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Berkshire Healthcare Foundation Trust

Healthcare Assistant

The closing date is 12 October 2025

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Job summary

An exciting opportunity has arisen to work with the Community Nursing Teams in Reading based at 7-9 Cremyll Road, Reading, RG1 8NQ. You will be working in the role of Community Health Care Assistant an important part of the ever-evolving Community Nursing service. The core hours of the service are 08.30-19.00 Monday- Friday however the hours are negotiable. You will be responsible for providing care to housebound patients. The role of the Health care assistant is a vital role to support the ongoing work of the Community Nurses and Community Nursing Sister/District Nurse. The staff work closely with members of wider multi-disciplinary teams including the local Palliative Care team, Community Matrons, Social Care Coordinators and Specialist Nurses. Clinical skills required for this post would include venepuncture, basic wound management, and continence assessment skills. Full training is available within the Trust for the successful applicant and there is the opportunity to attend training to extend the role to the administration of certain injectable medication.

Main duties of the job

  • Working closely with the nursing staff to provide a high standard in individual patient care.

  • Responsible for maintaining detailed, accurate and confidential patient records, adhering to Trust policies.

  • Able to prioritise work using time appropriately, referring patients to other agencies as necessary.

  • Part of an effective supportive team, working together to provide clinical advice and support to other staff and patients.

  • As a community healthcare assistant, you'll work one-to-one with adult patients in their own homes and in local neighbourhoods - where people prefer to be treated for many conditions and diseases.

  • You will have the opportunity to build ongoing relationships that benefit patients, families and the different professionals involved in cases.

  • You may be the kind of person who enjoys the independence of travelling around the community outside of a clinical setting. The working hours suit many people too. You will occasionally work bank holidays and weekends. All rosters are published at least 8 weeks in advance.

About us

Berkshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust is a specialist mental health and community health services trust. Rated 'outstanding' by the CQC, we're committed to providing the best possible care to people across Berkshire. As an employer, we're committed to offering an inclusive and compassionate environment where our people share in a sense of belonging and are supported to flourish.

Our values at Berkshire Healthcare are:

  • Caring for and about you is our top priority
  • Committed to providing good quality, safe services
  • Working Together with you to develop innovative solutions

Your wellbeing is important to us. Some of the benefits of working for us include:

  • Flexible working options to support work-life balance
  • 27 days' annual leave rising with service + opportunity to buy and sell
  • Generous NHS pension scheme
  • Excellent learning and career development opportunities
  • 'Cycle to Work' and car leasing scheme including electric vehicles
  • Access to a range of wellbeing tools and services
  • Discounts at hundreds of popular retailers and restaurants
  • Staff networks for race, diversity, disabilities, the environment and armed forces community to support equality
  • Generous maternity, paternity, adoption and special leave
  • Free parking across Trust sites

Details

Date posted

03 October 2025

Pay scheme

Agenda for change

Band

Band 3

Salary

£24,937 to £26,598 a year per annum

Contract

Permanent

Working pattern

Full-time

Reference number

371-CHS1087-A

Job locations

7-9 Cremyll Road

Reading

RG1 8NQ


Job description

Job responsibilities

The must haves for this role:

  1. People skills to work effectively with colleagues and patients with excellent listening and communication skills.

  1. A driving license and access to a car

  1. Calm approach and ability to prioritise and work within a busy team

For further information about the role, please see attached job description and person specification.

We strongly encourage you to review how you meet the criteria in the person specification and write about this point-by-point in your supporting statement for the best chance of being shortlisted.

Were committed to equal opportunities and welcome applications from all sections of the community. Our commitment to inclusion is reflected in our accreditations: Race Equality Matters Silver Trailblazer, Neurodiversity in Business Corporate Member, Disability Confident Leader, Carer Confident Level 2, and the Armed Forces Covenant Gold Award. Reasonable adjustments will be provided to candidates as needed.

We welcome a conversation about flexibility and any other questions you may have. Please dont hesitate to call: Laura Rayfield at 07767677076 or email: laura.rayfield@berkshire.nhs.uk wholl be delighted to help.

Please note, if we receive a high number of applications, we may close this role earlier than the advertised closing date, so please submit your application as soon as possible.

Job description

Job responsibilities

The must haves for this role:

  1. People skills to work effectively with colleagues and patients with excellent listening and communication skills.

  1. A driving license and access to a car

  1. Calm approach and ability to prioritise and work within a busy team

For further information about the role, please see attached job description and person specification.

We strongly encourage you to review how you meet the criteria in the person specification and write about this point-by-point in your supporting statement for the best chance of being shortlisted.

Were committed to equal opportunities and welcome applications from all sections of the community. Our commitment to inclusion is reflected in our accreditations: Race Equality Matters Silver Trailblazer, Neurodiversity in Business Corporate Member, Disability Confident Leader, Carer Confident Level 2, and the Armed Forces Covenant Gold Award. Reasonable adjustments will be provided to candidates as needed.

We welcome a conversation about flexibility and any other questions you may have. Please dont hesitate to call: Laura Rayfield at 07767677076 or email: laura.rayfield@berkshire.nhs.uk wholl be delighted to help.

Please note, if we receive a high number of applications, we may close this role earlier than the advertised closing date, so please submit your application as soon as possible.

Person Specification

Education/Qualifications

Essential

  • Educated to GCSE standard in English and Maths as a minimum

Training

Essential

  • NVQ 3 or willingness to undertake
  • Evidence of continuing professional development

Previous Experience

Essential

  • Previous experience as an HCA/ Carer

Knowledge, Skills & Abilities

Essential

  • Highly motivated
  • Proof of appropriate skills to effectively care for patients
  • Able to utilise IT and various media in order to support data collection
  • Demonstrate cultural awareness
  • Applies policies/ procedures to effectively manage risk

Additional Requirements

Essential

  • Full Valid UK driving license with confidence to drive during unsocial hours and in unusual environments with use of care for work purposes
  • A degree of agility and the ability to manoeuvre light to moderate loads
  • Able to work bank holidays, weekends and unsocial hours to meet service needs
  • Able to work in challenging environments
Person Specification

Education/Qualifications

Essential

  • Educated to GCSE standard in English and Maths as a minimum

Training

Essential

  • NVQ 3 or willingness to undertake
  • Evidence of continuing professional development

Previous Experience

Essential

  • Previous experience as an HCA/ Carer

Knowledge, Skills & Abilities

Essential

  • Highly motivated
  • Proof of appropriate skills to effectively care for patients
  • Able to utilise IT and various media in order to support data collection
  • Demonstrate cultural awareness
  • Applies policies/ procedures to effectively manage risk

Additional Requirements

Essential

  • Full Valid UK driving license with confidence to drive during unsocial hours and in unusual environments with use of care for work purposes
  • A degree of agility and the ability to manoeuvre light to moderate loads
  • Able to work bank holidays, weekends and unsocial hours to meet service needs
  • Able to work in challenging environments

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

Berkshire Healthcare Foundation Trust

Address

7-9 Cremyll Road

Reading

RG1 8NQ


Employer's website

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

Employer details

Employer name

Berkshire Healthcare Foundation Trust

Address

7-9 Cremyll Road

Reading

RG1 8NQ


Employer's website

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

Employer contact details

For questions about the job, contact:

Community Nursing Manager

Laura Rayfield

Laura.Rayfield@berkshire.nhs.uk

07767677076

Details

Date posted

03 October 2025

Pay scheme

Agenda for change

Band

Band 3

Salary

£24,937 to £26,598 a year per annum

Contract

Permanent

Working pattern

Full-time

Reference number

371-CHS1087-A

Job locations

7-9 Cremyll Road

Reading

RG1 8NQ


Supporting documents

Privacy notice

Berkshire Healthcare Foundation Trust's privacy notice (opens in a new tab)