying out tasks as delegated by the registered practitioner who has overall accountability for delegating care.
To comply with the Trusts vision, values and behavioural compact.

For more information about the main duties of this role, please see attached Job Description and Person Specification.

About us

Please add your telephone number to your application form so we can contact you quickly if required.

One Team One Trust - There are many reasons to work at our Trust. From our commitment to putting people first to our accessible services and award winning teams. We have a passion for research, innovation and tackling inequalities. We are committed to respect, fairness and civility and promote a compassionate, caring and positive culture / working environment.

We welcome all applications irrespective of peoples race, disability, gender, sexual orientation, religion/belief, age, gender identity, marriage and civil partnership, pregnancy/maternity and in particular those from under- represented groups. Looking after our workforces health and wellbeing is a priority for us. We also provide access to high quality education, training, career progression and support. Flexible working is supported via our Flexible Working Policy.

The Trust employs around 8,746 people and provides a range of hospital services to a local community of around 430,000 residents. We also provide a range of more specialised services outside this area. We offer our staff outstanding benefits - Fitness Centre (SRH), libraries at both hospital sites, chaplaincy support and access to a Care Co-ordinator to help staff with childcare arrangements.If you use AI, and it poses a risk to the integrity of your individual recruitment process, we may withdraw your application at any stage of the process.

Date posted

21 January 2026

Pay scheme

Agenda for change

Band

Band 2

Salary

£24,465 a year increasing to band 3 (£24,937-£26,598)

Contract

Permanent

Working pattern

Full-time, Part-time

Reference number

C9155-OPNM-0126-30

Job locations

Sunderland Eye Infirmary

Queen Alexandra Road

Sunderland

SR29HP

Job description

Job responsibilities

PLEASE REFER TO THE ATTACHED JOB DESCRIPTION FOR FULL DUTIES OF THE ROLE.

To assist the registered practitioner (or other healthcare practitioners) in providing high quality compassionate patient care and assistance to patients / relatives and their carers appropriate to their needs.
Maintain patients privacy and dignity at all times.
Responsible for carrying out tasks as delegated by the registered practitioner who has overall accountability for delegating care.
Continue to develop and maintain competences to support high quality safe care.
Be an effective part of the multi disciplinary team contributing to the departmental objectives.
You will be expected to contribute to house keeping and other ward duties as required e.g. general tidiness, pre-determined stock levels are met and clinical equipment is clean, working and stored correctly. Assist with admin & clerical duties as required.
To comply with the Trusts vision, values, behavioural compact, as well as policies and procedures.

Job description

Job responsibilities

PLEASE REFER TO THE ATTACHED JOB DESCRIPTION FOR FULL DUTIES OF THE ROLE.

To assist the registered practitioner (or other healthcare practitioners) in providing high quality compassionate patient care and assistance to patients / relatives and their carers appropriate to their needs.
Maintain patients privacy and dignity at all times.
Responsible for carrying out tasks as delegated by the registered practitioner who has overall accountability for delegating care.
Continue to develop and maintain competences to support high quality safe care.
Be an effective part of the multi disciplinary team contributing to the departmental objectives.
You will be expected to contribute to house keeping and other ward duties as required e.g. general tidiness, pre-determined stock levels are met and clinical equipment is clean, working and stored correctly. Assist with admin & clerical duties as required.
To comply with the Trusts vision, values, behavioural compact, as well as policies and procedures.

Person Specification

Experience

Essential

Substantive customer services experience or experience of working in a caring role (paid or unpaid).

Skills and Knowledge

Essential

Ability to communicate messages and instructions accurately to colleagues, both verbally and in writing.
Demonstrate good customer care skills and the ability to communicate effectively with the patients, carers and visitors.
Presents self as courteous, respectful and helpful.
Basic keyboard and IT skills.
Willingness to complete Competency Based Assessments and a Portfolio of evidence, in order to achieve the Care Certificate and any other training related to this role.
Work effectively under direct supervision as part of a multi-disciplinary team.

Qualifications

Essential

Maths and English at level 1 or above (GCSE A E or equivalent).

Desirable

NVQ Level 2 qualification in health and social care / customer care or equivalent in any subject.

Physical Skills

Essential

Ability to assist patients to move, as per Trust Moving and Handling Policy.

Person Specification

Experience

Essential

Substantive customer services experience or experience of working in a caring role (paid or unpaid).

Skills and Knowledge

Essential

Ability to communicate messages and instructions accurately to colleagues, both verbally and in writing.
Demonstrate good customer care skills and the ability to communicate effectively with the patients, carers and visitors.
Presents self as courteous, respectful and helpful.
Basic keyboard and IT skills.
Willingness to complete Competency Based Assessments and a Portfolio of evidence, in order to achieve the Care Certificate and any other training related to this role.
Work effectively under direct supervision as part of a multi-disciplinary team.

Qualifications

Essential

Maths and English at level 1 or above (GCSE A E or equivalent).

Desirable

NVQ Level 2 qualification in health and social care / customer care or equivalent in any subject.

Physical Skills

Essential

Ability to assist patients to move, as per Trust Moving and Handling Policy.

Disclosure and Barring Service Check

This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.