Job summary
An exciting opportunity has risen within our surgical unit. We are a 24hr fast moving and challenging unit, caring for a wide variety of general surgery, colorectal and urology patients who often have a variety of complex health needs. The ward is a 27 bedded unit consisting of 21 inpatient beds and 6 surgical assessment unit.
Main duties of the job
We are looking for a HCA who is committed, motivated, and ready to be challenged and willing to engage. Experience within a surgical care environment would be an advantage but not essential.
We can offer you:- Excellent opportunities for professional development- Clinical supervision (under the Senior Nursing Team)- To be part of a dynamic multi-disciplinary team
About us
Mersey and West Lancashire Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust serves a population of over 600,000 with a workforce of over 9000 dedicated and skilled staff across 21 sites.
We strongly believe that the communities we serve should all have access to Five Star Patient Care.
Our services:
Acute Care
Providing emergency and maternity services at Whiston, Southport and Ormskirk hospitals, and medical and surgical specialties across all our sites.
Primary Care
Providing primary care services at Marshalls Cross Medical Centre situated in St Helens Hospital.
Community Services
Providing adult community services for St Helens and a wheelchair service in Chorley, South Ribble, and West Lancashire. Our inpatient unit at Newton Community Hospital is where patients needing acute hospital beds can continue rehabilitation, freeing up space for more unwell patients. We also provide urgent care at our Urgent Treatment Centre located in St Helens town centre.
Specialist Regional Services
We provide the Mersey Regional Burns & Plastic Surgery Unit at Whiston Hospital and the Spinal Injuries Unit at Southport Hospital to more than 4 million people across the whole of Merseyside, West Lancashire, Cheshire, Isle of Man and North Wales.
Achievements:
- Rated Outstanding by CQC Inspection August 2018
- Top 100 places to work in the NHS (NHS Employers & Health Service Journal)
- National Preceptorship Accreditation (2023) for Nursing & AHP Preceptorship Programme
Job description
Job responsibilities
Please ensure you have read through the attached Job Description and Person Specification before submitting your application.
Advertising date: 29th September 2025
Closing date: 6th October 2025
Shortlisting date: 7th October 2025
Proposed Interview date: 15th October 2025
Please note, this post may close earlier than advertised if a sufficient number of applications are received.
Job description
Job responsibilities
Please ensure you have read through the attached Job Description and Person Specification before submitting your application.
Advertising date: 29th September 2025
Closing date: 6th October 2025
Shortlisting date: 7th October 2025
Proposed Interview date: 15th October 2025
Please note, this post may close earlier than advertised if a sufficient number of applications are received.
Person Specification
Qualifications
Essential
- Basic literacy and numeracy skills
- Completion of Trust Care Certificate within 4 months of appointment
Desirable
- NVQ level 2 Health and Social Care or equivalent
- Care Certificate (equivalent to level 1)
Experience
Essential
- Experience of working in a team
- Knowledge of personal care and related procedures
Desirable
- Experience of working in a patient care/health related role
Skills
Essential
- Ability to communicate effectively in both verbal and written formats
- Good interpersonal skills
- Able to work within a team
- Able to accept direction and guidance
- Aware of own limitations
- Flexible in working hours
- 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
Other
Essential
- Frequent, moderate effort for several short periods during the shift such as manual handling patients to supporting patients personal care
- Occasional requirement for concentration, with few competing demands for attention
- Aware that developing resilience to distressing situations is necessary without losing the ability to care compassionately
- Aware of the process for accessing staff health and wellbeing support
- Occasional exposure to distressing situations which may care of chronic health conditions, patient end of life care/ care after death.
- Able to carry out direct personal care as required on ward or department.
- Frequent exposure to blood or body fluids
- Occasional exposure to patients with challenging behaviours
Person Specification
Qualifications
Essential
- Basic literacy and numeracy skills
- Completion of Trust Care Certificate within 4 months of appointment
Desirable
- NVQ level 2 Health and Social Care or equivalent
- Care Certificate (equivalent to level 1)
Experience
Essential
- Experience of working in a team
- Knowledge of personal care and related procedures
Desirable
- Experience of working in a patient care/health related role
Skills
Essential
- Ability to communicate effectively in both verbal and written formats
- Good interpersonal skills
- Able to work within a team
- Able to accept direction and guidance
- Aware of own limitations
- Flexible in working hours
- 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
Other
Essential
- Frequent, moderate effort for several short periods during the shift such as manual handling patients to supporting patients personal care
- Occasional requirement for concentration, with few competing demands for attention
- Aware that developing resilience to distressing situations is necessary without losing the ability to care compassionately
- Aware of the process for accessing staff health and wellbeing support
- Occasional exposure to distressing situations which may care of chronic health conditions, patient end of life care/ care after death.
- Able to carry out direct personal care as required on ward or department.
- Frequent exposure to blood or body fluids
- Occasional exposure to patients with challenging behaviours
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.
