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Somerset NHS Foundation Trust

Senior HCA

The closing date is 28 December 2025

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Job summary

We are looking to appoint a Health Care Assistant who is enthusiastic, motivated with a passion for caring to join our dedicated Team in The Somerset Lung Centre, Respiratory Outpatients.The unit is a fast paced outpatient setting. The department hosts multiple outpatient clinics daily, which are carried out by Specialist clinicians as well as hosting Respiratory diagnostic tests led by the Physiologists.As a health care Assistant you will work as part of a large multidisciplinary team and will play a key role in delivering the fundamentals of care for patients. This will involve carrying out initial vital tests for patients such as height, weight, BMI and blood pressure You will assist in clinics when required, support with the physiology team and play an important role in the running of the outpatient clinic. Individuals should be able to demonstrate excellent communication skills who are willing to learn and take on new challenges as the service develops.

Main duties of the job

Experience of working in a care setting would be advantageous but all necessary skills training, professional updates and mandatory training as appropriate to the post will be provided.Full details of duties can be found in the job description.There will be an expectation of a flexible approach to shifts patterns. The setting is outpatients, so the work will be between the hours of 08:00 and 18:00. There is no on call work with this job.Please be advised - this vacancy may close early if we reach a sufficient amount of applications.

About us

At Somerset NHS Foundation Trust, we're committed to supporting our employees with a range of benefits designed to enhance your professional and personal life. We offer:

  • Flexible working options to help you balance work and life
  • NHS pension scheme for long-term financial security
  • Generous annual leave allowance to recharge and relax
  • A strong focus on career development to help you grow and achieve your potential

Additionally, you'll gain access to our Blue Light Card, unlocking exclusive discounts on shopping, dining, and leisure activities, as well as NHS-specific perks to support you both inside and outside of work.

We are proud to foster a diverse, skilled, and inclusive workforce, and we encourage applications from all backgrounds.

Why Somerset? Somerset offers the perfect blend of idyllic countryside, outstanding areas of natural beauty, and breathtaking coastlines, with vibrant cities like Bristol, Bath, and Exeter just a short drive away - and only two hours to London.

The region is home to excellent educational facilities, and with affordable housing compared to other parts of the country, it's a great place to build both your career and your future.

Somerset truly has it all - the peaceful countryside and cosmopolitan city life, with something for everyone to enjoy.

Details

Date posted

22 December 2025

Pay scheme

Agenda for change

Band

Band 3

Salary

£24,937 a year

Contract

Permanent

Working pattern

Part-time

Reference number

184-OL-OR-3627

Job locations

Musgrove Park Hospital

Musgrove Road

Taunton

Somerset

TA1 5DA


Job description

Job responsibilities

For the main duties and responsibilities for this role please read the attached job description and person specification. When completing your application please ensure your supporting statement reflects the criteria set out in these documents by showing how your experience and skills apply to this post.

Job description

Job responsibilities

For the main duties and responsibilities for this role please read the attached job description and person specification. When completing your application please ensure your supporting statement reflects the criteria set out in these documents by showing how your experience and skills apply to this post.

Person Specification

Qualifications

Essential

  • GCSE English, Maths and Science (or equivalent)
  • Basic keyboard skills
  • NVQ2 in Healthcare or equivalent

Desirable

  • Basic Life Support

Experience

Essential

  • Be able to work unsupervised
  • Risk assessment
  • Work and plan outpatient clinic arrangements

Desirable

  • Work within the NHS

Additional Criteria

Essential

  • COMMUNICATION SKILLS
  • Evidence of a good standard of literacy/English language skills
  • Excellent verbal and written communication skills
  • Able to communicate effectively with all levels of staff and patients.
  • Effective negotiation skills
  • Able to work in a team
  • Able to independently liaise with medical and non-medical staff regarding patient test results
  • Demonstrate sensitivity to the needs of others
  • ANALYTICAL & JUDGEMENT SKILLS
  • Able to present data and information in a concise format
  • Able to prepare reports clinical colleagues
  • knowledge of Microsoft Office software
  • Highly organised with logical approach to problem solving
  • Basic computer/keyboard skills
  • Understands limitations of the role and need to refer to others
  • PLANNING & ORGANISING SKILLS
  • Excellent time management skills
  • Ability to prioritise & organise own time and support other staff
  • Accurate and timely presentation of information
  • Able to work under instruction and under own initiative within the boundaries of the role and as part of a team
  • Able to work with conflicting demands
  • PHYSICAL SKILLS
  • Able to work under pressure and with conflicting demands on time
  • Flexible in approach to work
  • Physically able to carry out duties of the post
Person Specification

Qualifications

Essential

  • GCSE English, Maths and Science (or equivalent)
  • Basic keyboard skills
  • NVQ2 in Healthcare or equivalent

Desirable

  • Basic Life Support

Experience

Essential

  • Be able to work unsupervised
  • Risk assessment
  • Work and plan outpatient clinic arrangements

Desirable

  • Work within the NHS

Additional Criteria

Essential

  • COMMUNICATION SKILLS
  • Evidence of a good standard of literacy/English language skills
  • Excellent verbal and written communication skills
  • Able to communicate effectively with all levels of staff and patients.
  • Effective negotiation skills
  • Able to work in a team
  • Able to independently liaise with medical and non-medical staff regarding patient test results
  • Demonstrate sensitivity to the needs of others
  • ANALYTICAL & JUDGEMENT SKILLS
  • Able to present data and information in a concise format
  • Able to prepare reports clinical colleagues
  • knowledge of Microsoft Office software
  • Highly organised with logical approach to problem solving
  • Basic computer/keyboard skills
  • Understands limitations of the role and need to refer to others
  • PLANNING & ORGANISING SKILLS
  • Excellent time management skills
  • Ability to prioritise & organise own time and support other staff
  • Accurate and timely presentation of information
  • Able to work under instruction and under own initiative within the boundaries of the role and as part of a team
  • Able to work with conflicting demands
  • PHYSICAL SKILLS
  • Able to work under pressure and with conflicting demands on time
  • Flexible in approach to work
  • Physically able to carry out duties of the post

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

Somerset NHS Foundation Trust

Address

Musgrove Park Hospital

Musgrove Road

Taunton

Somerset

TA1 5DA


Employer's website

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

Employer details

Employer name

Somerset NHS Foundation Trust

Address

Musgrove Park Hospital

Musgrove Road

Taunton

Somerset

TA1 5DA


Employer's website

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

Employer contact details

For questions about the job, contact:

Lead Respiratory Physiologist

Naomi Shepherd

naomi.shepherd@somersetft.nhs.uk

01823342353

Details

Date posted

22 December 2025

Pay scheme

Agenda for change

Band

Band 3

Salary

£24,937 a year

Contract

Permanent

Working pattern

Part-time

Reference number

184-OL-OR-3627

Job locations

Musgrove Park Hospital

Musgrove Road

Taunton

Somerset

TA1 5DA


Supporting documents

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