Senior Healthcare Support Worker - Adults

Are you looking for a job that can make a real difference to people’s lives? We are looking for enthusiastic, compassionate, and hard-working individuals that also believe in our Trust Values, ‘Supportive, Respectful, Innovative & Collaborative’

University Hospital Bristol and Weston has developed a Trainee Senior Health Care Support Worker (TSHCSW) role to provide an entry point on the nursing apprentice career pathway. You will initially be employed as a Band 2 Health Care Support Worker and receive in-house training to gain the skills and competencies to allow you to progress into a Senior HCSW role.

In this role, you will gain valuable insight into working within an acute hospital environment and provide a strong foundation for a career in healthcare. You will be required to be fully flexible across all shift patterns, including weekdays, weekends, nights, and bank holidays. 23 hours per week is the minimum for a part-time role.

Eligibility Criteria

• Maths: GCSEs Grade C/4 or above or Functional Skills Level 2 or equivalent qualification
• English: GCSEs Grade C/4 or above OR Functional Skills Level 2.
• Level 3 qualification: Full NVQ Level 3/BTEC or equivalent ‘A’ levels.

Minimum 12 months left on your Visa

This is a developmental role; the trainee Senior HCSW will work towards progression to a Senior HCSW (Band 3) role on successful completion of the Band 3 Senior HCSW competencies.

Responsibilities

Working as a Healthcare Support Worker on the adult inpatient wards, you will be involved with direct patient care while maintaining the privacy and dignity of patients. You will be working alongside a registered Nurse to provide essential nursing care for adult patients. You will be helping your patients (both male and female) with daily living tasks, including:

• Washing and going to the toilet (hygiene & continence)
• Helping with their meals (nutrition)

Helping with mobility needs and providing pressure area care.

Providing patients and their families with emotional support.

Undertaking “one to one observation” for patients who present a high risk due to their clinical condition.

Helping to maintain a ward environment that is clean and safe, preventing infection and falls.

Training and Skills Development

As a trainee senior healthcare worker, you will receive training to enable you to take and record patients’ vital signs, identify and escalate changes to a patient’s condition to the registered nurse. Some clinical areas may require you to be proficient in additional clinical skills such as ECGs, venepuncture, and simple dressings.

Working Hours

37.5 hrs per week (full-time) or 24 hrs per week (part-time). You will be working on an inpatient ward and will be required to work long shifts (12 hours) that include days/nights, weekends, and Bank Holidays. This is a physically demanding role, and you will be on your feet for long periods. It is also an emotionally demanding role and requires you to adapt quickly to the constantly changing clinical demands on an acute inpatient ward.

For a more detailed job description and main responsibilities, please refer to the job description document attached to this vacancy.

Shortlisted applicants will be invited to an assessment centre in Bristol City Centre on Wednesday 21st May. You will need to be available for the whole morning.