West Suffolk NHS Foundation Trust

Nursing Assistant Ward F3

The closing date is 12 January 2026

Job summary

#BeKnownBy us. By our patients. By our community.

Do you want to make a difference on people's lives?

Healthcare support worker | Health Careers

We are looking for individuals with or without healthcare experience to join our diverse and friendly organisation.

No Experience? No problem, you don't need any previous experience to work as a Nursing Assistant! We will provide all the training you need and equip you with the skills required to start your career in healthcare.

Experienced in healthcare? We have opportunities to work in varied roles across the organisation enabling you to build on your career and meet your professional goals.This is a great opportunity to develop your Nursing Assistant career and make a real difference to the lives of those who use our services.

We encourage applications from all backgrounds. We have permanent, full and part-time roles available, across a variety of medical and surgical wards.

The closing date for this vacancy may change if we receive a strong response.

Certificate of sponsorship

Please note that Certificate of Sponsorship is not available for this role as it does not meet the criteria for sponsorship, please visit Skilled Worker visa: Overview - GOV.UK for more information on eligible roles.

Main duties of the job

As a nursing assistant you will provide invaluable support to ward teams and help with direct patient care, which might include:

  • Measuring and observing the physical characteristics/condition of patients, including temperature, pulse, respiration, blood pressure, peak flows and weight
  • Assisting patients with the maintenance of their personal and oral hygiene, including washing/bathing, mouth and dental care, hair-washing, shaving and dressing/undressing
  • Assisting patients to eat and drink as per their care plan, identifying, recording and reporting abnormal dietary and fluid intake
  • Assisting patients with mobility, using safe manual handling techniques
  • Assisting patients to use toilet facilities.

About us

#BeKnown at West Suffolk NHS Foundation Trust. By us. By our patients. By our community

We are a busy, friendly, rural NHS Trust providing high-quality care and compassion to more than a quarter of a million people across west Suffolk. We care for, treat and support people in hospital, at home and in various community settings.

The West Suffolk Hospital in Bury St Edmunds provides acute and secondary care services (emergency department, maternity and neonatal services, day surgery unit, eye treatment centre, Macmillan unit and children's ward). It has 500+ beds and is a partner teaching hospital of the University of Cambridge.

Adult and paediatric community services, provided in collaboration with West Suffolk Alliance partners, include a range of nursing, therapy, specialist, and ongoing temporary care and rehabilitation, some at our Newmarket Community Hospital.

We do our utmost to achieve outstanding clinical outcomes for patients and our values of fairness, inclusivity, respect, safety and team work guide how we work and behave as a team.

With nearly 5,000 staff, from all over the world, we strive to make our organisation a great place to work. Whatever your role or ambition, we want to help you be the best you can be.

We promote a diverse and inclusive community where everyones voice counts and you can #BeKnown for whoever you are.

Join us. What will you #BeKnown for?

Details

Date posted

31 December 2025

Pay scheme

Agenda for change

Band

Band 2

Salary

£24,465 to £26,598 a year Per annum Pro Rata

Contract

Permanent

Working pattern

Part-time

Reference number

179- 7662169-25-S

Job locations

West Suffolk Hospital NHS Foundation Trust

Hardwick Lane

Bury St Edmunds

IP33 2QZ


Job description

Job responsibilities

JOB PURPOSE:

Working under the direction of the registered health care professional, as a member of the multi-disciplinary team planning and organising own workload in conjunction with other staff members. Support service development to meet the evolving needs of the NHS ensuring efficient and effective use of all resources. Provide effective high-quality patient/customer care. Monitor and maintain Trust Quality standards.

KEY TASKS:

Clinical Practice:

Working under the direction of a registered healthcare professional, participate in the personal care of patients and prioritising workload appropriately and developing competencies that safeguard practice and effectiveness in role.

The Healthcare Support Worker -Care Maker will undertake high quality, caring and compassionate personal care and associated duties under the direction and supervision of the registered professional and working as part of the multi-disciplinary team.

Undertake operational duties which include:

oTransporting specimens

oCollecting drugs/instruments/ case notes/instruments

oEscort duties

oDocument information relating to personal care, onto HIS under the direction of a registered Nurse

oMaintain and monitor stock levels on the ward/department.

oParticipate in meetings and handover to discuss patients progress and care

oTo safely transport patients

oProvide support to patients and relatives.

oProvide support when required to the ward/community Team

oUndertake Cavendish Care Certificate as required

Please see full job description for all responsibilities.

What you can expect from us?

  • A supportive, friendly team that delivers high quality care
  • A rewarding role in a busy, fast-paced team environment
  • Working flexibly with you
  • A comprehensive induction programme to help you achieve your Care Certificate
  • Career progression and ongoing professional development
  • Enhanced rates of pay for weekends, night and bank holiday working
  • A minimum of 27 days annual leave per year plus bank holidays (pro rata for part-time staff)
  • The opportunity to join the NHS Pension Scheme
  • Access to a range of employee benefits including, staff discounts and salary sacrifice schemes, discounted staff restaurant.
  • Staff networks listening and supportive voices from protected characteristics

Job description

Job responsibilities

JOB PURPOSE:

Working under the direction of the registered health care professional, as a member of the multi-disciplinary team planning and organising own workload in conjunction with other staff members. Support service development to meet the evolving needs of the NHS ensuring efficient and effective use of all resources. Provide effective high-quality patient/customer care. Monitor and maintain Trust Quality standards.

KEY TASKS:

Clinical Practice:

Working under the direction of a registered healthcare professional, participate in the personal care of patients and prioritising workload appropriately and developing competencies that safeguard practice and effectiveness in role.

The Healthcare Support Worker -Care Maker will undertake high quality, caring and compassionate personal care and associated duties under the direction and supervision of the registered professional and working as part of the multi-disciplinary team.

Undertake operational duties which include:

oTransporting specimens

oCollecting drugs/instruments/ case notes/instruments

oEscort duties

oDocument information relating to personal care, onto HIS under the direction of a registered Nurse

oMaintain and monitor stock levels on the ward/department.

oParticipate in meetings and handover to discuss patients progress and care

oTo safely transport patients

oProvide support to patients and relatives.

oProvide support when required to the ward/community Team

oUndertake Cavendish Care Certificate as required

Please see full job description for all responsibilities.

What you can expect from us?

  • A supportive, friendly team that delivers high quality care
  • A rewarding role in a busy, fast-paced team environment
  • Working flexibly with you
  • A comprehensive induction programme to help you achieve your Care Certificate
  • Career progression and ongoing professional development
  • Enhanced rates of pay for weekends, night and bank holiday working
  • A minimum of 27 days annual leave per year plus bank holidays (pro rata for part-time staff)
  • The opportunity to join the NHS Pension Scheme
  • Access to a range of employee benefits including, staff discounts and salary sacrifice schemes, discounted staff restaurant.
  • Staff networks listening and supportive voices from protected characteristics

Person Specification

Education and Qualifications

Essential

  • Holds National Care Certificate or be willing to undertake and complete within 12 weeks or starting

Desirable

  • National Care Certificate holder
  • Functional skills level 1 Maths and English or GCSE equivalent
  • Previous experience of being a Health Care Support Worker

Expereince and Knowledge

Essential

  • Experience working in a healthcare, social care organisation/setting or service industry requiring people contact.
  • Ability to work with staff from a diverse range of backgrounds
  • Ability to work alone or in small team

Desirable

  • Experience of working within a health care environment.
  • To demonstrate a range of procedures and practices, base level of theoretical knowledge
  • Demonstrate through previous experience the ability to escalate concerns
  • Ability to work in a multi-agency team

Ability to work in a multi-agency team

Essential

  • Good communication skills (written and verbal).
  • Effective use of electronic solutions to support the delivery of patient care.
  • Able to carry out well defined routine tasks.
  • Able to work on own initiative, following direction/supervision by a Registered Healthcare Practitioner.
  • Able to relate well with patients/relatives/visitors/ Colleagues/the multi-disciplinary team and wider Trust staff.

Personal qualities

Essential

  • Committed to delivering high standards of patient care.
  • Friendly, open, empathetic and compassionate.
  • Professional outlook and positive attitude
  • Able to meet the flexible needs of the role and duty roster.
Person Specification

Education and Qualifications

Essential

  • Holds National Care Certificate or be willing to undertake and complete within 12 weeks or starting

Desirable

  • National Care Certificate holder
  • Functional skills level 1 Maths and English or GCSE equivalent
  • Previous experience of being a Health Care Support Worker

Expereince and Knowledge

Essential

  • Experience working in a healthcare, social care organisation/setting or service industry requiring people contact.
  • Ability to work with staff from a diverse range of backgrounds
  • Ability to work alone or in small team

Desirable

  • Experience of working within a health care environment.
  • To demonstrate a range of procedures and practices, base level of theoretical knowledge
  • Demonstrate through previous experience the ability to escalate concerns
  • Ability to work in a multi-agency team

Ability to work in a multi-agency team

Essential

  • Good communication skills (written and verbal).
  • Effective use of electronic solutions to support the delivery of patient care.
  • Able to carry out well defined routine tasks.
  • Able to work on own initiative, following direction/supervision by a Registered Healthcare Practitioner.
  • Able to relate well with patients/relatives/visitors/ Colleagues/the multi-disciplinary team and wider Trust staff.

Personal qualities

Essential

  • Committed to delivering high standards of patient care.
  • Friendly, open, empathetic and compassionate.
  • Professional outlook and positive attitude
  • Able to meet the flexible needs of the role and duty roster.

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.

Employer details

Employer name

West Suffolk NHS Foundation Trust

Address

West Suffolk Hospital NHS Foundation Trust

Hardwick Lane

Bury St Edmunds

IP33 2QZ


Employer's website

https://www.wsh.nhs.uk (Opens in a new tab)

Employer details

Employer name

West Suffolk NHS Foundation Trust

Address

West Suffolk Hospital NHS Foundation Trust

Hardwick Lane

Bury St Edmunds

IP33 2QZ


Employer's website

https://www.wsh.nhs.uk (Opens in a new tab)

Employer contact details

For questions about the job, contact:

Senior Matron

Gemma Cox

gemma.cox@wsh.nhs.uk

Details

Date posted

31 December 2025

Pay scheme

Agenda for change

Band

Band 2

Salary

£24,465 to £26,598 a year Per annum Pro Rata

Contract

Permanent

Working pattern

Part-time

Reference number

179- 7662169-25-S

Job locations

West Suffolk Hospital NHS Foundation Trust

Hardwick Lane

Bury St Edmunds

IP33 2QZ


Supporting documents

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