Mid and South Essex NHS Foundation Trust

Healthcare Assistant

The closing date is 11 January 2026

Job summary

We have several excitingpermanent opportunities at the Southend site of Mid and South Essex NHS Foundation Trust for Health Care Assistants.

The job requires someone that exudes our Trust Values: Excellent, Compassionate and Respectful. Although experience is not necessary for this role as full training is provided, having worked in care, or provided care would be advantageous to the role.

The Mid and South Essex Integrated Care System (ICS) brings together key health, care, community, and voluntary sector organisations from across our area. Our aim is to work together in partnership to join up health and care services, improving our populations health and wellbeing and reducing health inequalities. One such example of this collaborative work is the launch of our HCA Academy, an ICS initiative between Essex Partnership University NHS Foundation Trust (EPUT) and Mid and South Essex NHS Foundation Trust (MSEFT) to support the incoming Health Care assistant (HCA) workforce. The academy models a 'one workforce' cross system approach to the onboarding, induction, education and experience of Healthcare Assistants.

Successful candidates to this role will be able to access the additional support provided by the HCA Academy following their induction with MSEFT. This includes development opportunities, pastoral support, staff rewards and access to HCA exclusive resources such as a HCA App.

If you are interested in starting a Career in Care, please apply today!

Main duties of the job

The Health Care assistant will function as part of the multi-disciplinary team within the ward or department to provide a seamless service & high-quality care to patients under the direct supervision of a Registered Nurse. The HCA is expected to undertake care to meet the needs of the patients under the supervision of a qualified nurse, working within the Trust's policies and procedures and the philosophy of the ward. Being able to work as part of a team is essential to the role.

Mid and South Essex NHS Foundation Trust encourages our Health Care Assistants to continually develop their own capabilities and knowledge of nursing tasks in line with the Trust's career pathways

These posts require you to commit toShift work which will include, weekends, Bank holidays and nights. In general, our day shifts start at 7:00 and finish at 19:30. Night shifts start at 19:00 and finish at 7:30 (some wards may differ slightly). Shift Rota are planned 4-8 weeks in advance.

About us

Our ambition is to deliver excellent local and specialist services, to improve the health and well being of our patients, and provide a vibrant place for staff to develop, innovate and build careers.

We aim to make the most of our skills and experiences so we can become the best we can be. As one organisation we will recruit the finest and retain more specialist staff due to more employment opportunities across our Trust.

The Mid and South Essex Integrated Care System (ICS) brings together key health, care, community, and voluntary sector organisations from across our area. Our aim is to work together in partnership to join up health and care services, improving our populations health and wellbeing and reducing health inequalities. One such example of this collaborative work is the launch of our HCA Academy, an ICS initiative between Essex Partnership University NHS Foundation Trust (EPUT) and Mid and South Essex NHS Foundation Trust (MSEFT) to support the incoming Health Care assistant (HCA) workforce. The academy models a 'one workforce' cross system approach to the onboarding, induction, education, and experience of Healthcare Assistants.

Successful candidates to this role will be able to access the additional support provided by the HCA Academy following their induction with MSEFT. This includes development opportunities, pastoral support, staff rewards and access to HCA exclusive resources such as HCA App.

Details

Date posted

08 January 2026

Pay scheme

Agenda for change

Band

Band 2

Salary

£24,465 a year Per Annum (Pro Rata for Part Time)

Contract

Permanent

Working pattern

Full-time

Reference number

390-MED-SO-8337-A

Job locations

Southend

Prittlewell Avenue

Southend

SS0 0RY


Job description

Job responsibilities

Are you looking for an exciting HCA role using your unique qualities, then we want to hear from you.

For full details about this varied and rewarding role, please see attached job description.

We look forward to your application.

Please be aware that we reserve the right to close this vacancy early if we receive a suitable number of applications.

No VISA sponsorship available for this role

Please be aware that whilst we are able to employ candidates on a graduate visa for this role, we are unable to offer sponsorship once the graduate visa expires.

Job description

Job responsibilities

Are you looking for an exciting HCA role using your unique qualities, then we want to hear from you.

For full details about this varied and rewarding role, please see attached job description.

We look forward to your application.

Please be aware that we reserve the right to close this vacancy early if we receive a suitable number of applications.

No VISA sponsorship available for this role

Please be aware that whilst we are able to employ candidates on a graduate visa for this role, we are unable to offer sponsorship once the graduate visa expires.

Person Specification

Qualifications

Essential

  • Vocational qualification at Level 2 or equivalent experience
  • Standard computer skills

Desirable

  • An understanding of working in a healthcare setting

Knowledge and Experience

Essential

  • Range of routine work procedures requiring job training
  • Knowledge or personal care and related procedures

Desirable

  • Experience of working in a care setting

Communication Skills

Essential

  • Evidence of working in a team
  • Effective oral/written communication and interpersonal skills

Personal and People Development

Essential

  • Calm under pressure
  • Professional approach

Physical Requirements

Essential

  • Physically fit - long period of standing and some lifting
  • Ability to work shifts and unsocial hours
Person Specification

Qualifications

Essential

  • Vocational qualification at Level 2 or equivalent experience
  • Standard computer skills

Desirable

  • An understanding of working in a healthcare setting

Knowledge and Experience

Essential

  • Range of routine work procedures requiring job training
  • Knowledge or personal care and related procedures

Desirable

  • Experience of working in a care setting

Communication Skills

Essential

  • Evidence of working in a team
  • Effective oral/written communication and interpersonal skills

Personal and People Development

Essential

  • Calm under pressure
  • Professional approach

Physical Requirements

Essential

  • Physically fit - long period of standing and some lifting
  • Ability to work shifts and unsocial hours

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

Mid and South Essex NHS Foundation Trust

Address

Southend

Prittlewell Avenue

Southend

SS0 0RY


Employer's website

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


Employer details

Employer name

Mid and South Essex NHS Foundation Trust

Address

Southend

Prittlewell Avenue

Southend

SS0 0RY


Employer's website

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


Employer contact details

For questions about the job, contact:

Ward manager

Rosana Xavier

rosana.xavier@nhs.net

03004432160

Details

Date posted

08 January 2026

Pay scheme

Agenda for change

Band

Band 2

Salary

£24,465 a year Per Annum (Pro Rata for Part Time)

Contract

Permanent

Working pattern

Full-time

Reference number

390-MED-SO-8337-A

Job locations

Southend

Prittlewell Avenue

Southend

SS0 0RY


Supporting documents

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