Job summary
Are you an experienced Healthcare Support Worker with a background in Care of the Elderly?
We're looking for a dedicated, enthusiastic individuals to join our Frailty Wards - 9A, 9B & 10A
Working in frailty is a challenging and rewarding role where the HCSW is an essential part of the multidisciplinary team. You will be working in a state-of-the-art hospital and will participate in providing excellent care.
We're looking to recruit HCSW's who have passion for caring for frail older patients and are able to demonstrate enthusiasm for learning and development. You will be a high performing individual who is flexible and driven by the exciting challenges that lie ahead while demonstrating that you can live the Trusts values.
You will need to be flexible to accommodate the various shift times and patterns within the department including a full range of long days, nights, weekends and bank holidays.
We are looking to recruit experienced healthcare support workers however, we would also be happy to support newcomers (at Band 2) and offer full support.
Please note, this role does not currently meet the salary requirement for visa sponsorship. From the 9th April 2025, the minimum salary required for a Skilled Worker visa became £25,000 per year. While this role may be offered at a higher point on the pay scale depending on relevant NHS experience, most new starters are appointed at the bottom of the band, which does not meet the salary threshold.
Main duties of the job
Working as a Healthcare Support Worker, you will be involved with direct patient care whilst maintaining the privacy and dignity of patients. You will be working alongside a Registered Nurse to provide essential nursing care and helping your patients with daily living tasks such as:
- helping patients feel comfortable and move around
- monitoring patients and performing basic health checks
- washing, dressing patients and helping them go to the toilet
- serving meals and helping to feed patients
Upon successful completion of clinical skills training, as a Senior Healthcare Support Worker, you will also be expected to carry out a range of clinical duties with minimal / no supervision, including:
- blood pressure monitoring
- oxygen saturation levels
- body temperature
- pulse rate and respiration rate
- glucose monitoring
- wound swab
- collection and testing of urine, faecal and sputum samples
Whilst completing these tasks, the underlining aim is to deliver high-quality patient care at all times.
About us
North Bristol NHS Trust employs over 12,000 staff providing healthcare to the residents of Bristol, South Gloucestershire and North Somerset from our award-winning hospital building at Southmead. We are the regional Major Trauma Centre, and an internationally recognised centre of excellence in a range of services and major specialities.
We commit to treating each patient as an individual with respect and dignity, aiming to deliver excellent clinical outcomes and a first-class experience for everyone who uses our services.
North Bristol NHS Trust values all people as individuals. We aim to be an anti-discriminatory organisation and are committed to building a team that represents a variety of backgrounds, perspectives, and skills. We welcome applicants from all underrepresented groups.
Job description
Job responsibilities
For a full overview of the Job Description, please refer to the PDF Job Description attached as an additional document to this advert.
Nursing Care:
- Obtain consent prior to giving care in accordance with Trust policies.
- Duties are delegated to you in line with care plans
- Not all duties are routine, and you will need to use your knowledge, experience and understanding to take decisions within your area of responsibility
- To carry out a range of 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.
- Participate in patient assessment providing high quality holistic patient care and escalating concerns about patients to other clinical staff
- Practice safe standards of care to patients following Trust guidelines and policies and policies and be able to concentrate for periods throughout the day with occasional interruptions.
- Provide clinical care in accordance with the infection prevention and health and safety policies and procedures.
- Maintain the work environment in line with Trust infection control and patient safety policies
- Develop the skills to actively facilitate self-care and independence with patients.
- Promote health education specific to the clinical area and in line with national and local policies.
- Maintain accurate records relating to communication with patients, relatives, and members of the Multidisciplinary team regarding all aspects of care demonstrating a range of appropriate communication skills.
- Ensuring equipment and stores are well maintained, taking appropriate action if the equipment is faulty
- Work effectively as part of a team.
Job description
Job responsibilities
For a full overview of the Job Description, please refer to the PDF Job Description attached as an additional document to this advert.
Nursing Care:
- Obtain consent prior to giving care in accordance with Trust policies.
- Duties are delegated to you in line with care plans
- Not all duties are routine, and you will need to use your knowledge, experience and understanding to take decisions within your area of responsibility
- To carry out a range of 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.
- Participate in patient assessment providing high quality holistic patient care and escalating concerns about patients to other clinical staff
- Practice safe standards of care to patients following Trust guidelines and policies and policies and be able to concentrate for periods throughout the day with occasional interruptions.
- Provide clinical care in accordance with the infection prevention and health and safety policies and procedures.
- Maintain the work environment in line with Trust infection control and patient safety policies
- Develop the skills to actively facilitate self-care and independence with patients.
- Promote health education specific to the clinical area and in line with national and local policies.
- Maintain accurate records relating to communication with patients, relatives, and members of the Multidisciplinary team regarding all aspects of care demonstrating a range of appropriate communication skills.
- Ensuring equipment and stores are well maintained, taking appropriate action if the equipment is faulty
- Work effectively as part of a team.
Person Specification
Qualifications and Training
Essential
- One of the following: o Level 3 RQF, SCQF o City and Guilds 3 o NVQ 3 o BTEC National Diploma (any subject) OR o Equivalent experience (minimum of 12 months)
- GCSE grade A- C (grade 4 and above) or equivalent in English
- GCSE grade A- C (grade 4 and above) or equivalent in Maths
- o Completion of Level 3 Diploma in Healthcare Support (that maps to the Apprenticeship Standard for Senior Health Care Support Worker) OR o Equivalent experience
- Completion of Care Certificate
Desirable
- Completion of venepuncture and physiological measurements competencies
Knowledge and Experience
Essential
- At least 12 months experience of working in a health or social care setting
- Prior experience as a support worker
- Evidence of ability to work as a member of a team
- Good time management skills and prioritising work
- Understands and committed to a caring approach to patients & relatives
Desirable
- Evidence of working in an acute hospital setting
- Experience of working with frailty patients
Skills and Abilities
Essential
- Effective and appropriate communication skills both written and verbal
- Able to complete appropriate documentation accurately
- IT skills, basic word, Email, keyboard skills
- Ability and willingness to undertake appropriate training within given time frames
Person Specification
Qualifications and Training
Essential
- One of the following: o Level 3 RQF, SCQF o City and Guilds 3 o NVQ 3 o BTEC National Diploma (any subject) OR o Equivalent experience (minimum of 12 months)
- GCSE grade A- C (grade 4 and above) or equivalent in English
- GCSE grade A- C (grade 4 and above) or equivalent in Maths
- o Completion of Level 3 Diploma in Healthcare Support (that maps to the Apprenticeship Standard for Senior Health Care Support Worker) OR o Equivalent experience
- Completion of Care Certificate
Desirable
- Completion of venepuncture and physiological measurements competencies
Knowledge and Experience
Essential
- At least 12 months experience of working in a health or social care setting
- Prior experience as a support worker
- Evidence of ability to work as a member of a team
- Good time management skills and prioritising work
- Understands and committed to a caring approach to patients & relatives
Desirable
- Evidence of working in an acute hospital setting
- Experience of working with frailty patients
Skills and Abilities
Essential
- Effective and appropriate communication skills both written and verbal
- Able to complete appropriate documentation accurately
- IT skills, basic word, Email, keyboard skills
- Ability and willingness to undertake appropriate training within given time frames
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.
