University Hospitals Sussex NHS Foundation Trust (279)

Senior Healthcare Assistant

The closing date is 03 February 2026

Job summary

Please note: This role does not meet the minimum criteria for visa sponsorship under the current UK immigration rules, which set specific salary and skill thresholds. As such, we are unable to provide sponsorship for this post. Applicants will therefore need to already have the right to work in the UK to be considered. We include this information at the outset to provide clarity and avoid unnecessary inconvenience for applicants.

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/

Date posted

20 January 2026

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-JAN26

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.

For this role it is essential that you have previous NHS or NHS primary care experience with a Care Certificate from an Ofqual regulated awarding organisation. Or that you are an internationally educated nurse/midwife/doctor who has worked in an acute hospital setting within recent years with evidence of your degree verified by an ENIC report.

Please ensure to attach your Care Certificate and/or ENIC report to your application as this will be required for interview.

Job description

Job responsibilities

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

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.

Please ensure to attach your Care Certificate and/or ENIC report to your application as this will be required for interview.

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)