University Hospitals Plymouth NHS Trust

Senior Health Care Support Worker (SHCSW)

The closing date is 18 November 2025

Job summary

The post holder is a member of the Dartmoor UTC team, working under the direction of the Nurse Practitioners (NP), to maintain a safe and high standard of care. The Health Care Assistant (HCA) may be directed to fulfil certain clinical tasks by the NP under direct supervision. Once the HCA is trained and assessed that they can demonstrate competency, they may then perform that task without direct supervision.

Location: Dartmoor UTC team with the expectation to rotate to UTC Cumberland, Tavistock and Kingsbridge MIU as required. Working hours are 08:00am - 20-00pm / 10:00am - 22:00pm

37.5hrs per week at Dartmoor UTC to cover the unit service of 7 days / week including Public Holidays. Rotational shifts to other units may include, early, mid, late shifts 7 days a week including Public Holidays.

***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

Assist the Nurse Practitioner in fulfilling their role in the physical and psychological care of patients and assist patients/relatives and carers as required. Report to the senior nurse, any problems that may arise. Comply with the quality indicator requirements for type 3 A&E/ UTC/MIU departments in England. After training and competency assessment, the HCA's clinical tasks include: Triage/'first contact'*, performing and monitoring patient clinical observations, 12 lead ECGs, simple wound care management, including wound closure and dressings, urinalysis, blood glucose testing, applying POP and other splints, health promotion, ensuring patient documentation is completed to the MIU agreed standard. *Triage or 'first contact' is only performed by HCA within the MIUs. Other duties/responsibilities include: Administrative tasks assisting the patient when 'booking in' in the absence of reception staff, monitoring, maintaining, receipting stock levels, ordering from approved lists as necessary, informing the manager of any discrepancies. Show awareness of budgetary restraints: maximise use of resources, time, and equipment, avoiding unnecessary waste. Ensure defects are reported, appropriately monitored, ensuring timely repairs are undertaken, report issues to estate services and clinical engineering. Report other incidents to senior nurse/line managers as they arise and completing Datix when necessary.

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

04 November 2025

Pay scheme

Agenda for change

Band

Band 3

Salary

£24,937 to £26,598 a year £24,937 - £26,598 Per Annum Pro Rata

Contract

Permanent

Working pattern

Full-time, Part-time

Reference number

216-LH-M7492637

Job locations

Dartmoor UTC

Derriford Hospital

Plymouth

PL6 8DH


Job description

Job responsibilities

1. Obtain consent prior to giving care in accordance with Trust policies.

2. Competently undertake delegated duties in line with patient care plans.

3. Ability to use your knowledge and experience to undertake non-routine duties and an understanding to take decisions within your area of responsibility.

4. To carry out a range of (limited) clinical duties with minimal / no supervision, including for example, blood pressure monitoring, oxygen saturation levels, body temperature, pulse rate and respiration rate, glucose monitoring, collection and testing of urine samples / faecal samples / sputum samples and wound swabs ensuring delivery of high-quality patient care at all times. NB: this list is not exhaustive and will vary depending on area of work.

5. Participate in patient assessment providing high quality holistic patient care and escalating concerns about patients to other clinical staff.

6. 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.

7. Provide clinical care in accordance with the infection prevention and health and safety policies and procedures.

8. Maintain the work environment in line with Trust infection control and patient safety policies.

9. Utilising skills to actively facilitate self-care and independence with patients.

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

For further details please see the attached JD & PS

Job description

Job responsibilities

1. Obtain consent prior to giving care in accordance with Trust policies.

2. Competently undertake delegated duties in line with patient care plans.

3. Ability to use your knowledge and experience to undertake non-routine duties and an understanding to take decisions within your area of responsibility.

4. To carry out a range of (limited) clinical duties with minimal / no supervision, including for example, blood pressure monitoring, oxygen saturation levels, body temperature, pulse rate and respiration rate, glucose monitoring, collection and testing of urine samples / faecal samples / sputum samples and wound swabs ensuring delivery of high-quality patient care at all times. NB: this list is not exhaustive and will vary depending on area of work.

5. Participate in patient assessment providing high quality holistic patient care and escalating concerns about patients to other clinical staff.

6. 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.

7. Provide clinical care in accordance with the infection prevention and health and safety policies and procedures.

8. Maintain the work environment in line with Trust infection control and patient safety policies.

9. Utilising skills to actively facilitate self-care and independence with patients.

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

For further details please see the attached JD & PS

Person Specification

Qualifications

Essential

  • oOne of the following oAccredited Level 3 (SCQF - 6): - City and Guilds 3 oNVQ 3 oAccredited BTEC National Diploma oExperience equivalent to the above qualifications
  • oLevel 2 Functional skills in English and Math's, or equivalent
  • oCompletion of accredited Level 3 Diploma in Healthcare Support (that maps to the Apprenticeship Standard for Senior Health Care Support Worker)
  • oEquivalent experience

Aptitude and Abilities

Essential

  • Effective and appropriate communication skills both written and verbal
  • Able to complete appropriate documentation accurately
  • Demonstrate an awareness of healthcare work and policies and procedures
  • Committed to providing high quality patient care

Knowledge & Experience

Essential

  • Demonstrable experience of providing care in a healthcare or social setting
  • Be able to work as a member of a team
  • Demonstrable experience of time management and prioritising work
  • Proven understanding and committed to a caring approach to patients & relatives

Desirable

  • Proven understanding of Adult and Child protection issues
  • Proven understanding of Domestic Abuse
  • Demonstrable experience in MIU/A&E
  • Proven skills in basic Triage / First Contact
Person Specification

Qualifications

Essential

  • oOne of the following oAccredited Level 3 (SCQF - 6): - City and Guilds 3 oNVQ 3 oAccredited BTEC National Diploma oExperience equivalent to the above qualifications
  • oLevel 2 Functional skills in English and Math's, or equivalent
  • oCompletion of accredited Level 3 Diploma in Healthcare Support (that maps to the Apprenticeship Standard for Senior Health Care Support Worker)
  • oEquivalent experience

Aptitude and Abilities

Essential

  • Effective and appropriate communication skills both written and verbal
  • Able to complete appropriate documentation accurately
  • Demonstrate an awareness of healthcare work and policies and procedures
  • Committed to providing high quality patient care

Knowledge & Experience

Essential

  • Demonstrable experience of providing care in a healthcare or social setting
  • Be able to work as a member of a team
  • Demonstrable experience of time management and prioritising work
  • Proven understanding and committed to a caring approach to patients & relatives

Desirable

  • Proven understanding of Adult and Child protection issues
  • Proven understanding of Domestic Abuse
  • Demonstrable experience in MIU/A&E
  • Proven skills in basic Triage / First Contact

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

Dartmoor UTC

Derriford Hospital

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

Dartmoor UTC

Derriford Hospital

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:

UTC Unit Manager & Lead Practitioner

Roly Cawaing

roly.cawaing@nhs.net

01752438320

Details

Date posted

04 November 2025

Pay scheme

Agenda for change

Band

Band 3

Salary

£24,937 to £26,598 a year £24,937 - £26,598 Per Annum Pro Rata

Contract

Permanent

Working pattern

Full-time, Part-time

Reference number

216-LH-M7492637

Job locations

Dartmoor UTC

Derriford Hospital

Plymouth

PL6 8DH


Supporting documents

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