University Hospitals Sussex NHS Foundation Trust (279)

Senior Healthcare Assistant

Information:

This job is now closed

Job summary

This role is eligible for visa sponsorship under the UK Visas & Immigration (UKVI) Skilled Worker route however sponsorship can only be provided where applicants meet the specific requirements set by UKVI, including the relevant skill and salary thresholds, and any role-specific criteria. Applicants for the Senior HCA role must be able to evidence a minimum of 2 years' experience in the same role (Band 3 HCA within the NHS) to meet the salary requirements to qualify for sponsorship.

The post holder contributes and actively participates in the smooth and efficient running of the two cardiac theatres. They work collaboratively with the perioperative team to meet the needs of patients, following policy and procedures while providing supervision to more junior staff and student nurses, where appropriate.

The post holder is a confident and competent Health Care Assistant who participates in the on call service under the supervision and guidance of a qualified practitioner

Main duties of the job

Communication

  • To act as a role model by demonstrating excellent communication and listening skills with patients, relatives and staff
  • Ability to communicate complex and sensitive information to other professional groups (e.g. equipment failure, special requests from medical staff)
  • To ensure that there are high standards of documentation and care planning in all areas of practice and those documentation standards are consistent across all areas.
  • Maintenance of surgical register, in accordance with national and trust policies.
  • To act as the patients advocate respecting patient privacy and dignity.
  • Communicate and interact with other departments within the cardiac unit.

About us

At UHSussex, diversity is our strength, and we want you to feel included to help us always deliver Excellent Care Everywhere, as shown in our Outstanding for Caring CQC rating. Your uniqueness and experiences will be part of our creative and innovative community where everyone is encouraged to succeed. We have a range of staff networks to help break down barriers, and can offer a buddy to help new members settle in. We're proud to be a Disability Confident Employer (Level 3) and a Veteran Aware Trust.

Candidate Pack https://www.uhsussex.nhs.uk/resources/candidate-information-pack/

Details

Date posted

17 October 2025

Pay scheme

Agenda for change

Band

Band 3

Salary

£24,937 to £26,598 a year Per Annum

Contract

Permanent

Working pattern

Part-time

Reference number

279-7548316-OCT25

Job locations

Royal Sussex County Hospital

Eastern Road

Brighton

BN2 5EB


Job description

Job responsibilities

This job description is an outline of the role and responsibilities, please see the document attached for full details.

From time to time due to the needs of the service, we may ask you to flexibly undertake other duties that are consistent with your role and banding, including project work, internal job rotation and absence cover.

The job description and person specification may be reviewed on an ongoing basis in accordance with the changing needs of the department and the organisation.

Job description

Job responsibilities

This job description is an outline of the role and responsibilities, please see the document attached for full details.

From time to time due to the needs of the service, we may ask you to flexibly undertake other duties that are consistent with your role and banding, including project work, internal job rotation and absence cover.

The job description and person specification may be reviewed on an ongoing basis in accordance with the changing needs of the department and the organisation.

Person Specification

Skills, experience/ Qualification

Essential

  • NHS experience or NHS primary care experience is required or an internationally educated nurse/midwife/doctor who has worked in an acute NHS Trust within recent years.
  • Care Certificate from a Ofqual regulated awarding organisation
  • Ability to demonstrate knowledge and skills acquisition, working at a higher-level standard of care delivery, equivalent to vocational qualification level 3. This is evidenced via a portfolio of practice and/or a professional discussion
  • Ability to demonstrate activities to new/junior members of staff
  • Good written and spoken English - able to communicate clearly and succinctly to patients and colleagues Legible handwriting and able to maintain accurate documentation Able to work effectively as part of a team Able to empathise and communicate with sensitivity
  • Able to make basic judgements, assessments and evaluations involving a range of facts or situations, some requiring analysis; resolving day-to-day issues
  • Computer / keyboard skills, sufficient to send/receive emails, document activities electronically, eg. In Electronic Patient Record
  • Able to make basic judgements,assessments and evaluations involving patient care, some requiring analysis; resolving day-to-day issues and escalating to senior colleagues if required
  • Ability to plan and organise their own work activities
  • Acts on own initiative when delivering patient care, with accessible support and supervision

Desirable

  • Level 3 Diploma in Clinical Healthcare Support or Health and Social Care or relevant equivalent
  • Level 2 apprenticeship standard in Clinical Healthcare Support, Health & Social Care or relevant equivalent qualification
  • Level 3 apprenticeship standard in Clinical Healthcare Support or relevant equivalent qualification
  • Maths GCSE (grade C or above or grade 4 to 9) or Maths Level 2 functional skills
  • English GCSE (grade C or above or grade 4 to 9) or English Level 2 Functional skills
  • Completed training and had experience with service specific Senior HCA extended scope of practice skills, such as; venepuncture, ECGs, simple wound dressings
  • Experience of supporting new HCAs to induct and develop
  • Experience of supporting knowledge acquisition and reviewing a learners practice to meet a fundamental standard of patient care
  • A good working knowledge of the Care Certificate standards
  • Mentoring or teaching qualification

Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion

Essential

  • Evidence of having championed diversity in previous roles (as appropriate to role) (I)

Desirable

  • Evidence of having undertaken own development to improve understanding of equalities issues (I)
Person Specification

Skills, experience/ Qualification

Essential

  • NHS experience or NHS primary care experience is required or an internationally educated nurse/midwife/doctor who has worked in an acute NHS Trust within recent years.
  • Care Certificate from a Ofqual regulated awarding organisation
  • Ability to demonstrate knowledge and skills acquisition, working at a higher-level standard of care delivery, equivalent to vocational qualification level 3. This is evidenced via a portfolio of practice and/or a professional discussion
  • Ability to demonstrate activities to new/junior members of staff
  • Good written and spoken English - able to communicate clearly and succinctly to patients and colleagues Legible handwriting and able to maintain accurate documentation Able to work effectively as part of a team Able to empathise and communicate with sensitivity
  • Able to make basic judgements, assessments and evaluations involving a range of facts or situations, some requiring analysis; resolving day-to-day issues
  • Computer / keyboard skills, sufficient to send/receive emails, document activities electronically, eg. In Electronic Patient Record
  • Able to make basic judgements,assessments and evaluations involving patient care, some requiring analysis; resolving day-to-day issues and escalating to senior colleagues if required
  • Ability to plan and organise their own work activities
  • Acts on own initiative when delivering patient care, with accessible support and supervision

Desirable

  • Level 3 Diploma in Clinical Healthcare Support or Health and Social Care or relevant equivalent
  • Level 2 apprenticeship standard in Clinical Healthcare Support, Health & Social Care or relevant equivalent qualification
  • Level 3 apprenticeship standard in Clinical Healthcare Support or relevant equivalent qualification
  • Maths GCSE (grade C or above or grade 4 to 9) or Maths Level 2 functional skills
  • English GCSE (grade C or above or grade 4 to 9) or English Level 2 Functional skills
  • Completed training and had experience with service specific Senior HCA extended scope of practice skills, such as; venepuncture, ECGs, simple wound dressings
  • Experience of supporting new HCAs to induct and develop
  • Experience of supporting knowledge acquisition and reviewing a learners practice to meet a fundamental standard of patient care
  • A good working knowledge of the Care Certificate standards
  • Mentoring or teaching qualification

Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion

Essential

  • Evidence of having championed diversity in previous roles (as appropriate to role) (I)

Desirable

  • Evidence of having undertaken own development to improve understanding of equalities issues (I)

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

University Hospitals Sussex NHS Foundation Trust (279)

Address

Royal Sussex County Hospital

Eastern Road

Brighton

BN2 5EB


Employer's website

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


Employer details

Employer name

University Hospitals Sussex NHS Foundation Trust (279)

Address

Royal Sussex County Hospital

Eastern Road

Brighton

BN2 5EB


Employer's website

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


Employer contact details

For questions about the job, contact:

Cardiac theatre Nurses manager

Sheena Antony

Sheena.antony@nhs.net

01273664474

Details

Date posted

17 October 2025

Pay scheme

Agenda for change

Band

Band 3

Salary

£24,937 to £26,598 a year Per Annum

Contract

Permanent

Working pattern

Part-time

Reference number

279-7548316-OCT25

Job locations

Royal Sussex County Hospital

Eastern Road

Brighton

BN2 5EB


Supporting documents

Privacy notice

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