Senior Health Care Assistant

University Hospitals Sussex NHS Foundation Trust (279)

The closing date is 06 May 2025

Job summary

The Senior Healthcare Assistant (HCA) is part of the multidisciplinary team working within theatres and endoscopy to deliver a high standard of direct patient care.

The Senior HCA also delivers higher level fundamental clinical care to patients. Support and supervision is provided by a Registered Practitioner / Nurse or Registered Nursing Associate.

The Senior HCA has a responsibility to support, supervise and assess new staff and delegate basic tasks to the HCA team.

The Senior HCA assists in ensuring the effective running of the department.

Main duties of the job

To occasionally assist patients to carry out with personal care including meeting hygiene and continence needs whilst encouraging independence, as appropriate

To assist with patient nutritional needs - eating, drinking, menu selection, meal delivery and special diets according to the individual patient's needs

To assist patients to mobilise where appropriate.

Undertakes a limited range of delegated clinical care duties relevant to the services provided/work area; record patient observations, e.g. taking blood pressure, blood glucose monitoring, pregnancy testing, routine maternal and neonatal observations, observing patients for signs of agitation or distress, wound observations and simple wound dressings, removal of peripheral cannula, urinalysis, removal of catheter

After appropriate training and in discussion with the line manager, there is an expectation that the role holder will undertake extended scope of practice skills to meet service need, for example; venepuncture, ECGs, cannulation and simple wound dressings

After appropriate training, to assist in the collection and proper labeling of specimens, and record any results accurately

After appropriate training and under direction of theatre / endoscopy manager to set up equipment, clean and maintain equipment

Under the supervision of the qualified nurse, support patients undergoing clinical procedures ensuring their comfort and safety

About us

At UHSussex, diversity is our strength, and we want you to feel included to help us always put the Patient First. Your uniqueness and experiences will be part of our creative and innovative community where everyone is encouraged to succeed. We have a range of Staff Networks to help break down barriers, and can offer a buddy to help new members settle in. We're proud to be a Disability Confident Employer (Level 2) and a Veteran Aware Trust.

We treat our patients and staff with the same compassion and empathy we expect for ourselves. We're here for them when they need us, and we go above and beyond to meet their needs. This can be seen in ourWellbeing Programme for staff which is extensive and designed to support you when you need it, including where possible, flexible working to support work life balance - because we know that to look after others we must first look after ourselves.

As a university trust and a leader in healthcare research, we value learning, teaching and training so that we can be the best that we can be. From the moment you start with us and throughout your career we will help you to grow and develop. We hope that in choosing UHSussex you are choosing a long and happy career where you will be able to see the difference you make and feel valued for all that you do.

We look forward to receiving your application and the start of your journey with UHSussex.

Candidate Information Pack: https://www.uhsussex.nhs.uk/resources/candidate-information-pack/

Date posted

22 April 2025

Pay scheme

Agenda for change

Band

Band 3

Salary

£24,625 to £25,674 a year per annum

Contract

Permanent

Working pattern

Full-time

Reference number

279-7112525-APR25

Job locations

PRH

SOTC LEWES RD

Haywards Heath

RH16 4EY

Job description

Job responsibilities

To occasionally assist patients to carry out with personal care including meeting hygiene and continence needs whilst encouraging independence, as appropriate

To assist with patient nutritional needs eating, drinking, menu selection, meal delivery and special diets according to the individual patients needs

To assist patients to mobilise where appropriate.

Please see Job Description and Person Specification for full details.

Job description

Job responsibilities

To occasionally assist patients to carry out with personal care including meeting hygiene and continence needs whilst encouraging independence, as appropriate

To assist with patient nutritional needs eating, drinking, menu selection, meal delivery and special diets according to the individual patients needs

To assist patients to mobilise where appropriate.

Please see Job Description and Person Specification for full details.

Person Specification

Qualifications

Essential

Care Certificate
Evidence of working within a health and social care setting
Ability to demonstrate knowledge and skills acquisition, working at a higher-level standard of care delivery, equivalent to vocational qualification level 3. Evidenced via a portfolio of practice and or a professional discussion

essential

Essential

Maths and English qualification
Good , clear communication skills

Desirable

Healthcare experience
Proven experience of working in a Team

Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion

Essential

Evidence of having undertaken own development to improve understanding of equalities issues
Evidence of having championed diversity in previous roles (as appropriate to role)

Person Specification

Qualifications

Essential

Care Certificate
Evidence of working within a health and social care setting
Ability to demonstrate knowledge and skills acquisition, working at a higher-level standard of care delivery, equivalent to vocational qualification level 3. Evidenced via a portfolio of practice and or a professional discussion

essential

Essential

Maths and English qualification
Good , clear communication skills

Desirable

Healthcare experience
Proven experience of working in a Team

Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion

Essential

Evidence of having undertaken own development to improve understanding of equalities issues
Evidence of having championed diversity in previous roles (as appropriate to role)

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.