Healthcare Support Worker

Company Description

Here at Portsmouth Hospitals University NHS Trust, we are proud to provide expert, compassionate care for our local population. We are ranked as the third in the country for research, embedding education and training across the organisation. Our main hub is the Queen Alexandra Hospital, which is one of the largest hospitals on the south coast employing over 8,700 staff.

Please upload a copy of Maths and English (GCSE or equivalent International) qualifications to your application, without this information you will not be invited to interview.

Job Description

Salary: £24,937 - £26,598 per annum

Work Location: Queen Alexandra Hospital, Cosham

Hours per week: Full time, 37.5 hours per week (will consider part time, minimum 22.5)

Contract Type: Permanent

Are you passionate about making a real difference in people’s lives every single day? Do you thrive in a caring, hands on role where compassion and teamwork matter most? Are you ready to start or grow your healthcare career in a supportive, patient focused environment?

Healthcare Support Workers (HCSW) are essential providers of everyday care for our patients. The HCSW role is rewarding, it's the kind of job where you will need to be organised, adaptable, resilient, and hardworking. You will have great prioritisation skills, strong observational skills and have empathy for others.

Working with us, you will witness first-hand the positive impact your caring nature and efforts will make on our hospital. You will need to be willing to be hands-on with our patients.

You will start your career with us by taking part in our full time two week induction programme, designed to support you in finding your feet within our organisation, and enable you to feel part of the team. The induction program leads to the Care Certificate.

The HCSW role includes a variety of working patterns which attract shift allowances.

Please note this role does not offer sponsorship

Key Responsibilities:

Under the supervision of registered healthcare professionals, you will be assisting the team with the provision of clinical care for a defined group of patients. In addition, you will take all possible steps to safeguard the welfare, safety and security of patients, visitors, and staff.

• Supporting patients with personal care, including maintaining hygiene this will involve working with bodily fluids and waste
• Providing physical comfort for patients, whilst ensuring their privacy and dignity is always maintained
• Washing and dressing patients, and helping them to safely move around
• Serving meals and providing support with eating and drinking
• Helping maintain a clean and comfortable environment, including making beds and supporting infection control measures
• Observing and monitoring patient condition, and reporting any changes to senior staff
• Recording information to patient administration systems and assist with other administrative duties

Most importantly, you will ensure patient experience is positive by treating all patients, relatives, and colleagues in accordance with Trust values.

If you are successful you will be placed in our talent pool while you undergo pre employment checks.

For additional information please see attached Job description

Qualifications

Essential

• Completed care certificate or ability to complete within 3 months of appointment
• English and maths qualification at GCSE/Function skills at level 1 (or an internationally recognised equivalent)

Please upload a copy of Maths and English (GCSE or equivalent International) qualifications to your application, without this information you will not be invited to interview.

Desirable

• NVQ Level 2 qualification or equivalent in a relevant area gained through experience, on the job training, short courses and completion of work-based competencies.

 Skills and Knowledge

Essential

• Ability to carry out assigned tasks effectively in a busy environment.
• Understands and complies with HCSW mandatory induction standards and code of conduct.
• Completion and maintenance of statutory & mandatory learning activities.
• Awareness, understanding and compliance of policies and practices e.g. Escort Policy, Prevention and control of infection and Health and Safety. This post holder is therefore able to work within the scope of their practice under direct and indirect supervision by a registered nurse (training will be provided)
• Can demonstrate knowledge of equipment used within the department to support the registered nurse and ensure that they are compatible and in good working order. Will escalate any concerns to registered nurse.
• Can demonstrate a range of core skills to competently undertake personal care for patients and related tasks and activities.
• Effective written and verbal communication skills/literacy/ numeracy skills
• Good observation skills and recognition of the importance of reporting

Additional Information

The health and wellbeing of our staff is at the forefront of everything we do. We are proud to be able to offer our staff some fantastic benefits including our on-site Nursery, access to our free Beach Hut for those long summer days, our on-site Wellness Centre including a gym and a swimming pool, access to our fantastic staff networks including LGBTQ, Race Equality and DisAbility, and awards ceremonies to recognise your achievements. We believe we can offer support to all of our staff when they need it the most.

We welcome the unique contributions that you can bring in terms of your education, opinions, culture, ethnicity, race, sex, gender identity and expression, nation of origin, age, languages spoken, veteran’s status, colour, religion, disability, sexual orientation, and beliefs.