University Hospitals Plymouth NHS Trust

Health Care Support Worker

The closing date is 09 September 2025

Job summary

This is an exciting opportunity to join our nursing team.

We are an innovative forward thinking team who are patient focused and pride ourselves on giving high standards of care. We are passionate about clinical excellence and strive to deliver safe, positive care.

We require an enthusiastic and motivated HCA to work within this progressive team to provide high quality patient care. The Southwest Liver Unit is a busy 23 bedded ward specialising in Hepatology.

You will need to be keen, flexible adaptive and have an interest in working with people and looking for a challenge. Full time and part time hours available.

You should have excellent communication skills and be able to function in a busy working environment.

For an informal chat or further information please contact: Senior sister Rachael on 01752 437341

***Preference will be given to internal Trust staff, as well as 'Priority' and 'At Risk' status including NHS At Risk staff throughout Devon who are able to display recent relevant experience as dictated by the Person Specification.***

Main duties of the job

Work within the multidisciplinary ward team to provide exceptional patient care.

Provide patient care including personal care to our inpatients, and to undertake tasks as directed by registered practitioners.

About us

We are a people business - where every member of staff matters and can make a difference. Patients are at the heart of everything we do. Joining University Hospitals Plymouth NHS Trust means becoming part of a team of dedicated staff, who are committed to leading the way through innovation, clinical excellence and great customer care. The Trust has great opportunities for career development in a highly progressive working environment. We offer all of this in a vibrant, modern city with a historic reputation for adventure.

PLEASE NOTE THAT ALL COMMUNICATION WILL BE ELECTRONIC, PLEASE CHECK YOUR EMAIL ACCOUNT REGULARLY.

If you have any issues with applying online and need additional support including reasonable adjustments with the application process please contact the recruitment team on 01752 432100.

We recognise that work life balance is important for our colleagues and so we invite requests from applicants around less than full time/flexible working for our advertised roles. Please contact the recruiting manager to discuss this prior to your application submission. We commit to giving this full consideration in each case. We encourage people from diverse backgrounds to apply for our roles, as diversity strengthens our teams.It is sometimes necessary to close vacancies before the closing date.

If you have not heard from us within 4 weeks of the closing date, please assume that you have not been shortlisted.

Details

Date posted

26 August 2025

Pay scheme

Agenda for change

Band

Band 2

Salary

£24,465 a year Per Annum

Contract

Permanent

Working pattern

Full-time, Part-time

Reference number

216-AH-M7397145

Job locations

UHP-Derriford Hospital

Derriford Road

Plymouth

PL6 8DH


Job description

Job responsibilities

  • 1. Develop the skills to obtain consent prior to giving care in accordance with Trust policies.

    2. Under supervision follow individual patient care plans and report any changes immediately to the Registered Nurse/Assistant Practitioner.

    3. Participate in basic patient assessment whilst providing personal care and feeding back to the registered nurse to ensure high standards of care, in particular relating to skin integrity and the alertness of the patient

    4. Practice safe standards of care to patients following Trust guidelines and policies and be able to concentrate for periods throughout the day with occasional interruptions.

    5. Ensure care is given in accordance with the infection prevention and health and safety policies and procedures.

    6. Ensure that the patients bed space is clean, tidy, and accessible and that the person has what they need within easy reach.

    7. Develop the skills to actively facilitate self-care and independence with patients.

    8. Promote health education specific to the clinical area and in line with national and local policies

    9. Develop the skills to maintain effective record keeping and communication with patients, relatives, and members of the Multidisciplinary team regarding all aspects of care demonstrating a range of appropriate communication skills.

    10. Ensuring equipment and stores are well maintained, taking appropriate action if the equipment is faulty

    11. Work effectively as part of a team.

  • For further details please see attached JD&PS.

Job description

Job responsibilities

  • 1. Develop the skills to obtain consent prior to giving care in accordance with Trust policies.

    2. Under supervision follow individual patient care plans and report any changes immediately to the Registered Nurse/Assistant Practitioner.

    3. Participate in basic patient assessment whilst providing personal care and feeding back to the registered nurse to ensure high standards of care, in particular relating to skin integrity and the alertness of the patient

    4. Practice safe standards of care to patients following Trust guidelines and policies and be able to concentrate for periods throughout the day with occasional interruptions.

    5. Ensure care is given in accordance with the infection prevention and health and safety policies and procedures.

    6. Ensure that the patients bed space is clean, tidy, and accessible and that the person has what they need within easy reach.

    7. Develop the skills to actively facilitate self-care and independence with patients.

    8. Promote health education specific to the clinical area and in line with national and local policies

    9. Develop the skills to maintain effective record keeping and communication with patients, relatives, and members of the Multidisciplinary team regarding all aspects of care demonstrating a range of appropriate communication skills.

    10. Ensuring equipment and stores are well maintained, taking appropriate action if the equipment is faulty

    11. Work effectively as part of a team.

  • For further details please see attached JD&PS.

Person Specification

Knowledge & Experience

Essential

  • Be able to work as a member of a team
  • Demonstrable experience of time management and prioritising work
  • Understands and committed to a caring approach to patients & relatives
  • Ability to carry out assigned tasks effectively in a busy environment.

Desirable

  • Demonstrable experience of providing care in a healthcare or social setting

Aptitude and Abilities

Essential

  • Effective and appropriate communication skills both written and verbal
  • Committed to providing high quality patient care
  • Ability and willingness to undertake appropriate training within given time frames
  • Enthusiasm and commitment to working within the healthcare setting.
  • Able to meet the physical and developmental demands of the role
  • Basic IT skills, word, Email, keyboard skills

Desirable

  • Demonstrate an awareness of healthcare work and policies and procedures

Qualifications

Desirable

  • Level 2 QCF Diploma in Clinical Healthcare support or Level 2 NVQ in Healthcare Health & Social Care Or Level 2 in Health & Social Care (NVQ, QCF, RQF)
  • GCSE A*- D in English Language, or equivalent (e.g. Certificate in Adult Literacy at Level 1)
  • GCSE A* - D, or equivalent in Mathematics (e.g. Certificate in Adult Numeracy at Level 1)
Person Specification

Knowledge & Experience

Essential

  • Be able to work as a member of a team
  • Demonstrable experience of time management and prioritising work
  • Understands and committed to a caring approach to patients & relatives
  • Ability to carry out assigned tasks effectively in a busy environment.

Desirable

  • Demonstrable experience of providing care in a healthcare or social setting

Aptitude and Abilities

Essential

  • Effective and appropriate communication skills both written and verbal
  • Committed to providing high quality patient care
  • Ability and willingness to undertake appropriate training within given time frames
  • Enthusiasm and commitment to working within the healthcare setting.
  • Able to meet the physical and developmental demands of the role
  • Basic IT skills, word, Email, keyboard skills

Desirable

  • Demonstrate an awareness of healthcare work and policies and procedures

Qualifications

Desirable

  • Level 2 QCF Diploma in Clinical Healthcare support or Level 2 NVQ in Healthcare Health & Social Care Or Level 2 in Health & Social Care (NVQ, QCF, RQF)
  • GCSE A*- D in English Language, or equivalent (e.g. Certificate in Adult Literacy at Level 1)
  • GCSE A* - D, or equivalent in Mathematics (e.g. Certificate in Adult Numeracy at Level 1)

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.

Certificate of Sponsorship

Applications from job seekers who require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website (Opens in a new tab).

From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants, applying for entry clearance into the UK, have had to present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Adult dependants (over 18 years old) are also subject to this requirement. Guidance can be found here Criminal records checks for overseas applicants (Opens in a new tab).

Additional information

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.

Certificate of Sponsorship

Applications from job seekers who require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website (Opens in a new tab).

From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants, applying for entry clearance into the UK, have had to present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Adult dependants (over 18 years old) are also subject to this requirement. Guidance can be found here Criminal records checks for overseas applicants (Opens in a new tab).

Employer details

Employer name

University Hospitals Plymouth NHS Trust

Address

UHP-Derriford Hospital

Derriford Road

Plymouth

PL6 8DH


Employer's website

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


Employer details

Employer name

University Hospitals Plymouth NHS Trust

Address

UHP-Derriford Hospital

Derriford Road

Plymouth

PL6 8DH


Employer's website

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


Employer contact details

For questions about the job, contact:

Ward manager

Rachael Doherty

rachael.doherty@nhs.net

01752439093

Details

Date posted

26 August 2025

Pay scheme

Agenda for change

Band

Band 2

Salary

£24,465 a year Per Annum

Contract

Permanent

Working pattern

Full-time, Part-time

Reference number

216-AH-M7397145

Job locations

UHP-Derriford Hospital

Derriford Road

Plymouth

PL6 8DH


Supporting documents

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