Northampton General Hospital

Health Care Assistant

The closing date is 01 September 2025

Job summary

The Senior Healthcare Assistant/Support Worker will be an integral member of the ward/department team working through close supervision of a registered practitioner.

The Senior Healthcare Assistant/Support Worker is responsible for providing personal and clinical care, undertaking clinical observations and other interventions as delegated by the registered practitioner and in accordance with existing competencies.

The Senior Healthcare Assistant/Support Worker will ensure that their practice is guided by standard operating procedures and established policies and guidelines. They will demonstrate self-directed development, recognising own limitations, and work within the scope of their role at all times.

The Senior Healthcare Assistant/Support Worker will contribute to supporting and developing other colleagues.

The Senior Healthcare Assistant/Support Worker will act in a manner that upholds privacy, dignity, respect and confidentiality for patients and colleagues.

Main duties of the job

Welcome and orientate patients, carers, relatives and other visitors to the ward/department demonstrating care and compassion at all times.

Report any observed changes or concerns in the patient's physical or psychological needs to the registered practitioner.

Provide support to the registered practitioner, and where appropriate, other members of the ward/department clinical team as required.

Initiate and participate with emergencies i.e., cardiac arrest, patient falls and patients with a rapidly deteriorating condition.

Undertake transfer/escort of patients from one area to another within their scope of practice and after appropriate delegation from the registered practitioner.

If required, log patients personal property/valuables on admission.

About us

**Please submit your application as soon as possible as we reserve the right to close any adverts before the closing date once we have received sufficient applications**

Northampton General Hospital NHS Trust is one of the largest employers in the area and we are on an exciting journey. All our divisions are committed to doing things better, with more efficiency as we update, modernise, and advance. We have also entered a Group Model with neighbouring Kettering General Hospital NHS Foundation Trust and become University Hospitals of Northamptonshire.

Our Excellence Values

  • Compassion
  • Accountability
  • Respect
  • Integrity
  • Courage

We want to recruit the best people to deliver our services across the University Hospitals of Northamptonshire and help to unleash everyone's full potential.

The Hospital Group encourages applications from people who identify from all protected groups. We understand that we need to work with colleagues from diverse backgrounds and make sure the environment they work in is inclusive and collaborative.

We recognise the valuable contribution that the Armed Forces community make to our organisation. We have signed the Armed Forces Covenant and achieved Silver Award under the Armed Forces Employer Recognition Scheme.

We have active Networks that promote and support colleagues from all backgrounds. This ensures everyone feels supported and has a sense of belonging working for Kettering and Northampton General Hospitals.

Details

Date posted

20 August 2025

Pay scheme

Agenda for change

Band

Band 3

Salary

£24,937 to £26,598 a year Per annum / pro rata

Contract

Secondment

Working pattern

Part-time

Reference number

265-7402870

Job locations

Northampton General Hospital

Cliftonville

Northampton

NN1 5BD


Job description

Job responsibilities

Ensure patients nutritional needs are met through assisting in the preparation of patients prior to meals and beverages providing assistance in feeding drinking where appropriate.

Correctly record and monitor dietary intake of patients, informing registered practitioners of progress and/or any difficulties relating to dietary/fluid intake experienced by the patient.

Communicate effectively and maintain good relationships with patients, relatives, and healthcare practitioners and contribute to effective Multi-Disciplinary Team (MDT) team work.

Ensure that information passed to patients, relatives or colleagues is understood using tact, encouragement or empathy as required.

Ask for, listen to and value the views of patients and their relatives on their experience and discuss this with registered practitioners in order to improve care and patient experience.

Actively support and assist in alleviating distress and anxiety for patients and carers in line with their personal beliefs and preferences whilst in hospital informing a registered practitioner where any changes and/or concerns are observed.

Undertake clerical duties, including filing, as directed by the registered nurse practitioner in relation to all verbal and written communications. Ensure that messages and communications are passed to other team members, as required.

Further details provided in attached JD /PS document

Job description

Job responsibilities

Ensure patients nutritional needs are met through assisting in the preparation of patients prior to meals and beverages providing assistance in feeding drinking where appropriate.

Correctly record and monitor dietary intake of patients, informing registered practitioners of progress and/or any difficulties relating to dietary/fluid intake experienced by the patient.

Communicate effectively and maintain good relationships with patients, relatives, and healthcare practitioners and contribute to effective Multi-Disciplinary Team (MDT) team work.

Ensure that information passed to patients, relatives or colleagues is understood using tact, encouragement or empathy as required.

Ask for, listen to and value the views of patients and their relatives on their experience and discuss this with registered practitioners in order to improve care and patient experience.

Actively support and assist in alleviating distress and anxiety for patients and carers in line with their personal beliefs and preferences whilst in hospital informing a registered practitioner where any changes and/or concerns are observed.

Undertake clerical duties, including filing, as directed by the registered nurse practitioner in relation to all verbal and written communications. Ensure that messages and communications are passed to other team members, as required.

Further details provided in attached JD /PS document

Person Specification

Education, training and qualifications

Essential

  • Educated to Vocational Qualification/NVQ Level 3 or equivalent level of education, training or experience
  • Holds National Care Certificate or equivalent level of education, training or experience (e.g. able to demonstrate the skill and competency to undertake the clinical duties as described in the job description)
  • Holds Functional Skills Level 2 Maths and English or education equivalent

Desirable

  • Speciality specific training and competencies achieved and ongoing development

Knowledge and experience

Essential

  • Experience working in as a Healthcare Assistant/Support Worker in an healthcare, social care organisation/setting or service industry requiring people contact
  • Knowledge of Infection Prevention and Control and Safeguarding processes
  • Experience of working in a healthcare team and patient settings
  • Experience of dealing with patient/relative verbal complaints

Skills

Essential

  • Good communication and listening skills (written and verbal)
  • Able to work on own initiative, following direction/close supervision by a Registered Practitioner
  • Able to relate well with patients, relatives, visitors, colleagues, the multi-disciplinary team and wider Trust colleagues
  • Taking and recording Vital Signs and other clinical skills with evidence of appropriate training within scope of job role
  • Computer/keyboard skills for entering/updating patient records
Person Specification

Education, training and qualifications

Essential

  • Educated to Vocational Qualification/NVQ Level 3 or equivalent level of education, training or experience
  • Holds National Care Certificate or equivalent level of education, training or experience (e.g. able to demonstrate the skill and competency to undertake the clinical duties as described in the job description)
  • Holds Functional Skills Level 2 Maths and English or education equivalent

Desirable

  • Speciality specific training and competencies achieved and ongoing development

Knowledge and experience

Essential

  • Experience working in as a Healthcare Assistant/Support Worker in an healthcare, social care organisation/setting or service industry requiring people contact
  • Knowledge of Infection Prevention and Control and Safeguarding processes
  • Experience of working in a healthcare team and patient settings
  • Experience of dealing with patient/relative verbal complaints

Skills

Essential

  • Good communication and listening skills (written and verbal)
  • Able to work on own initiative, following direction/close supervision by a Registered Practitioner
  • Able to relate well with patients, relatives, visitors, colleagues, the multi-disciplinary team and wider Trust colleagues
  • Taking and recording Vital Signs and other clinical skills with evidence of appropriate training within scope of job role
  • Computer/keyboard skills for entering/updating patient records

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.

Certificate of Sponsorship

Applications from job seekers who require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website (Opens in a new tab).

From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants, applying for entry clearance into the UK, have had to present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Adult dependants (over 18 years old) are also subject to this requirement. Guidance can be found here Criminal records checks for overseas applicants (Opens in a new tab).

Additional information

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.

Certificate of Sponsorship

Applications from job seekers who require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website (Opens in a new tab).

From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants, applying for entry clearance into the UK, have had to present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Adult dependants (over 18 years old) are also subject to this requirement. Guidance can be found here Criminal records checks for overseas applicants (Opens in a new tab).

Employer details

Employer name

Northampton General Hospital

Address

Northampton General Hospital

Cliftonville

Northampton

NN1 5BD


Employer's website

https://www.northamptongeneral.nhs.uk/Home.aspx (Opens in a new tab)


Employer details

Employer name

Northampton General Hospital

Address

Northampton General Hospital

Cliftonville

Northampton

NN1 5BD


Employer's website

https://www.northamptongeneral.nhs.uk/Home.aspx (Opens in a new tab)


Employer contact details

For questions about the job, contact:

Senior Nurse, Children's Outpatients Department

Simeon Law

simeon.law2@nhs.net

01604545290

Details

Date posted

20 August 2025

Pay scheme

Agenda for change

Band

Band 3

Salary

£24,937 to £26,598 a year Per annum / pro rata

Contract

Secondment

Working pattern

Part-time

Reference number

265-7402870

Job locations

Northampton General Hospital

Cliftonville

Northampton

NN1 5BD


Supporting documents

Privacy notice

Northampton General Hospital's privacy notice (opens in a new tab)