Mersey and West Lancashire Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust

Health Care Assistant - Spinal Injuries

The closing date is 06 October 2025

Job summary

An opportunity has arisen for enthusiastic and motivated individuals to join our friendly, caring team at the North West Regional Spinal Injuries Centre at Southport District General Hospital.

We are looking for caring and committed individuals who would like to develop their knowledge and skills within this challenging and rewarding environment. The ability to deal supportively with people of all ages and backgrounds, along with their families, in a period of unprecedented change is essential.

Communication skills and the ability to work as part of a multi-professional team are critical to the success of the role.

Previous experience of working within an acute hospital setting would be desirable but not essential as training will be provided. You should have completed NVQ Level 2 in Healthcare / Care Certificate or equivalent or be undertaking the course with completion expected within 6 months of taking up post.

Main duties of the job

There is currently a 12hour rotational shift pattern with the opportunity for shorter shifts to ensure availability of staff throughout the 24hour period. Staff are expected to be flexible as internal rotation between day and night duty is in operation and weekend working is to be expected.

The Health Care Assistant role at the North West Regional Spinal Injuries Centre is a key part of the multi-professional team & vital in supporting the rehabilitation process for patients with spinal cord injury.

The role involves providing direct care on a daily basis to ensure patients are able to achieve their goals for personal hygiene, eating & drinking, skin care & mobilising in a wheelchair.

The Centre comprises of 43 Inpatient beds, including up to 9 Acute & Respiratory Care beds. In addition we have developed an Outreach Service that currently offers 8 beds in a community setting.

We provide acute care and rehabilitation services for individuals who have experienced a spinal cord lesion due to trauma or other mechanism.

There is an extensive rehabilitation service provided by a comprehensive Multi-Professional team with dedicated rehabilitation & therapy facilities within the department, including a fully equipped Gym, Hydrotherapy pool, Gait Orthosis equipment and Occupational Therapy assessment / treatment area.

About us

The Secretary of State has approved the partnership between St Helens & Knowsley Teaching Hospitals and Southport & Ormskirk Hospitals.

From 1st July we have come together as a single organisation under the name Mersey & West Lancashire Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust.

The Trust delivers acute hospital care, intermediate care, community, and primary care services to a population of over 600,000 people with a combined workforce of around 9000 dedicated and skilled staff from 17 locations including Whiston, Southport & Formby, St Helens, Ormskirk and Newton hospitals.

The Trust provides regional services for burns, plastic surgery and spinal injuries to more than 4 million people across Mersey and West Lancashire, Cheshire, the Isle of Man and North Wales.

Our Vision is to deliver 5 Star Patient Care:

  • CAREthat is evidence based, high quality and compassionate
  • SAFETY that is of the highest standards
  • COMMUNICATION that is open, inclusive and respectful
  • SYSTEMS that are efficient, patient centred and reliable
  • PATHWAYS that are best practice and embedded, but also respect the individual needs of patients

Our achievements include:

  • Trust rated Outstanding by CQC Inspection August 2018
  • Top 100 places to work in the NHS (NHS Employers & Health Service Journal)
  • Awarded National Preceptorship Accreditation (2023) for our Nursing & AHP Preceptorship Programme

Please see our Wellbeing & Benefits booklet for more information on our staff benefits. Accessible version available.

Details

Date posted

02 October 2025

Pay scheme

Agenda for change

Band

Band 2

Salary

£24,465 a year per annum

Contract

Permanent

Working pattern

Full-time, Part-time

Reference number

409-7448939

Job locations

SDGH

Town Lane

Southport

PR8 6PN


Job description

Job responsibilities

Bed bathing / showering patients.

Assisting with elimination needs including transfer to & from shower chairs.

Assisting patients to dress & undress.

Frequent manual handling procedures such as repositioning in bed, hoisting from bed to chair & back, use of slide boards to transfer from bed to chair & back.

Assisting with meal provision & nutritional / hydration needs.

Reporting any changes to the Registered Nurse & ensuring appropriate documentation is completed in a timely manner i.e. repositioning schedules, food charts, intentional rounding charts.

Please note this vacancy may close early upon receipt of sufficient applications

PREVIOUS APPLICANTS WITHIN THE PAST 6 MONTHS NEED NOT APPLY

Job description

Job responsibilities

Bed bathing / showering patients.

Assisting with elimination needs including transfer to & from shower chairs.

Assisting patients to dress & undress.

Frequent manual handling procedures such as repositioning in bed, hoisting from bed to chair & back, use of slide boards to transfer from bed to chair & back.

Assisting with meal provision & nutritional / hydration needs.

Reporting any changes to the Registered Nurse & ensuring appropriate documentation is completed in a timely manner i.e. repositioning schedules, food charts, intentional rounding charts.

Please note this vacancy may close early upon receipt of sufficient applications

PREVIOUS APPLICANTS WITHIN THE PAST 6 MONTHS NEED NOT APPLY

Person Specification

Qualifications

Essential

  • Willingness to undertake NVQ level 2 or equivalent
  • Basic Literacy and Numeracy skills

Desirable

  • NVQ level 2 in Healthcare
  • Care Certificate

Knowledge & Experience

Essential

  • Knowledge of personal care
  • Experience of working in a team

Desirable

  • Previous experience in a care assistant role

Physical effort

Essential

  • Frequent periods of physical effort e.g turning, moving, using aids, assisting in personal care
  • Occasional requirement for concentration, with few competing demands for attention.

Skills & abilities

Essential

  • Ability to communicate both verbal & written
  • Good interpersonal skills
  • Able to work within a team
  • Flexible in working hours
  • Able to accept direction and guidance
  • Aware of own limitations
  • Able to prioritise own workload and manage time effectively
  • Flexible, adaptable and responsive to change
  • Reliable and professional
  • Ability to cope in stressful and challenging situations
  • Inclusive and non-judgmental
  • Punctual, motivated and committed
  • Effective role model demonstrating Trust values
  • Basic IT skills

Working conditions

Essential

  • Frequent exposure to unpleasant conditions, bodily fluids, smells, vomit, emptying catheter bags
Person Specification

Qualifications

Essential

  • Willingness to undertake NVQ level 2 or equivalent
  • Basic Literacy and Numeracy skills

Desirable

  • NVQ level 2 in Healthcare
  • Care Certificate

Knowledge & Experience

Essential

  • Knowledge of personal care
  • Experience of working in a team

Desirable

  • Previous experience in a care assistant role

Physical effort

Essential

  • Frequent periods of physical effort e.g turning, moving, using aids, assisting in personal care
  • Occasional requirement for concentration, with few competing demands for attention.

Skills & abilities

Essential

  • Ability to communicate both verbal & written
  • Good interpersonal skills
  • Able to work within a team
  • Flexible in working hours
  • Able to accept direction and guidance
  • Aware of own limitations
  • Able to prioritise own workload and manage time effectively
  • Flexible, adaptable and responsive to change
  • Reliable and professional
  • Ability to cope in stressful and challenging situations
  • Inclusive and non-judgmental
  • Punctual, motivated and committed
  • Effective role model demonstrating Trust values
  • Basic IT skills

Working conditions

Essential

  • Frequent exposure to unpleasant conditions, bodily fluids, smells, vomit, emptying catheter bags

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

Mersey and West Lancashire Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust

Address

SDGH

Town Lane

Southport

PR8 6PN


Employer's website

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


Employer details

Employer name

Mersey and West Lancashire Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust

Address

SDGH

Town Lane

Southport

PR8 6PN


Employer's website

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


Employer contact details

For questions about the job, contact:

Senior Sister

Sandra Croston

sandra.croston@nhs.net

01704704345

Details

Date posted

02 October 2025

Pay scheme

Agenda for change

Band

Band 2

Salary

£24,465 a year per annum

Contract

Permanent

Working pattern

Full-time, Part-time

Reference number

409-7448939

Job locations

SDGH

Town Lane

Southport

PR8 6PN


Supporting documents

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