West Suffolk NHS Foundation Trust

Nursing Assistant - Ward F5

The closing date is 12 January 2026

Job summary

Could you help West Suffolk Hospital to deliver the best quality and safest care to our local community?

Ward F5 have a great opportunity for an passionate candidate to join our F5 team.

We are looking for someone who is flexible, organized, professional and motivated to provide holistic care to elective and emergency surgical patients. You will be working along side a registered nurse and working as part of a strong dedicated team to provide safe and efficient care.

F5 is a busy 33 bedded ward caring for a variety of surgical patients. You will be joining a diverse team passionate in providing patients with the best possible experience.

If you have the necessary skills, experience and qualities to help us to put patients first, please apply

Main duties of the job

As a nursing assistant you will be providing support to the ward teams.

You will be providing direct patient care, this includes personal care taking observations, caring for patient pre-operatively and post operatively through the emergency and elective pathway.

We aim to make the patients journey from admission to discharge a positive experience.

You will be working under direct supervision and also to be expected to work independently at times.

Team work is essential throughout the ward and effective communication throughout is essential.

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

Full-time, Part-time, Flexible working

Reference number

179-7679739-25-S

Job locations

West Suffolk Hospital

Hardwick Lane

Bury St Edmunds

IP332QZ


Job description

Job responsibilities

Please see job description for full details.

STAFF CAR PARKING

Staff Car Parking on the West Suffolk Hospital Site is eligible for individuals working outside of the core hours, 07:00 18:30.

For individuals working within the core hours, the Trust offers parking off site at the Bury St Edmunds Rugby Club, which is serviced by a regular shuttle bus to and from the Hospital. Details of the bus timetable can be found in the on-line starter pack on the West Suffolk Hospital website.

This parking restriction does not apply if an individual is required to work on a weekend or if they are required to complete on call duties within their role.

The closing date for this vacancy may change if we receive a strong response. Please ensure that you apply for any post you are interested in as soon as possible.

Job description

Job responsibilities

Please see job description for full details.

STAFF CAR PARKING

Staff Car Parking on the West Suffolk Hospital Site is eligible for individuals working outside of the core hours, 07:00 18:30.

For individuals working within the core hours, the Trust offers parking off site at the Bury St Edmunds Rugby Club, which is serviced by a regular shuttle bus to and from the Hospital. Details of the bus timetable can be found in the on-line starter pack on the West Suffolk Hospital website.

This parking restriction does not apply if an individual is required to work on a weekend or if they are required to complete on call duties within their role.

The closing date for this vacancy may change if we receive a strong response. Please ensure that you apply for any post you are interested in as soon as possible.

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

Experience 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

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 alone or in small team

Skills and abilities

Essential

  • Good communication skills (written and verbal).
  • Effective use of electronic solutions to support the delivery of patient care.
  • Able to work as a team.
  • 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

Experience 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

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 alone or in small team

Skills and abilities

Essential

  • Good communication skills (written and verbal).
  • Effective use of electronic solutions to support the delivery of patient care.
  • Able to work as a team.
  • 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

Hardwick Lane

Bury St Edmunds

IP332QZ


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

Hardwick Lane

Bury St Edmunds

IP332QZ


Employer's website

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

Employer contact details

For questions about the job, contact:

Ward Manager

Kimberley King

kimberley.king@wsh.nhs.uk

01284713126

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

Full-time, Part-time, Flexible working

Reference number

179-7679739-25-S

Job locations

West Suffolk Hospital

Hardwick Lane

Bury St Edmunds

IP332QZ


Supporting documents

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