Job summary
We are delighted to announce that we have a number of exciting opportunities available for individuals who would like to join our friendly nursing teams as a Healthcare Support Worker at Tunbridge Wells Hospital.
No qualifications or experience in the healthcare sector? No problem. We will fully support you in your training and development. For us, it is more important that you have a caring and compassionate nature, the desire to help others and the drive to develop a rewarding career that you will be proud of. You will be joining a supportive, inclusive and diverse team that reflects our Trust's core values of PRIDE. Maidstone and Tunbridge Wells NHS Trust support flexible working patterns and there are many staff benefits to ensure that all staff have an excellent work-life balance.
We are looking for individuals who would like to launch their career in the NHS, return to work after a break, or change career from a different sector.
Please note this advert is not recruiting Healthcare Support Workers for paediatric or midwifery services.
Apprenticeship Opportunity
This role can also be offered as an apprenticeship. This will be achieved through successful completion of the Level 2 Healthcare Support Worker Apprenticeship, which includes the Care Certificate and functional skills (English and Maths Level 1). You will have direct supervision and support from Registered Nurses and other members of the multidisciplinary team.
Main duties of the job
What is a Healthcare Support Worker?
The Healthcare Support Worker role is both very rewarding and hands-on. You will provide high quality care to individuals and their families, so you need to be a kind and compassionate individual. Duties will include:
- Assisting patients with fundamental care.
- Making patients feel comfortable.
- Taking and recording vital signs.
- Urinary catheter care.
- Collecting specimens / taking swabs.
Becoming a HCSW can kick-start your career into healthcare. This is the perfect role if you are looking to develop your skills to become a Registered Nurse, Nursing Associate or Allied Health Professional. Our Professional Standards Team can help guide you through training and apprenticeships so that you are able to reach your full potential here at MTW.
Please note that you will be shortlisted on the basis of your application. Please ensure that your employment and education history is completed in full.
As well as telling us about yourself and why you would like to become a HCSW at MTW, please ensure your supporting statement answers the following questions:
- What qualities do you possess that will make you the best HCSW?
- Why do you think HCSWs are so important to our nursing teams in the NHS?
If you are successful at the shortlisting stage, you will be invited to attend a recruitment event. This will be an all-day event on a Saturday. If you are successful at the event you will go home on the day with a job offer.
About us
Maidstone and Tunbridge Wells NHS Trust is a large acute hospital Trust in the county of Kent.
The Trust provides a full range of general hospital services and some areas of specialist complex care to around 500,000 people living in the south part of West Kent and the north part of East Sussex.
The Trust's core catchment areas are Maidstone and Tunbridge Wells and their surrounding boroughs. We work from two main clinical sites: Maidstone Hospital and Tunbridge Wells Hospital at Pembury. Tunbridge Wells Hospital opened in 2011 and provides single rooms with en-suites for all in-patients - the first of its kind in the country.
We employ over 6,500 full and part-time staff in a huge range of clinical and non-clinical roles across both of our hospital sites.
Job description
Job responsibilities
We would encourage all employees working for the NHS that you keep yourself protected against COVID-19. Please follow the link below to find out more information and to book your COVID-19 vaccine today
Book or manage a coronavirus (COVID-19) vaccination - NHS (www.nhs.uk)
You will be expected to attend the Trusts Clinical Induction Programme for Clinical Support Workers (which starts on the first day of employment). The programme is full-time (please contact the Training Co-ordinator for CSWs if this is going to be difficult: mtw-tr.CSWTraining@nhs.net), lasts for two weeks and will involve travelling to both Trust sites. The programme includes 3 supernumerary shifts in the clinical area (an early and a late shift), all of the other days are a combination of classroom-based/face to face training and remote/online learning.
Please note that appointment to this post will be subject to a satisfactory Disclosure & Barring Service Check at enhanced level. (Enhanced level now includes regulated checks against vulnerable adults and children)We are passionate in supporting our staff to develop and have great opportunities for career progression. We take equality and diversity seriously and seek to empower all diverse groups within our trust. We seek to develop a culture where diversity in all its forms is celebrated. We are committed to ensuring that women are empowered to work at all levels of management and that working patterns are as flexible as possible giving all members of staff opportunity to flourish in using their skills for our patients. We work across our trust to enable those who consider themselves to have a disability both visible and invisible to have access to all they need to thrive in their work environment. We work with Stonewall to embed an inclusive and accepting culture for all lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender staff. We have 78 nationalities working in our trust and we are proud of this. We are active in embracing the ethnic and cultural diversity in our trust. We work to empower people with any protected characteristic to have opportunities to work in an environment that helps them to contribute to the best of their ability, recognising and valuing the unique contributions each of us brings for best quality care and service to our patients. We are committed to supporting the delivery of the Equality Act with zero tolerance for any discrimination, harassment or victimisation of applicants and staff with these protected characteristics.
Job description
Job responsibilities
We would encourage all employees working for the NHS that you keep yourself protected against COVID-19. Please follow the link below to find out more information and to book your COVID-19 vaccine today
Book or manage a coronavirus (COVID-19) vaccination - NHS (www.nhs.uk)
You will be expected to attend the Trusts Clinical Induction Programme for Clinical Support Workers (which starts on the first day of employment). The programme is full-time (please contact the Training Co-ordinator for CSWs if this is going to be difficult: mtw-tr.CSWTraining@nhs.net), lasts for two weeks and will involve travelling to both Trust sites. The programme includes 3 supernumerary shifts in the clinical area (an early and a late shift), all of the other days are a combination of classroom-based/face to face training and remote/online learning.
Please note that appointment to this post will be subject to a satisfactory Disclosure & Barring Service Check at enhanced level. (Enhanced level now includes regulated checks against vulnerable adults and children)We are passionate in supporting our staff to develop and have great opportunities for career progression. We take equality and diversity seriously and seek to empower all diverse groups within our trust. We seek to develop a culture where diversity in all its forms is celebrated. We are committed to ensuring that women are empowered to work at all levels of management and that working patterns are as flexible as possible giving all members of staff opportunity to flourish in using their skills for our patients. We work across our trust to enable those who consider themselves to have a disability both visible and invisible to have access to all they need to thrive in their work environment. We work with Stonewall to embed an inclusive and accepting culture for all lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender staff. We have 78 nationalities working in our trust and we are proud of this. We are active in embracing the ethnic and cultural diversity in our trust. We work to empower people with any protected characteristic to have opportunities to work in an environment that helps them to contribute to the best of their ability, recognising and valuing the unique contributions each of us brings for best quality care and service to our patients. We are committed to supporting the delivery of the Equality Act with zero tolerance for any discrimination, harassment or victimisation of applicants and staff with these protected characteristics.
Person Specification
Qualifications
Essential
- Good general education.
- Ability to read, write, perform simple calculations and communicate in English.
- Holds or commitment to complete the Care Certificate Programme within the first 6 months.
Desirable
- English and Maths Level 1 or GCSE English and Maths grade D/3 or above.
- Hold or willing to work towards NVQ Level 2 / Health and Social Care Diploma Level 2 / Intermediate apprenticeship Level 2.
Experience
Essential
- Interest in working in a care setting.
- Understands importance of and provides good customer care.
Desirable
- Experience within a care role/setting.
- Previous experience of team work.
- Previous experience of customer care.
- Working in a healthcare or related setting.
Skills
Essential
- Able to communicate accurately and effectively with patients and colleagues, verbally and in writing.
- Good interpersonal skills.
- Basic computer keyboard skills.
- Ability to prioritise workload with supervision.
- Can demonstrate practical skills to others.
- Able to deal with the public in person and on the phone.
- Able to support and reassure patients/carers.
- Able to follow instructions and complete assigned tasks.
Person Specification
Qualifications
Essential
- Good general education.
- Ability to read, write, perform simple calculations and communicate in English.
- Holds or commitment to complete the Care Certificate Programme within the first 6 months.
Desirable
- English and Maths Level 1 or GCSE English and Maths grade D/3 or above.
- Hold or willing to work towards NVQ Level 2 / Health and Social Care Diploma Level 2 / Intermediate apprenticeship Level 2.
Experience
Essential
- Interest in working in a care setting.
- Understands importance of and provides good customer care.
Desirable
- Experience within a care role/setting.
- Previous experience of team work.
- Previous experience of customer care.
- Working in a healthcare or related setting.
Skills
Essential
- Able to communicate accurately and effectively with patients and colleagues, verbally and in writing.
- Good interpersonal skills.
- Basic computer keyboard skills.
- Ability to prioritise workload with supervision.
- Can demonstrate practical skills to others.
- Able to deal with the public in person and on the phone.
- Able to support and reassure patients/carers.
- Able to follow instructions and complete assigned tasks.
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.
